7 Things to Do in Japan With the Kids

Some of the best amusement parks in the world are in Japan. For example, Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea in Chiba Prefecture, not far from Tokyo, are at the top of the list. Sanrio Puroland in Tama is a theme park featuring the company’s classic characters such as Pom Pom Purin and Hello Kitty. If your kids are older and looking for more of a thrill, then check out the more traditional amusement parks like Cosmo World in Yokohama.

Japan is a great place to experience up-close encounters with some very special animals. At Nara Park, kids can buy food to feed to the native Sika deer, and Jigokudani Monkey Park offers visitors a unique look at the onsen-loving Japanese macaques who live there. If you don’t want your kids getting pushed around by hungry deer and furry tricksters, check out one of Japan’s animal island paradises, such as Okunoshima, an island inhabited by hundreds of tame but wild rabbits eager for a handout.

Museums are great for kids who love technology, science or history. Technology centers such as the Miraikan and Tepia Advanced Technology Gallery in Tokyo have interactive exhibits for kids to get some hands-on learning. For fun for the whole family, explore Japan’s amazing museums dedicated to food, such as the Sushi Museum in Shizuoka or the Cup Noodles Museum in Yokohama.

Youngsters who love the old warriors and samurai of lore might enjoy exploring the ancient castles where these men once reigned. There are hundreds of castles in Japan, but Himeji Castle in Hyogo is considered to be the most beautiful. Even a metropolis like Tokyo has some remnants of its old Edo Castle, which can be found around the Imperial Palace at the center of the city.

Japan isn’t exactly known as a beach destination, but this island country is actually home to thousands of beautiful beaches and coastlines. You can find sandy shores wherever the land meets the sea, but Okinawa is the country’s primary beach and surfing destination, home to the famous Manza and Busena Beaches.

Visiting stuffy old temples may not seem like the most exciting activity for kids to do, but there are thousands of unique temples and shrines in Japan that even the youngest members of the family can appreciate. Gotoku-ji in Tokyo is covered in Maneki Neko or lucky cat statues and is located just steps from the iconic Senso-ji. Others might get a kick out of the Big Buddhas found in temples such as Kotoku-in in Kamakura and Todai-ji in Nara.

If you choose wisely, kids can be entertained by the sights and sounds of a shopping center for hours, especially since most large malls in Japan will have stores or attractions geared toward kids, such as Sunshine City’s Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo or Diver City’s to-scale model of the newly built Gundam, Unicorn.