Tokyo
Travel, through a family lens: Vibrant city life, playful pop culture, and deep-rooted traditions woven into one of the world’s most exciting modern cities.
… remember to italicize
-Kristin, Cofounder
Family Travel Journal
Quick insights before you dive into planning…
Perfect for: Travelers looking for something different but easy to experience.
Ages: 4 and up. Tokyo is very safe and easy to get around with children. That said, older kids tend to keep up better and enjoy more of the activities available.
When to Visit: Tokyo is great to visit most of the year. Spring is often ideal for catching the cherry blossoms, and winters are generally mild. Summer, however, can be hot and humid, so it is not the best time to visit.
Trip Length: At least four nights to get a good taste of what Tokyo offers before moving on to another destination. That said, Tokyo has so much to do that you could easily spend a full week exploring.
Combine with: Hakone/Mount Fuji for a shorter trip, Kyoto and Osaka as part of the classic Golden Triangle route, or Hokkaido for winter skiing. There are also many lesser-known destinations nearby that offer unique experiences. Contact us to brainstorm!
Destination Fit
At a glance
NOTE: this is a first draft. let’s do another take based on what else Kristin/Mimi want to highlight
Tokyo is one of the most exciting and accessible cities in the world, making it an ideal destination for all types of travelers, including families. As a major international hub, it's easy to reach with many direct flights from around the world. Once you arrive, you’ll find a sprawling, cosmopolitan city that is both incredibly modern and uniquely Japanese. While it has all the comforts and conveniences you’d expect from a global capital, Tokyo stands apart in how seamlessly it blends cutting-edge technology with deep-rooted tradition. In many ways, Japan feels more advanced than what we're used to, and nowhere is that more visible than in Tokyo.
What makes Tokyo especially great for families is how safe, clean, and well-organized everything is. The public transportation system is well-connected, and staying near a train station (especially in neighborhoods like Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Ginza) makes getting around much easier. Tokyo can feel overwhelming at first because of its size, but it's a city where you don’t need to do everything, and it’s easy to tailor the experience to your family’s interests. There’s something here for everyone: temples and historic sights, modern museums, world-class food, fun shopping, and immersive pop culture experiences. Also, many kids are already familiar with parts of Japanese culture, whether it's Pokémon, Sanrio, or the general love of all things kawaii so there’s often an immediate sense of excitement.
Our Favorite Things
Traveled, loved, and chosen for you through our family lens.
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There’s a wide range of accommodation in the Dolomites, from luxury resorts to charming agriturismos run by local farmers, to boutique hotels in towns with easy access to restaurants and activities. A few we liked for our family:
Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel has rooms for 4
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So many choices
There was an udon place we liked.
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TeamLab Borderless or TeamLab Planet - go to one but don’t need to go to both
Kidzania - put your kids to work. Didn’t do but looks so fun. recommend to all my friends
Harajuku - pet cafes and kawaii shopping. i think this i more activity than shopping
Cultural place?
Tokyo Tower? probably but just listing here for consideration
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Best shopping.
Omotesando - high-end and boutique shopping area
A vintage shop?
KiddieLand - 5 level shopping paradise for kids and anyone who likes Japanese toys and characters
There's so much more to explore. For a comprehensive list of our favorite spots (including more hidden gems we discovered), reach out for a custom itinerary.
Tips
Google Translate is your best friend
Getting around Japan used to be a real challenge if you didn’t speak the language. These days, for better or worse, Google Translate, especially the camera feature, makes things a lot easier. You can just point your phone at a menu and instantly get an idea of what everything is.
Getting around
We found Uber to be really reliable. Wait times were reasonable, prices were fair, and there was no stress about language since everything was handled through the app. We also met some really kind drivers who shared interesting insights about the city and changes in tourism (all through Google Translate!).
Booking family rooms
Finding a hotel room that fits more than three people can be tricky in Tokyo, especially if you’re trying to stay in a specific part of the city. It’s a good idea to book early or look into Airbnb if you want a bit more space and flexibility.
Another tip?
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Finding a restaurant
Google Maps reviews can often be misleading, especially since many are written by travelers. For more reliable recommendations on authentic cuisine, try using Tabelog. The interface isn’t the easiest to navigate, but the reviews are trustworthy. Friends who frequently visit suggest that anything rated above 3.5 stars is usually good, and anything over 4 stars is coming up on Michelin-level quality.
Dining with kids
Japan isn’t the easiest place to dine out with kids. We rarely saw children in restaurants, and some places wouldn’t allow kids under 10 or 12. On top of that, many popular casual spots had complicated queuing systems that didn’t work well with little ones. If having a good food experience is a priority, it’s definitely worth doing some research and planning ahead.
To Disney or not to Disney?
There’s no doubt the Tokyo Disney parks are well designed, more affordable than those in the U.S., and it’s definitely a unique experience seeing Disney with a Japanese twist. However, Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea are very popular, and things don’t always run as smoothly as at Disneyland or Disney World (think 2+ hour waits for food and rides, no fast passes after 10am if you go on the wrong day). The best way to decide is to ask yourself two things: Are you really into Disney? And are Japanese kids in school on the day you want to go? If the answer to both is no, then skip it.
Expect to spend
Right now, the exchange rate is favorable, making Tokyo a very affordable destination. Hotel prices are similar to what you’d find in major U.S. cities, but dining and activities like skiing, theme parks, and museums cost a lot less. And if you’re lucky enough to be based near an airport that ZIPAIR services, you can get to Tokyo at a fraction of the price you’d expect.
Trusted Family Voices…
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Watch on Tik Tok
“..too much hassle- especially with a baby...turns out the Dolomites are for families- especially the kind that finds joy in the simple, the slow, the wild."
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![Johnson]()
Johnson
From the Dad Perspective:
“High altitude family fun.”
“Breathtaking.”
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Watch on Instagram
"The Dolomites are wonderful not only for adults, but also for traveling with children or people who don’t like to go hike!"
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Penny, age 10
From Annie’s daughter’s travel blog:
“Best food: Four-course meal at Furschermule
Fun fact: Even though the Dolomites are in Italy, it was mostly German, like the food and language.
How 2 pronounce: doll-ah-mights (or E doll-ah-meet-E in Italian)”
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Watch on Instagram
“Our 5 amazing days with locations in the Dolomites, Italy.”
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Watch on Tik Tok
“If you’re planning a summer family trip to the Dolomites, it can feel overwhelming- the area is huge, stunning, and full of things to do.”
Family Travel Journal 2
Tokyo is the first place I reocmmend to all my friends with kids. It’s easy, affordable, fun, and different. We recently visited during spring break and were lucky enough to catch the cherry blossoms in full bloom. Tokyo in the spring really is as beautiful as people say, with streets lined with blooming trees. One of the best parts of the trip was walking along the Meguro River, trying street food and taking in the cherry blossoms. The girls were most excited about all things kawaii leading up to the trip, but by the time we left, they were fully into Sanrio and Pokémon. Shopping became its own activity, and they loved picking out souvenirs for each and every one of their friends. The biggest standout of the trip however was TeamLabs, an immersive digital art experience that completely blew us away. Nothing else we’ve seen since has come close.
Aside from the big attractions, what really stuck with us was showing the girls a place that’s just as developed and modern as what we’re used to, but built on totally different ways of doing things. It wasn’t like traveling in Europe or North America, which often feels more familiar, or in developing countries, which are still evolving in their own way and catching up on certain things. And no place we’ve ever visited has felt safer than Japan. We even felt comfortable letting the girls go into shops on their own or have a bit more freedom at DisneySea, something we’d probably be more cautious about back in the U.S. What we loved most was that this experience wasn’t just a vacation but a glimpse into another way of life.
-Annie, Cofounder
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