8 Must-Visit Restaurants in Tokyo for Kids
Going on holiday in Tokyo can be a fun-filled vacation for the entire family. But the question often arises of where to eat, particularly when traveling with young children who are picky eaters or easily bored. If you're visiting Tokyo with kids, then you should check out these great restaurants that are not only "kid-friendly" but "kid fun", too. Our picks range from sit-down and food court-style restaurants to themed cafes so we're sure you'll find a restaurant here to add to your vacation itinerary no matter what ages your kids are.
Bonding Time at Chano-ma Cafe
Good for babies and toddlers
For families with very little ones, Chano-ma Café in Daikanyama is just the place where mom, dad, and baby can enjoy a nice meal together. The clean white interior and soft lighting give the café a relaxed, intimate atmosphere, and they have wall-to-wall couches with wide cushions—perfect for infants to crawl around or lie down on if they’re still too small to sit up on their own. Chano-ma also has plenty of high chairs for toddlers, diaper changing stations in the restroom, and a nursing room for additional privacy. Best of all, they offer a healthy lunch menu with a big focus on fresh and seasonal dishes.
Ramen Tasting at Gotouchi Men Matsuri
Good for large families
After spending the day running around Odaiba with your kids at the various science museums, stores, and entertainment centers, Gotouchi Men Matsuri on the 5th floor of Aqua City Mall is just the place to enjoy a fun, casual family meal. This food court-style eatery allows you to try different styles of ramen from all over Japan, from Hokkaido-style miso ramen to tonkotsu ramen from the Hakata area. They offer English menus as well, so it’s very accessible even if you don’t speak Japanese—just point and order. If the weather’s good, you can also take your food and sit outside for an excellent view of the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower.
Conveyor Belt Sushi at Nemuro Hanamaru
Good for grade school and up
Conveyor belt sushi, known as “kaiten sushi” in Japanese, can be a fun and authentic dining experience for kids. It’s quick, kids love watching the sushi go around, and it lets them choose exactly what they want to eat. The seafood at Nemuro Hanamaru is shipped directly from their headquarters in Hokkaido, so it’s always fresh and delicious, and the affordable, high-quality sushi here means that you can have a great family lunch or dinner at a reasonable price. It’s also conveniently located close to Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace, so it’s very easy to stop by while sightseeing around the city.
Gyoza Tasting at Sunshine City
Good for large families
Gyoza Stadium, located inside of Namja Town in Ikebukuro’s Sunshine City, is a food amusement park dedicated solely to one of Japan’s most popular foods, gyoza. The layout at Gyoza Stadium looks like a small 1950’s Japanese town. It’s filled with numerous food stands where you can purchase fried dumplings of different shapes, sizes, and fillings that showcase 14 famous gyoza restaurants from across Japan. It’s only 500 yen to enter Gyoza Stadium, but if you’re interested in exploring some of the bizarre attractions that Namja Town has to offer, you can purchase “Namja coins” to try them out or get a Namja Town Pass, which allows you unlimited play.
3 Higashi-Ikebukuro, World Import Mart Bldg 2F, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth at Jiyugaoka Sweets Forest
Good for grade school and up
If you’re a parent with a sweet tooth and aren’t afraid of giving your kids a sugar rush, then you can’t miss Sweets Forest in Jiyugaoka. The neighborhood is well-known for its excellent bakeries and patisseries, but Sweets Forests combines eight different kinds of sweets shops in one convenient location. Every shop is run by a talented dessert chef who has either won as international pastry competition or worked at a famous bakery in Europe. Sweets Forest offers everything from cakes and crêpes to puddings, parfaits, and waffles, and they hold events throughout the year highlighting each of the seasons.
http://www.sweets-forest.com/index2.php
2-25-7 Midorigaoka, Meguro-ku,Tokyo
Enter Wonderland at Alice’s Fantasy Dining
Good for grade school and up
Alice’s Fantasy Dining restaurants are just the place to take the Alice in Wonderland fan in your life. They have six locations around Tokyo with various themes like “Alice in the old castle” and “Alice in the labyrinth”. While the dark maze-like interior may be a bit scary for very young children, older kids will enjoy the elaborate décor and the chance to have their very own Wonderland tea party. The menus here are designed like a pop-up storybook and are full of fantastically-themed dishes.
Save the Universe at a Gundam Cafe
Good for grade school and up
If your kid's a fan of giant robots—and honestly speaking, whose kid isn't?—then you’ll want to make a stop at one of Tokyo’s Gundam Cafés. They offer limited edition Gundam models that can only be found in-store, and even if your child isn’t old enough to be interested in assembling plastic model kits, they’re sure to enjoy all of the Gundam-themed food, from robot waffles to ice cream floats. The Odaiba location also features a 1:1 scale Gundam outside, which makes for some great photo opportunities.
Dine Kawaii-Style at Pom Pom Purin Cafe
Good for grade school and up
No visit to Tokyo is complete without a trip to Harajuku, which is not only a mecca for youth fashion and culture but also a fun place to wander the streets. Your family will probably enjoy stopping for a crêpe from one of the kiosks along the famous Takeshita Street, but if you're looking for something a bit more filling, you'll want to check out the Pom Pom Purin Café. Pom Pom Purin is a cute golden retriever dog who may be one of the lesser-known Sanrio characters, but in Harajuku he has his very own café and restaurant. The menu is full of kid-friendly dishes like spaghetti, as well as Japanese curry with rice molded into cute character shapes to entice picky eaters. Pom Pom Purin Café uses a ticketing system for entry, so you'll need to arrive early and pick up a ticket which will tell you what time you can enter.
Author : Ellie Nguyen/Sekaihe Bokan
Ellie Nguyen is an American writer currently living and working in Tokyo. She enjoys trekking throughout Japan to report on the country’s unique food and restaurant culture. Be sure not to miss any of her articles posted exclusively on Gurunavi.com.
