This post was updated on 02/07/2025 to update prices and the ensure all Tokyo itineray information is as up to date as possible.

In total we’ve now spent several weeks in Tokyo. It’s by far our favourite city in the world. But i’m well aware the way we see Tokyo will be very different to the way the young, the hip, and the influencial see the city. Which is why I’ve create an ultimate 5 day Tokyo itinerary with kids. This itinerary will work for everyone, but has a particular focus on those travelling with kids to Tokyo.

Travelling to Tokyo with kids is an epic experience. We’ve travelled to lots of different countries with our boys, but none has captured our imaginations quite like Japan! From the minute we got back from our last trip to Tokyo we’ve been counting down the minutes to our next trip to Japan!

One of the things that make our trips to Tokyo so successful? Planning, planning, and more planning. You need a Tokyo Itinerary (even just a loose one) to anchor your days.

This isn’t a city that you can just turn up and have a good time in. Or at least, not in high season and not if you have specific attractions you want to see and do. Reservations for the Pokemon cafe, for example, are released 31 days in advance, and book up in minutes. Read about how we paid to book a Pokemon cafe reservation on our last Tokyo trip.

This is a dream come true for type A planners like me. But if you’re not a big planner don’t worry. Based on our tried and tested tips, I’ve put together an easy to follow 5 day Tokyo itinerary for families.

This itinerary is also aimed at Tokyo first timers. If you’ve visited the city before you might want to head a little more off the beaten path (you’ll find loads of inspiration for that on this blog too) but these are the main Tokyo attractions first timers shouldn’t miss.

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!

Ultimate 5 Day Tokyo Itinerary (Includes Kid-Friendly Options)

1. Ultimate 5 Day Tokyo Itinerary (Includes Kid-Friendly Options)
2. Day 1 Morning – Tokyo Tower
3. Day 1 Afternoon – Visit The Imperial Palace
4. Day 1 Evening – Visit The Pokemon Centre And Pokemon Cafe
5. Day 2 – Tokyo Disneyland
6. Day 3 – Tokyo Disney Sea
7. Day 4 Morning – Meiji Shrine
8. Day 4 Afternoon – Harajuku
9. Day 4 Evening – Shibuya
10. Day 5 Morning – The Unko Museum
11. Day 5 Afternoon – Visit Teamlabs Planets
12. Where To Eat in Tokyo
13. Where To Stay in Tokyo

Day 1 Morning – Tokyo Tower

The scale of Tokyo is awe-inspiring. It’s the largest city in the world by population and the scale of it can be both overwhelming and hard to get your head around.

So the very best ways to truly appreciate the scale of the city is to get as high as possible and look out over it.

I think if you’re going to do a look out (like the Tokyo Tower or Tokyo Skytree) then you should do this as early as possible in your trip. Which is why I’ve made this the very first item on my 5 day Tokyo itinerary! Which you choose is up to you, but I have a real soft spot for the Eiffel Tower-esque romance of the Tokyo Tower.

There are 2 options for the Tokyo Tower depending on how high up the tower you want to go. These are the main deck and the top deck. I REALLY recommend choosing the top deck, especially if this is your first or only trip to the city.

The main deck ticket will cost £7.69 per adult. If you want to go all the way up to the top deck then this will cost £16.95 per person.

We booked our tickets via Klook as these are dated tickets and it meant we could guarentee entry on the day that we wanted to visit. One some tickets Klook also offer refunds or flexible booking conditions that are really handy

🎫 You can buy these HERE and code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK will get you an additional 5% discount.

👉Check Availability and book your Tokyo Tower tickets here

Allow at least 2 hours all-in for your trip to the Tokyo Tower, including the time you’ll queue to get to the top, and mooching around the gift shops on the way back down.

🗼 You can read a full post about Going To The Top Of The Tokyo Tower here.

Day 1 Afternoon – Visit The Imperial Palace

From the Tokyo Tower you’re just 23 minutes away (by public transport) from the Imperial Palace. Just walk to the Onarimon Station and take the Mita Line towards Nishi-Takashimadaira. Get off at Otemachi Station.

You can’t actually go into the Palace, but you can go inside the palace walls and explore their spectacular gardens. We visited in April and with all the cherry blossoms this was outstanding. The kids loved this, and enjoyed the freedom of running around the grounds too.

You can also enjoy the outside of many of the palace buildings, as well as the ornate palace walls. Often people skip the palace because you can’t walk inside (like you can with other palaces) but I still think it’s well worth exploring.

You do need a ticket to access the Palace gardens, but as an added bonus these tickets are free of charge. You can book these here.

Day 1 Evening – Visit The Pokemon Centre And Pokemon Cafe

It’s a short walk from the Imperial Palace (via the Tokyo Station which is an icon of architecture, and well worth seeing in its own right) to the Pokemon Centre DX and Pokemon Cafe.

The cafe opens from 10.30am – 10pm, while shopping in the Pokemon Centre closes at 9pm, so you can experience both in the early evening after you’ve explored the palace. If you’ve got a Pokemon fan in your family you have to add visiting the Pokemon cafe to your Tokyo Itinerary!

If you can’t get a reservation for the cafe in the evening you could change up this itinerary by visiting at lunchtime and then going to the palace gardens afterwards instead. This would make your day much busier (which is why this was my preferred option) but would free up your evening.

The Pokemon Cafe experience is so much fun. Everything is perfectly themed, including the food, and the service is super attentive. The Pokemon decor had my boys in awe, and then Pikachu came out to do a little dance and show. This is the number one experience in Tokyo if you’re travelling with Pokemon fans!

YOU WILL NEED A RESERVATION to visit the Pokemon cafe, and getting one can be tricky as demand is so high.

😎 I’ve written a full guide on how to get a reservation at the Pokemon cafe here.

😊 You can also see all of the food we ate in the Pokemon Cafe here.

If you still have the energy, the Pokemon Cafe and Centre are inside a huge shopping mall and in the heart of a popular shopping district, so you could spend a couple of hours hitting the shops (or finding a bar or two) but at this point we would be calling it a night and heading off to bed!

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Day 2 – Tokyo Disneyland

If you’re a Disney fan or a theme park junkie then you’re going to need 2 days to cover the Disney parks in Tokyo Disneyland. You can do these in whichever order you want, but you’ll need a full day in Tokyo Disneyland and a full day in Tokyo Disney Sea.

If you only want to dedicate one day to visiting a theme park then I would recommend visiting Tokyo Disney Sea instead of Tokyo Disneyland. Why? Because Tokyo Disneyland is an identical park to the ones in Paris, Florida and California. Whereas Tokyo Disney Sea is completely unique.

BUT despite saying that, we absolutely loved the Tokyo Disneyland Park. It was home to some unique rides that we’d never ridden before, the food was amazing, the whole atmosphere and experience…we’re disney fans, but I really could gush for hours.

Rides not to be missed (that you can’t ride anywhere else) include the Baymax spin ride, and the Beauty and the Beast castle ride. Make sure you eat as many of the Toy Story Alien mochi balls as possible!

We also thought that the Japanese approach to character meets was much better. There were so many more characters out and about, but they stood behind lines, and you just went up to the line or the circle they were stood in to take a selfie. No long queues, no hassle!

It’s also worth noting that the entry tickets, the food, the merchandise, eerything really, is considerably cheaper in Tokyo Disneyland than in the parks in France or America. We were pleasantly surprised by this and it meant we didn’t have to say no when the kids were asking for their 8th snack of the day!

The prices to visit both Disney parks are the same, but you so have to specify which park ticket you want when you book. We booked with Klook because it allowed us to book in English – when we tried to book via the official Disney website, it wouldn’t let us use our UK credit cards.

Tickets are priced at £40.09 per adult and £23.85 per child aged between 3 and 11. Use this link to book, and remember that code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK gets you an extra 5% off.

👉 Use this link to book Tokyo Disneyland tickets, and check availability and pricing

Day 3 – Tokyo Disney Sea

Tokyo Disney Sea is unlike any theme park I’ve ever been to, and I understand why it is consistently called the best theme park in the world. Even if you don’t consider yourself a Disney fan, please don’t miss this park!

It is divided into different sea ports, and the theming is so on point. Every attention to detail has been covered: the Venetian port looked so much like Venice (only, better!) The rides are also excellent, as are the shows, but it is the parks theming that makes it stand out from the crowd.

A new park expansion took place in Tokyo Disney Sea last year: Fantasy Springs, and the reviews are incredible. We haven’t visited this yet, but we will be checking it out in April.

I have so much more to write about the Tokyo Disney Parks (new posts are coming!) but in the meantime you can read my list of the 5 best snacks in Tokyo Disneyland here.

👉 Use this link to book Tokyo DisneySea tickets, and check availability and pricing

Alternative Option: If you’re not a Disney fan you could replace your second Disney day with a trip to the trippy, kawaii, and totally unique Sanrio Puroland instead.

Spoiler alert: I love Sanrio Puroland! Sanrio Puroland is a riot of colour and a real sensory overload. The atmosphere is vibrant, and because of the theme of the park, you’ll find pastel colours, kawaii characters, and floral motifs everywhere.

Sanrio Puroland is one of the most affordable theme park attractions in Tokyo. A one day ticket costs just £16.10 per person. We booked our tickets with Klook and  you can get 5% by using my discount code (THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK) Use this link.

Want to find out more about what is officially my favourite theme park in Tokyo? You can read my full post on how to book Sanrio Puroland here.

👉 Book Sanrio Puroland Tickets BEFORE you arrive to avoid disappointment

Day 4 Morning – Meiji Shrine

You can’t visit Tokyo without exploring one of its many beautiful shrines. The Meiji Shrine is one of the most famous and is located right next to Harajuku station, meaning its location is convenient too.

The Meiji shrine is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, the Empress Shoken. You can approach the shrine though a beautiful forested path that will make you almost forget that you’re in the middle of a city. Entry into the shrine is marked with a huge tori gate, so you can’t miss that you’re in the right place!

Don’t expect to have the whole place to yourself though- this is officially one of the most popular shrines in Japan.

Continuing a tranquil morning, after you’ve fully explored the shrine, take time to linger in Yoyogi Park. The shrine sits inside the park, and this is one of the most beautiful parks to explore. Firstly, it’s enormous: as big as New York’s central park. It’s well cared for with beautiful trees and winding paths. The cherry blossoms here in spring are truly exceptional.

Day 4 Afternoon – Harajuku

The walk from Yoyogi Park to Harajuku takes just 10 minutes, so this is a convenient next stop.

Harajuku is the heart of Tokyo youth culture. It’s a great place to see local people dressed up in amazing fashions and cosplay. It’s also a fun spot for shopping, eating, and generally soaking up the atmosphere. Make a plan that this is where you’ll stop for your lunch on day 4.

There are several themed cafes that you can book here (be sure to make a reservation, as these go fast) including the Sanrio Pompom Purin cafe and a Snoopy cafe.

Alternatively, you can just pig out on the abundance of Kawaii junk food available here. Fine dining this is not! But if you want rainbow candyfloss or rainbow-coloured grilled cheese sandwiches, then this is the place to be.

Harajuku is crowded and chaotic. Be prepared to queue for everything from your food to getting into the most popular shops. But it’s also a lot of fun! This is a great place to grab unique gifts and goodies, so be prepared to spend some money.

As a side quest, or if you want to escape the madness of Takeshita Street (the main shopping street in Harajuku) you can visit the Togo shrine, which is just off Takeshita Street. Climb the stairs up to the shrine which is quite small, but perfectly formed. The contrast of the calm against the chaos is what makes this shrine so special.

🍬 I’ve written a full post about visiting Harajuku, which you can read here.

Day 4 Evening – Shibuya

Getting from Harajuku to Shibuya is an easy 16 minute (and 1.2km) walk, so leave the public transport and take a stroll from Harajuku to Shibuya for the evening.

Shibuya is one of the most iconic spots in Tokyo, although it seems odd to list what is a glorified road crossing as a tourist attraction. Enjoy the incredible neon lights and billboard, especially the 3D billboards (this was the first time i’d ever seen one, and my mind was boggled).

We walked across the crossing, went to see the statue of Hachiko, the world’s most famous dog, and soaked up the atmosphere. Be aware that the crowds are overwhelming, so take your patience and your manners, and get in line!

There are tonnes of arcades if you’re looking for kid-friendly entertaiment, and the three-storey Disney store in Shibuya is one of the best i’ve ever visited. So those are great options for entertaining kids! If you don’t add Shibuya to your Tokyo Itinerary then you’ll be making a huge mistake!

You can also have dinner (there’s a whole section on food during your stay below) or try your hand at karaoke here.

Day 5 Morning – The Unko Museum

The Unko museum is a museum dedicated to all things poop related. Now i’m not about to stand and tell you that this is the best museum or attraction in Tokyo! But if you’re travelling with kids it’s an absolute must visit attraction – believe it or not this was one of my boys highlights. Because we all know little boys love poop!

You’ll find every kind of poop here: pastel coloured poop, fluffy poop, poop in all kinds of odd incarnations. It’s less of a museum and more a series of poop themed photo opportunities.

Not surprisingly as i’ve mentioned it several times already (only because it’s true!)  we booked with Klook. This was one of the cheapest things we booked in advance, with tickets costing £10.25 per adult and £5.63 per child under the age of 12. (Code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK gets you 5% off these prices).

👉 Check availability and book your tickets here!

You get your own coloured poop on a stick to bring home with you, that will appear in a toilet when you sit down on it. You can also play poop arcade games, play in a ball pond filled with poops, and take more poop photos than you’ll know what to do with here. You’ll need to allow around 2 hours to visit the Unko Museum.

You can read my full review of the Unko Museum here. The Unko museum is in Odaiba inside the Diver City shopping mall, meaning that you can enjoy many of the other attractions that Odaiba has to offer as part of this last morning.

Day 5 Afternoon – Visit Teamlabs Planets

Odaiba is an amazing place, but it can also be a bit of a pain to get to! So from here I recommend you treat yourself to a taxi (it’s around a 15 minute taxi ride) to Teamlab Planets.

Teamlabs Planets is a digital art gallery and an amazing experience for adults and kids alike. We booked this as a treat for my husband, but the kids loved it just as much.

All of your senses are simulated here, from walking through water to bouncing around enormous balls. So it appeals to people of all ages. And it’s a great way to end your trip!

🎨 You can read more about our experience at Teamlabs Planets here.

You won’t be surpised to see me write again that we booked our tickets via Klook. We paid £22.49 per adult and £10.79 per child (this applies to childen under 12) for our tickets. There is also a reduced rate available for children aged between 12-17.

👉You can book these tickets here.

Reminder that if you use my affiliate code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK then you will get an extra 5% off the Klook prices quoted above. This code works on almost all Japan experiences on Klook

Where To Eat in Tokyo

We’re a family of foodies, and eating is HUGE part of our Tokyo Experience. From sushi, to ramen, to the best cuts of Wagyu beef, we always have long lists of things we want to eat when we’re travelling in Tokyo.

We love our street food. We’re a big fan of quick eats. But we’re also happy to have a special fine dining moment now and again too.

But the problem is, we struggle to stick with restaurant reservations we’ve made 6 months in advance: there’s no way of knowing when the kids will be hungry, or the exact time an activity will finish.

And many restaurants in Tokyo (and Japan in general) have such long lead times to guarantee a table. If you’re in the same boat then I recommend using Last Minute Japan.

This is a simple (and free to use!) website that lets you make same-day bookings simple, accessible, and stress-free, even for first-time visitors. You can find a restaurant for today, tomorrow, or the day after – it’s never too late to eat well, without the pressure of knowing your schedule weeks in adance!

👉 Check availability and make your last minute restaurant reservations here.

Where To Stay in Tokyo

One of the questions i’m asked most is about where to stay in Tokyo. There are several different schools of thought on this! Some people prefer to stay in Central Tokyo so they’re right in the heart of the action.

Because we combined our time in central Tokyo with a couple of days in the Tokyo Disneyland Parks, we like to stay on the JE Metro Line. This runs from Tokyo Station (which is right in the heart of the city) to Maihama, which is where the Tokyo Disney Resort parks are.

There are two hotels we LOVE on this list. One is closer to the city, and one is closer to the Disney parks.

🏩 You can read our review of the Oriential Hotel Tokyo Bay (A disney partner hotel) here

🏨 Read our honest review of the Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel here.

👉 Use Expedia to search for your perfect hotel!

We always use Expedia (and partner with Expedia) becaue you can pay on arrival (so you don’t have to have the cash up front) and you can cancel and book a different hotel if you change your mind before you arrive – something I’ve done when I start obsessively reading hotel reviews!

Have you visited Tokyo before and what were your favourite experiences? Is there anything you would include in the perfect 5 day Tokyo itinerary that you think I’ve missed? Or are you planning to go to Tokyo soon, and what experiences are you looking forward to most? I’d love to hear all your thoughts! Start the conversation below!

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