Tokyo 3-Day & 5-Day Family Itinerary With Kids
Tokyo can feel like ten cities stacked on top of each other – neon towers, quiet shrines, kid-friendly parks, anime arcades and theme parks that could swallow whole vacations on their own. This guide is your calm, parent-first roadmap for seeing the best of Tokyo in either 3 days or 5 days, without burning everyone out.
Below you will find two complete itineraries built around real family energy levels – including nap windows, jet lag reality, playground breaks and “easy food” stops. You can follow them exactly or mix and match with the deeper guides already on stayheredothat.blogspot.com.
Quick snapshot
- Best ages: 4–16, but flexible for toddlers with a stroller and extra naps.
- Trip length: Choose a focused 3-day “highlights” plan or a more relaxed 5-day version.
- Best bases: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo Station / Marunouchi or Shinagawa (see the Best Areas to Stay in Tokyo – Family Guide).
- Airports: Haneda (HND) is closest, Narita (NRT) often has more long-haul options.
Plan & book in a few clicks
Open these in new tabs as you read – that way you can check prices and lock in key pieces without losing your place.
Check family hotels in Tokyo Compare flights into HND & NRT Reserve a rental car (side trips) Family-friendly Tokyo tours Flexible travel insurance
Quick links in this itinerary
- How to use this 3 & 5 day Tokyo family plan
- Before you go – where to stay, airports & passes
- 3-Day Tokyo family itinerary – overview
- 3-Day Tokyo itinerary – detailed daily plan
- 5-Day Tokyo family itinerary – overview
- 5-Day Tokyo itinerary – detailed daily plan
- Optional extras – Disney days, Ghibli, teamLab & more
- Budget & safety tips (realistic parent edition)
- Affiliate note & how this guide stays free
- All the deeper Tokyo family guides
How to use this 3 & 5 day Tokyo family plan
This guide is built to work alongside the bigger Tokyo hub pages on Stay Here, Do That. Think of it like a “playlist” that pulls in the best bits of the:
- Ultimate Tokyo Family Travel Guide: Central Neighborhoods
- Ultimate Tokyo Family Attractions Guide
- Tokyo Budget & Safety Tips with Kids
- Tokyo Metro & JR Pass Guide with Kids
Use this page for sequence and pacing – which days go where, what to group together and where to build in playgrounds and parks. Then click into the linked guides for:
- Specific shrine, museum and viewpoint details
- Exact playground locations and park maps
- Links to local tourism sites and official attraction pages
- Suggested family tours you can drop into each day
If you are tired or planning late at night, skip straight to the 3-Day overview or 5-Day overview, pick the one closest to your dates, and then fine tune from there.
Before you go – where to stay, airports & passes
Choose a base that makes days simple
You do not need to change hotels every night in Tokyo. In fact, your sanity improves dramatically if you pick one or two bases and let the trains do the work. For most families, the best home bases are explained in:
At a glance:
- Shinjuku: Big hub, lively, easy trains, good for first timers.
- Shibuya: Youthful, fun, close to Harajuku and Meiji Shrine.
- Tokyo Station / Marunouchi: Calm city-core base with shinkansen access.
- Shinagawa: Very practical for trains and airport links.
You can browse and filter family hotels in all of these neighborhoods on your usual booking platform. If you want to support this site, you can start with this family hotels in Tokyo search.
Airports: Haneda vs Narita
If you have the choice:
- Haneda (HND): Closer to central Tokyo, less travel time with kids.
- Narita (NRT): More long-haul options, often cheaper fares.
To understand each airport and arrival flow with kids, see:
When you are ready to actually book flights, you can compare into both airports on Booking.com Flights and favor whichever combination gives you the best arrival time for your kids’ sleep schedule.
Metro, JR Pass & getting around
For most central Tokyo family trips, you will rely on:
- IC cards like Suica / PASMO (or their mobile versions)
- JR Yamanote Line loops around central hubs
- Tokyo Metro lines connecting major neighborhoods
Whether you need a JR Pass depends on your wider Japan plan. For a Tokyo-only trip, you usually do not need one. For a Tokyo + Kyoto / Osaka combo, it can make sense. The full breakdown is in the Tokyo Metro & JR Pass Family Guide.
3-Day Tokyo family itinerary – overview
The 3-day version is ideal if you are tacking Tokyo onto a longer Japan trip or your kids have shorter stamina. It hits core “this feels like Tokyo” moments without overcommitting.
- Day 1: Shinjuku gardens, first city lights and easy food.
- Day 2: Harajuku, Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Scramble & a playground break.
- Day 3: Asakusa + Sumida River + Ueno Park or Ueno Zoo.
If your kids are older or very park obsessed, you can swap Day 3 with a full theme park day at Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea.
3-Day Tokyo itinerary – detailed daily plan
Day 1 – Arrival, Shinjuku Gyoen & gentle neon
- Morning / arrival: Land at Haneda or Narita, clear immigration, grab IC cards, and make your way to your base in Shinjuku or the Tokyo Station area. If you prefer a smoother arrival, consider a pre-booked family transfer via a Tokyo airport transfer on Viator.
- Check-in & reset: Drop bags, showers, let kids explore the room. Keep expectations low for this first block.
- Afternoon: Walk or short train to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. This is one of the best “we are in Tokyo but my brain is tired” spaces – lawns, trees, stroller-friendly paths. Deep details are in the Central Neighborhoods Guide.
- Early dinner: Use a department store food hall near Shinjuku Station (Takashimaya, Odakyu, Keio) or a family chain restaurant. Kids can point at what they want; you avoid long restaurant waits.
- Evening walk: A short loop through Shinjuku’s lights – just enough to get that “wow” feeling. Agree in advance that you will head back as soon as kids fade. No big attractions tonight.
Day 2 – Harajuku, Meiji Shrine & Shibuya Scramble
- Morning at Meiji Shrine: Start in the calm of Meiji Jingu. The tree-lined paths and torii gates are a gentle way into shrine culture. You will find more practical tips in the Best Temples & Shrines in Tokyo – Family Guide.
- Late morning in Harajuku: Wander Takeshita Street for colorful shops, crepes and character goods. Keep a spending limit and maybe let each child choose one small thing.
- Lunch: Harajuku and Omotesando have endless food options – from sit-down cafes to fast casual spots. Look for upstairs or basement eateries that are less busy than ground-level chains.
- Afternoon playground or museum:
- If you need movement: choose a park or one of the Best Tokyo Playgrounds.
- If you want indoor learning: pick from the Best Kid-Friendly Museums in Tokyo.
- Late afternoon / evening in Shibuya: Ride to Shibuya Station, say hello to the Hachiko statue, then cross the famous Shibuya Scramble together. Grab snacks and views from a shopping center viewpoint.
- Optional tour: Older kids might love an evening walking tour or food-focused stroll; you can browse family-friendly Shibuya / Harajuku routes on Viator.
Day 3 – Asakusa, Sumida River & Ueno
- Morning in Asakusa: Head to Sensō-ji and the Nakamise shopping street. Lanterns, small treats, omikuji fortunes – this is Tokyo’s old-town postcard. Asakusa details live in the Central Neighborhoods hub.
- Optional river cruise: Hop on a Sumida River water bus toward Odaiba or down the river for a different view of the city. Boats are often kid-wins because they let little legs rest while still “doing something.”
- Afternoon in Ueno: Ride to Ueno Station and choose:
- Animals: Ueno Zoo Family Guide
- Museums: Options are detailed in the kid-friendly museum list.
- Just park time: Let kids run, chase pigeons and eat snacks around Ueno Park’s ponds.
- Farewell dinner: Either near Ueno or back closer to your hotel. Tonight is a good time to let kids choose something familiar so everyone ends on a high note.
5-Day Tokyo family itinerary – overview
The 5-day plan gives you breathing room: one extra park or zoo day, one “wow” attraction day and a built-in buffer for jet lag or weather hiccups.
- Day 1: Arrival + Shinjuku Gyoen + early night.
- Day 2: Harajuku + Meiji Shrine + Shibuya.
- Day 3: Asakusa + Tokyo Skytree.
- Day 4: Ueno Zoo / museums + playground or Odaiba.
- Day 5: Choose: Disney, teamLab Planets, Ghibli Museum or city “greatest hits” repeat.
5-Day Tokyo itinerary – detailed daily plan
Day 1 – Arrival & soft landing
Use the same Day 1 flow as the 3-day itinerary: airport arrival, check-in, Shinjuku Gyoen and a short night walk. If you are arriving late, simply swap the park for a short neighborhood stroll near your hotel.
Day 2 – Harajuku & Shibuya (with better sleep)
Run the same Day 2 as in the 3-day plan, but with a bit more energy in the tank thanks to the extra nights of sleep. If your crew is wide awake, consider adding a quick stop at a nearby playground between Meiji Shrine and Shibuya.
Day 3 – Asakusa & Tokyo Skytree
- Morning Asakusa: Sensō-ji, Nakamise, side streets – same as the 3-day plan, but move a little slower and enjoy more side alleys.
- Lunch: Eat in Asakusa or head toward the river to keep little legs moving. There are plenty of kid-friendly spots with noodles, tempura and curry.
- Afternoon at Tokyo Skytree: Walk or hop a short train to
Tokyo Skytree.
The full guide covers:
- How to book tickets ahead of time
- Which observation deck to choose
- What to do in the Skytree Town complex with kids
- Evening: Either stay for nighttime city views or head back before bedtime depending on how everyone is feeling.
Day 4 – Ueno, zoos & Odaiba (parents’ choice)
- Option A – Ueno focus:
- Morning at Ueno Zoo
- Lunch in or around Ueno Park
- Afternoon museum time from the kid-friendly museum list
- Playground stop before heading back to your base
- Option B – Odaiba day: If you want more indoor, weather-proof fun and bay views, swap Ueno for Odaiba. You will find details in the Central Neighborhoods guide.
Day 5 – Big “wow” choice: Disney, teamLab or Ghibli
Use this last day for something your kids will talk about for years:
- Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea: Combine these with family tours and transfers near the resort using Viator.
- teamLab Planets: An immersive art experience that many families love. See the full Family Guide: teamLab Planets Tokyo.
- Ghibli Museum: Perfect for Studio Ghibli fans who want a storybook day. Details and booking tips are in the Ghibli Museum Family Guide.
Pro tip: whichever “wow” you choose, clear the schedule the night before, keep bedtime reasonable and arrive early with tickets sorted. For big days, travel insurance like SafetyWing buys peace of mind for lost bags, delayed flights or last-minute hiccups.
Optional extras to plug into either itinerary
- Tokyo Tower: Classic red-and-white tower views and a fun contrast with Skytree. See the Tokyo Tower Family Guide.
- Best family tours: If you want someone else to handle navigation for a day, look at recommendations in Best Family Tours in Tokyo.
- Cherry blossom season: If you are visiting in spring, weave in some of the spots from Best Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo – Family Guide.
- Temple & shrine days: Use the Best Temples & Shrines in Tokyo guide to swap in more culture and less city buzz.
Budget & safety tips (realistic parent edition)
Tokyo does not have to be a budget disaster, but it does reward a few habits:
- Anchor with convenience stores: 7-Eleven, FamilyMart and Lawson are your secret weapons for breakfasts, snacks and backup dinners when energy is gone.
- Use food halls: Department store basements are fantastic for mixing picky eaters and adventurous parents in a single meal.
- Book cancellable stays first: Use free-cancellation options on your hotel search so you can re-check prices closer to your dates.
- Tap in, tap out: Load a bit more than you think you need onto your IC card to avoid topping up with tired kids at rush hour.
- Travel insurance: A simple plan from a provider like SafetyWing keeps medical, baggage and delay worries from living rent-free in your head while you are trying to enjoy Tokyo Station ramen.
For deeper money and safety details (including scams, crowds and kid-specific boundaries), read the full Tokyo Budget & Safety Tips with Kids.
Affiliate note – how this Tokyo itinerary stays free
Some of the links in this itinerary are affiliate links for Booking.com (hotels, flights, car rentals), Viator (tours) and SafetyWing (travel insurance). When you reserve a room, flight, tour or policy through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
That support keeps stayheredothat.blogspot.com running and lets me keep building deep, parent-focused guides like this instead of filling the site with pop-up ads. I only point you toward platforms and travel styles I would feel comfortable recommending to real families spending real savings on big trips.
More Tokyo family guides to pair with this itinerary
Use these to customize your own version of the 3-day or 5-day plan.
- Ultimate Tokyo Family Travel Guide: Central Neighborhoods
- Ultimate Tokyo Family Attractions Guide
- Best Areas to Stay in Tokyo – Family Guide
- Best Family Hotels & Resorts in Tokyo
- Tokyo Metro & JR Pass Guide with Kids
- Haneda Airport Family Guide & Narita Airport Family Guide
- Family Guide: Tokyo Disneyland
- Family Guide: Tokyo DisneySea
- Family Guide: teamLab Planets Tokyo
- Family Guide: Ghibli Museum
If you use this itinerary to plan your trip, come back after you travel and leave a comment with what worked (and what you would change). Your real-world notes help the next parents feel less overwhelmed.
© 2025 Stay Here, Do That. All rights reserved.
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