We started and ended our trip to Japan with stays in Tokyo! We were able to spend time in both Odaiba and Ueno, getting a feel for each area of the city – they were both very different. It’s hard to believe that we’ve already been back for over a month, but I’m still thinking about these highlights.
Outdoor Spot: Sumida River Walk
We have learned on multiple trips that having a place to get the wiggles out is key – the Sumida River Walk proved to be the perfect space for us this time around! Not only do they have some beautiful greenery and public bathrooms available (bonus), but they have an excellent playground. Our kiddo loved doing the obstacle course and sliding down the giant whale slide; we loved the views of Tokyo Skytree that we got without dealing with a huge crowd of people. If you need a spot just to walk around with your morning coffee, you’ve found it.
Hotel: Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba
We actually thought that we had great stays throughout the trip, and that includes our second hotel in Tokyo, the Mimaru Tokyo Ueno Inaricho. That being said, the Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba won out as our favorite for a few different reasons. The amenities were definitely a little nicer, and our room had a very spacious bathroom. It was also more accessible – not only while inside the building (there were multiple elevators, which we needed with the stroller), but also to the malls and restaurants nearby in the area. From when we got there to when we left, we walked everywhere!
Kid-Friendly Activity: Unko Museum
With approximately 24 waking hours to explore Odaiba before we made our way toward Tokyo Disney, we had to find activities quickly. Fortunately, I had read up on the Unko Museum in a post from The Tokyo Chapter, and I knew it would be a hit with our toddler. Who knew poop could be so kawaii? We bought tickets as walk-ins, and we spent a couple hours here, just playing and taking photos. Everything is interactive, including ball pits, dance parties, and “catch the poop.” Bonus: we each got a “souvenir” to take home (which are currently in our toy bin).
Restaurant: Michikusa
This wasn’t even our first choice for dinner, but I’m so grateful that our first choice was booked up since this was by far our favorite meal of the whole trip! Not only was the food delicious – the adults all got yakisoba, which I would highly recommend – but the owner was incredibly friendly and attentive, going so far as to offer us a translation device (though we got by without it). The staff worked with us around some toddler dietary restrictions to ensure our kiddo had something to eat, and everyone was just so nice. To top it all off, they include a small treat with your meal. I would absolutely go back here.
Other restaurants we enjoyed:
- bills Odaiba was the perfect kid-friendly brunch spot for us, with big fluffy pancakes!
- HATCOFFEE LATTEART STAND gave us the cutest hot beverages without a long line.
- Kura Sushi has a lot of US locations, but we got to enjoy dinner at their global flagship in Asakusa.
- The Ecute Ueno store sold the cutest bear donuts from Shiretoko Factory!
Art Installation: teamLab Planets
While I’m lucky to have been able to visit both teamLab Planets and teamLab Borderless – my detailed post on the exhibits is here – I have to say that Planets was my favorite of the two, and a truly great part of our time in Tokyo. Whether we were standing in the room with dangling lights or pushing the giant balls around, it made for such a fun experience. I think we would have spent more time in the water if my son was a little older (or taller), but we didn’t really miss it thanks to all the other interactive elements. If you need a cool place to spend a morning in Tokyo, this is it.
Place to Buy Diapers: Babies R’ Us
We had packed enough diapers to get us through the first few days of our trip, since we knew we could purchase more when we got to Japan! That being said, diapers aren’t always the most available in convenient stores, especially if your baby isn’t a middle size. Fortunately, Babies R’ Us had a very wide selection of brands and sizes, so we were able to purchase a size that worked for our daughter. One large package got us through the whole rest of the trip, though we did end up purchasing a “travel pack” of five at the airport just in case. Tip: know your baby’s weight in kilograms for easy purchasing!
Want to learn more about Katie’s time in Japan?