Top things for kids to do in Japan that won’t cost an arm and a leg!
Visit a park or garden
There are some amazing parks in Japan. Ueno park in the middle of Tokyo is an oasis with swan paddle boats and street food stalls, Shinjuku gyoen is famous for cherry blossom but is beautiful all year round and has lots of space for kids to run! We always found parks for the kids to let off steam. Wherever you are, take a look on Google maps and see what you can find.
Buy a toy from a Gatcha machine
Ranging from ¥200 to ¥500. There are so many to choose from and you can find them everywhere! These also make awesome souvenirs to bring home.
Visit a statue or two
There are a number of statues and sights that you can see in the streets and it doesn’t cost a thing! Check out the Godzilla statue near Yurakucho Station or the Unicorn Gundam statue in Odaiba or the loyal dog Hachiko at Shibuya crossing.
Buy something from a vending machine
Try a hot chocolate if you are there in autumn or winter. This is one of the kids favourite things to do! Make it a challenge to find the most bizarre vending machine! One that serves hot pizza? or one on a train? one that scans you and makes recommendations of what you might like? Anyone for a bottle of sweat?
Ride on a train
Any train will do! On the green circle in Tokyo listen to each stations signature song that is played when the train comes into the station. Catch the driverless train to Odaiba and sit up front like the driver.
Catch a Pokemon or visit a Pokemon store
Now I must admit that visiting a Pokemon store can break the bank!!! However, buying Pokemon cards are inexpensive and our kids loved going to Akihabara to the trading card stores and purchasing one or two specific cards for their decks – although note that the cards are in Japanese and so cannot be used in official games back in Aus!
Pokemon Go records where each Pokemon was caught and where better to catch Pokemon than in Japan! Our boys took time to catch a Pokemon in each major town to keep as a souvenir.
Go on a hike
No matter where you visit in Japan, there are many places that you can go for a hike with the kids and do some forest bathing. From Tokyo, try Mount Takao, where you can walk different trails or take the chairlift to the top for a view of Mount Fuji.
Keep a stamp book
Many cultural sites have a big 10 cm rubber stamp that you can use to stamp your own book as a souvenir. Collecting these stamps adds some excitement to the trip and adds to the kids journal for news when they get home from holidays. (A plain notebook makes a great present for grandparents to give for the trip).
Take a Kawaii photo
Take a photo of something cute just for the sake of it! A cat in Ginza street, a cute toy or cute tiny fire engines. This is a very Japanese things to do and you will see people lining up to take photos of the cats in Ginza. You will often catch people surreptitiously taking photos of your kids too, especially if they are Kawaii!
Taste test Pocky or Kit Kat
You may think you have had KitKats before but nothing like this! There are different flavours of Pocky and KitKats in different regions so try them out as you travel the country. They also make great souvenirs.
Learn a few Japanese phrases and try them out!
It is really appreciated when you attempt to speak Japanese, particularly when the kids try. Kids if you learn these phrases before you go you can challenge the adults to see who can use them the most on your trip.
“Konichiwa” – Hello
“Arigatou Gozaimasu” – Thank you
“Itadakimasu” – at the start of a meal
“Gochisousama deshita” – at the end of the meal
“Sumimasen” – Excuse me
“Onagaishimasu” – Please
“Hai” – yes
“Iie” – no
Play Spotto for 7/11
They are everywhere so this is an easy and fun game!
A variation of this is to find out the local mascot where you are staying and play spotto – We played spotto for Kumamon in Kumamoto and then found him everywhere, not just in Kumamoto but all over Japan!
Watch a Japanese TV program
Japanese TV has to be seen to be believed, it can be wacky and bizarre. It doesn’t matter if you can’t understand the Japanese, its just as hilarious! We discovered parkour battles and loved it! It’s a great way to have a laugh and wind down at the end of a day of adventure.
Walk the streets
Although I have left this to last, this is actually our favourite thing to do, just walking the streets in Japan is an experience! Particularly markets and streets like Takeshita street where you will find Japanese quirky fashion rules or Ameyoko markets for clothes shopping, fresh foods and street food!
