UENO WITH KIDS

Ueno is a fun place to visit with kids and I also believe that Ueno is a great place to stay with kids once they are past the “needing a playground nearby” age.  See here for my recommendation for where to stay in Ueno with kids.

For street food and bustling restaurant options I recommend going straight to Ameyoko Market and Shopping District.

Ueno Station is also on the Yamanote (city loop) line.  
*Extra tip for when travelling on the Yamanote line ( a little extra tip – if you are on the Yamanote line and travelling from Ueno to Shinjuku or Shibuya – make sure you take notice as you stop at Takadanobaba Station. The station music that plays as you arrive is the Astro Boy theme song as this is where the show was set!) We get a kick out of it every time. If you’d like to read more about Astro Boy and Takadanobaba Station see my blog post here. 

PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. 

Ueno is most well-known for its zoo, but if you’ve been there, you’d definitely know that !
Everywhere is covered with animal pictures and merchandise – even more so this year as a new baby panda was just born at the Ueno Zoo!   This is the place to grab a panda shaped cupcake or bakery item – that’s for sure.

To begin your tour of panda and zoo animal-shaped food, I’d start inside Ueno Station.
Inside of the station in the connected department store, Atre West, is Andersen Bakery.   Lots of panda shaped goodness here (as well as coffee, sandwiches and juice.)  There are lots of tables if you want to eat inside the store.

ANDERSEN BAKERY, UENO
台東区上野7-1-1 アトレ上野　
ATRE UENO DEPARTMENT STORE, 7-1-1 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN 7:30AM -10PM
WEBSITE

If you need something heavier for breakfast, the Hard Rock Cafe is just opposite this bakery.   The Hard Rock Cafe in Ueno is open from 7am.

In case you’re a die-hard fan they have a jacket of Madonna’s and Pink Floyd’s on display, Justin Timberlake’s jeans, Elvis’s boots and some other treasures too.

THE HARDROCK CAFE UENO
台東区上野7-1-1 アトレー上野１F
 GROUND FLOOR, ATRE UENO SHOPPING COMPLEX,  7-1-1 UENO ,TAITO
OPEN 7AM-11PM (THE GIFT SHOP OPENS AT 10AM)

 

If you are keen to eat at Denny’s Japan for breakfast, the Denny’s Ueno Yanaka branch is  6 mins in a cab from Ueno Station (use google maps if you want to use public transport..) 
Denny’s Japan (note, not the same as Denny’s in the US.).  
Open from 10am -10pm. Please note that there are “smoking sections” of the restaurant on weekdays. 
They have a low common allergens menu.   There is a change table in the toilets here.  No bookings. Walk-in only.  They accept most major credit cards. 
Here is the full Denny’s Japan menu. 

Burger King has a breakfast menu (breakfast burgers, hash browns and hot dogs) and they are open from 8am. Burger King is just 6 mins walk from Ueno Station.

 

Gluten Free T’s Ueno-Hirokoji
If you are looking for a gluten free restaurant with vegetarian and vegan options, I recommend walking 12 mins from Ueno Station to Gluten Free T’s Ueno-Hirokoji. As you can guess from the name, this Tokyo restaurant is entirely gluten free.  There are many vegan and vegetarian options here too.  Menu options include orange chicken, ramen, fried chicken, mapo tofu, pizza, meat buns, vegan pancakes.  There is a full English menu.  For lunch or dinner I would budget around 2500 yen per adult.  Gluten Free T’s accept most major credit cards and the entire restaurant is non-smoking.  This restaurant can also deliver a gluten free breakfast on Ubereats. 
GLUTEN FREE T’S UENO-HIROKOJI
アパホテル上野広小路5-3-3 SOTOKANDA, CHIYODA
INSIDE THE APA HOTEL UENO HIROKOJI, 5-3-3 SOTOKANDA, CHIYODA
OPEN EVERYDAY OF THE YEAR 
OPEN FOR BREAKFAST 7AM-9:30AM
OPEN FOR LUNCH MIDDAY-3PM (CLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS FOR LUNCH) 
OPEN FOR DINNER 5PM-10PM (CLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS FOR DINNER) 

 

 

For street food and bustling restaurant options I recommend going straight to Ameyoko Market and Shopping District.
Ueno, itself, it quite gritty.  Outside of the park, it’s not the most beautiful part of Tokyo but if you like to try street food and walk through market streets (Ameyokocho), I think you’ll still have a good time.
There are lots of food stalls and some second hand clothing stores too.　Most stalls don’t open until 11am. 

And if you’re looking for a lovely but also kid-friendly cafe for lunch or dinner, I recommend dining at Wired Cafe Ueno.  Lunch sets are 1300yen and include a pasta, rice or salad with a dessert and a small drink.  For dinner I would budget 2000 yen for an adult.  They can be found on the basement (B1) floor of the Atre Complex. 
Wired Cafe accepts most major credit cards and the entire restaurant is non-smoking.  They don’t have high chairs but they offer sofa seating as well as stool / bar counter seating.

WIRED CAFE, UENO ATRE BRANCH
台東区上野7-1-1 アトレ上野B1F
BASEMENT B1 FLOOR, ATRE UENO DEPARTMENT STORE COMPLEX, 7-1-1 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN 11AM – 9PM

 

And also inside the station, on the 3rd floor in a section called Ecute, you’ll find Siretoco Donuts.  They are a Hokkaido–based organization ( if you really love them, you can even visit their factory in Hokkaido too!)  This shop is 13 mins walk from &Here Ueno  (or 3 mins walk from Ueno Station.)
Many of the flavours (and little guys in the middle) change, depending on the season.
This little box, below, costs an additional 50 yen but, as this was a gift for a friend – this was better than the normal bag , this time.

SIRETOCO DONUTS, UENO STORE
東京都台東区上野7-1-1エキュート上野 3F
3F ECUTE UENO, 7-1-1 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY OF THE YEAR: 8AM-10:30PM (CLOSES AT 9PM ON SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS)
SIRETOCO DONUTS WEBSITE ( JAPANESE ONLY) 

Which shopping malls are close to Ueno Station?
Marui (the logo looks like “OIOI”) is my favourite for shopping.  2 mins walk from Ueno Station. This shopping mall contains Loft (my fave for Japanese stationery), Nitori (cute homewares and kitchen gadgets), Gap, Plaza (souvenirs, make up, some toys, pop culture items), Seria (100 yen store),  Muji and Franc Franc (homewares and furniture.)  There is also a food court floor here. 
There is also a Cinnabon on the ground floor that sell Panda Cinnabon. 

There is also a food court floor here (top floor.) There are a few restaurants on this floor (all kid-friendly) and an open food court (which I love because it doesn’t mean that I have to eat the same food as my kids if I don’t want to. 
The restaurant options include: 
Pasta More
This is Japanese style Italian Pasta.  They serve pizzas and desserts too. They accept credit cards. You can make a reservation here but, unless it’s a peak weekend night time, you should be fine with just a walk-in. Most meals are 1000-2000 yen each. I like their Japanese style Caesar Salad.  They also have fries and you can get sausages too. See pictures of the full Pasta More menu here. 

And then in the open food court section called “Goo Food Hall” are several restaurants along the side and you order at one counter and can side wherever you like! 
Meal options include hamburger steaks, steak, hamburgers, omurice, Indian food, Korean food etc.   You can pay by credit card. They also serve alcohol here. 

Matsuzakaya is more of an old school department store. It is 7 mins walk from Ueno Station. I recommend going here for the depachika section (the deli floor on the basement floors). Makes for incredible Japanese bento style dinners to take back to the hotel.   Children’s clothing and stationery can be found on the 8th floor. 

Parco Ya Ueno is 9 mins walk from Ueno Station.  There is a restaurant floor on the 6th floor.  You can buy Japanese sneakers Onitsuka Tiger on the ground floor here. 　This includes a kid-friendly sushi train restaurant, and the most delicious tempura restaurant called Tempura Shinjuku Tsunahachi (I recommend asking the hotel to make a reservation for you here. They welcome babies and children.  Budget for adults: 4000 yen at lunch and more like 9000 yen at dinner time. There is a lovely night view from the restaurant in the evenings.) 

Where is the closest Don Quijote to Ueno Station? 
Don Quijote Ueno is 10 mins walk from Ueno Station.　It is open everyday from 9am-4am.   It has 5 floors + a basement floor.

 

And for a vegan meal inside Ueno Station, try the amazing  T’s Tan Tan Ramen.
The entire restaurant is vegan.  It is called T’s Tan Tan.   The ramen, the gyoza, the “beef” bowls.  They have Gluten Free and Nut free options too.
There are also lots of take away vegan options.
The restaurant is actually located within the gates of JR Ueno Station.  But, even if you’re not travelling, I still recommend buying the basic “Platform/send off ” ticket for 130 yen
IT IS ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS HERE!

T’s Tan Tan have plastic plates and cups for small children to use.  
They also have high chairs. 
This restaurant doesn’t mind if you bring in your own baby food for babies and they will even heat it up for you.  
They also have space to store a stroller while you dine. 

I also recommend grabbing a bento here for the bullet train.   So yummy.

Here are some photos from my most recent visit.

T’S TAN TAN RAMEN
東京都台東区上野7-1-1《JR上野駅 改札内》エキュート上野3F
3F ECUTE UENO, (WITHIN THE JR UENO TICKET GATES)  7-1-1 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN 7AM-11PM
T’S TAN TAN RAMEN WEBSITE
*There are other stores in Jiyugaoka and Tokyo Station and inside Narita Airport. 

There is an Ichiran Ramen right next to Ueno Station.  To be completely honest, Ichiran can be quite the tourist trap and the lines are wrong (and locals almost never eat here.)  However, if one parent wanted to line up to try it while on a walk at night – it can be a good option. It is open from 9am – 6am the next day.  This is a walk-in only restaurant.  Walk-ins only.   Kids are welcome (if you are brave enough to wait out the lines.) 

Tachigui Sushi Misaki Ueno 3153  is a Standing Sushi restaurant just 1 min walk from Ueno Station.  
This restaurant accepts most major credit cards and is the perfect spot for bigger kids to try a few things and move on OR a great spot for one parent to entertain children in the park while the other parent goes and has some sushi and sashimi and then switch! (it’s just on the outskirts of the park so this is very doable.) It’s just next to Family Mart.
See pictures of the Misaki menu items here. (Use google translate if you need more info on certain items. If your kids want sushi with just cucumber in side ask for Kappamaki – wasabi nashi (cucumber sushi but no wasabi. They also do a small bowl of french fries-call it “fried potato” if you order-  with ketchup for 250 yen.) 

TACHIGUI SUSHI MISAKI UENO 3153
台東区上野公園1-57 UENO3153ビル 1F
GROUND FLOOR, UENO 3153 BUILDING, 1-57 UENO-KOEN, TAITO-KU
 OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-10PM

 

Gyukatsu for lunch
If you are looking for a teishoku lunch in Ueno with kids, I recommend visiting Gyukatsu Motomura, Ueno branch,  for beef “Tonkatsu” (Tonkatsu is usually pork but this place is beef. So that’s why it’s called “GyuKatsu.”) 
It is very casual but they are fine with children coming along for lunch. Everyone must order a lunch set though ( approx 1000 yen.)
They do accept most major credit cards and they have an English menu.  This restaurant is a non-smoking restaurant. No reservations here. Walk-ins only. 
This restaurant is 3 mins walk from Ueno Station. 

GYUKATSU MOTOMURA 
台東区上野4-10-17 手塚ビル 2F
2ND FLOOR, TEZUKA BUILDING, 4-10-17 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-10PM (LAST ORDERS 9PM) 

 

 

Or if you are looking for sushi, I recommend Maguro Ichidai in Ecute Department Store in Ueno.  They even have a kids sushi plate with 6 small sushi options and 4 little maki rolls.  This restaurant specialises in sushi and kaisendonburi ( fresh sashimi served on a bowl of warm rice.)   This restaurant has plastic plates and cups for kids.  They also are fine with parents bringing in their own baby food for infants ( they will even heat it up for you!)  Maguro Ichidai also have space to store strollers while you dine. 
For an adult meal, I would budget 1000 yen for breakfast or lunch or 3000 yen for dinner. 
This restaurant accepts most major credit cards.   This is a walk-in restaurant only. 
If you are coming to this restaurant just to dine and haven’t taken a train, you will need to purchase a train ticket called a “nyujyoken” (a ticket to enter the ticket gates) for 150 yen per adult first. 
MAGURO ICHIDAI ECUTE UENO
上野7-1-1 エキュート上野3F
3RD FLOOR, INSIDE THE TICKET GATES AT UENO STATION IN ECUTE UENO DEPARTMENT STORE, 7-1-1 UENO 
OPEN FROM 7AM-10PM (UNTIL 9PM ON WEEKENDS)  

 

Only 4 minutes walk from Ueno Station is a fruit stand called Hyakkaen  ( if you enter Hyakkaen Ueno into google maps it will take you right there.)
Fruit is famously expensive in Japan but it is also sooooooo good and this is a cheap way to sample it.  Depending on the season, the fruits offered varies but I have purchased pineapple on a stick or a ‘kebab’ of gorgeous strawberries for only 200 yen.  It is washed and ready to eat.
It’s also a great way to sample new fruits too.
This stand only accepts cash.

*Note: Walking and eating is frowned upon in Japan so the polite thing to do is to buy the food, stand and eat it next to or in front of the shop and then throw the rubbish/wrappers/sticks in the bin outside the store.

See here for current opening times etc for Hyakkaen Fruit Parlor, Ueno here. 

 

HYAKKAEN, UENO (百果園　上野店)
台東区上野6-10-13
6-10-13 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN：10AM – 7PM
CLOSED EVERY WEDNESDAY

For an old school Japanese diner restaurant just outside Ueno Station I recommend Juraku. This place is definitely not fancy (although I do find the vibe to be a little cozy) but my kids LOVE it. Big colourful ice-cream floats and lots of kids meals to choose from.  Very reasonably priced too.  The cuisine is “Yoshoku” (aka westernized Japanese good.)
I would budget around 1500 yen per adult to dine here.  They accept most major credit cards.  The entire restaurant is non-smoking. They have high chairs here and plastic plates and cutlery for kids.   The entire venue is non-smoking. 

JURAKU UENO
台東区上野6-11-11
6-11-11 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN 11A:30M-9PM (LAST ORDERS 8PM)

 

If you have big feet like I do (I’m a European 40-41 foot size) you’ll find it’s hard to buy shoes in Japan. My one exception (apart from men’s sneakers) is this women’s shoe store called Oriental Traffic.   It is right next to Ueno Station. 

 

TGI Fridays welcome families at lunch and dinner time. Please note that there is a 10% table charge after 5pm.  They specialize in burgers, steak and tacos.  There is space to store a stroller here while you dine.  See the full TGI Fridays Ueno menu here. For lunch time I would budget for 2000 yen per adult and more like 3000 yen at dinner time.   For vegan options, ask for the guacamole bowl (made at your table) or the button mushroom appetizer (make sure you tell them you are vegan when you order though.)  For gluten free diners, steak is probably the safest option (or  the shrimp plate or a salad without the blue cheese and no croutons or the cobb salad without any dressing. )
Happy Hour prices for alcoholic drinks is in between 5pm-7pm.
This restaurant accepts most major credit cards. It’s a non-smoking restaurant (they do have a designated smoking cubicle though – but it is enclosed.) They do accept reservations but the restaurant does seat 180 people so I would also try for a walk-in. 
TGI Fridays Ueno Chuo Dori branch is 4 mins walk from Ueno Station. 

TGI FRIDAYS UENO CHUO DORI
台東区上野4-9-6ナガフジビル 本館 2Ｆ
2ND FLOOR, HONKAN (THE MAIN BUILDING SECTION OF THE ) NAGAFUJI BUILDING, 4-9-6 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN 11AM-11PM (LAST ORDERS 10:20PM)
LUNCH MENU AVAILABLE FROM 11AM-4PM

 

Karaoke options for families in the Ueno area?

SEE HERE FOR STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON TAKING KIDS OUT TO KARAOKE IN JAPAN.

I recommend visiting Pasela Resort, Ueno Koen Mae Branch.  If you ask the hotel reception to book – as them to organise an “all flat” type room and then it’s great for babies and toddlers who need to crawl around and play.  Like all karaoke boxes in Japan, you are in your own private booth and can order food and drinks to be delivered to your room.  See here for the Pasela Resort Karaoke food menu.  And click here to see the Pasela Resort Karaoke kid’s menu. They even provide a little booster seat style high chair.  You can also bring in your own baby food (other foods not allowed though.)  Remember, this is open from 11am so makes for a great rainy day activity.   This karaoke branch is 4 mins walk from Ueno Station.

 

Did you know that there is an undercover artisan market not far from Ueno Station under the railway line?  This viaduct area is full of small and local businesses and craft stores.  It is just 14 mins on foot from Ueno Station or 5 mins from Okachimachi Station.  You can also walk here from Akihabara Station in 8 mins. 
This area is called 2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan.  
I recommend walking here from any of the stations mentioned above – perfect with a baby in a stroller. Grab some food along the way and let little alleyways determine where you wander. 
There is a public bathroom (with a change table) at 2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan.   

2k540 AKI-OKA ARTISAN 
OPEN 11:00AM-7PM 
CLOSED WEDNESDAYS

I’m not a huge fan of this zoo so don’t feel comfortable recommending – but I know lots of people who do enjoy it.

The area in front of the zoo is nice and open – often the location of markets and festivals.    There is also a big Starbucks with lots of place for kids to play out the front.

Just near the zoo entrance is this adorable post box- all in keeping with the theme. Of course.

The park is also the home of some of Tokyo’s most well-known museums.

My kids enjoy the National Museum of Science and Nature – particularly on rainy days.

 

There is a temple, food stalls, small playground and swan boats
I recommend taking a walk for just a few minutes to Shinobazunoike Benten-do Temple in the middle of the park.  
On the way there, stop for a look in the ampitheatre just on the outskirts of the park (opposite &Here Ueno Apartment Hotel) – many afternoons and evenings you will see Japanese boy or girl bands performing for their fans (entrance to actually go in is usually 1000 yen or so but you can also just have a little look from outside the arena. 

On the way around the park to the temple there are also a few small pieces of playground equipment

If you want to do it “properly” (no-one is getting in trouble if you don’t) then go into or around the temple, don’t forget to use the water washing areas to wash your hands and then walk up to the incense urn out front and wave some of it over your head (this will make you smarter and you can also wave the smoke over body parts of yours that require healing.) 

 

And then, if the weather allows, why not take a Swan Boat?  It costs 700 yen for 30 minutes.
Life vests aren’t compulsory but please please please ask for them – just in case?
Swan boats are closed on Wednesdays in Winter.
Swan boat hours are  10AM -6:30PM in Summer, 10AM-6PM in September,  9:30AM-5:30PM in October, February and March, 9AM – 5PM in November, 9AM-4:30PM in December, 9-5AM in January (very confusing, yes? )

On the way back through the park,  stop for kakigori (shaved ice) or other available option on that day.  

After the swan boats and kakigori you can check out a small but very cute little shrine. 
It’s a great and easy place to take some cute pictures with kids.Here is a photo of my little girl making her way to the shrine through the hydrangeas (this was in rainy season.). It is called Hanazono Inari Shrine – it’s 5 mins walk from the Swan Boats.

The shrine is called Hanazono Inari Shrine.  It’s small but makes for a cute little walk through the torii gates and is a great mini-explore with little kids in tow.

HANAZONO INARI SHRINE
台東区上野公園4-59
4-59 UENOKOEN, TAITO-KU

 

A kid-friendly izakaya in Ueno
I recommend going to casual Japanese restaurant Ganko for dinner in Ueno.  It is just near the station and the vibes are very much “old world Japan.”   The menu is Japanese food and is extensive enough that everyone can try lots of little dishes.  In fact, this is the kind of restaurant where it would be a bit weird to order one meal per person. You order a whole lot of little dishes and then share as you go.  
Please note that this restaurant has a 10% service charge on top of the total bill.  
This restaurant is 3 mins walk from the station. Take the elevator as it is on the 6th floor (the elevator is just next to the Lawson convenience store.)* When coming from Ueno Station, take the Shinobasu Exit.  
Ganko accept reservations but if you’re dining with kids and just want to turn up without a booking, you should be fine right at 5pm. 
Ganko accept most major credit cards. 
For an adult meal here, I would budget 3000 yen at lunchtime and 7000 yen each at dinner.   The entire restaurant is non-smoking.  
Please note that this is a shoes off restaurant- so make sure you have your good socks on !  I recommend asking for horigotatsu seating- it looks like you’re sitting on the floor but the seating is sunken so you are still in a seated position. 
This restaurant welcomes children – they have a kids menu, place to store strollers while you dine and they also have high chairs. 

GANKO UENO
台東区上野4-9-6ナガフジビル6F
6TH FLOOR, NAGAFUJI BUILDING, 4-9-6 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11:30AM-3PM (LAST ORDERS AT 2:30PM) & 5PM-10PM (LAST ORDERS AT 9:30PM) 
OPEN WEEKENDS 11:30AM-9:30PM (LAST ORDERS AT 9PM) 

*While at Lawson (convenience store brand) … 
These fried chicken options are LIFESAVERS (especially if you have picky eaters with you.)  
This one pictured below is available at Lawson convenience stores – it is called “Karaage-Kun” (pronounced “ka-ra-age-kun”) and inside contains approx 6 pieces of Japanese fried chicken. Be sure to get the REGULAR flavour and the other option is a bit spicy and one of the other flavours sometimes available contains cheese.  (see here for other Japanese convenience store tips and our favourite foods sold here in this blog post.) 

 

Another Ueno family-friendly recommendation is a Wagyu Beef Yakiniku restaurant called Ushihachi.    The restaurant has a beautiful view and the booth seating options makes for a lovely family-friendly option – even with small children.   As it is yakiniku, every table has it’s own small bbq grill in the middle.  Ushihachi has an English menu and accepts most major credit cards.   This restaurant is 1 min from Ueno Station, via the Asakusaguchi Exit. 
This restaurant has space to store strollers while you dine. 
The entire venue is non-smoking. 
For adults, I recommend budgeting 2000 yen for a lunch set at lunch time but more like 10,000 yen per adult at dinner ( it is good quality wagyu beef.)  See the full Ueno Wagyu Yakiniku Ushihachi menu here. 
UENO WAGYU YAKINIKU USHIHACHI 
台東区上野7-2-4 FUNDES上野 10F
10TH FLOOR, FUNDES UENO BUILDING, 70204 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11:30AM-3PM & 5PM-11PM
OPEN WEEKENDS 11:30AM-3PM & 4PM-11PM

And a Japanese izakaya who also welcomes children is Oto Oto Ueno Bamboo Garden.
This is, however, a popular choice, so I, personally, wouldn’t visit with my children without a reservation here. 
The menu is lovely classic Japanese izakaya options. There is also a lovely children’s plate for 1000 yen (which includes a rice ball, fried chicken, fried shrimp, a meat ball, a small salad, udon and a little dessert. 
For lunch here I would budget approximately 2500 yen per adult and more like 5000 yen at dinner time. 
The restaurant is noisy and busy (like a noisy pub kind of vibe) but not in a bad way. 
If you’re kids are feeling fussy – they also sell vanilla ice-cream – which may buy you some more grown up eating and drinking time. 
This restaurant accepts most major credit cards and the whole restaurant is non-smoking. 
To get there, take the Shinobazu Exit at Ueno Station and walk for 1 minute to the 2nd floor of the Bamboo Garden building.
See the Oto Oto Ueno Bamboo Garden menu here.
The sign outside the restaurant looks like this 

OTO OTO UENO BAMBOO GARDEN
上野公園1-52 バンブーガーデン2F
2ND FLOOR, BAMBOO GARDEN BUILDING, 1-52 UENO KOEN 
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11AM-3PM & 4:30PM-10:30PM (UNTIL 11PM ON FRIDAYS)
OPEN WEEKENDS 11AM-10PM

Tendon (Tempura served on top of a bowl of rice) 
Tensuzu is in a back street just 5 mins walk from the Okachimachi Station or 7 mins walk from Ueno Station.   They welcome children (the restaurant is small though so I’d really only go here with kids who are able to stay seated while they dine.)  There is a service charge of 330 yen per person here (you will receive an otoshi as a thank you when you sit down. You don’t have to eat it if you don’t want to but please just accept it and leave it on your table.)  They accept most major credit cards. I recommend budgeting for 3000 yen per adult at lunch or more like 11,000 yen at dinner time.  If you eat everything, I recommend getting the omakase* tempura course for a little under 9000 yen. Soooo good.   I love how they open from 4:30 for dinner – makes it much easier to visit with kids.   If everyone is tired, you can also get takeout from here and take it back to your hotel.   Best to make a reservation here. 
*If you like the idea of eating omakase with kids see my blog post here for even more options. 

TENSUZU
台東区上野2-6-7
2-6-7 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN FOR LUNCH 11AM-2PM 
OPEN FOR DINNER 4:30PM-9:30PM

How about Yakitori for lunch or dinner? Yakitori (grilled and chargrilled chicken skewers) restaurant Torimitsukuni is just 1 min walk from Ueno Station.  This restaurant welcomes young families.  This restaurant is entirely non-smoking and they also accept most major credit cards.    In terms of budget, I would set aside 1500 yen per adult at lunchtime and more like 4000 yen at dinner time.  Unfortunately it is only in Japanese but you can see the menu online with pictures here – and you can put it through Google translate if you like. 
TORIMITSUKUNI YAKITORI & SAKE RESTAURANT
台東区上野公園1-54 B1F
BASEMENT FLOOR, 1-54 UENO-KOEN, TAITO-KU
OPEN MON-THURS 11:30AM-2PM & 5PM-10:30PM
OPEN FRI  11:30AM-2PM & 5PM-11PM
OPEN SAT 11:30AM-2:30PM & 4PM-11PM
OPEN SUN & NATIONAL HOLIDAYS 11:30AM-2:30PM & 4PM-10:30PM

 

•  

If you’d like to visit an Izakaya that specialises in seafood together then I recommend making a reservation at Sadogashima e Watare, Ueno.   They are particularly well known for their oysters here.  They are 3 mins walk from Ueno Station but are very popular so I wouldn’t try just walking in with our a reservation already locked in.  Budget to dine here? Probably around 5000 yen per adult.   They accept most major credit cards.  To dine here children need to be at least 6 years old.  
SADOGASHIMA E WATARE, UENO
上野2-12-1 セントラル21 7F
7TH FLOOR, CENTRAL BUILDING, 2-12-1 UENO
WEEKDAYS 5PM-MIDNIGHT (LAST ORDERS AT 10:30PM)
WEEKENDS MIDDAY-MIDNIGHT (LAST ORDERS AT 10:30PM)

 

Tokyo Butchers is a beer & steak restaurant that welcomes kids 6 years and older (if you have younger kids you can buy a steak bento from here for around 1000 yen to take back to your hotel.)   It is a lovely vibey restaurant underneath the train tracks. They serve several different types of craft beer and Australian wine. They serve beef, pork, lamb, chicken and grilled veg here.  They have three types of pasta here too and they have french fries and some salads. It is 10 mins walk from Ueno Station, 2 mins walk from Okachimachi Station (take the South Exit) and 11 mins walk from Akihabara Station.    Tokyo Butchers accepts most major credit cards.  There is a 440 yen per person service charge (as a thank you for that additional payment you will receive an appetizer when you sit down. This, in Japan, is called otoshi. You don’t have to eat it but just leave it on the table if you don’t want it.)  At lunch, I would budget for 2000 yen per adult and more like 5000 yen per adult at dinner time. 　Best to ask the hotel to make a reservation for you. 

TOKYO BUTCHERS 
台東区上野5-10-9
5-10-9 UENO, TAITO-KU
OPEN MON -THURS 11:30AM-2:30PM & 5PM-11PM
OPEN FRI 11:30AM-2:30PM & 5PM-11:30PM
OPEN SAT 2PM-11:30PM
OPEN SUNDAYS & NATIONAL HOLIDAYS  11:30AM-11PM
*There is also “Egg Baby Cafe” next door (same owners) but I don’t really recommend going here with kids as the lines are just too long – takes the chill and the relaxation out of a meal with kids. 

 

Which playgrounds are in the Ueno area?
As mentioned above, there are a few pieces of play equipment just next to the swan boat section of Ueno Park.   If you can’t see them for some reason, walk as if you’re going to Ueno Zoo. Then you can’t miss them. 

Here are some other options not too far away:  
Nishimachi Park – this is a little local playground – just a little cleared corner of a city block with some play equipment but it does have the cutest little blue elephant slide.  It is just 5 mins walk from Ueno Station.  There are some ride on animals (panda, fox etc) and two swing sets.   I think this would make children aged 1-4 pretty happy for 15-30 mins.  There are public toilets here. 

Okachimachi Park is quaint (for very much a “big city” park, anyway.)  It has a little Japanese garden and, in the right season, you can walk under the wysteria too.   There is a swing set, some ride on animal shaped equipment and a few different slides. There are public toilets here. This park is 8 mins walk from Ueno Station.  From late April to late September, there are some little water mist sprays operating in this suburban park. 
This park is 1 min walk away from a large supermarket called Summit and in the same complex is 100 yen store Daiso.   This park is also 4 mins walk away from B

Shinka Park (if it doesn’t come up on google maps please post in the kanji instead 新花公園) is a cute suburban playground.  The slide is a giant rainbow and it’s a bit cute and retro in all the best ways. There are two swing sets (one has the bucket style seats for babies) and there are public toilets here.  It is 17 mins walk from Ueno Station. 

While in neighbouring area,  Asakusa, you could also check out the “whale” playground. 

And also in Asakusa – Fuji Park. A suburban playground that my kiddies just loved.  As you can tell from the pictures, the twirly-whirly thing was clearly a highlight.
It has space, it’s clean and it’s where the local kiddies are too.
There is a public bathroom but if it isn’t open (or is being repainted – which was the case for us) it is only a 2 minute walk to convenience store ‘Lawson’* to use their facilities.
There is a kindergarten across the road so I imagine that this park also gets a lot of weekday action.

I like to use these changing & feeding facilities in this area: (please use the Mamapapamap app for even more current options for changing and feeding baby in Japan.) 

• UENO MARUI DEPARTMENT STORE, Basement B2 Floor (breastfeeding rooms & change tables, boiling water)
• UENO ZOO, Benten Gate (breastfeeding rooms & change tables)
• NATIONAL SCIENCE & NATURE MUSEUM, Basement Floor, Japan Pavilion (breastfeeding room & change tables) Earth Hall, 3rd Floor (change table)
• MATSUZAKAYA UENO STORE, South Building, 6th Floor (breastfeeding rooms, change tables, high chairs, boiling water, microwave)
• UENO ATRE DEPARTMENT STORE  West Side, Ground Floor, next to Meishodo bookstore (change tables)

Only 7 minutes in a cab or 20 minutes on foot from Ueno Zoo is Nezu Shrine. You won’t regret it. It’s so lovely here.

Not far from Tokyo Dome is Nezu Shrine. A beautiful slice of history and beauty  – a little minature Kyoto.  If you’re lucky enough, you will be there for a festival with the yatai (food stalls) and street food selection.  The little tunnel of red tori gates is my favourite part.
Admission is free (when its Azalea season – mid to late spring- it is 200 yen to enter the Azalea area. Kids under school age are free.)

NEZU SHRINE
1-28-9 NEZU, BUNKYO
文京区根津1-28-9
OPEN: 6AM-6PM

Did you know that there is the cutest little train carriage themed community library stand within subway metro Nezu Station? Its really cute. Details here. 

 

PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. 

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