Choosing where to stay in Tokyo with kids is the biggest and most important decision you will make of your whole trip. Tokyo is one of the biggest cities in the world (the third biggest, at time of writing) so finding the right area to stay can feel overwhelming. The city is huge, the transport system looks complicated, and the “best” area really depends on how you’re planning to explore.

Where to Stay in Tokyo with Kids: Best Areas & Family-Friendly Hotels (2026 Guide)

The good news is that we’ve now visited Tokyo four times as a family of four, spending several weeks trying a few different areas first-hand. While there’s no such thing as the perfect location in Tokyo, or in any city, there are definitely some that work much better for families than others.

So let’s dive straight in! Here’s exactly where I’d recommend staying in Tokyo with kids, and why.

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Best Areas to Stay in Tokyo with Kids (Quick Guide)

Just want a quick answer without the in-depth area guides and hotel reviews? Here it is:

Tokyo Bay / Shiomi – Best for Disneyland, more family space, or combining Disney with the city
Shinjuku – Best for fast, convenient transport connections
Asakusa / Ueno – Best for budget stays and excellent sightseeing
Ryogoku – The sumo heart of the city. Best for a quieter, local feel
Kinshicho – An underrated family-friendly gem (and our new favourite place to stay!)

Tokyo Bay Or Shiomi (Best for Disney Breaks)

If visiting Disneyland or DisneySea is going to be a big part of your trip, this is one of the easiest places to stay.

We have done this in three different ways.

We stayed in Tokyo Bay (in the Oriental Hotel Tokyo Bay) for 2 weeks, commuting into the city
We stayed in Tokyo Bay (in the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay) for our 3 Disney days, then moved to a city centre hotel
We stayed in Shiomi (in the Shiomi Prince Hotel) which is equi-distant between the Disney Resort and Tokyo Station, giving you the best of both worlds.

The outside pool at the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel, Tokyo, Japan

Why Tokyo Bay Works So Well:

We’ve chosen to stay in Tokyo Bay so many times because, with the kids keen to visit the Tokyo Disney Resort parks on every single visit to Japan, it just works! Some of the main reasons we keep going back are because they offer:

Generous space. The hotel rooms we’ve stayed in in Tokyo Bay have been some of the biggest we’ve chosen in the city, perfect for older families that need their space
Great facilities. Because these hotels are aimed at families going to Tokyo Disney Resort, they’re set up for families. You’ll find facilities like playrooms, swimming pools, and even arcades and entertainment centres.
Great transport links. The best options offer free shuttles to the Disney parks, and easy access to the monorail or metro station. This means getting to the Disney resort is incredibly straight forward!

Check out a selection of hotels in the Tokyo Bay area below:

Kinshicho (Our Favourite Hidden Gem)

Kinshicho completely surprised us, and if I’m honest, it ended up being one of my favourite areas to stay with kids. When we first started researching the area, we learnt that it used to be Tokyo’s red light district and almost cancelled our hotel, worrying it wouldn’t be a great fit with the kids….but we stuck with it and loved every minute!

Nowadays, Kinshicho is a popular residential area with local families. We stayed at the MIMARU Tokyo Kinshicho in a Pokémon room, which was a dream for the boys, and although it was a splurge financially, it was probably the best hotel decision we made on our last Japan trip!

But beyond the novelty of the room, the location itself is fantastic.

Why Kinshicho works so well:

Excellent transport links across Tokyo (the MIMARU was a 3 minute walk to the metro station)
An area popular with families. Lots of local families live here, and you’ll see them walking to school and on the streets. That means there are plenty of family facilites including a large park and playground called Kinshi Park close to the Metro station, as well as family-friendly shops and restaurants.
Many of the hotels (including ours) offer larger, family-friendly hotel rooms
You’re surrounded by great shopping and food options (including 2 malls, one of which has a Toys R Us!)
Kinshicho is close to the Tokyo Skytree (one stop on the metro or you can walk) plus it’s only two stops away from Akihabara
It feels less busy and overwhelming than central areas. The whole thing just felt so easy.

Where We Stayed in Kinshicho

We stayed at the MIMARU Tokyo Kinshicho and we loved every minute of our stay. It’s an amazing spot for families, thanks to its large apart-hotel style rooms with dining area and kitchen, as well as plenty of living space. It’s really hard to separate the novelty from the practicality (the head from the heart) here because we all just loved them theming of this room so much! It was beautifully done.
👉 Our full MIMARU Tokyo Kinshicho hotel review is here

If you want space, convenience, and a more relaxed base, this is a brilliant choice.

Check out a selection of chosen hotels in Kinshicho below:

Ryogoku (Quiet, local and family-friendly)

If you’re looking for somewhere a little quieter and more “local”, Ryogoku is a great option. If you’re not familiar, this is the part of the city where sumo live and train. We loved seeing the sumo every day: riding bicycles, running errands, even getting on the metro alongside them. If you want to feel like you’re living in Tokyo and not just staying there, Ryogoku is a great place to choose.

Sumo on a bicycle in Ryogoku in Tokyo, Japan

We stayed at the Petit Grand Miyabi Ryogoku, and it felt like a completely different side of Tokyo. This is an apart-hotel, and the room was a little smaller than we were expecting, but we loved having our own kitchenette, and the roof terrace was lovely, with views of the Tokyo Skytree.

Why Ryogoku works for families:

This location is quieter and less touristy than other parts of the city
Despite this, it’s still a central spot and still well-connected by train
It’s an interesting cultural area, right in the heart of the sumo district, and there are loads of amazing museums nearby, including the incredible Tokyo Edo Museum.

It’s a great choice if you want to escape the crowds at the end of the day. We loved grabbing snacks from the Seven Eleven, wandering through the half empty streets back to our lovely quiet hotel.

The exterior of the Petite Grand Miyabi in Ryogoku, Japan

Where to stay in Ryogoku

We stayed at the Petit Grand Miyabi Ryogoku. This was a small apart-hotel, and the rooms were fairly compact given they were aimed at families, but this was also our most affordable Tokyo-stay, and the location was absolutely perfect!

Ideal for families who want a calmer, more relaxed Tokyo experience.

Check out a selection of hotels in Ryogoku below:

Shinjuku (Best for Fast Transport Connections)

Shinjuku is one of the most popular areas to stay in Tokyo, and for good reason. So many people choose to stay in Shinjuku because it’s one of the biggest transport hubs in the city, which makes getting around incredibly easy.

Pros:

The main pro of staying in Shinjuku is that there are excellent connections everywhere. It’s just so convenient!
Shinjuku is a busy spot with lots of hotels, restaurants and shops.
It’s a central location, so if you’re only stay for a night or two this is a practical, easy spot.

Cons:

Shinjuku is a very busy area
Because of the crowds and popularity, Shinjuku can feel overwhelming with kids

I’d recommend this for first-time visitors who want convenience above all else, but it’s not the most relaxing base. For this reason, we haven’t chosen to stay in Shinjuku to date, because we tend to have longer stays where space to relax and unwind is important to us. If you only have a short period of time in Tokyo, it’s a sensible, practical choice.

Check out a selection of options in Shinjuku below:

Asakusa & Ueno (Best for budget & sightseeing)

We love Ueno and it’s a great place to visit with kids. Both Ueno and Asakusa are great areas if you want something more affordable and close to major attractions. They’re also rich cultural hubs, and it’s so lovely to be able to walk out of your hotel door and straight into something fun and exciting to see or do.

The Best Things To Do in Ueno, Tokyo (2026 Family Guide)

Why they work:

Asakusa and Ueno generally offer cheaper hotels than other central areas like Shinjuku and Shibuya
You can enjoy walkable sightseeing, no metro needed for some of the best attractions in the city
You’ll be close to temples, parks and museums

These are both parts of Tokyo we genuinely love. Staying in either Asakusa or Ueno is a really good option for first-time visitors who want to keep costs down without sacrificing location.

Standing at the Senso-ji temple, Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan

Check out some options for hotels in Ueno here:

How to Choose the Right Area

If you’re not sure where to stay, this is a simple way to decide:

Visiting Disney? → Tokyo Bay / Shiomi
First time in Tokyo? → Shinjuku or Asakusa
Want something quieter? → Ryogoku or Kinshicho
On a budget? → Ueno / Asakusa

Tips for Staying in Tokyo with Kids

We’ve now visited Tokyo on four occasions and stayed in half a dozen different hotels. If you’re still not sure where to stay in Tokyo with kids, then a few things we learned from experience are:

Stay close to a train station. This is my biggest tip because it will make such a huge difference when you’re trying to get back to your hotel at the end of a long day with lots of steps.
Rooms are generally smaller than you expect when you stay in Tokyo. Family hotels are worth the extra financial investment if you want more space and room.
Not all stations on the Metro in Tokyo have lifts. This is definitely something to check in advance if using a buggy, as it will save you a lot of work and effort.
Staying in Tokyo for a while? Hotels with laundry facilities are really helpful, and mean that you can pack lighter/have more room for souvenirs in your luggage!
Convenience stores nearby are absolute lifesavers. Hitting the konbini on the way back to the room is such a highlight for my boys!

Final Thoughts and Further Reading

Choosing where to stay in Tokyo with kids is one of the earliest decisions you’ll make when planning your big Tokyo adventure! But it’s not the only important decision you’ll make. From choosing the right apps to the right activities, getting to and from the airport to putting together the perfect itinerary, we’ve got everything you need to know in one handy spot.

Check out some of our most popular planning articles here:

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Where to Stay in Tokyo with Kids: Best Areas & Family-Friendly Hotels (2026 Guide)

Best Areas to Stay in Tokyo with Kids (Quick Guide)