This Tokyo christmas itinerary is for families – designed by me and the things my family and I like to do in Tokyo to make ourselves feel as christmassy as possible!
I’ve filled up this suggested one day itinerary to the brim so feel free to spread it out over two days OR omitting the parts that don’t interest you.
I have included the start and finish dates for all events mentioned. This is a combination of Christmas related activities as well as our favourite places to eat, sightsee and play in this area. In my opinion, this itinerary is more fun and less stressful when done on a weekday. If you only want to take part in Christmas lights /evening activities- then I recommend starting the itinerary from the Robot Playground section (scroll down to that part.)
This itinerary is very much stroller friendly (in fact, if you have children who can fit in a stroller – I think it will make the whole day easier.)
For other suggestions on ways to celebrate and make the most of christmas in Japan, see my complete list of suggestions here.
START THE DAY AROUND 10-11AM
With full bellies, start the day at Team Lab Borderless in Azabudai. Please make reservations in advance (tickets available from the Team Lab Borderless website.) Closest station: Kamiyacho.
If, for some reason, you aren’t interested in Borderless or tickets are sold out – consider few hours at Red Tokyo and go to the observation deck at Tokyo Tower instead.
After Team Lab Borderless, return to the ground floor and stop for a quick shop and a hot chocolate or snacks (including vegan options) at Azabudai Hills Christmas Market. This market is open 11am-9pm from Nov 23 until Christmas Day. This market is cute and great for some lovely photo opportunities but, in my opinion, doesn’t require more than 30 mins of your time. See pictures of this Christmas Market in the new Azabudai Hills Complex here. Admission to this market is free. Santa and a balloon artist make an appearance at certain times on Sundays.
Next jump in a taxi to one of the restaurants listed below (all suggestions will place you in the area for the next part of the itinerary.)
TIME FOR LUNCH!
Lunch suggestion 1: Obica Roppongi Hills Obica (Italian restaurant) has an outdoor terrace and a great happy hour (for the Mummies & Daddies.)
They sometimes call themselves Obika with a K too. When entering the address into google maps, please put in “Obica Roppongi Hills” as there is another Obica in the area – it’s also good but this one is our favourite.) You can make reservations for Obica Roppongi Hills online ahead of time here.
My daughter says the pasta here is the best in the whole world.
Obica Roppongi Hills have high chairs.
Their kids’ plate is also adorable. In the same complex as Obica are restrooms that also have a change table ( located in the complex behind the restaurant.)
They will do their best to make space for strollers in the restaurant and on the terrace.
It’s also one of the few restaurants that allows for pizza leftovers to be taken home (well, ‘legally’ – I’m famous at discretely shoving some leftovers in a ziplock bag.)
There is another Obica in Tokyo Midtown, Roppongi.
This is the kids plate. (Photo courtesy of the Roppongi Hills website)
港区六本木6-4-1 六本木ヒルズ ハリウッドビューティープラザ 1F
GROUND FLOOR, ROPPONGI HILLS HOLLYWOOD BEAUTY PLAZA
6-4-1 ROPPONGI, MINATO-KU
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11AM-11PM
OPEN WEEKENDS 9AM – 11:30PM
Lunch suggestion 2: Gonpachi, Nishi-Azabu (Aka the Kill Bill restaurant) Japanese Restaurant
This restaurant is 27 mins walk (8 mins /approx 900 yen by taxi) from Team Lab Borderless
This restaurant is well know and quite touristy but it’s popular for a reason.
They are also so so kid-friendly here. You will need to make a reservation to dine here.
I’ve written in detail about Gonpachi Nishi-Azabu here.
Lunch suggestion 3: Falafel Brothers
18 mins walk (7 mins /approx 700yen by taxi) from Team Lab Borderless
For incredible vegan food- Falafel Brothers is SOOOOO good. So good. I get it every time I walk by. There aren’t many seats to “dine in” so I recommend taking your Falafel and sitting in the open courtyard next to Mohri Garden or going to Sakurazaka (aka Robot Park.)
Their breakfast menu is available until 10:30AM. 2 mins walk from Roppongi Station. They accept most major credit cards. See the full Falafel Brothers menu here. This restaurant is opposite the Candeo Roppongi.
港区六本木5-1-10 カドガンビル 1F
GROUND FLOOR, KADOGAN BUILDING, 5-1-10 ROPPONGI, MINATO-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY 8:30AM-9PM (CLOSES AT 8:30PM ON SUNDAYS)
Lunch suggestion 4: Afuri (Ramen)
If it’s ramen you’re keen on… try Afuri . There are two locations – one in Roppongi Hills (underground) and one at Roppongi Crossing.
This is a chain store and definitely has a local vibe. It’s a counter around the kitchen and orders are placed on a vending machine out the front. I like the Shoyu (soy sauce) and Shio (Salt) ramen. My kids eat some of mine and have Niku Gohan (Pork pieces on rice). With kiddies, I recommend going before midday so you don’t have to queue and you avoid using up too many seats with little bottoms while grownups line up outside.
A full lunch with a beer will still leave you change from 2000 yen. This is chain store so keep your eye out for more Afuri branches ( for eg. Azabu-juban, Ebisu, Roppongi Crossing, Harajuku ) Some of the stores also have a vegan ramen option too.
If visiting the Roppongi Hills Afuri, there are escalators and stairs underground. When I have the double stroller I use the office elevators in the Roppongi Hills North Tower next to Lulu Lemon.
Please note: this store does not accept cash.
AFURI RAMEN, ROPPONGI HILLS
港区六本木6-2-31 六本木ヒルズノースタワー
ROPPONGI HILLS NORTH TOWER, 6-2-31 ROPPONGI
OPEN EVERYDAY: 11AM-10PM
AFURI
Please note: this store does not accept cash.
AFURI RAMEN ROPPONGI CROSSING
港区六本木4-9-4 UFビル4 1F
GROUND FLOOR, UF BUILDING 4, 4-9-4 ROPPONGI
OPEN 11AM-5AM
AFURI
Please note: this store does not accept cash.
Lunch suggestion 5: Cocoichibanya (Japanese curry rice)
Just near the crossing, I recommend Coco Ichibanya for Japanese Curry. I have written about this chain here -and it’s so good for going with kids! This isn’t the most spacious option but still work checking out if you’re looking to have some yummy yummy curry. This is a walk-in only restaurant. It’s completely non-smoking. They accept most major credit cards here.
COCOICHIBANYA ROPPONGI CROSSING BRANCH
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-10PM
Lunch suggestion 6: Shake Shack
Also near the Roppongi Hills complex is Shake Shack.
The Shake Shake stores all have high chairs.
SHAKE SHACK ROPPONGI
港区六本木6-2-31
6-2-31 ROPPONGI, MINATO
OPEN 11AM-11PM
AFTER A LATE LUNCH, TIME FOR A PARK PLAY!!!
Walk from your restaurant to Sakurazaka Park (aka Robo Robo or Robot Park) for a play.
Robo-Robo (aka, Robot) Park is one of our favourite Tokyo neighbourhood playgrounds.
It’s just a small piece of land with a rainbow of slides, a few climbing options and a giant roller slide down the hill.
Toilets are at the bottom of the hill across the road.
6-16-46 ROPPONGI, MINATO-KU
港区六本木六丁目6-16-46
ALWAYS OPEN. NO ROLLERSLIDE USE AT NIGHT/EARLY MORNING
IT WILL NOW BE STARTING TO GET DARK, HEAD TO THE LOBBY OF THE GRAND HYATT TOKYO
Just 2-3 mins walk from the playground is the Grand Hyatt Tokyo. Their Christmas lobby is decorated to the max. Any one can walk on in and take some pictures.
There is also a little bakery/sweets shop in the lobby and they often sell the most adorable christmas cookies.
GO TO THE CHRISTMAS MARKET WITHIN THE ROPPONGI HILLS COMPLEX
In a similar light to the Azabudai Christmas Market, there is a christmas market within the Roppongi Hills Complex (just behind/connected to the Grand Hyatt Tokyo.) It is small but is decorated beautifully and feels festive. The market runs from Nov. 23 – Christmas Day 11am-9pm . See more information and pictures of the Roppongi Hills Christmas market here.
LEAVE THE ROPPONGI HILLS COMPLEX AND JOIN THE CROWDS IN A WALK UP AND DOWN KEYAKIZAKA DORI (KEYAKIZAKA STREET.)
This is one of the most famous Christmas illumination spots for couples and families. Walking up and down this street takes a 10 mins or so when it isn’t crowded. With all of the people it may take more like 20-30 mins. The lights are turned on every evening from mid-November until Christmas Day from 5pm-11pm
If you are needing dinner here, I recommend having dinner next to the Mohri Garden at Mohri Salvatore Cuomo just 1-2 mins walk from Keyakizaka Dori (it’s part of the Roppongi Hills Complex. Incase you can’t find it – go to Louis Vuitton on Keyakizaka, cross the road to Roppongi Hills and walk through the courtyard to the Mohri Garden. The restaurant is on your left.) Best to book but you can always try your luck for a walk-in (we have been lucky a few times.) If possible, best to sit on the terrace and take in all of the beautiful Christmas lights while you dine (they have heaters and blankets so you don’t need to worry about getting cold.)
To dine here I recommend budgeting approximately 5000 yen per adult at dinnertime and more like 2000 yen at lunchtime. They do have a special “Christmas Course” available but you will need to book ahead. This restaurant accepts most major credit cards. The staff speak English well and there is an English menu. They also have space to store a stroller while you dine. See the full Salvatore Cuomo menu here. Make an online reservation here or, even better, ask your hotel to make a reservation for you.
MOHRI SALVATORE CUOMO
六本木6-10-1 六本木ヒルズヒルサイド B2F
B2F ROPPONGI HILLS, HILLSIDE SECTION, 6-10-1 ROPPONGI
OPEN 11AM-2:30PM & 5PM-11PM (LAST ORDERS 10PM)
Just near the garden and Salvatore Cuomo (near the elevator) is a free play space for small children. Strollers need to be left outside.
There is a different section for babies under 2 as well and breastfeeding rooms and changing facilities.
Across the way are kiddie toilets too.
It has been newly renovated ( Nov 2018) and now has a lovely selection of books – in English and Japanese which has made it even more age appropriate for kids older than 3 ( for a short amount of time, anyway.)
MAKE YOUR WAY TO ROPPONGI TOKYO MIDTOWN
From Keyakizaka Dori to Midtown will take approximately 14 mins. It is an easy walk (you will walk past Roppongi Crossing. It’s a nice and easy vibey night time walk.) You could hail a taxi – the trip will take 6 mins and cost approx 1000 yen.
To get to the “right spot” for lights and more christmas activities – walk to Barneys New York Roppongi across from midtown and then cross the road for all the christmas lights (this makes it a little easier to get your bearings.)
The lights around the back of Midtown are so so magical. There are big christmas trees to check out too.
Don’t forget to take pictures on the angle so that you can also see Tokyo Tower.
Keep walking to the end of the path and you will find a pop-up ice-skating rink for Christmas.
See here for the information on the Midtown Ice-Skating Rink.
TIME FOR DINNER!
Dinner suggestion 1: Napule Pizzeria(Italian restaurant with a view of the lights out the back of Midtown)
This is an extremely popular spot so, if you are able to get a booking on terrace, I would base all of my itinerary timing around this restaurant reservation.
