Are you pondering a trip to Tokyo with your kids, but wondering where you should stay?
Maybe you’ve already booked your flight and now you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed with the size of Tokyo and the choices for hotels and apartments.
Either way, let’s take a look at where you may want to stay in Tokyo with your kids – both general areas and actual accommodation options. I’ll also include some things I like to think about when booking hotels in Tokyo (with or without kids).
I’m a mom of three who recently re-visited Tokyo, this time with my almost-10-year-old son. Like you, I wanted our hotel stays to be perfect, so I used my previous time in Tokyo and did some more research to find amazing places to stay. We stayed in two different places in Tokyo (plus a 3rd hotel at the Haneda airport), and I’ll explain why below.
I hope these suggestions are helpful! They’re based on my first-hand experience vs. just plucking hotels off the internet based on good reviews.
Let’s go!
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Don’t feel like reading and just want the recommendations? Here you go:
UENO:
Sakura Cross Hotel Ueno Okachimachi
MIMARU Tokyo Ueno Okachimachi
MIMARU Tokyo Ueno East
MIMARU Tokyo Ueno North
MIMARU Tokyo Ueno Inaricho
SHINJUKU:
JR Kyushu Hotel Blossom Shinjuku
HANEDA AIRPORT:
Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda
Which Area is Best in Tokyo with Kids?
If you’ve looked at the map, you know that Tokyo is enormous!
I’ve been to Tokyo on my own and with one of my sons, and in either situation, my two favorite neighborhoods for accommodations in Tokyo are Ueno and Shinkjuku.
They’re very different areas, but both are close to famous sites and things to do and are close to transport (both metro stations and major train stations).
Ueno – Ueno is quiet, has a neighborhood feel, and is in the northeastern part of Tokyo. It’s not full of high rises. It’s an area where you can walk around and not stress about being hit by a car every 5 seconds. You’ll see locals walking to/from work and kids playing on the playground. There are plenty of small restaurants, conbini (convenience stores), drug stores, and metro stations. I prefer to stay here to begin a trip to Japan or Tokyo, because it’s a gentle introduction to the city. It’s also nice to come back here in the evening to sleep after a day in busy Tokyo – it feels peaceful.
Shinjuku – Shinjuku, on the western side of Tokyo, is more ‘in the action,’ and has lights, more crowds, and high rises. It’s a little more dirty (this is one of few places in Tokyo that you’ll see a few pieces of litter on the ground) than other Tokyo neighborhoods, but I’ve always felt safe and comfortable here, alone and with kids. This is a fun place to stay with kids if you want to stay on an upper floor of a high rise and look out at the lights and size of Tokyo. It’s also really easy to travel to/from the airports. Note: I’m not a night owl (and likely you aren’t either, if you’re traveling with kids), so I don’t have personal experience with wandering around Shinjuku late at night.
Other Areas of Tokyo to Consider Staying in With Kids:
Ginza – I’ve always felt Ginza to be a little too fancy, but if that’s your style, check out hotels in this area. You could stay in one of the Mimaru chain’s hotels here – either Mimaru Hatchobori or Mimaru Ginza East.
Family Friendly Hotels in Tokyo
Sakura Cross Hotel Ueno Okachimachi (UENO)
We stayed here at the beginning of our trip and it was nice to come home to a quiet neighborhood after a day of excitement in the city. It’s full of locals and we saw people going to and from work, enjoyed the small restaurants and access to combini. There’s a playground across the street that fills up with kids playing on the toys and in the gravel area (soccer and baseball when we were there). And, there’s another playground less than 5 minutes away on foot (Takemachi Park).
Our Standard Double Room was small, but we expected it to be. There are multiple family rooms at the hotel, sleeping 3 (our room), 4, 5, 6, or 9 people!
The only things I didn’t really like about this hotel are that it’s completely electronic (no staff or reception) and that there’s nowhere to store a stroller in the room (you’d need to leave it in the hallway or at the entrance).
Still, we’d happily stay here again.
Sakura Cross is a chain and there are five hotels in Tokyo (including a second one in Ueno).
Check availability and rates – Sakura Cross Hotel Ueno Okachimachi.
You can see it on a Google Map here.
JR Kyushu Hotel Blossom Shinjuku (SHINJUKU)
We stayed at the Hotel Blossom Shinjuku at the end of our trip, because my son wanted to experience the lively area with tall buildings and colorful lights (he said Shinjuku is what he always imagined Tokyo would be like).
We stayed in two different room types at this hotel.
This was our accommodation splurge for this trip, and we stayed on the 15th floor in a Premium Twin Corner Room with View. The view was spectacular, especially at night! We felt comfortable and pampered.
We also stayed in a Standard Double Room on a lower floor because we ended up staying another night in this hotel (I had planned on staying near the airport but we decided to remain in the city). The room didn’t have a view and was smaller, but fine for one night. I wouldn’t book it for more than two people.
Check-in was simple and we were allowed to check-in early. There are amenities galore (minibar, tea set, coffe, humidifier, tons of excellent toiletries, comfortable beds, pajamas and slippers, and more). The breakfast is western and Japanese and we filled our bellies each morning with dumplings, fruit, and tea. You can do laundry in the coin-operated machines.
The location is excellent – close to the Shinjuku Station (but one street over so it was quiet) and the bus terminal (catch the Airport Limousine here for a smooth ride to Haneda airport). There’s also a Lawson’s next door for any quick needs (food, toiletries, souvenirs, etc).
I’d stay here with my kids again but not in the Standard Double (too cramped).
Check availability and rates – JR Kyushu Hotel Blossom Shinjuku.
You can see it on a Google Map here.
Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda (HANEDA AIRPORT)
We ended up spending a day in this excellent airport hotel at Haneda airport due to a long flight delay.
We stayed in a spacious double room with comfortable beds and amenities like pajamas and slippers. There are family rooms available that have four beds.
The best part of the stay here was the buffet restaurant (so good!), spa access (although we didn’t use it because it’s separated by gender), and the fact that the hotel is connected by an indoor footpath to Terminal 3! No shuttles, buses, etc. – just stroll from the hotel to the check-in area. There are also shops and places to eat on the walk between the hotel and the terminal.
If you have an early morning flight and don’t want to deal with the stress of getting to the airport on time, stay here!
Good To Know: There’s also a fancier version of the Hotel Villa Fontaine, called ‘Premiere.’ It’s attached to the Grand.
Check availability and rates – Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda.
You can see it on a Google Map here.
MIMARU Apartment Hotels (MULTIPLE LOCATIONS)
There are multiple locations in Tokyo (15 at the time of writing), and they can sleep from 4-8 people, depending on the location. They have kitchens, some have 2 bedrooms, many have bunk beds for kids, and there’s even a locatin with a special Pokémon room (MIMARU Tokyo Ueno East). They’re light-filled and spacious (for Japan).
Another thing I like about the MIMARU chain – their hotels are all close to train or metro stations (if not actually at one). The furthest away are only an 8-minute walk, and having transport nearby is so helpful in Tokyo with kids.
The MIMARU website is easy to use and you can filter the Tokyo MIMARU hotels by number of rooms, connecting rooms or one room with multiple beds, etc.
I seriously considered the MIMARU Tokyo-Shinjuku West and the MIMARUs in Ueno (there are four of them) before settling on the Sakura Cross for Ueno and JR Kyushu for Shinjuku. When I return with more family members, we’ll likely use MIMARU for Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.
Here are the MIMARU in Tokyo in Ueno and Shinjuku:
- MIMARU Tokyo Ueno Inaricho (sleeps up to 4) – check availability & rates
- MIMARU Tokyo Ueno North (sleeps up to 6) – check availability & rates
- MIMARU Tokyo Ueno East (sleeps up to 8, has the Pokémon room) – check availability & rates
- MIMARU Tokyo Ueno Okachimachi (sleeps up to 8) – check availability & rates
- MIMARU Tokyo Shinjuku West (sleeps up to 6) – check availability & rates
Advice & Things to Consider When Choosing a Hotel for Your Family Trip to Tokyo
The distance from your hotel to a metro stop or train station.
Dining options and convenience stores nearby.
Access to a playground or green park.
Where you’ll be spending most of your time in Tokyo.
If you want to split up your time in more than one hotel.
Bed sharing options for smaller kids. Hotel booking systems in Japan usually put small kids in a bed with parents.
How you’ll be getting around the city – on foot, by public transport, or by taxi/ride share.
Tokyo’s sites are spread out, so you may find yourself visiting something in the morning and later traveling an hour across the city. Try to book accommodation near some of the things you want to see.
Don’t book too far ahead. Like many things, there’s a sweet spot for the booking period of a Tokyo hotel. If you try to book too early, the hotel may not have opened up rooms. If you book too close to departure, room options may be limited or pricey. If you’re interested in a specific hotel/ryokan, send an email and ask if rooms are available for the date you’re interested in. We had a few places I was interested in tell us to contact them later, closer to our travel dates.
We thought it would be fun to stay in a capsule hotel, but after further research we decided against it because I wouldn’t have been able to stay on the same floor as my son, and he was too young (for most capsule hotels). I was also discouraged based on the reputation of capsule hotels being used by ‘drunk businessmen.’
Looking for more on travel to Japan? Check out
9 Reasons to Visit Japan with Kids
Packing List for 10 Days in Japan with a 9-Year-Old
Souvenirs from Japan – What We Brought Back
Things to Do in Tokyo with a 10-Year-Old
Where to Stay in Tokyo with Kids – Areas & Hotels
