11 best museums in Tokyo for kids and families

It’s easy to spend an entire day at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno Park. The two large permanent exhibitions spread out over two buildings are equally enjoyable for both children and adults due to their engaging, hands-on exhibits. Start your adventure at the Japan Gallery, which focuses on the country’s formation, its indigenous flora and fauna and the island’s first inhabitants.

The Global Gallery, meanwhile, concerns itself with everything from science and astronomy to the evolution of life dating back more than four billion years – expect to ogle at fossils of extinct species and life-size dinosaur skeletons, which were partially assembled from actual bones. You can also trace the progress of modern technology by studying the many Japanese inventions developed since the Edo period (1603-1868). The large souvenir shop offers everything from cookies to dinosaur books and stuffed animals.

Located about 45 minutes away from Tokyo, The Railway Museum offers a day’s worth of railway-themed fun. The museum features 36 real-life train cars – most of which you can walk into and take a seat. The collection spans over 140 years of railway history, starting with trains dating back to the early Meiji years (1868-1912).

Little ones will have a field day at the park next to the Kids Plaza, where they can test-drive several miniature trains along a 300m long track. Those aged six and above, including adults, can go for the more immersive experience by taking on the various train simulators on the museum’s second floor, including the chance to ‘drive’ the famous Tohoku Shinkansen Hayabusa. The simulator pods are perfect replicas of the respective trains’ original cockpits, plus the curved screen in front gives the ride an almost 3D feel.

This family-friendly museum in Tokyo’s amusement district, Odaiba, examines our daily lives through a scientific lens. It has one of the best entrances of all Tokyo museums; the impressive 6.5-metre Geo-Cosmos globe hanging from the atrium is fitted with 10,362 OLED panels on its surface, alternating between showing global weather patterns, cities and their populations, human migration movements and more.

Many people come here for the interactive robots and AI such as the lifelike android Otonaroid. In the space and astronomy corner, you can step inside International Space Station living quarters. There is even a hands-on mechanical model using black and white balls to explain the operating principle of the Internet.

We recommend to purchase tickets in advance. See here for details.

Instant noodles are big in Japan. At this interactive museum dedicated to the modern-day convenience, you get to have fun while learning about the creative-thinking process of Momofuku Ando, the inventor of instant noodles, by seeing, touching, playing and eating.

You can even make your own cup noodles at My Cupnoodles Factory. Choose from four different soup flavours and add four out of 12 toppings to your cup. Note that you have to get a numbered ticket in advance to partake in the experience.

At the Noodles Bazaar, you can sample noodle dishes from around the world, such as pasta, pho, laksa, laghman and more. Round off your hearty meal with a mango pudding, annin-dofu, kakigori shaved ice desserts or a tapioca drink.

Japan's beloved cartoon superhero, Anpanman, now has his own museum in Yokohama, where children can explore the world of this character inspired by a sweet-bean bun. The first floor is free to enter, and you'll find several Anpanman-themed gift shops, restaurants, arcade, bakery, bookshop and even a photo studio.

The second and third floors are the main attraction of the museum. The Anpanman town is decked out with every playground equipment a child could ask for. Aside from the ball pits and slides, you'll also find Uncle Jam's pretend bakery and life-sized play houses here. Plus, you get to interact with the mascots, a dream for many kids who love the cartoon series.

Taking over the former Shinjuku Kuritsu Yotsuya Primary School building, the Tokyo Toy Museum exhibits not just Japanese toys but those from across the world. Infants up to the age of two can explore the first floor, which boasts curved cedar wood structures, a crawl tunnel and a range of wooden toys. The second floor is home to the Wood Toy Forest, where kids can frolic inside a pit filled with 20,000 wooden balls while taking in the calming aroma of cypress.

The third floor displays toys related to science, as well as a large number of traditional Japanese toys, including spinning tops, beanbags and kendama. Children over three can also participate in the daily workshops at the toy factory. Don’t forget to pick up some original made-in-Japan toys at the on-site souvenir shop before you leave.

Timed tickets available for those visiting the Akachan Mokuiku Hiroba play area with infants from 10am, 11am, 12noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm

Echoing the long arm of the law, the Police Museum stretches across six floors, informing visitors about the history and the work of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. Kids will find this an adventurous place to visit as they get to change into (mini) police uniforms upon arrival and pose beside a real patrol car, sit on an authentic Honda police motorcycle with flashing lights, or in the cockpit of a Harukaze helicopter.

On the second and third floors, kids can learn about traffic safety in a cycling simulator and tips on crime prevention through a diorama. Through the many interactive exhibits, children and parents alike are able to understand a police officer’s work, particularly by taking a look inside the replica of a small neighbourhood police station. Most of the exhibits have English captions, and audio guides in a number of languages (English, Korean, Mandarin) are available as well.

Run by the Tokyo Fire Department, this free museum is dedicated to firefighting and disaster prevention throughout the centuries in Japan. While the basement houses some of the most stunning vintage fire trucks in Japan’s history, kids will likely prefer exploring the third floor. Here they can dress up as little firefighters, explore the cockpit of a fire truck equipped with working sirens and participate in a virtual rescue mission while being seated in a helicopter.

After exploring a large diorama outfitted with lights, sounds and videos showing an emergency fire demonstration, children can practice their skills in extinguishing a fire in the simulation corner. You can also head up to the tenth floor, which provides great views of Tokyo Skytree, the skyline of Shinjuku and even Mt Fuji on a clear day.

The interactive Tokyo Metro Museum is located directly under the Tozai line’s railway tracks. Here you can learn about the history of Tokyo’s subway system and latest rail technology. As well as the exhibits of actual trains, including a wagon from the Ginza line’s 1,000 series and the Marunouchi line’s historic 300 series, the train simulators provide an immersive experience by transforming you into a train conductor traveling along Tokyo’s railways. Don’t forget to drop in to the museum shop, which boasts an array of subway-themed souvenirs.

This museum in Koto ward turns H2O-related science into a fun and engaging topic using immersive displays and interactive games. You’ll be greeted on arrival by the Wakuwaku Mountain and the Ukiuki Pool, where kids can play with the spray guns and climb into an underwater observation post.

In the small third-floor cinema, the walls and ceiling all become a surround screen, on which you can follow the journey of water from the forest to the city. The subsequent zones, all interactive, expand on the topics introduced in the film: the Aqua Forest focuses on water in nature, Aqua Town explains how water is used in daily life and the staff conduct water-based experiments at the Aqua Lab. All of which goes to show that, while you might not have given it much thought until now, water science is anything but dry.

Hayao Miyazaki’s studio has produced some of Japan’s most popular and complex animation classics, from 'My Neighbor Totoro' to 'Princess Mononoke' and 'Spirited Away'. If you want to learn more about the studio’s work, be warned that gaining access to this museum is quite tough.

You need to purchase tickets in advance, then show up at the prescribed day and time with your ticket and some ID. You will then be escorted into another world: you can view original prints, play in rooms with painted ceilings and walls, and watch short animations in the cinema. The gift shop sells original animation cells, while the Cat Bus can now be ridden by adults as well as children.