Top Kid-Friendly Activities for Japan Family Tours

As an ideal destination to spend a family tour, no matter what season you want to start a journey with your kids, Japan will not disappoint. Go to the park to enjoy the cherry blossoms while having a picnic; watch the summer night flowers of fireworks and have all kinds of recreational activities; immerse in the real-life version of the ancient paths of Spirited Away to enjoy the red leaves and measure the earth with your feet; head to Hokkaido to have a snowy encounter and experience the world of snow and ice in an immersive way. Below are the top kid-friendly activities for your family tour in Japan.

Meet Some Furry Friends

Taking your kids to see animals they've only seen in picture books and cartoons is definitely a worthwhile endeavor! Nara Park in Osaka is a good choice, with many free-ranging deer in the park. Your kids can get close to the deer, feed them deer cakes and take pictures.

If your kids are interested in monkeys, the Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano-ken is perfect for you. Your kids will be there to see the monkeys who love to soak in the hot springs, and that's got to be a fun picture.

If you want to see many animals at once, then Tokyo's Ueno Zoo is a great choice. The park simulates the living environment of wild animals. Your child will learn a lot about animals and have a lot of fun on the animal tour.

Lovely Deer in Nara Park

Explore Diverse Museums

If your kids love Hayao Miyazaki's anime, then don't miss out on the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo. Romantically arranged to present the pure anime world of Hayao Miyazaki in a tiny space like a magical fortress, your kids will be captivated by them.

The Fujiko F. Fujio Museum in the nearby Kawasaki is also a great choice. It takes your kids to restore the fairy tale world that is so familiar in their memories through the Doraemon author's studio and original artwork.

The Instant Ramen Museum is a fun place where you can DIY an instant ramen of your own with your kids. The Ninja Museum is so mysterious that your kids will be treated to a real ninja show there, which will surely be a very special experience. For car lovers, there is also the Toyota Automobile Museum which has various vehicles and models awaiting your visit.

Toyota Automobile Museum

Marvel at Magnificent Castles

The Japanese-style castles are also worth seeing with your kids. Nagoya Castle, located in Nagoya, is mainly black and white and is made of wood and stone. It is best known for the large number of cherry blossom trees planted inside, making it a famous cherry blossom viewing spot.

Himeji Castle, located in Himeji City, is famous for its white walls and eaves that resemble egrets on the wing. Nijo Castle in Kyoto City, Japan, offers a taste of the opulence of the Japanese Shogunate and is even more beautiful at night. Each year the night show has a different theme, and through technology, you and your children will be able to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of ancient times.

Nijo Castle, Kyoto

Discover Unique Shrines

As you stroll through these sacred shrines with your children, they will feel an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Bring your children here to make a wish, and their dreams may come true.

Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto is one of the most famous shrines in the world. Thousands of orange-red torii form a time tunnel that stretches all the way to the top of Mount Inari.

Itsukushima Shrine is a shrine that floats on the sea. Because it is located above the high tide zone, it sometimes looks as if it is floating on the sea.

Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto

Gaze Upon the Splendor of Mt. Fuji

As one of Japan's most iconic attractions, Mt. Fuji is a must-see for you and your kids. For some relaxing activities with your kids, on the north side of Mt. Fuji are the Fuji Five Lakes, where many sports facilities are available where you can play tennis, water skiing, fishing, camping and boating with your children. On the south side of the mountain is a vast plateau area with green grass for sightseeing pastures with herds of cows and sheep. During the summer season, you can also take your children up Mount Fuji to see the volcano up close, which might be a bit challenging for young kids, though a nice try to feed their curiosity.

Mt. Fuji

Dive Into the Scene of Akihabara

Akihabara is located in central Tokyo, it is an anime city known for its many electronics stores. It's a secondary paradise, filled with anime, manga and games that take Japanese anime to the extreme.

If your child is an electronics enthusiast, then they can find the latest cell phones, computers, or various game consoles here. If your child is an anime fan, then Akihabara has a great variety of specialty stores where they are sure to find their own peripheral. The most unique stores in Akihabara are those themed cafes, where you and your child can experience very good service and taste delicious food served by animated characters.

Akihabara, Tokyo

Delight in Theme Park Adventures

There are many different theme parks in Japan. Perhaps one of the most famous is Tokyo Disney. The LAND part is more fantastic and suitable for children. With many cartoon characters performing here, children seem to enter a fairy tale world, and the Disney Dream Float Parade will surely leave your children with wonderful memories.

If your kids are very hands-on, Legoland is a good choice. It is a fantasy land built with more than 17 million Lego blocks, and once they enter this colorful kingdom of blocks, they will always find a piece of their own joy. Aside from that, Universal Studios, Sanrio Land and Pirate Land can also be a part of your kid's travel plans.

Universal Studios, Osaka

Indulge in Delectable Japanese Cuisine

When you come to Japan, how can you and your kids miss Japanese food? Japan's culinary culture is world-renowned, you can take the kids to try some of the specialty dishes such as sushi, ramen and tempura.

In the Ginza area of Tokyo, you can find a number of fine restaurants that offer a wide variety of popular Japanese cuisine dishes. Aside from the staples, you can also take your kids to explore some Japanese street food in Osaka such as takoyaki and yakisoba, or the traditional Kaiseki cuisine with wagashi in Kyoto. This will not only satisfy your taste buds, but also help your children learn about Japanese food culture.

Japanese Cuisine

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Embrace Tradition in a Beautiful Kimono

When you visit Japan, you can take your kids on a kimono experience for a few uniquely Japanese photos. Although there are many styles of Japanese kimono and they are more complicated to wear, you don't need to worry at all.

There are already stores in Tokyo that offer a full kimono experience program, and it will help you out. The clerk will help you choose the right kimono according to the sightseeing spots and the season you are going to visit, as well as help you match all the relevant accessories. You can go to different spots with your children in kimono and make your own memories.

Kimono Experience

Experience a Serene Tea Ceremony

If you want to take your kids to better understand Japanese culture, a serene tea ceremony will be a good choice. The Japanese Tea Ceremony is a flow ceremony for tasting tea. The tea ceremony teacher will lead you to learn the etiquette of the Japanese Tea Ceremony and understand the use of various tea utensils.

You and your child will be led by a teacher in a tea ceremony following the appropriate process. You will taste your own matcha and traditional Japanese sweets, and experience and discover the way of fine living and aesthetics.

Tea Ceremony in Gion, Kyoto

Craft a Japanese Bento in a Cooking Class

If your kids have a penchant for making food, then don't miss out on the Japanese food cooking events that Tokyo offers exclusively for visitors. You will be immersed in the experience of how a beautifully prepared Japanese bento is transformed from fresh ingredients to a delicacy in your mouth.

The chef will patiently teach you how to make bento, from meat and vegetable combinations to plating techniques. At the end of the production, you and your child can taste the bento you made. This will not only be an unforgettable hands-on experience but also a great opportunity to enhance the parent-child relationship.

Cooking Class in Japan

Have a Cherry Blossom Picnic

Once the cherry blossom season comes, the whole of Japan is filled with a pink romantic atmosphere. You can choose a sunny day and bring your kids for a picnic under the cherry blossom trees, can't think of anything more soothing than that.

If you are in Tokyo, you can visit Ueno Park. There, over a thousand cherry trees bloom in cherry blossom season, and it's gorgeous. If you are in Osaka, you can visit Osaka Castle Park. The Osaka Castle Cherry Blossom Festival is also held there every year, and it's going to be very lively. With delicious food and breathtaking cherry blossoms, your kids will love this activity!

Find the Place for A Cherry Blossom Picnic

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Witness the Spectacle of Summer Fireworks Festivals

When visiting Japan in summer, bringing your kids to a local fireworks festival is one of the things you can't miss on your to-do list. You and your children will enjoy fireworks with a phoenix motif at the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival. At the Sumida River Fireworks Festival, you'll be treated to a spectacular display of fireworks illuminating the Tokyo Skytree.

But even more special is Kamakura's Sea Fireworks Festival, where the terrain is surrounded by mountains on three sides and has the acoustics of a natural theater. When the fireworks bloom, you and your children can not only enjoy the combination of the night sea and fireworks into a super atmospheric beauty but also the double enjoyment of the visual and auditory senses, it must be a very shocking experience.

Summer Fireworks Festival

Hike Amidst the Colors of Autumn

In addition to cherry blossoms, red leaves are also a stunning sight in Japan. Especially the city full of red leaves with Japanese garden-style architecture, pulls the atmosphere of autumn to its peak.

From September to December, you can start a hiking trip with your kids, Kumano Kodo and Nakasendo are good choices. You can walk through the ancient paths while enjoying the red leaves that fill the mountains. Your children will measure the ancient paths on foot, and they will find a sense of sacred ritual in the serene mountain wilderness, as well as a sense of their own connection to nature.

Kumano Kodo in Autumn

Hit the Slopes for Winter

Skiing How can you come to Japan in winter and not experience skiing once? You can bring your kids to the Sapporo Ice Festival, which features snow and ice sculptures. Children can not only enjoy a wide variety of snow and ice sculpture artwork, but also play with snow, ski, skate, and make snowmen in the area!

Besides that, you can also visit GALA Yuzawa Ski Resort, where there are abundant programs for parents and children. And Listel Fantasia is also a good choice. As for an excellent skiing experience, Niseko United could be your best choice. Come and bring your kids to experience the world of ice and snow for an unforgettable winter vacation.

Skiing in Japan

Start Your Japan Family Tour With Odynovo

Traveling is the most romantic education. Traveling with children satisfies your own heart to see the world, and also satisfies your children's freshness and curiosity. Traveling to Japan with Odynovo, you and your kids will enjoy a fun parent-child trip.