Tokyo with children -a tiring and expensive experience, but with plenty of money and lots of energy you won't be short of things to do.
Tokyo Disneyland
In terms of entertainment and relative value for money, number one on the list has to be Tokyo Disneyland. Passport tickets are 5, 500 yen for adults; 4,800 yen for 12 - 17 year olds and 3,700 yen for under 11's. Open 08:00am - 11:00 pm daily.
From Tokyo Station take the Keiyo Line to Maihama Station.
On the face of it rather bad value for money. But with Hello Kitty and friends performing a number of cheerful if not ecstatic shows, and a boat ride through the Sanrio Kingdom, who can argue that the experience isn't Japanese? Very small children may find some of the attractions frightening, but anyone over the age of five should have a good time.
Passport tickets cost 3000 yen for adults and 2000 yen for children. (Individual tickets can be bought for each attraction but this works out to be much more expensive).
A pamphlet in English is available from the information counter. Open: 10:00am to 5:00pm
Sanrio Puroland is situated in Tama Center, a satellite city to the west of Tokyo. From Shinjuku Station take the Keio Line Express or Special Express train (bound for Hashimoto) to Tama Center Station. Once at Tama Center Station leave via the central exit (the exit closest to the Odakyu line platforms), walk up the steps and continue until you reach a crossroads. At this crossroads turn left and Sanrio Puroland is then straight ahead.
Sanrio Hello Kitty Website (Japanese only)
Namja Town is a typical Japanese style theme attraction (incomprehensible for non- Japanese speakers) based on the adventures of a cat called Najavu. Throughout the day there are puppet and stage shows, interactive activities and games. Passport tickets cost 3900 yen for adults and 3,300 yen for children. Separate tickets can be bought for each attraction; these start at 1,600 yen for adults and 800 yen for children. Open 10:00 am to 10:00 pm daily.
Namja Town is situated on the second floor of the World Import Mart Building (part of the Sunshine City Complex) in Ikebukero (JR Yamanote Train Line).
Sunshine City Web Site (Japanese only).
Tel: 03 398 3331
On the upper floors of many department stores, suitable for the under 5's you'll find small merry-go-rounds etc. The rides cost between 50 and100 yen a time. Odakyu Halc department store and Isetan, which are both in Shinjuku, have play areas on their roofs.
For older children there are branches of Sega Joypolis in Odaiba (Yurikamome monorail to Odaiba Kaihin Koen Station) and Shinjuku (Times Square Shopping Centre). General admission is 500 yen for adults and 300 yen for children. There's then an additional charge for each attraction (200 to 700 yen). Height restrictions apply for some of the rides. Open 10:00am to 11:30pm.
Tokyo Imax Theatre shows films in 3-D. You'll find the theatre inside the Times Square Shopping Center in Shinjuku. (JR Shinjuku Station - South Exit).
Ueno Zoo is famous for Giant Pandas, but if you're not keen on animals in cages it's best avoided. Open 09:30 am to 04:00 pm Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays or Tuesday if Monday was a national holiday). Adults: 500 yen. Children: 200 yen
The zoo is inside Ueno Park. Take the JR Yamanote Line to JR Ueno Station.
Sunshine International Aquarium and Planetarium are on the tenth floor of the World Import Mart building in Ikebukero (part of the Sunshine City Complex). Tickets are bought in various combinations - see "Ikebukero" or the Sunshine City web site (Japanese only) for details. (Open 10:00am to 08:00pm).
Take the JR Yamanote Line to Ikebukero Station and then follow the signs to Sunshine City.
Tokyo Tower is open from 9am to 8pm (9pm in August). Tickets for the main observation gallery cost 820 yen for adults and 460 yen for children. Also inside you'll find Tokyo Tower Wax Museum (870 yen for adults, 460 yen for children), the Mysterious Walking Zone (410 yen for adults, 300 yen for children) and the Trick Art Gallery (400 yen for adults, 300 yen for children).
The nearest station is Kamiyacho which is on the Hibiya Subway Line.
Tokyo Tower web site http://www.tokyotower.co.jp
For a fantastic view of Tokyo and, on a clear day, Mount Fuji, go up to the 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Building in Shinjuku. Entrance is free. Open: 09:30am - 05:30pm (07:30 pm on weekends); Closed: Mondays (or Tuesday if Monday was a public holiday), also December 29th -31st, and January 2nd to 3rd inclusive.
Leave Shinjuku Station via the West Exit.
For a close-up look at the bulllet train, from the Shinkansen Ticket Office in Tokyo Station you can buy a special "niujyoken" platform ticket (pronounced: "new-jaw-ken"). The ticket costs 130 yen and allows you onto the platform for up to 2 hours.
Odaiba could be a good day out - first a ride on the Yurikamome Monorail then the world's largest Ferris wheel (open: 10:00am to 10:00pm; 900 yen per person). The Yurikamome monorail starts at Shimbashi Station (JR Yamanote Line).
The Science Museum in Kitano Maru Park has all kinds of interactive activities. Open 09:30 am - 04:50 pm. Adults: 600 yen, 12 to 18 year olds: 400 yen; under 12's: 250 yen. The nearest station is Kudanshita (Hanzomon Line, Shinjuku Line and the Tozai subway line). Further information 03 3251 8481
At Tokyo Transportation Museum you can climb in and out of various engines and carriages and have a go at driving your own train through simulated Tokyo. The museum is situated in Akihabara (JR Sobu Line). Open: Tuesday to Sunday 09:30 - 05:00pm (last admission 4:30) Adults: 310 yen. Children: 150 yen. Further information 03 3251 8481
Hakuhinkan Toy Park in Ginza (Chou Dori Avenue) and Kiddyland in Harajuku (Omotesando Dori Avenue) are the best toyshops in Tokyo. Harajuku is on the JR Yamanote Line. Ginza is on the Ginza Subway Line, the Marunouchi Subway Line and the Hibiya Subway Line.
Inside the Monkey Park the monkeys are roaming round free! (Very small children may be terrified). Open 10am to 4:30 pm. Adults: 500 yen. Children: 230 yen.
Mount Takao is situated approximately 50 minutes to the west of Tokyo. From Shinjuku Station take the Keio Line Express Train to Takao San Guchi Station and then take either the cable car or the chair lift (chair lift/cable car 470 yen for adults and 270 yen for children one way).
