Best Areas to Stay in Tokyo – Family Guide With Kids
Tokyo is massive, but your kids don’t need the whole city – they just need the right home base. The “best” area to stay in Tokyo with kids is less about chasing a trendy neighborhood and more about: easy trains, walkable food, kid-friendly streets and realistic travel days.
This guide breaks Tokyo into simple, parent-friendly zones and helps you choose where to stay based on your family’s style. We will walk through Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo Station / Marunouchi, Ginza, Asakusa, Ueno, Odaiba, Ikebukuro, Akihabara, Roppongi, Shinagawa and the Tokyo Disney Resort area – with honest pros and cons for families.
You will also find direct links to compare family hotels, flights into Haneda & Narita, rental cars for side trips, and family tours, so you can actually book things while you read instead of juggling 20 tabs later.
Quick snapshot – best areas at a glance
- Best “first time” base: Shinjuku or Shibuya.
- Most central & calm: Tokyo Station / Marunouchi & Ginza.
- Temples + old streets: Asakusa.
- Parks, zoo & museums: Ueno.
- Rainy-day backup heaven: Odaiba.
- Anime, games & older kids: Ikebukuro & Akihabara.
- Airport & shinkansen hub: Shinagawa.
- Views + art after bedtime: Roppongi.
- Disney days: Tokyo Disney Resort (Maihama / Urayasu).
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Quick links inside this guide
- How to use this “best areas” guide without getting overwhelmed
- Choose your base by family travel style
- Shinjuku – big city energy, parks & trains everywhere
- Shibuya – scramble crossing & easy links
- Tokyo Station / Marunouchi – calm, central & convenient
- Ginza – polished streets & food halls
- Asakusa – temples, lanterns & river cruises
- Ueno – zoo, museums & park days
- Odaiba – bay views, malls & rainy-day backup
- Ikebukuro & Akihabara – anime, arcades & older kids
- Roppongi – art, views & date-night energy
- Shinagawa – airport & shinkansen hub
- Tokyo Disney Resort area – for Disney-first families
- One base vs two bases – how to split your stay
- Sample 5–10 night family stay patterns
- All the connected Tokyo family guides
- Affiliate note – how this guide stays free
How to use this guide without getting overwhelmed
Think of this as the “where should we sleep?” brain for your Tokyo trip. It works hand-in-hand with the Ultimate Tokyo Family Travel Guide: Central Neighborhoods and the Ultimate Tokyo Family Attractions Guide With Kids.
- Use this guide to choose 1–2 base neighborhoods that actually fit your kids, budget and energy.
- Use the central neighborhoods guide to understand how those areas connect and what each one feels like.
- Use the attractions guide to plug in parks, towers, museums and day trips around your base.
If you’re tired, skim the next section (“Choose your base by travel style”), pick 1–2 matches, then come back later for details.
Choose your base by family travel style
Fast answers
- First-time family who wants “peak Tokyo”: Shinjuku or Shibuya.
- Families who want calm streets & easy trains: Tokyo Station / Marunouchi or Ginza.
- Temple vibes, lanterns & river boats: Asakusa.
- Zoo + museum days in one place: Ueno.
- Rainy-day or stroller-heavy trip: Odaiba.
- Anime, arcades & teens: Akihabara & Ikebukuro.
- Art & night views for the grown-ups: Roppongi.
- Airport & shinkansen with minimal transfers: Shinagawa.
- Disney-focused trip: Tokyo Disney Resort area + one central base.
You do not need to move hotels every time you change neighborhoods. Most families do best with:
• One central base for 5–7 nights, or
• Two bases (for example: Shinjuku + Tokyo Station, or Shibuya + Disney area).
Shinjuku – big city energy, parks & trains everywhere
Shinjuku is Tokyo in capital letters: neon lights, huge stations, department stores, tiny side streets and one of the best city parks you can ask for with kids – Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.
- Why families like it: Direct trains all over the city, tons of food options, big park days and easy access to other neighborhoods.
- What to watch: The crowds around the station can feel intense for sensitive kids. Book a hotel a few blocks back on a quieter street.
- Good for: First-time visitors, mixed-age kids, families who want “Tokyo energy” with a big green escape nearby.
Deep dive: Family Travel Guide: Shinjuku – Family Adventures Itinerary
Shibuya – scramble crossing & easy links
Shibuya’s famous scramble crossing, Hachiko statue and shopping streets make it feel like a movie set. For families, it works best when you stay a bit away from the busiest corners and treat the crossing as a quick “wow” moment, not your whole day.
- Why families like it: Great connections to Harajuku, Omotesando and Shinjuku, lots of casual food, easy city views from department stores.
- What to watch: Some nightlife around the main station zone. Choose a hotel that specifically markets to families or business guests.
- Good for: Tweens and teens, families who like city buzz, travelers who want a stylish base without being too formal.
Deep dive: Family Travel Guide: Shibuya – Family Adventures Itinerary
Tokyo Station / Marunouchi – calm, central & convenient
The Tokyo Station / Marunouchi area feels like the city’s polished core: red-brick station building, wide sidewalks, character streets, underground malls and direct access to shinkansen bullet trains.
- Why families like it: Calm at night, easy train access to almost everywhere, lots of food in and under the station, simple airport transfers.
- What to watch: Hotels can be pricier, but you save on time and transit stress.
- Good for: First or last nights in Tokyo, families doing day trips, anyone who wants central without chaotic nightlife.
Deep dive: Family Travel Guide: Tokyo Station Area – Marunouchi & Nihonbashi
Ginza – polished streets & food halls
Ginza is wide sidewalks, elegant stores, basement food halls and calm streets in the evening. With kids, you can treat it as “city walk + snack safari” between other stops.
- Why families like it: Walkable, safe, easy to window-shop, lots of clean restrooms and family-friendly cafes hidden inside big stores.
- What to watch: Not a playground zone – think strolling, eating and quick train hops to parks.
- Good for: Families who like calmer streets, stroller days, food-first travelers.
Deep dive: Family Travel Guide: Ginza – Tokyo, Japan
Asakusa – temples, lanterns & river cruises
Asakusa is where many families first feel the “old Tokyo” atmosphere: Sensō-ji Temple, lanterns, Nakamise shopping street and Sumida River cruises.
- Why families like it: Easy to string together temple time, snack browsing and a short boat ride. Streets feel different from glass-tower business districts.
- What to watch: Can get crowded mid-day, especially in peak seasons. Early mornings and evenings feel softer.
- Good for: Kids who like rituals, lanterns and boats; families who want a strong sense of place without traveling far.
Deep dive: Family Travel Guide: Asakusa – Tokyo, Japan
Pair Asakusa with Tokyo Skytree or a Sumida River cruise for a full day that stays in one area.
Ueno – zoo, museums & park days
Ueno Park is one of Tokyo’s best all-in-one days with kids: Ueno Zoo, the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Nature and Science and big lawns all in one giant green space.
- Why families like it: So many kid-friendly options without changing trains. Great for days when you want a loose plan and room to roam.
- What to watch: Weekends and cherry blossom season are busy – but still doable with breaks.
- Good for: Animal lovers, museum kids, families traveling in spring and autumn.
Deep dive zoo guide:
Family Travel Guide: Ueno Zoo – Tokyo, Japan Itinerary With Kids
Museum overview:
Best Kid-Friendly Museums in Tokyo – Family Guide
Odaiba – bay views, malls & rainy-day backup
Odaiba is Tokyo’s entertainment island, full of malls, indoor attractions, views over the Rainbow Bridge and easy stroller routes. On hot, cold or wet days, it’s one of the easiest places to keep everyone happy.
- Why families like it: Wide paths, waterfront views, shopping centers with indoor play, easy food and lots of restrooms.
- What to watch: Feels more like a modern entertainment zone than “traditional Japan” – which is perfect for some trips, less important for others.
- Good for: Mixed-age families, stroller trips, anyone worried about weather or sensory overload in tight streets.
Deep dive: Family Travel Guide: Odaiba – Tokyo, Japan
Ikebukuro & Akihabara – anime, arcades & older kids
If your kids are already deep into anime, manga or gaming, Ikebukuro and Akihabara can feel like home. If not, they’re still fun for a day of character shops and neon signs.
Ikebukuro
- Home to Sunshine City, indoor attractions, character stores and rooftop views.
- Solid base if you want a practical station hub with lots of everyday shops.
Akihabara
- Stacked with electronics shops, figure stores and game centers.
- Best as a day trip with older kids & teens who already know what they’re excited to see.
Deep dives: Family Travel Guide: Akihabara – Tokyo, Japan and Family Travel Guide: Ikebukuro – Tokyo, Japan
Roppongi – art, views & date-night energy
Roppongi has a nightlife reputation, but it’s also home to Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Midtown, the Mori Art Museum and city viewpoints that feel magical after dark.
- Why families like it: Easy to combine kid-friendly malls and parks with a grown-up view stop once they’re tired or asleep in the stroller.
- What to watch: Some streets feel more bar-oriented late at night; stick to the big complexes and main routes with kids.
- Good for: Art-loving families, parents who want one or two “date-night energy” evenings without a long commute.
Deep dive: Family Travel Guide: Roppongi – Tokyo, Japan
Shinagawa – airport & shinkansen hub
Shinagawa is the practical choice that quietly saves you energy: great for Haneda Airport, shinkansen southbound, and simple connections across the city.
- Why families like it: Straightforward transfers, familiar hotel chains, lots of quick food.
- What to watch: It feels more like a transport hub than a “destination” neighborhood – which can be exactly what you want at the start or end of a long trip.
- Good for: Jet lag nights, bullet-train days, early or late flights.
Tokyo Disney Resort area – Disney days + city days
If Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea are the heart of your trip, consider splitting your stay between a central Tokyo base and the Tokyo Disney Resort area around Maihama / Urayasu.
- Stay central (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo Station, etc.) while you explore the city.
- Move to a Disney-area hotel for 2–4 nights dedicated to the parks.
Deep dive city-to-Disney planning: Tokyo Disneyland – Tips & Itinerary With Kids and Tokyo DisneySea – Family Travel Guide
For nearby non-park days, pair your Disney base with:
One base vs two bases – how to split your stay
One-base stays (simpler packing)
- Choose Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo Station or Ginza.
- Do day trips by train to Asakusa, Ueno, Odaiba, Akihabara, Ikebukuro and Roppongi.
- Good for shorter trips (5–6 nights) or families who hate unpacking more than once.
Two-base stays (less commuting)
- City + city: Shinjuku or Shibuya + Tokyo Station or Ginza.
- City + Disney: Shinjuku / Shibuya / Tokyo Station + Tokyo Disney Resort area.
- City + bay: Central base + Odaiba for a few nights of easy stroller walks.
If you are staying 7–10 nights and plan to visit Disney parks or do multiple day trips, two bases usually mean fewer tired-kid train rides at the end of the day.
Sample 5–10 night family stay patterns
5 nights – first time in Tokyo with kids
- Nights 1–5: Shinjuku or Shibuya.
- City highlights from the Tokyo family attractions guide: Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower, Ueno Zoo, best Tokyo playgrounds, a kid-friendly museum and one family tour.
7 nights – city + Disney combo
- Nights 1–4: Tokyo Station or Ginza (central, calm, perfect for jet lag).
- Nights 5–7: Tokyo Disney Resort area hotel.
- Use central days for: Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower, Ueno, Asakusa & playgrounds, then switch to full Disney focus.
10 nights – slow-paced Tokyo with younger kids
- Nights 1–5: Shinjuku (park days, Shibuya/Harajuku, Ueno).
- Nights 6–10: Odaiba or Tokyo Station area (bay walks, museums, easy access to tours and cherry blossom spots in season).
- Sprinkle in one or two organized family tours so adults get a break from navigation.
For cherry blossom season, cross-check your dates with the Best Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo – Family Guide so your base is close to at least one major bloom area.
All the connected Tokyo family guides
Use this “where to stay” guide as your base map, then open these for deep-dive itineraries, playgrounds, museums, Disney days and more:
- Ultimate Tokyo Family Travel Guide: Central Neighborhoods
- Ultimate Tokyo Family Attractions Guide With Kids
- Best Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo – Family Guide With Kids
- Best Family Tours in Tokyo With Kids
- Best Temples & Shrines in Tokyo – Family Guide With Kids
- Best Tokyo Playgrounds – Family Guide With Kids
- Best Kid-Friendly Museums in Tokyo – Family Guide
- Family Travel Guide: Ueno Zoo – Tokyo, Japan Itinerary With Kids
- Family Travel Guide: Tokyo Tower – Itinerary With Kids
- Family Travel Guide: Tokyo Skytree – Itinerary With Kids
- Family Travel Guide: Tokyo Disneyland – Tips & Itinerary With Kids
- Family Travel Guide: Tokyo DisneySea – Itinerary With Kids
- Family Travel Guide: teamLab Planets Tokyo – Itinerary With Kids
- Family Travel Guide: Ghibli Museum – Tokyo Itinerary With Kids
- Family Travel Guide: Shinagawa – Tokyo, Japan Itinerary
Affiliate note – how this “best areas” guide stays free
Some of the links in this guide are affiliate links for Booking.com (hotels, flights, car rentals), Viator (tours) and SafetyWing (travel insurance). When you reserve a stay, flight, tour or policy through those links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
That support keeps stayheredothat.blogspot.com online and lets me keep building detailed, family-first itineraries like this instead of covering the site in pop-up ads. I only recommend platforms and styles of trips I would feel comfortable suggesting to real families spending real savings on “big” vacations.
If you use this guide to plan your Tokyo stay, come back after your trip and leave a comment with what worked (and what you’d tweak next time). Your real-world notes help the next parents breathe a little easier.
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