Tokyo is home to some of the most exciting museums for kids, where history, art, and discovery come alive. Families searching for the best museums in Tokyo will find plenty of variety, from samurai streets to ramen-making labs, while some museums offer kids both play and culture under one roof. Parents often ask which are the most fun museums in Tokyo, and the answer is simple… the ones where learning feels like an adventure to your kids. For little scientists, some of the best places in Tokyo are the museums where experiments come alive, making it feel like the ultimate science adventure for kids.
As you plan your trip to Tokyo with kids, this guide is a great place to start! For comprehensive information on where to stay, how to get around, and what to eat with kids, begin with our Tokyo Family Travel Guide. You can then visit the Tokyo with Kids Hub to find all our guides, adventure stories, and age-specific tips conveniently in one easy place. If you’re considering sightseeing passes, our Tokyo Passes Guide breaks down the best options for families. Want more ideas? See our full Ultimate Guide to Family Attractions in Japan with Kids for the best castles, shrines, theme parks, and more.
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Quick Age Guide to Tokyo Museums
|
Age Group |
Best Picks |
|---|---|
|
Toddlers & Preschoolers (Ages 2–4) |
Tokyo Toy Museum, Fire Museum, Tokyo Water Science Museum, National Museum of Nature and Science, Postal Museum Japan |
|
Young Kids (Ages 5–8) |
Miraikan, Cup Noodles Museum, Edo-Tokyo Museum (reopening 2026), Fukagawa Edo Museum, Tokyo Metro Museum, Ghibli Museum, Science and Technology Museum |
|
Tweens/Teens (Ages 9+) |
Railway Museum, Miraikan, teamLab Planets, Art Aquarium Museum Ginza, Edo-Tokyo Museum (2026), Science and Technology Museum |
|
All Ages |
National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo Toy Museum, Cup Noodles Museum, Postal Museum Japan, Fire Museum, Tokyo Water Science Museum |
1. National Museum of Nature and Science – Dinosaurs, Space & Discovery in Ueno
- Why It’s Awesome: This is one of Tokyo’s best all-round museums for kids, offering everything from towering dinosaur skeletons and space capsules to hands-on science exhibits. Families can walk through massive animal dioramas, peer into the deep sea at glowing creatures, or test out fun interactive displays about energy and the human body. It’s big enough to fill half a day but designed in sections so kids can explore at their own pace without feeling overwhelmed.
- Location: Ueno Park (5-minute walk from JR Ueno Station)
- Best For: Ages 3–12
- Cost: ¥
- Duration: 2–3 hours
- Accessibility: Fully stroller-friendly with elevators, wide ramps, baby rest areas, and nursing rooms.
- Luca & Nico’s Challenge: Find the biggest dinosaur in the hall. Now pretend it escaped into Tokyo, would it ride the Yamanote Line or steal ramen from your bowl?
2. Miraikan – Robots, Space & Future Tech in Odaiba
- Why It’s Awesome: Known as one of Japan’s most futuristic museums, Miraikan lets kids step straight into the world of science and innovation. Families can meet ASIMO the humanoid robot, watch AI and robotics demonstrations, or marvel at the huge glowing Earth display suspended from the ceiling. Exhibits explore space travel, climate change, genetics, and cutting-edge tech in ways kids can touch, see, and experiment with. Older kids and teens especially love the interactive science zones, while younger ones are wowed by the robots and digital displays.
- Location: Odaiba (short walk from Telecom Center Station)
- Best For: Ages 5–12
- Cost: ¥
- Duration: 2–3 hours
- Accessibility: Stroller-friendly with elevators, ramps, wide pathways, and baby-friendly restrooms. Nursing rooms are available.
- Luca & Nico’s Challenge: Look up at the glowing Earth in the atrium. If you were an astronaut sending one message home, what would you tell everyone on Earth?
3. Tokyo Toy Museum – Wooden Toys & Playtime Magic
- Why It’s Awesome: Set inside a former elementary school, this cozy museum is designed especially for toddlers and young children. Rooms are filled with beautifully crafted wooden toys, puzzles, and building blocks, plus hands-on workshops where kids can create their own crafts. There are soft play zones for little ones, imaginative playrooms, and plenty of chances for children to touch, build, and explore freely.
- Location: Shinjuku (10-minute walk from Yotsuya-Sanchome Station)
- Best For: All Ages
- Cost: ¥
- Duration: 1.5–2 hours
- Accessibility: Mostly stroller-friendly; some playrooms are best explored on foot. Nursing rooms and baby facilities are available.
- Luca & Nico’s Challenge: Choose your favorite wooden toy, give it a wild name, and invent a brand-new game. Bonus points if your grown-up agrees to play!
4. Ghibli Museum – Step Into a Studio Ghibli Story
- Why It’s Awesome: This magical museum brings the world of Studio Ghibli to life, from Totoro to Spirited Away. Families can explore whimsical exhibits, climb aboard the giant Catbus, and watch exclusive short films in the on-site theater. The museum itself feels like walking into a storybook, with hidden staircases, stained glass, and playful details tucked into every corner. It’s a dream stop for kids who love animation and fantasy.
- Location: Mitaka (15-minute walk from Mitaka Station)
- Best For: Ages 3–12
- Cost: ¥¥ – advance reservation required via the official site
- Duration: 2–3 hours
- Accessibility: Partially stroller-friendly; some areas have narrow staircases and limited elevator access. Baby restrooms and nursing spaces are available.
- Luca & Nico’s Challenge: Hunt for hidden soot sprites. If one moved into your house, would it do chores, guard your snacks, or just make mischief all day?
5. Edo-Tokyo Museum – Walk Through Old Tokyo (Closed Until 2026)
- Why It’s Awesome: Before its closure, the Edo-Tokyo Museum was one of Tokyo’s most family-friendly museums, with life-size reconstructions of Edo-period streets, wooden bridges, and shops that kids could walk through. Families loved exploring the massive dioramas, models, and exhibits that showed how Tokyo grew from a samurai city into the modern metropolis it is today.
- Important Note: The museum is currently undergoing a major renovation and is scheduled to reopen in 2026. While the new version is expected to be even more impressive, details about updated exhibits haven’t yet been released.
- Location: Ryogoku (3-minute walk from Ryogoku Station)
- Best For: Ages 5–12
- Cost: ¥
- Duration: 2–3 hours
- Accessibility: Previously stroller-friendly with wide ramps, elevators, and baby rest areas.
- Luca & Nico’s Challenge: Pretend your family runs a shop in old Edo. Would you sell sushi, lanterns, or samurai swords? Design your shop sign with a silly logo.
6. Fukagawa Edo Museum – Step Into Edo-Era Life
- Why It’s Awesome: This smaller but immersive museum is the perfect alternative while the Edo-Tokyo Museum is closed. Families can wander through a full-scale recreation of an Edo-period neighborhood, complete with merchant houses, tatami rooms, and tiny alleyways. Kids love opening sliding doors, peeking inside kitchens, and discovering everyday objects from 200 years ago. Seasonal decorations and changing lighting effects make each visit feel like stepping back in time.
- Location: Koto City (10-minute walk from Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station)
- Best For: Ages 4–12
- Cost: ¥
- Duration: 1–1.5 hours
- Accessibility: Mostly stroller-friendly with ramps and elevators; some narrow alleys may be easier to explore on foot.
- Luca & Nico’s Challenge: Walk through the Edo houses and pick a job. Fisherman? Lantern maker? Now act it out like you really live there!
7. Fire Museum – Climb Aboard Real Fire Engines
- Why It’s Awesome: A hidden gem in Shinjuku, the Fire Museum is free, interactive, and full of excitement for kids. Families can climb into real fire trucks and helicopters, try on firefighter uniforms, and explore exhibits about how Tokyo’s fire service has evolved over the years. The hands-on displays make it especially fun for younger children who love vehicles and role-play.
- Location: Shinjuku (connected to Yotsuya-Sanchome Station)
- Best For: Ages 3–10
- Cost: Free
- Duration: 1–1.5 hours
- Accessibility: Fully stroller-friendly with elevators, ramps, and baby facilities.
- Luca & Nico’s Challenge: Can you climb into every fire truck in the museum? Don’t forget to come up with your own firefighter call sign!
8. Tokyo Metro Museum – Drive the Subway Yourself
- Why It’s Awesome: Perfect for train-loving kids, this museum dives into the world of Tokyo’s subway system. Families can try hands-on simulators to “drive” a subway train, walk through real carriages, and explore how tunnels and tracks are built. The interactive exhibits explain electricity, signals, and safety in a way that feels like playtime, making it both educational and fun.
- Location: Kasai (right next to Kasai Station)
- Best For: Ages 4–12
- Cost: ¥
- Duration: 1–2 hours
- Accessibility: Stroller-friendly with elevators and wide walkways; baby restrooms and nursing spaces available.
- Luca & Nico’s Challenge: Drive the subway simulator. Can you stop your train perfectly at the platform? Race your grown-up to see who’s the smoother driver!
9. The Railway Museum – Japan’s Ultimate Train Adventure
- Why It’s Awesome: A must-visit for kids who love trains, this massive museum lets families climb inside real train cars, from steam engines to modern Shinkansen. Interactive simulators let kids “drive” different types of trains, while the giant model railway diorama shows Tokyo’s rail network in action. There are play areas for younger children, plus plenty of exhibits that bring the history and future of Japanese railways to life.
- Location: Saitama (directly connected to Tetsudō-Hakubutsukan Station, about 40 minutes from central Tokyo)
- Best For: Ages 3–12
- Cost: ¥
- Duration: 3–4 hours
- Accessibility: Fully stroller-friendly with elevators, ramps, and family restrooms. Nursing rooms and rest areas are available.
- Luca & Nico’s Challenge: Can you find the oldest train in the museum and the fastest one? Imagine a race between them, who would win, and why?
10. Science and Technology Museum – Gears, Gadgets & Hands-On Fun
- Why It’s Awesome: This interactive museum is packed with exhibits that let kids tinker, test, and experiment. Families can explore giant gears, moving machines, and hands-on engineering puzzles that make science fun and approachable. With five floors of exhibits covering energy, vehicles, mechanics, and design, it’s especially engaging for school-aged kids who enjoy building and problem-solving.
- Location: Kitanomaru Park (near Kudanshita Station)
- Best For: Ages 6–12
- Cost: ¥
- Duration: 2–3 hours
- Accessibility: Fully stroller-friendly with elevators, ramps, and family rest areas. Nursing rooms available.
- Luca & Nico’s Challenge: Find the biggest gear in the museum and see how many smaller gears you can connect to make it move. Can you create a chain reaction?
11. Tokyo Water Science Museum – Splash Into Learning
- Why It’s Awesome: This free, interactive museum turns something as simple as water into a full day of discovery. Kids can play with hands-on exhibits about how water is cleaned, moved, and used in Tokyo. Popular zones include the Water Playroom with experiments and games, and the underground tour where families can see real water supply systems at work. It’s simple, engaging, and surprisingly fun for younger kids.
- Location: Odaiba (short walk from Tokyo Big Sight Station)
- Best For: Ages 3–10
- Cost: Free
- Duration: 1–1.5 hours
- Accessibility: Fully stroller-friendly with elevators, wide paths, baby restrooms, and nursing areas.
- Luca & Nico’s Challenge: Play with the water experiments. Now invent your own crazy water-powered machine!
12. Cup Noodles Museum – Design, Seal & Eat Your Own Ramen
- Why It’s Awesome: This playful museum celebrates the invention of instant noodles and lets kids create their very own Cup Noodles from scratch. Families can choose soup flavors, add toppings, decorate the cup, and watch it get sealed in a real factory-style machine. Exhibits also share the story of Momofuku Ando, the inventor of instant ramen, and there’s even a noodle-making workshop for extra hands-on fun.
- Location: Yokohama (8-minute walk from Minatomirai Station)
- Best For: Ages 4–12
- Cost: ¥ (extra fee for noodle-making workshops)
- Duration: 1–1.5 hours
- Accessibility: Fully stroller-friendly with elevators, ramps, and baby restrooms. Nursing spaces available.
- Luca & Nico’s Challenge: Design your own Cup Noodles flavor. Would you dare try marshmallow ramen or chocolate ramen?
13. Postal Museum Japan – Stamps, Letters & Surprising Fun
- Why It’s Awesome: Quirky and colorful, the Postal Museum introduces kids to the world of stamps, letters, and communication. Families can design their own stamps, explore interactive exhibits about how mail travels, and see bright displays of vintage post boxes and uniforms. It’s a smaller museum, but packed with creative activities that make it surprisingly engaging for kids who love crafts and collecting.
- Location: Tokyo Skytree Town, Solamachi (direct access from Oshiage Station)
- Best For: Ages 4–10
- Cost: ¥
- Duration: 1–1.5 hours
- Accessibility: Fully stroller-friendly with elevators, wide paths, and baby restrooms. Nursing facilities available.
- Luca & Nico’s Challenge: Create a stamp for your family. What picture goes on it, and who’s the first person you’d mail a letter to?
14. teamLab Planets – Walk Through a Living Digital Dream
- Why It’s Awesome: One of Tokyo’s most famous immersive art experiences, teamLab Planets lets families step into a world of light, color, and water. Kids can wade barefoot through glowing pools, chase digital koi fish, and wander through giant rooms filled with floating flowers and interactive projections. Every movement changes the environment, making it feel like a dream you can touch. It’s mesmerizing for both kids and adults, though younger children may need a parent’s hand in darker or water-filled rooms.
- Location: Toyosu (1-minute walk from Shin-Toyosu Station)
- Best For: Ages 5+
- Cost: ¥¥ (advance tickets required online)
- Duration: 1.5–2 hours
- Accessibility: Not stroller-friendly; all visitors go barefoot, and some exhibits include knee-deep water. Nursing rooms and lockers are available.
- Luca & Nico’s Challenge: Walk through the glowing koi pool. Move slow, then fast, what happens? Pretend the fish are racing you through space!
15. Art Aquarium Museum Ginza – Goldfish in Glowing Worlds
- Why It’s Awesome: More art experience than traditional museum, this dazzling spot blends aquariums with creative light displays. Kids can wander through glowing tanks filled with colorful goldfish, projected patterns, and dramatic music that makes the whole space feel magical. It’s a short but unforgettable stop, perfect for families who enjoy something a little different.
- Location: Ginza (5-minute walk from Ginza or Higashi-Ginza Station)
- Best For: Ages 4–12
- Cost: ¥¥
- Duration: 30 min – 1 hour
- Accessibility: Stroller-friendly with elevators and ramps; baby rest areas available. Some dark areas may be tricky for toddlers.
- Luca & Nico’s Challenge: Find the most magical goldfish tank. If one fish became your pet, what superpower would it use to protect you?
As you finalize your Tokyo plans, you might be considering your accommodation options. Our Tokyo Hotel Guide features top-rated family options across every budget, whether you’re planning to stay near Shibuya, Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree, or Disneyland. After securing your stay, explore our Best Things to Do in Tokyo with Kids guide for epic museums and neighborhood gems, from the vibrant streets of Harajuku and the historic Senso-ji Temple to DisneySea, Ueno Zoo, and the bay area of Odaiba; don’t miss our Tokyo Indoor Activities Guide for rainy or hot weather adventures. Families planning a longer stay will love our Tokyo 3-Day Itinerary, which balances iconic landmarks with kid-friendly hidden gems. For a full overview of family-friendly hotels across Japan, don’t miss our Ultimate Guide to Family Hotels in Japan.
FAQs: Best Museums in Tokyo with Kids
Planning to visit museums in Tokyo with kids? These family-focused FAQs cover the most common questions, from free options to stroller access, ticket tips, and the best spots by age.
A: Top family-friendly museums in Tokyo include the National Museum of Nature and Science (dinosaurs, space, animals), Miraikan (robots and future tech), and the Railway Museum in Saitama. Younger kids love the Tokyo Toy Museum and Fire Museum, while Ghibli Museum and teamLab Planets are unforgettable for kids who enjoy fantasy and art.
A: Yes! The Fire Museum in Shinjuku and the Tokyo Water Science Museum in Odaiba are both free and fun for kids. They offer interactive exhibits, hands-on play, and easy stroller access.
A: The Tokyo Toy Museum is perfect for toddlers with its wooden playrooms and soft zones, while the Fire Museum lets little ones climb inside real fire engines. The Postal Museum Japan also has colorful, interactive exhibits that younger kids enjoy.
A: Tweens and older kids love Miraikan for robots and space, teamLab Planets for immersive digital art, and the Science and Technology Museum for engineering puzzles. The Railway Museum is also a hit with older children who enjoy simulators and large-scale exhibits.
A: Yes, some museums require advance reservations, including the Ghibli Museum, Cup Noodles Museum, Railway Museum, and teamLab Planets. Popular spots can sell out quickly, so booking online ahead of your visit is recommended.
A: Most major museums in Tokyo are stroller-friendly, with elevators, ramps, and baby rest areas. The only major exception is teamLab Planets, which requires visitors to go barefoot and includes water-filled rooms, making it better suited for older kids.
A: Ueno Park is home to several kid-friendly museums, including the National Museum of Nature and Science and the Shitamachi Museum. Families can easily combine these with a visit to Ueno Zoo for a full day of fun.
A: The Cup Noodles Museum in Yokohama and Art Aquarium Museum Ginza both stand out as quirky, creative options. Kids can design their own ramen or walk through glowing tanks filled with goldfish, making them unlike traditional museums.
A: Most museums take 1.5–3 hours, though larger attractions like the Railway Museum or Miraikan can easily fill half a day. Plan around your child’s pace and interest level to avoid rushing.
A: If you only have a short time in Tokyo, the best kid-friendly museums are the National Museum of Nature and Science (Ueno), Miraikan (Odaiba), and Ghibli Museum (Mitaka, reservation required). These three highlight Tokyo’s mix of science, culture, and imagination in just a few hours each, making them ideal for quick family visits.
Until Next Time…
From dinosaurs that tower overhead to goldfish glowing in digital art, Tokyo’s museums transform learning into play and curiosity into wonder. Families can step into samurai streets, build toy creations, or even chase digital koi through water-filled rooms. Each museum offers something different, a chance for kids to see the world in new ways and for parents to watch discovery unfold right in front of them.
We hope this guide helps you fill your Tokyo days with fun, imagination, and a few silly challenges along the way. Because sometimes, the best family adventures aren’t found on busy streets, they’re discovered indoors, with wide-eyed wonder leading the way.
Stay curious, stay adventurous, and keep dreaming!
~ The LuNi Travels Family ~
