5 Of Our Boys Favourite Things To Do In Japan (So Far!)
The other day somebody asked me why we loved Japan so much – I gave them my standard speel about the food, the people, and the wonderful mix of ancient and modern architecture. Then they asked why the boys loved Japan – and my answer to that question was a little different.
My boys love Japanese pop culture, all things Kawaii, and like most kids their age, they both love theme parks too! So I thought it would make a fun post to sit the boys down and ask them all about their favourite things to do in Japan (so far!) I thought this might be interesting if you’re visiting Japan with your own kids too – kids so often have similar interests and expectations! So if you’d like to read what my boys had to say, in their own words, here it is:
- Exploring Akihabara (From Big Boy, Age 12)
- Visiting Tokyo Disneyland (From Big Boy, Age 12)
- Eating In The Pokemon Cafe (From Little Lad, Age 9)
- Visiting Tokyo DisneySea (From Little Lad, Age 9)
- Universal Studios Japan (Both Boys Picked This One!)
- Conclusion
Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!
Exploring Akihabara (From Big Boy, Age 12)
The first thing W said when I asked him what his favourite thing to do in Japan was, was go to Akihabara.’
Akihabara is sometimes also referred to as “Electric Town” and it’s a district in Tokyo, Japan, famous for its electronics shops and as the center of Japanese otaku culture, which includes anime, manga, and video games. This is like music to my kids ears: they absolutely love all things Japanese pop culture and are both Pokemon obsessed.
We only spent an afternoon/evening in Akihabara, but they could have spent several days here looking at every display in every shop: if your traveling with someone that loves anime, video games, or anything else in that wheelhouse, they will LOVE it here.
When I asked W why he loved Akihabara so much he said “I love all the cool Pokemon stuff and the prices are so good so I could get lots of cards to bring home. I like the atmosphere and its very cool with all the lights at night. Plus I really liked eating the chocolate magikarp and going to the arcades too.”
We explored Akihabara independently, and you absolutely don’t need a tour to visit this part of the city, but if you’re time short or want a more comprehensive insight then you can book a guided tour to take you around.
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Visiting Tokyo Disneyland (From Big Boy, Age 12)
I write about Disney a lot here, so it will come as no surprise that my boys love the Disney parks: but they especially love the parks in Japan, which are their hands-down favourite.
There are two Disney Parks in Tokyo: Tokyo Disneyland (which is a conventional ‘castle park’ with a Japanese twist) and Tokyo DisneySea, which is completely unique and unlike any other Disney Park in the world. Each of my boys has their favourite park, and they’re each different!
If you have the time, I recommend visiting both parks to see them for yourselves. Although DisneySea is considered the more ‘adult’ park with Tokyo Disneyland aimed at kids, it’s this park that’s my oldest’s favourite.
According to W “There’s so much I love about Tokyo Disneyland. The Toon Town is so unique, and you can meet so many characters here that i’ve never seen anywhere else in the world. Plus I really liked the food here, especially the sausage with the bone in. Some of my favourite rides were the BayMax ride and Splash Mountain. I can’t wait until we can go back again!”
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FURTHER READING FOR VISITING TOKYO DISNEYLAND:
How Far in Advance Can You Book Tokyo Disney Tickets?
Visiting Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea: Which Is Better For Kids?
Eating In The Pokemon Cafe (From Little Lad, Age 9)
Top of our youngest’s list of things to do in Japan is go to the Pokemon Cafe: We’ve already eaten here twice, but he’s asked to go again on our next trip. Personally I think this is a ‘one and done’ kind of experience, but I’m not a massive Pokemon fan. My boys are, and they couldn’t have been my emphatic in their praise for this place: the decor, the themed food, and the warm and welcoming staff.
It’s a perfect themed cafe for kids and for adult Pokemon fans alike. The food wasn’t Michellin starred, but I was impressed with the quality given that people would eat almost anything if it were shaped like their favourite character! The menu is quite small but well put together, and the exclusive themed merchandise is especially appealing.
H was so enthusiastic about this wanting me to share “Its heavenly! The food is so cute and perfect and I love the entertainment. When Pikachu comes out to dance its so amazing to watch it makes me want to get up and dance with him. I wish we could eat here every single day!”
FURTHER READING FOR VISITING THE POKEMON CAFE:
The Food at the Pokemon Cafe Tokyo: Everything We Ate During Our Visit
Buying a Pokemon Cafe Reservation: A Costly Adventure
Visiting Tokyo DisneySea (From Little Lad, Age 9)
Tokyo DisneySea is my favourite theme park in the world, and my youngest boy agrees! This theme park is something special, with some of the best theming of any theme park I’ve ever visited. It also has the best theme park food i’ve ever tried too. The attention to detail with the food theming is just as good as the attention to detail with the architecture and decor.
The whole park is water themed, taking inspiration from different ports: you can even take a gondola ride just like you’re in Venice.
As an added bonus, both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea are incredibly affordable to visit: The tickets are considerably cheaper than visiting the Disney Parks in the U.S or in Disneyland Paris too.
H says that “This is the best theme park for Duffy lovers and it has great scenery and there’s lots of places for children to play. I was so excited that I got to meet Duffy Bear (my favourite character) and I loved lots of the rides especially 2000 Leagues Under The Sea, Journey to the Centre of the Earth and The Adventures of Sinbad because it’s adorable and it has such a lovely story.”
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FURTHER READING FOR VISITING TOKYO DISNEYLAND:
The 7 Best Tokyo Disney Sea Tips (Plus Other Tips For Visiting Disney Sea)
Visiting Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea: Which Is Better For Kids?
Universal Studios Japan (Both Boys Picked This One!)
The one universal attraction (pun intended) that both my boys agreed was one of their favourite things to do in Japan was visit Universal Studios Japan. I’ve told this story so many time before, but we visited Japan for the first time specifically because we told them we could take them to see the new Super Nintendo World as soon as we could after lockdown ended.
Honestly, although this isn’t a list of my picks, I couldn’t recommend this place enough: it felt like all of my childhood dreams come true, my misspent youth playing Mario with my sisters had come to life.
The oldest says “It’s just so cool, especially Mario Land, and the animatronics are cutting edge” while the youngest added that “all the rides are amazing too, this was my best day ever when we were in Japan!”
And there’s so much more to Universal Studios Japan that just Super Nintendo World too – you can don robes and enter the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, or be chased by dinosaurs in Jurassic Park. We’re taking the boys back to Universal Studios Japan in April, and of all the (many) experiences we’ve planned for our next trip, I think this is the one their most excited about!
We’ve visited Universal Studios Japan twice: once with Express Passes and once with just the standard entry tickets, and we still had an amazing trip both times. Which means, just like visiting the Tokyo Disneyland Resort, visiting USJ doesn’t have to break the bank!
👉 Click here to check availablity and book your Universal Studios Japan tickets
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FURTHER READING FOR VISITING UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN:
Universal Studios Japan Vacation Planning Guide: How to book, tips, and more!
Our 10 Tried and Tested Tips For Visiting Universal Studios Japan on a Budget
Conclusion
Honestly, if writing this has shown me one thing? It’s that maybe the most obvious attractions are obvious for a reason! I spend hours searching for unique and unusual experiences in Japan that we can enjoy as a family, but the things my boys actually want to do are the ones right at the top of every single ‘Japan for Families’ list.
On the bright side, it means that it will be very easy to make all the boys dreams come true on our next Japanese adventure – we’ve already made plans to visit every single place on their list!
Have you visited Japan with your kids? What were their favourite things to do in Japan? I’d love to hear about your trip from a kids perspective, and maybe their favourites will give us some new ideas of things to do too! Leave your ideas in the comments below!
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Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!
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