This isn’t a guide on a pinterest-worthy, lush birthday celebrations and the organization required.
I feel that there are plenty of gorgeous made-to-order cake shops and birthday party rooms/ venues around in Tokyo that the bigger events are reasonably self-explanatory (let me know in an email if this isn’t the case for you and I’ll craft together another post with a list.)
Instead, these are the shortcuts I’ve managed to throw together last minute for my kids if their actual birthday falls on a weekday, for example, or if we suddenly work out that a visitor is spending their birthday in Tokyo or a playdate with a good friend requires a little (and * clears throat* last minute!!) celebration.
The easiest last minute cake is the Baskin Robbins (most Japanese people refer to Baskin Robbins as “Thirty-One” – because of the number of flavours and the way that they are just marketed here) cake. If you say Baskin & Robbins, most Japanese people will be confused.
You don’t always need to reserve a cake in advance. There are often 9 different options to choose from.
You just walk in, and they will write “Happy Birthday (name)” on a little fondant cake and even provide you with ice-packs so the cake will survive the journey home.
They also provide 4 complimentary colourful candles (and they sell number candles for 700 yen each.)
Baskin Robbins have stores all over Tokyo (Google Baskin & Robbins Tokyo for your closest options to appear.)
These ice-cream cakes are between 2000-4000 yen.
Or… if you’d prefer to celebrate on the spot, they also make these cute individual scoops.
This year we were in Kyoto for my little boy’s birthday and I rushed in 30 minutes before closing time.
The staff so kindly helped me transform a Christmas Minion cake into a birthday option and I almost leapt across the counter for a thank you cuddle.
The Kit-Kat Cake
Right when I left Australia to move here with kids the kit-kat cake was the latest thing. But think about it in Japan? You can do all of the new kit-kat flavours and in all of their pretty colours!!!!
(Oh and cheat like I do by using a pre-purchased or packet mix cake for underneath all of that kit-kat goodness. )
Kids decorating their own (or their friend’s) cake
You can make this event even more unique to Tokyo by using your child’s favourite candy from the convenience store, old-fashioned Japanese lolly shop (like the one mentioned here in my Hiroo & AzabuJuban area with Kids post) or the supermarket.
Doughnut Cake
I forgot to organize a birthday cake for my little boys’ class party (Mum of the Year, I know) last year and had to do some very quick improvising. Everyone actually loved it and said it was cute ! Phew!
I bought a packet of these doughnuts from the biscuit section of a convenience store.
I’m 90% sure that I used these doughnuts from Lawson but there are lots of other similar brands in 7 -Eleven and Family Mart (and even more again in the supermarket: look where the biscuit and cookies are not necessarily in the bread section. )
The candles were from either Baskin & Robbins or the 300 yen shop in Diver City, Odaiba.
The icing is just icing sugar mixed with a tiny bit of boiling water.
Everyone loved this and thought it was so cute. Phew! It was also really easy to share as every child go one or half of one doughnut.
Pocky Cake
This is another easy one to cheat with. Inside you can have a pre-purchased cupcake or muffin and then you just need Pocky chocolate sticks stuck on with either cream or icing.
And, if you wanted to, you could use other colours and limited addition flavours.
Another “shop and run” option are these number cookies from the basement floor in Takashimaya. How cute are these? ( I figured my 37 year old hubby would appreciate them too – and of course – the kids needed to eat a “4” and a “2” with their breakfast as well. Of course.)
They are sold on the B1 floor at the Patissieria counter (in the dessert section). Individual numbers are about 500 yen each. Oh.. and if you like my toastie maker, I’ve got the details in my Recent Purchases post here.
How adorable is this fire engine candle? The shop also had a police car version too.
I purchased this at Toys R Us in Aqua City, Odaiba.
Or this amazing musical train card that lights up and plays music.
I bought this at Toys R Us, Odaiba.
Lola’s cupcakes in Harajuku also prepare “on the spot” Happy Birthday cupcakes If you’d like to take your cupcakes home they will include an icepack in the packaging.
(Other Harajuku with kids suggestions here )
Cool Paper Plates
I bought these bus paper plates at Daiso in Diver City, Odaiba in December 2017.
Hot Chocolate (Latte) Art
A hot chocolate with a picture of the birthday girl/boys favourite character on top? Reissue in Harajuku is a cute place to do this. All the details on my Harajuku post here.
A Disney birthday
Did you know it’s fine to take in your own cake for a Disneyland birthday? I made a chocolate slice and we sang Happy Birthday while waiting for a parade to start. ( If it’s in the vicinity of your child’s birthday, tell one of the staff they will give them a birthday sticker to wear and all of the characters and staff will wish them happy birthday all day long. ) See here for my other Disneyland tips.
Swan Boat Ride
There are a few swan boat opens around Tokyo but Inokashira Park in Kichijoji is my favourite.It’s such a lovely green space to visit on a sunny day.
I’ve written about Inokashira Park in detail here.
Print Club (Photobooth stickers)
On the B2 floor of Shibuya 109 Department store is a shop called Moreru Mignon. There is also a Moreru Mignon in the complex next to Tokyo Disneyland.
This place is crazily busy on the weekends so be warned.
First thing in the morning or last thing at night is probably the best way to get a good look around and use the photo booths.
The print clubs are all 500 yen each.
They even have an English instruction sheet.
Even if you don’t take photos in the machines – the shop itself is like one giant pastel photobooth.
See here in my Shibuya post for all of the exact details.
A Park full of Different Vehicles
My kids love this park so much. It’s called Garakuta Park within Haginaka Park. .
There is a steam train, a speed boat, train carriage, fire engine, truck as well as a large climbing mound with slides (this slide was way too big for me to be comfy with my youngest having a turn on his own so we went down together.)
I have written about this park , Haginaka, and playground in great detail here.
It is a lovely hands-on museum and it even has a wooden toy room just for children aged 0-2. My kiddies love this place. The building used to be an elementary school and still has a little playground out the front so it’s a great spot for children to play (before or after entry) and have a snack etc.
It is an absolutely beautiful place to take children. Highly recommend.
PS: You’ll need internet to find it. Trust me.
Another option? And we have done this over birthday parties for the past 2 years… a family trip to Tokyo Disneyland instead of a party.
I even took in a birthday cake for my little girl so that we could sing Happy Birthday while waiting for a parade to start. ( If it’s in the vicinity of your child’s birthday, tell one of the staff they will give them a birthday sticker to wear and all of the characters and staff will wish them happy birthday all day long. )
EXTRA TIP !
For the school birthday parties, if the school prefers you don’t bring edibles I recommend bringing a toy cake to sing around. Little kids love it just as much ! Here is a link to some cute toy cakes on Amazon.
If you’d like more Disney details, see my Tokyo Disneyland with kids information here.
