Toyko Japan has been on my bucket list since we first arrived to the far east region and it was time to cross that one off before we left for good. When it came time to plan this trip, I kept our two teens in mind and knew that a pop culture and entertainment based itinerary was just what everyone needed after a long academic year.

Tokyo is packed with giant arcades, themed cafés, anime shopping, incredible food halls, immersive attractions, and some of the coolest neighborhoods in the world. While this trendy city absolutely has historic temples and traditional experiences, our family trip focused more on pop culture, entertainment, desserts, shopping, and the larger-than-life energy that makes Tokyo Japan unforgettable.

Here is our 4-day itinerary of that I would recommend for families wanting a mix of iconic attractions, famous eats, trendy neighborhoods, and nonstop excitement.

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We stayed at the ANA Intercontinental Tokyo and it was a beautiful hotel, with great food options and centrally located to all our desired activities. Tokyo is full of hotel choices, so choosing one that can accommodate your family size and needs is important. It is important to note that most Japanese hotels do not allow 4 people to a room, so if you are coming as a family, consider trying to find a family suite or hotels that will adjoin rooms for you. This is the very reason that visiting Japan can get expensive, lodging is generally double what you assume due to having to get multiple rooms.

Day 1: Harajuku, Takeshita Street & Shibuya Energy

No first trip to Tokyo Japan feels complete without diving straight into the chaos and flair of Harajuku. We knew we wanted to shop, eat and wonder, so this was the first logical stop. Although we didn’t have the best weather, it was still plenty of fun to people watch (mostly tourists) and knock off some of our must visit locations. The Matcha Tokyo for me, Onitsuka Tiger, Nike Japan were just a few of many stops we made. We tried the famous Japanese crepes, churros and plenty of snacks from 7-11 and Family Mart, all worth the hype.

We started our morning on Takeshita Street and while these are very popular tourist destinations, there is still a pull to visit the iconic shops, cafes and hot spots that make it a pop culture rich destination. There is an overabundance of animal cafes, which we chose to avoid, but plenty of other unique shops to explore. The street is packed with:

• oversized cotton candy
• character stores
• kawaii fashion boutiques
• claw machine arcades
• viral crepe food stalls – the most famous is Santa Monica Crepes

For lunch, I recommend heading to one of the hidden ramen spots in nearby Cat Street. Harajuku feels less about sightseeing and more about soaking in Tokyo’s creative energy. By afternoon, walk into nearby Shibuya and experience the famous Shibuya Scamble giant crossing, neon signs, and endless entertainment complexes. Some hotspots are:

• Shibuya PARCO’s anime and gaming floors
• Nintendo Store
• Pokémon Center

While we didn’t visit the area at night, Shibuya completely transforms into glowing Tokyo nightlife energy without feeling inappropriate for families. A warm spring evening is perfect for wondering just about any neighborhood in Tokyo.

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Day 2: Tokyo Skytree, Asakusa & Kappabashi Kitchen Street

While we only had a few stops earmarked for this day, this area had so much to offer. This day ended up being one of the biggest surprises of our trip because it mixed iconic city views with lots of shopping (including my favorite souvenir, a handmade matcha bowl) and food discoveries.

Start early at:
Tokyo Skytree

It is the tallest structure in Japan and the only one that gives you a view of Mt. Fuji on a clear day. We opted not to go to the top of Sky Tree but it was recommended to get tickets in advance for the time slots that you wanted to reduce waiting times. The views are unreal as Tokyo looks endless from above. The shopping center underneath, Tokyo Solamachi is also fantastic for:

• character merchandise
• Japanese snacks
• capsule toys
• anime gifts

We hit the Kirby Cafe, the Studio Ghibli store and Din Tai Fung for lunch. Just outside the shopping center in a canal lined street for relaxing, walking or enjoying city life. We grabbed some bagels from Bagel Factory and sat outside enjoying the beautiful day.

After Skytree, head toward:
Asakusa

If you want to sprinkle in some historic stops, this would be a great way to do it. Take the walking tour of the Senso-ji Temple and Asakusa Shrine before heading out to try all the wonderful street food and market energy. Some of the recommended foods to try are:

• melon pan
• giant rice crackers
• matcha desserts
• candied strawberries
• sweet potato treats

Next up was a wildcard by my request (I really wanted an authentic matcha bowl to bring home). So we headed off to Kappabashi Kitchen Street.

If you enjoy shopping or collecting unique items, this street is incredible. They have so many shops filled with:

• handmade Japanese ceramics
• ramen bowls
• sushi plates
• Japanese knives

It became one of my favorite souvenir shopping days because everything felt both practical and uniquely Japanese. Could have easily shopped for more had I left any room in my bags to bring more home.

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Day 3: Ginza, TeamLabs & Tokyo Tower at Night

Day three gave us a completely different side of Tokyo Japan — sleek, futuristic, and beautifully polished.

Start in:
Ginza

Even if you are not luxury shoppers, Ginza is beautifully walkable with lots of interesting architecture and parks. Another great activity is visiting the department store food court basements to sample all the best local eats:

• wagyu skewers
• fruit sandwiches
• Japanese cheesecakes
• matcha desserts
• premium bento boxes

For lunch, try conveyor belt sushi or one of the famous tonkatsu restaurants hidden in the side streets.

In the afternoon, visit:
teamLab Planets TOKYO

This immersive digital art experience was one of the must-visit activities of the trip. It feels like walking inside a video game mixed with an art installation and is incredibly kid and teen-friendly. We did book tickets about a month in advance to get the date and time we wanted. Both my kids enjoyed this activity and while it was one of the more crowded experiences, it was a lot of fun for all of us.

Finish the evening at:
Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower glows beautifully at night and the city views feel especially dramatic after dark. Not far from our hotel, this landmark was especially wonderful all lit against the night sky. It has Eiffel tower inspiration with a Tokyo twist. Even if you don’t go up, just a walking through the park is inspiration enough.

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Day 4: Tokyo Japan Disney Sea

It was a bit of a last minute decision, and I am so glad we made the effort to visit Tokyo DisneySea. It was unlike any Disney park I have visited before, but well worth the trip if you have the opportunity. We purchased our tickets from klook to Tokyo Disney Sea about a month in advance. They were easy to upload into the Disney App and made the whole day a very smooth visit.

Even as adults, we were blown away by how immersive and detailed DisneySea feels, with many of the lands representing some Disney classics such as Aladdin’s Arabian Nights and Mermaid Lagoon, but also Mediterranean inspired canal ways and even the American waterfront with cape code style buildings. It was both clean, organized and easy to navigate, with all the special Disney details around every turn. With so many good ride options, Disney lovers will enjoy this park without feeling overwhelmed by its size. Disney Sea was actually created with teens and adults in mind, so it caters to a slightly older crowd.

First stop, Fantasy Springs is the absolute priority area. The themed lands based on:

• Frozen
• Peter Pan
• Tangled

This whole area feels incredibly cinematic, wondering through Arendelle to see Elsa’s castle and through the pirate ship from Peter Pan. Disney doesn’t skimp on filling this whole area with magical details.

However, many of the rides can quickly develop long wait times, so arriving early matters. We arrived 1 hour before the park opened and there was already a line formed. You can’t purchase any passes until you are in the park, so getting in early gives you the best chance at getting all the paid passes you want. We paid for premiere passes on the app to skip the big lines and in my opinion, it is 100 percent worth the money. We waited for a max 15/20 minutes for each of the major attractions and that made all the difference for a 1 day visit. Some of the other favorites for our family were:

• Journey to the Center of the Earth (fast coaster)
• The American Steam liner (think a more scenic jungle cruise, this takes you all across the park and you get to sightsee all the different lands – it’s relaxing and enjoyable, we used it as our grand finale ride)
• Sinbad’s Storyland (air conditioned, sweet, a boat ride that tells a story, almost never a line)
• Jasmine’s Flying Carpets (fun and easy, reminiscent of Dumbo)

Like most good theme parks, half of the fun is in the unique and interesting food. Tokyo Japan DisneySea doesn’t disappoint and mobile ordering makes grabbing your food a smooth and easy experience. Some of our favorites were:

• Sea salt ice cream Monaka – sold at the ice cream shacks and better than the ice cream sandwiches
• Popcorn in dozens of flavors options – each cart has a signature flavor
• Curry dishes (Casbah Food Court)
• Mickey churros – especially cookies and cream flavor
• Tapioca Latte – think Boba meets coffee jellies in a latte
• Mike Wozawski Melon Custard Bread – this might have been my favorite.

Disney Sea exceeded my expectations, especially for a weekend visit. I would definitely go again and highly recommend it as part of your Tokyo Japan itinerary.

Tokyo Japan as a Destination for Teens and Families

Our last trip to Kyoto Japan was really centered around significant historical landmarks with a more educational emphasis. I wanted this trip to feel uniquely different. We already experience everyday life in a large Asian city, so I wanted to see and participate in activities that were central to modern Japanese culture and I think were able to do just that.

Tokyo Japan somehow manages to feel futuristic, playful, a little overwhelming, and exciting all at once. Traveling with teens here worked surprisingly well because the city constantly offers something interactive, visual, or snack-worthy around every corner. Much like Seoul, Tokyo Japan was clean, safe and easily accessible to travelers, which makes for a smooth and enjoyable trip.