Part of Tokyo’s charm is that it offers both abundant nature and plenty of places where you can enjoy the latest exhibitions without worrying about the weather. Here are 10 spots we recommend for both Tokyo residents and those visiting Tokyo with their children!
Featuring the seas of the Ogasawara Islands as its theme, the aquarium boasts the “Ogasawara Grand Tank,” where schools of vibrantly colored fish swim together; one of Japan’s largest open-air tanks, where you can feel the presence of penguins and sea lions up close; and the “Big Petri Dish,” a fantastical basin-style tank where approximately 500 moon jellyfish float gracefully.
teamLab is a Japanese art collective whose works are exhibited in museums around the world. At the “Mori Building Digital Art Museum: Epson teamLab Borderless,” which opened in Azabudai Hills in February 2024, visitors can fully immerse themselves in art without boundaries and enjoy the experience of “wandering, exploring, and discovering within a single, boundless world.” Admission is free for children 3 and under.
An indoor attraction decorated with over 3 million LEGO® bricks. It features a wide range of attractions, including “Miniland,” a miniature diorama recreated using more than 1.6 million LEGO® bricks, and “Merlin’s Apprentice,” where you can pedal to experience the sensation of soaring high into the sky. Free admission for children 3 and under.
One of Asia’s largest miniature museums. It consists of eight distinct themed areas, including the Space Center Area, World Cities Area, and Sailor Moon Area. During “PET DAY,” held on the 11th and 22nd of every month, you can enjoy the miniature world with your pets. Free admission for children 2 and under.
This park, situated on the shores of the deep-blue waters of Tokyo Bay, was created with five zones centered on the theme of the interaction between nature, water, and people. The Bird Park zone opened in 1994, the “Crystal View” observation rest house in 1995, and the Ferris wheel —standing 117 meters tall and offering a roughly 17-minute aerial ride—in 2001. Since it’s located a short distance from the city center, it’s highly recommended for families looking to avoid the crowds.
The planetarium facility at the Shibuya City Cultural Center Owada. It offers a wide variety of projection programs, including “Kids’ Time” (recommended for young children), the healing “Starry Music Series,” and “Tonight’s Star Tour,” where you can enjoy uniquely engaging constellation explanations. Eight star guides take turns presenting the shows on a random daily basis.
A national park spanning Tachikawa City and Akishima City. The grounds feature a swimming pool, barbecue areas, a vast “Everyone’s Meadow,” and a dog park, so you’ll never get bored no matter how many times you visit. There are many gates, but it’s about an 18-minute walk from Tachikawa Station to the Tachikawa Gate.
A mountain in Hachioji City that, along with Mount Fuji, was awarded three Michelin stars in 2019. From the base of the mountain, you can take a cable car or ski lift up to the mid-slope elevation. All hiking trails take about 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete, so even beginner hikers with children can enjoy them with ease. It’s also known as the mountain with the most hikers in the world, so weekdays are recommended if you want to avoid the crowds. The fastest trip from Shinjuku Station on the Keio Line to Takaosanguchi Station takes 47 minutes.
If you have the chance to climb Mount Takao, be sure to visit this art museum. Featuring comfortable spaces—such as a café and terrace that symbolize the integrated design of the interior and exterior—it showcases Mount Takao’s rich ecosystem, history, and culture through unique videos and exhibits.
Inside the building — which looks like it could have come straight out of a Hayao Miyazaki film —you’ll find the permanent exhibition “Where Movies Are Born” and the Catbus, which is exclusively for elementary school students and younger. At “Dozensha,” original short animations and high-quality animated works recommended by the Ghibli Museum are screened. Admission tickets are available only through a reservation system with designated dates and times.
