Tokyo 7-Day Itinerary for Families with Children
A full week in Tokyo with children is a rare luxury - this plan layers in the Ghibli Museum and a Kamakura day trip on top of the 5-day core, creating a complete, magical Japan experience for families who love animation and nature.
See also the Tokyo 7-Day base itinerary for timing and transit details.
Day 0 - Arrive in Tokyo
Arrival
Land, Check In, Settle
- Plan: Fly into Haneda (HND). 30 min to central Tokyo. Critical with children and heavy luggage - Narita adds an hour each way.
- Hotel tip: Shinjuku or Ueno for 7 nights - central, flat, great supermarkets, easy access to all days' destinations.
- Tonight: Convenience store dinner, early bedtime. Tomorrow starts the adventure properly.
Day 1 - teamLab Planets & Ueno Zoo
Morning · 10:00
teamLab Planets Toyosu
- Tickets: ¥3,200 adults / ¥1,000 ages 4-12 / free under 4. Book timed entry online. Wear shorts for the water room.
- Duration: 60-90 min. Kids under 4 may find the dark rooms startling - hold their hand through the first room.
🚇 30 min - Toyosu → Ueno via Yurakucho + Hibiya Lines (¥260)
Afternoon · 13:00
Ueno Zoo
- Highlights: Giant pandas, polar bears, children's petting area, internal monorail (free). Allow 2-3 hrs.
- Tickets: ¥600 adults / ¥200 elementary / free under school age. Fully accessible.
Day 2 - Tokyo DisneySea (Full Day)
Full Day · 8:30 open
Tokyo DisneySea
- Highlights: Journey to the Centre of the Earth (height 102 cm+), Toy Story Mania (all ages), Venetian Gondolas (all ages), Tower of Terror (older kids).
- Tickets: ¥7,900-10,900 adults / ¥5,300-7,300 children. Book 2 months ahead.
- Transit: JR Keiyo Line from Tokyo to Maihama station (15 min, ¥220).
- Disney Premier Access: ¥1,500-2,000 per attraction - worth it for Journey to the Centre of the Earth.
Day 3 - Meiji Jingu, Harajuku & Omotesando
Morning · 9:00
Meiji Jingu & Harajuku
- Meiji Jingu: Peaceful forest walk, giant torii gates, sake barrel displays. Free. Allow 1 hr.
- Takeshita Street: Rainbow crêpes, cotton candy, character goods. 30-45 min. Very crowded on weekends - go early.
- Omotesando: Wide tree-lined boulevard. Window shop and rest at a café with the kids.
Day 4 - Odaiba: Legoland & Gundam
Morning · 10:00
Legoland Discovery Centre & DiverCity
- Legoland: Best for ages 3-10. Rides, 4D cinema, build zones. ¥2,800 adults / ¥2,400 children. Book online.
- Gundam statue: Life-sized 18-metre mobile suit outside DiverCity. Free to view. Kids (and parents) adore it.
- Access: Yurikamome Line from Shimbashi (25 min, ¥330) - the elevated driverless train is itself exciting for children.
Day 5 - Akihabara & Senso-ji
Morning · 10:00
Akihabara & Senso-ji
- Akihabara: Pokémon Center, Animate, Super Potato. Allow 90 min. Pre-agree souvenir budgets.
- Senso-ji: Kaminarimon gate, Nakamise snack street, ningyo-yaki cakes, omikuji fortunes. Allow 1 hr. Free.
- Dinner: Asakusa riverside walk then ramen in the Asakusa covered arcade.
Day 6 - Ghibli Museum & Inokashira Park
Morning · 10:00
Ghibli Museum, Mitaka
- Why it's magical: Designed by Hayao Miyazaki himself - every corner is a discovery. A rooftop robot soldier, spiral staircases, a special short film shown only here, and a real Saturn theatre. Children who love Totoro, Spirited Away, or Kiki's Delivery Service will be overwhelmed with joy. Allow 2 hrs.
- Booking is CRITICAL: Tickets must be booked exactly 4 months in advance on the 1st of each month via the official Ghibli Museum site (or through authorised overseas agents like JTB). They sell out in minutes. This is non-negotiable - there is no same-day entry.
- Tickets: ¥1,000 adults / ¥700 university students / ¥400 ages 7-12 / ¥100 ages 4-6 / free under 4.
- Transit: JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku to Mitaka station (20 min, ¥220), then 15 min walk through Inokashira Park or a ¥320 bus.
🚶 15 min walk through park - Ghibli Museum → Inokashira Park lake
Afternoon · 13:00
Inokashira Park & Kichijoji
- Inokashira Park: Flat paths, a large lake, swan boats (¥700/30 min), street musicians, and ample picnic space. Kids absolutely love the swan paddle boats.
- Kichijoji: The charming main shopping street has excellent crêpe shops, toy stores, and a relaxed neighbourhood vibe very different from central Tokyo.
- Dinner: Kichijoji has excellent small restaurants - try the menchi katsu (fried meat cakes) at Satou butcher, a local institution (queue is worth it, ¥230 each).
Day 7 - Kamakura or Flex Shopping
Full Day (optional) or Morning
Kamakura Great Buddha Day Trip
- Why kids love it: The Great Buddha (Kotoku-in Daibutsu) is staggering - 13 metres of bronze, hollow inside (kids can enter the statue for ¥20). Wildly impressive. Allow half day minimum.
- Transit: JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line from Shinjuku to Kamakura (55-65 min, ¥920). Start by 9am.
- Route: Kamakura station → Hase-dera temple (coastal views, flower gardens, cave system kids love) → Kotoku-in Daibutsu (Great Buddha). Return by 15:00.
- OR flex day: If children are tired, stay in Shinjuku for final souvenir shopping at Takashimaya or Isetan department stores, then airport transit prep.
Before You Go
Ghibli Museum booking. Tickets open on the 1st of the month, 4 months before. Set a phone alarm. Overseas visitors can book via JTB International - but only until allocations run out. Do not skip this step.
Disney 2 months ahead. DisneySea tickets sell out completely on peak days. Book via the official Tokyo Disney Resort site the moment your travel dates are confirmed.
Kid safety on trains. Keep children physically close on platforms and hold hands through ticket barriers. The yellow tactile strip at platform edges is a warning boundary - teach children not to stand near it.
Convenience store meals. 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson are open 24/7 with hot foods, onigiri, bento boxes, and fresh sandwiches. Inexpensive and universally child-friendly. Use them for quick lunches on busy days.
Medicine. Pack children's paracetamol, antihistamines, and any prescription medicines from home. Japanese pharmacy medicines use different names and dosages. Matsumoto Kiyoshi pharmacies are everywhere but staff rarely speak English.
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