Tips for when heading out to Tokyo Tower with kids ( and the surrounding area.)
I actually wouldn’t add Tokyo Tower to my MUST SEEs in Tokyo but… it is a lovely place to go with kids as there is lots to do inside and around the tower.
It opens nice and early in the morning (well 9am… but that’s early for Tokyo.)
The observation deck often has projections (inside the deck) at night – so it makes for a cute early evening ‘adventure’ too.
Tokyo Tower is walking distance from Roppongi and Azabujuban.
Please note – unless you are attending a special event – there is no need to pre-purchase tickets for Tokyo Tower. Just buy on the day. It rarely gets busy. You can also access Red Tokyo and the Food Court and shops without needing a ticket.
Tokyo Tower is not that far from Team Lab Borderless.
There is also a light projection show at the Observation Deck of the Tower called City Light Fantasia.
It is on every night until February 3, 2019. From 6pm – 10:50pm ( project starts every thirty minutes.)
We’ve been to several of these projection shows before and they are short but kept my kids entertained and made a night time Tokyo Tower trip feel a bit more special.
Inside of Tokyo Tower is a food court (on the 2nd floor.) There is curry, waffles, ice-cream, ramen, burgers, donburi (rice bowls) and pizza to choose from. And because it’s a food court it means that everyone can eat different things – which is fantastic when you have fussy eaters.
The high chairs are those ones without the strap at the front though so you’ll need to watch those little ones (after you’ve hiked them up as close to the table as you can manage.)
My kids really love the Mos Burger here.
And then you can make your way to the observation deck. Crepes are sold out the front of the tower and there is often a beer garden out the front too (in the sunny months.)
It’s a good place to look for some souvenirs. Some are junkie and some not.
For my preferred Japan souvenirs to buy you might like to check out my posts here and here (this one is for when shopping for kids.)
For open times and latest events info, check out the Tokyo Tower website here.
If you have bigger kids, I believe they will love this indoor theme park all based around VR and other games. It takes up 3 floors within Tokyo Tower. It is called Red Tokyo.
Straight outside of Tokyo Tower, in the carpark, you will see lots of Hato Buses all lined up.
This is a brand of tour bus in Japan that is especially popular with transport-obsessed / vehicle-obsessed children in Japan.
If you walk down the hill from the tower you’ll come across a little park that is great for when kids needs a little run around. It’s right in front of the Tofu Ukai restaurant ,in case you have a hard time finding it.
I don’t remember seeing public bathrooms here so I recommend using the facilities at Tokyo Tower first.
TOKYO NOBI NOBI HIROBA
港区芝公園4-4-13
4-4-13 SHIBAKOEN, MINATO
And if you’re after a really special fancy lunch, at the base of Tokyo Tower is the most beautiful Tofu restaurant called Toufuya Ukai.
This is more of a special occasion kind of spot but is worth it for the walk through the gorgeous gardens and the restaurant itself is just so amazingly beautiful.
They are open to making changes for different dietary requirements (just because it’s a tofu restaurant doesn’t mean that it is vegetarian or vegan food) if you notify them one week in advance.Lunch courses start from 5,940 yen on weekdays and 7,560 yen on weekends.
(Dinner courses start from 10,000 yen.)
They are used to international visitors so will walk you through where to take your shoes off.
One piece of advice is to inform the staff if you need to leave by a certain time – I’ve been stuck before – not because the service is bad. Just because it’s set up to be a dining experience.
As much as I wouldn’t really call this place kid friendly, I would say they ARE baby-friendly. They have Moses baskets ready for little babies with pillows ( please let them know you’ll be bringing a baby when you make a reservation.)
TOFUYA SHIBA UKAI
港区芝公園4-1-13
4 -4-13 SHIBAKOEN, MINATO-KU
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11:45AM-3PM & 5PM-7:30PM
OPEN WEEKENDS & NATIONAL HOLIDAYS 11:30AM-7:30PM
CLOSED 2 MONDAYS PER MONTH (SO CALL AHEAD)
WEBSITE
And then, if you walk along a bit further you’ll find this big open area park. It’s not so grassy but it is flat and has a fantastic view of the tower.
There is also a bakery on the edge of the park and a little playground.
It is also one of the few parks where you won’t get in trouble for riding bikes around on the ‘grass’, kicking a football or playing with a frizz bee. Make sure you take your own picnic mat.
It is also right next to Zozoji Temple if you’d like to take a look around inside.
港区芝公園3-3
3-3 SHIBAKOEN, MINATO
And then 7 minutes walk from Tokyo Tower is Iigura Park (for some reason you’ll need to enter it as ‘Iikura Park’ in google maps.
This is a great little suburban park right near a whole bunch of kindergartens so your kids are likely to make some local friends here.
港区東麻布1-21-8
1-21-8 HIGASHI AZABU, MINATO
Adding another park (that is soooo spectacular in Autumn) – for all of my Autumn suggestions, see my post here.
Everything is yellow in Autumn here and was the perfect spot for hide’n’seek (and lots of playground equipment too.)
This is a playground section of Shiba Park called Shiba Koen Kodomo Heiwa Koen and it’s right next to Onarimon Station (Exit 10.)
You also have a great view of Tokyo Tower here.
It is ten minutes walk from Tokyo Tower, itself. If you’re having a hard time locating it, try putting the Minato Library into google maps as it is right next to the playground equipment.
There are public toilets here.
Remember that if you’re in the Tokyo Tower area, you’re not far from Roppongi and Azabujuban so you may want to check out my posts for these areas with kids here and here.
Toranomon Hills is also just a 15 min stroll from Tokyo Tower.
