One of the most difficult things about traveling abroad with children is the food issue. While most places have a McDonald’s or some other kid-friendly fast food, what happens when you actually want to sit down and enjoy a nice meal? What about when you want to eat some local food? How can you be sure they’ll offer something your kids will actually eat? During our travels, we spent a good bit of time in Tokyo. One thing we discovered is despite this country’s love affair with food, it’s surprisingly unaccommodating for families wanting to eat together. From cramped quarters to restaurants with few or no child-friendly amenities, finding a place where the whole family can gather for a meal is a bit tough. But don’t despair. You don’t have to cramp your culinary style just because you’re eating with kids. Here’s our list of the best kid friendly restaurants in Tokyo. At these child friendly restaurants in Tokyo, you’ll find play areas, dedicated children’s menus, highchairs, booster seats, and other kid-friendly amenities that can make your eating experience enjoyable for all involved.
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Suggested: Top 10 Best Kid Friendly Hotels in Tokyo
Without further adieu, here it is: Our Top 10 Best Kid Friendly Restaurants in Tokyo.
1. Shunkoutei
A yoshoku (western-style) restaurant located in Mejiro Station, Shunkoutei makes life easier for parents with children. Enter the restaurant through a lift, which makes bringing your stroller inside a breeze. The kids’ menu is appetizing and features burger patties, fried shrimp, and salad. You’ll also find roasted potatoes, green beans, broccoli, steaks, stews, and other American-inspired cuisines. After dinner, enjoy an extensive kakigori (shaved ice) selection.
Website: Shunkoutei
Address: 2F, 2-39-1 Mejiro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 11 AM - 3 PM, 5 PM - 11 PM. Closed Monday.
Cost: $$
2. Trattoria Anima Tokyo
This fun and stylish restaurant is perhaps one of the most kid friendly restaurants in Tokyo. It’s spacious enough for parents with strollers and has diaper-changing stations, bibs, and highchairs. Kids starting to get a bit restless? The restaurant even lends DVD players to keep them entertained. As for food, there aren’t that many options, but the options are definitely kid-friendly. One option is pasta, bread, and fruit. The other choice is hamburger steak, pasta, bread, soup, and salad.
Website: Anima Tokyo
Address: 1-3-16 Tomigaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Open daily. 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM, 5 PM - 11 PM
Cost: $$
3. Kiwi Kitchen
You might have a tough time getting the kids out of the play area when you visit the Kiwi Kitchen. The lift up to the restaurant is large enough for strollers and the servings are more than kid-friendly. At Kiwi Kitchen, you’ll find things such as sandwiches, salads, wraps, sausage rolls, mini-sized pasta creations, and quiche. There’s also a healthy helping of desserts, including banana bread and carrot cake. If you don’t want to dine in, Kiwi Kitchen also delivers.
Website: Kiwi Kitchen
Address: 1F & 3F, 6-16-22 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Open daily. 9 AM - 6 PM
Cost: $
4. Chano-Ma
At first sight, this stylish restaurant in the Daikanyama neighborhood might not seem very kid-friendly, but think again. Raised tatami-style seating resembles a huge bed, so kids can safely crawl and roll around. A private nursing area is delightful for nursing mothers, and the diaper-changing station is certainly helpful. Stroller parking, elevator access, and a smoke-free environment make it an even more baby friendly restaurant in Tokyo. Chano-Ma even allows you to bring your own baby food and regularly hosts workshops like baby massages and photography classes.
Website: n/a
Address: Za House Bldg 2F, 1-34-17 Ebisu-Nishi, Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo
Hours: Monday - Thursday 10 AM - 10 PM; Friday 10 AM - 11:30 PM; Saturday 11 AM - 11:30 PM; Sunday 11 AM - 10 PM
Cost: $$
5. Minoru, Ginza Mitsukoshi
This restaurant specializes in yoshoku and features items such as beef burgers, French fries, seasonal vegetables, rice, and dessert. All the ingredients come from local farms, so the menu gets seasonal updates. You’ll also have the choice of 100% pure juices. Some favorites are Yamaguchi tangerine juice, Aomori apple juice, and Yamagata nectarine juice. The restaurant is located on the rooftop garden of the Mitsukoshi department store, so you’ll have awesome views while you eat.
Website: Minoru, Ginza Mitsukoshi
Address: Ginza Mitsukoshi 9F, 4-6-16 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Prefecture
Hours: Open daily. 11 AM - 11 PM
Cost: $
6. Organic Café Lulu
Organic Café Lulu is what the Japanese call an “oyako” café. This means it’s designed specifically for parents and their children. With a spacious play area covered in soft, fake grass and furnished with wooden tables and chairs of different sizes, Organic Café Lulu is certainly one of Tokyo’s most kid friendly restaurants. The café also has a play kitchen, reading nooks, and a small playhouse. In terms of food, pick from an all-organic lunch menu with fares such as brown rice and miso soup. There’s also an array of dairy- and egg-free meals, a dedicated kids’ menu, smoothies, vegan options, and even homemade baby food.
Website: Organic Café Lulu
Address: 5-6-30 Kiba, Koto-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Monday - Saturday 10 AM - 5:30 PM
Cost: $$
7. Kaitenzushi Nemuro Hanamaru
Japan is known for its sushi, and Nemuro Hanamaru is one of the most kid friendly sushi restaurants in Tokyo. The restaurant serves “kaiten sushi,” also known as conveyor belt sushi. Kids usually enjoy watching the sushi go around, and it lets them pick exactly what they want. The sushi is shipped from the restaurant’s headquarters in Hokkaido meaning its all fresh, affordable, and delicious. The restaurant is close to Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace, so it’s a good option if you’ve been sightseeing around town and are craving sushi.
Website: Nemuro Hanamaru
Address: JP Tower 5F, 2-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Monday - Saturday 11 AM - 11 PM; Sunday & Holidays 11 AM - 10 PM
Cost: $$
8. Alice’s Fantasy Dining
For themed dining, check out Alice’s Fantasy Dining. There are six locations throughout Tokyo that have various themes such as “Alice in the old castle” and “Alice in the labyrinth.” Though the dark maze-like interior may be a bit scary for very young children, older kids will enjoy the elaborate decor and relish the opportunity to have their very own wonderland tea party. The menus at Alice’s Fantasy Dining are designed like pop-up storybooks and feature dozens of themed dishes.
Website: Alice’s Fantasy Dining
Address: 5th floor, Taiyo Building, 8-8-5, Ginza, Chuoh-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Monday - Friday 5 PM - 11:30 PM; Saturday & Sunday 4 PM - 11:30 PM
Cost: $$
9. All Day Home
This place caters to kids ages 0-6 and has playground equipment with a slide and ball pit, a doll house, magnet board, and other kid friendly features. If you’re a parent and want to catch a little break, All Day Home even has nursery teachers that can care for your young kids. In terms of food, the no-frills menu includes things like finger foods, pasta, and curry dishes. A popular place for hosting kids’ parties, party meal packages are also available. A nursing room and changing table helps keep new mothers happy.
Website: All Day Home
Address: 2-6-17 Koyama, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Monday - Thursday 11 AM - 8 PM; Friday & Saturday 11 AM - 9 PM
Cost: $
10. Helianthus Café
Helianthus is the perfect place for parents of toddlers and babies to sit down for lunch and a chat. This kid friendly restaurant in Tokyo serves a simple menu of drinks, curry, sandwiches, desserts, and even alcoholic beverages. While adults eat, children can explore the play den, which is outfitted with wooden toys, stuffed animals, and children’s books. They also sell baby food, have stroller parking by the door, and have a changing table in the bathroom.
Website: n/a
Address: 1-16-12, Aobadai, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo
Hours: Monday - Friday 10 AM - 6 PM; Saturday, Sunday, & Holidays 10 AM - 5 PM
Cost: $
If Tokyo has always been on your bucket list, don’t let the fact that you’re traveling with a child hinder you. Though finding places to eat that accommodate children and have kid friendly menus might be a bit of a challenge, it is definitely possible. We hope this list gave you some good ideas. To learn more about navigating the world of travel with children, be sure to check out our ebook for more tips and tricks.
