Tokyo gives you a lot of decisions, where to eat, what to see, where to base yourself, and that last one carries more weight when you are the person planning a trip for the whole family. Get the area and the hotel right and the whole trip runs smoothly. Get it wrong and you can spend your holiday commuting.
Here is the single principle I stick by when choosing my hotels in Tokyo. Prioritise location and proximity to transport first, especially if you have older or active kids and you will be out all day as a family.
A lot of what I share below comes from friends and family who have done exactly this trip, Tokyo with children of various ages, and told me in detail what worked and what caught them out.
I have built the wider list and the area guidance around that, and I have called out the child and pool policies that can trip families up, because the listings rarely make them clear.
More of my Japan guides to plan around your Tokyo trip
- Kamakura day trip from Tokyo — One of the most rewarding trips from Tokyo
- How many days in Osaka — A ready made itinerary for the best things to see in Osaka
- Tokyo 3 day itinerary — A guide to the best sights and hidden gems.
- Kyoto in 2 Days — A guide to everything you will want to do in Kyoto
- Perfect Hakone Loop — What to do and how to get around when you are in Hakone
- Japan Two-Week Itinerary — All my tips to make the most of two weeks in Japan
The best family hotels in Tokyo
Disclaimer: This article features affiliate links. If you click these links, and choose to book with that hotel or company, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I appreciate the support that allows me to continue providing this information
A quick word on the prices below. The figures are a typical starting point for a family room, not the cheapest the hotel ever goes and not peak. Tokyo rates climb a lot in cherry blossom season (late March to early April), the autumn leaves, Golden Week and over New Year, and family rooms sell out before standard rooms do. Book as far ahead as you realistically can.
My recommendations by family and trip type
For a quick decision, rather than a list of good hotels, start here:
- Travelling with a toddler or baby: an apartment-style room beats a hotel room almost every time, and Mimaru is the one I am asked about most and recommend most. You get separate space for early bedtimes and a kitchen for fussy eaters. Typically from around ¥32,000 (£165).
- Older kids or teens who want things to do at night: base yourself in Shibuya or Shinjuku and treat location as the priority. The Cerulean Tower Tokyu in Shibuya is the easy pick here for transport and space. Typically from around ¥55,000 (£285).
- A large family of five or more: the hardest brief in Tokyo, so it’s often easier to go for guaranteed connecting rooms. Karaska Hotel Premier guarantees connecting rooms for up to five, and Mimaru again are fantastic for those needing more space. Typically from around ¥36,000 (£190).
- A real Japanese experience for the kids without leaving the city: Centurion Hotel Grand Akasaka for tatami-and-futon rooms, or Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjuku for a proper onsen in central Tokyo. Both give you the traditional stay. Typically from around ¥22,000 (£115).
- Want something special: the Four Seasons at Otemachi keeps children entertained and, unusually for a hotel this luxurious, does not charge for children under 18 sharing your room. Typically from around ¥110,000 (£575).
My Top Tip! Whatever the scenario, book the area before you fall in love with a specific room. The right neighbourhood near good transport will save you more time and stress over a week than any single in-room feature.
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Booking traps to know before you reserve
A few things that catch families out. Worth two minutes before you book.
- The room will be smaller than the photos make it look. A cheap room with enough beds often has no floor space left for anything else. Luggage and getting ready become a real problem. If you can stretch to apartment-style, do.
- Check the pool rules before you book. Some set an age limit, some charge extra. Friends of mine chose a hotel partly for the pool, then found their kids of 10 and 13 weren’t allowed in, so they paid more for nothing. If the pool matters to your choice, check the age limit and any charge before you book.
- “Kids stay free” rarely means what you’d assume. Usually it’s one child, under a certain age, sharing your bed. Not their own bed, often not a second child, and the cut-off differs at every hotel. Make sure you read the small print carefully.
Mimaru Hotels
Mimaru gets its own section because it is the hotel I am asked about and recommend more than any other for families in Tokyo, and that is straight off the back of friends and family who have stayed across three of the properties with their kids.
The thing they all come back to is the apartment layout: adults and children get their own space, which makes early bedtimes and older kids who want a bit of independence genuinely easy instead of a nightly negotiation in one dark room.
They are not hotels in the traditional sense. They are apartment style, but with the hotel bits you want, a front desk and concierge for advice, help, or luggage forwarding. Each location delivers on space, a kitchenette, and family-focused touches.
Here’s a list of the best family friendly hotels they offer
Mimaru Hotel Apartments Akasaka
Booking.com rating: 8.9. Typically from around ¥32,000 (£165).
In Akasaka, the rooms are large with a kitchenette for easy self-catering, and child-friendly extras like sterilisers and baby bathtubs make it workable even with an infant. The themed rooms, from ninja decor to Pokémon, are the bit children remember. With a minimum of four beds per apartment, larger families get flexible sleeping arrangements without splitting up.
Mimaru Ginza East
Booking.com rating: 9.0. Typically from around ¥34,000 (£180).
Mimaru Ginza East puts the same apartment format in a central, well-connected spot near Ginza’s shopping and dining. Kitchenettes and proper bed space let parents recreate a homely setup, and the location is an easy walk to some of the best shopping in the city.
The detail that comes up every single time from the families I know: the Pokémon-themed rooms were a huge hit with the kids, and with one Pokémon-loving adult who will remain unnamed. They sell out, so if you have a Pokémon household book the moment you can rather than hoping on the day.
Mimaru Asakusa
Booking.com rating: 9.3. Typically from around ¥32,000 (£165).
In Asakusa, Mimaru offers families access to one of Tokyo’s most historic areas, close to the Senso-ji Temple and Asakusa’s lively streets. The family-oriented design includes spacious rooms with multiple beds and a kitchenette, along with child-focused amenities like baby bathtubs and themed decor options. This location is excellent for those looking to be in a quieter area.
Mimaru Ueno East
Booking.com rating: 8.8. Typically from around ¥31,000 (£160).
Near Ueno Park and Ueno Zoo, this one suits families who want green space and outdoor time. Large apartments with a kitchenette, themed rooms for the children, and a short walk to convenience stores and food. Transport links nearby make the rest of Tokyo straightforward.
Mimaru Ueno Okachimachi
Booking.com rating: 9.1. Typically from around ¥31,000 (£160).
Close to Ueno, with four beds, a kitchenette, and the child-friendly extras the chain is known for. A bit more space for children to play and the option to cook, which is the whole point of choosing apartment-style in the first place.
TOP TIP! If you are travelling to Osaka or Kyoto I have written family friendly hotel guides to both. Get your accommodation booked now!
Keio Plaza Hotel
Booking.com rating: 8.5. Typically from around ¥38,000 (£200).
Keio Plaza is a strong all-rounder, with real luxury touches and the practical bits parents actually need. There is a complimentary shuttle to Tokyo Disney Resort, handy if Disney is on your list, and free stroller rentals, a genuinely thoughtful touch for younger families. On-site dining covers most tastes, useful on the evenings nobody wants to go back out. One child aged 5 and under stays free per adult, sharing your bed, but the hotel treats children 6 and over as adults who cannot bed-share.
Karaska Hotel Premier
Booking.com rating: 9.0. Typically from around ¥36,000 (£190).
If you are a family of five, start here. Karaska guarantees connecting rooms for up to five guests, which can be very helpful and hard to find in Tokyo. The whole family stays together but with some privacy. The guest lounge does all-inclusive evening drinks, a welcome touch for parents after a long day on their feet, and luggage forwarding is on offer, useful if you are moving on across Japan.
TOP TIP! Make sure you are fully prepared with my “First time visitor to Japan starter kit”
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HOW TO STAY CONNECTED ON THE GO: The cheapest data and easiest way to make sure you can access everything you need
HOW TO AVOID CURRENCY FEES LIKE A PRO: The best cards for travel and withdrawing cash
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SAVE 30-90 MINUTES AT CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION : The simple and FREE QR code to speed you through the airport
Dai Ichi Hotel
Booking.com rating: 8.8. Typically from around ¥28,000 (£145).
Dai Ichi offers several room configurations, so it flexes to family size. The Western-style rooms are spacious and give families genuine room to spread out, which is harder to find in central Tokyo than you would think. Extra seating areas make some rooms feel closer to suites. It sits in Shimbashi, central and well connected but quieter than the big hubs.
Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba
Booking.com rating: 8.9. Typically from around ¥38,000 (£200).
Grand Nikko does the family details well: guaranteed connecting rooms, children’s sleepwear and slippers, baby bathtubs and potty seats. Infants under 7 share existing bedding free, and on some family plans children up to elementary-school age stay free on existing bedding too, a genuinely good deal for larger families with younger kids. The Daiba location gives you Tokyo Bay views and a calmer base away from the centre, with the trade-off that you are further from the central sights.
The thing to know before you book this one for the pool: the indoor pool, sauna and fitness centre are for guests aged 16 and over only, so the children cannot use them. Something not immediately clear on booking sites.
Henn Na Hotel Asakusa
Booking.com guest rating: 8.5. Typically from around ¥22,000 (£115).
Henn Na Hotel Asakusa offers a quirky family hotel in Tokyo, a memorable experience, with a unique check-in process handled by robot dinosaurs that delight children, and some big adults too! The hotel also provides spacious family suites capable of comfortably accommodating up to five guests, along with the option of connecting rooms for larger families or those seeking additional privacy.
Located in the heart of Asakusa, the hotel is ideal for families who want easy access to Senso-ji Temple. With a focus on futuristic fun Henn Na Hotel offers a memorable stay with a novel twist.
Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi
Booking.com rating 8.7. Typically from around ¥190,000 (£990).
The Marunouchi Four Seasons leans into a feature children genuinely love: views of passing trains from many rooms, plus in-room train sets and bedtime snacks. It is a more refined, more expensive answer to where to stay with a family. The location by Tokyo Station makes it an easy base for getting around. You pay for the luxury experience and service, but train-mad children will not forget it.
Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi
Booking.com rating: 9.2. Typically from around ¥110,000 (£575).
The standout family fact here, and it is unusual for a hotel this luxurious: children under 18 sharing your room are not charged extra (space permitting), and there are connecting and two-bedroom layouts. For a family that wants a luxury stay, that policy makes it far more viable than the price suggests.
On top of that it actually entertains children: in-room glamping tents let them camp indoors, and check-in comes with a kids’ passport, puzzles and colouring, plus sterilisers, high chairs and children’s pyjamas. If keeping children happy in a luxury hotel is the priority, this is the one I would point you to on the list. Near the Imperial Palace.
Imperial Hotel Tokyo
Booking.com rating: 9.1. Typically from around ¥60,000 (£315).
The Imperial pairs traditional luxury with practical family support, including on-site childcare if parents want a break while children are supervised. A range of on-site restaurants from casual to high-end covers most evenings without leaving the building. Close to the Imperial Palace and central sights.
Shinjuku Hotel N.U.T.S
Booking.com rating: 7.7. Typically from around ¥24,000 (£125).
A flexible, practical pick: Japanese and Western-style rooms for up to five, some with kitchenettes for simple self-catering, and breakfast delivered to the room on request so you start the day at your own pace. Central Shinjuku location keeps transport easy.
Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjuku
Booking.com rating: 8.8. Typically from around ¥40,000 (£210).
A traditional ryokan experience with an actual onsen, a Japanese bathhouse, in central Shinjuku, which is unusual for the location and the reason it makes the “real Japan without leaving the city” pick. Suites and premium doubles take up to four. An in-house teppanyaki restaurant adds an easy dinner option.
Hundred Stay Tokyo Shinjuku
Booking.com rating: 8.5. Typically from around ¥26,000 (£135).
Apartment-style with a full kitchen, washing machine and dryer, which makes longer stays much easier. Separate living and dining space, and some configurations sleep up to six, so it is another good option for a larger family or group. The 24-hour concierge and housekeeping give you hotel convenience with self-catering flexibility. Shinjuku location, close to shops and food.
Muji Hotel Ginza
Booking.com rating 9.1. Typically from around ¥42,000 (£220).
Above the Muji flagship store, this one combines minimalist design with practical family rooms for up to four and a separate living area. Children get a small welcome kit. The clean, simple Muji aesthetic is a genuine relief in the middle of Ginza if your family finds busy hotels overstimulating. Shopping and dining are right outside.
The Peninsula Tokyo
Booking.com rating 9.2. Typically from around ¥100,000 (£520).
The Peninsula Tokyo offers some of the largest rooms available in the city, providing excellent space for families. Children under 11 stay free, if they are sharing your bed, and all children under 2 are free, making it a good option for those with one child seeking a little luxury. The hotel offers a variety of bed configurations and provides free stroller rentals, high chairs, and child-friendly toiletries, adding convenience for those travelling with young children.
Centurion Hotel Grand Akasaka
Booking.com rating 7.3. Typically from around ¥22,000 (£115).
The pick if you want the kids to get a real Japanese experience without leaving the city: traditional Japanese-style rooms with futon bedding and tatami, so children get the cultural side without losing comfort or a day of the itinerary. Family rooms are spacious, luxury corner rooms more so, and each room has a washing machine for longer stays. Akasaka location near local eateries. The lower score is worth noting, this is more about the experience than luxury.
Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel
Booking.com rating: 8.9. Typically from around ¥55,000 (£285).
Cerulean Tower works well for families wanting Shibuya as a base. It has professional childcare staff who will look after your child, useful for parents who want some independent time, and the second and any subsequent children in the same family are charged half price, a genuine saving most hotels do not offer.
Seven on-site restaurants cover even the fussiest eaters. The Shibuya location gives excellent transport access while the hotel itself stays quiet and spacious, which is the combination I would prioritise for families with older kids. Just note the pool is for over 18’s only.
Shiba Park Hotel
Booking.com rating 8.8. Typically from around ¥24,000 (£125).
Shiba Park Hotel offers a family-friendly environment with a unique twist – a library of over 1,500 books available for adults and children, not something you see everyday! The hotel provides a variety of room options, including setups for larger families or groups who may prefer connecting rooms.
Close to Tokyo Tower and other attractions, Shiba Park Hotel is well-situated for sightseeing. The focus on reading and relaxation makes it a distinctive choice, appealing to families looking for a quieter stay while still being conveniently located in central Tokyo.
Bonus hotels near Tokyo Disney resort
I have written an article specifically about the best hotels to stay at for a trip to Tokyo Disney, all of which have free shuttle buses. I strongly recommend picking a hotel near Disney for your time there, but a second hotel, more central in Tokyo for the remainder of your stay. This will ensure you spend the maximum time enjoying Tokyo, not commuting to what you want to see!
Are you struggling to find the hotel for you, availability isn’t there for the dates you want, have a look at some other great Tokyo accommodation options for first time travellers
Map of the best places to stay in Tokyo for Families
TOP TIP! Looking for a bullet train day trip (or short overnight stay) with plenty of nature, a pirate ship and wonderful views of Mt Fuji? Have a look at my Hakone loop guide and the best ryokan to stay at in Hakone
The best areas for family accommodation in Tokyo
In a rush, the short version of where I would put you. For families with younger children, Ueno, the green space and Ueno Park make daily life easier with little ones. For families with older children or teens who want things to do in the evening, Shibuya or Shinjuku, more to do and excellent transport. Across all of them, the deciding factor is the same: proximity to a major train/subway line.
Shinjuku
Pros:
- Wide variety of family-friendly hotels, from traditional ryokans to spacious Western-style accommodations.
- Excellent transport links for easy access to major Tokyo attractions from Shinjuku station and the Yamanote line.
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden offers a peaceful space for children to explore.
- Numerous dining options, with choices to suit all family tastes.
Cons:
- Crowded, especially near the station, which can be overwhelming for young children.
- Proximity to nightlife areas, making it important to choose hotels in quieter spots.
Ginza
Pros:
- Quieter streets and a calmer atmosphere, ideal for families.
- Close to attractions like Hibiya Park and Kabuki-za Theatre, which offer family-friendly activities.
- Many hotels provide spacious, family-oriented rooms.
- Shopping centres feature restaurants that cater well to children’s needs.
Cons:
- Higher accommodation costs due to Ginza’s luxury focus.
- Limited attractions specifically for young children, requiring additional travel for family-oriented entertainment.
Asakusa
Pros:
- Rich in cultural sites like Senso-ji Temple, offering an engaging experience for families.
- Walkable area with small shops, food stalls, and traditional Japanese activities.
- Family-friendly hotels often feature unique traditional decor.
Cons:
- Slightly removed from main transport hubs, adding travel time to other attractions.
- Some older accommodations may lack modern amenities like in-room kitchenettes.
Odaiba
Pros:
- Home to family-friendly attractions such as parks, shopping centres, and teamLab Borderless.
- Waterfront views and wide, open spaces create a relaxed environment.
- Many activities designed with children in mind, ideal for family outings.
Cons:
- Distance from central Tokyo may limit easy access to some key attractions.
- Best suited for a shorter stay, as the area’s focus is primarily on entertainment rather than cultural sights.
Shibuya
Pros:
- Central location with excellent transport links, making it easy to reach other parts of Tokyo.
- Family-friendly attractions like Yoyogi Park and the Shibuya Scramble Square, which has an observation deck offering city views.
- Plenty of dining options, including restaurants that cater to children’s tastes.
- Modern hotels with family-focused amenities are increasingly available.
Cons:
- Busy and crowded, especially around Shibuya Crossing, which can feel overwhelming for families with young children.
- Limited green spaces compared to other areas, with fewer quiet spots for relaxation.
Ueno
Pros:
- Known for Ueno Park, which includes Ueno Zoo, museums, and open spaces for children to play and explore.
- Family-friendly atmosphere with attractions that appeal to all ages, such as the National Museum of Nature and Science.
- A range of affordable accommodation options, making it a budget-friendly choice for families.
- Close to transport links, with easy access to cultural sites and other popular areas.
Cons:
- Can become crowded, especially around Ueno Park during weekends and holidays.
- Some accommodations may be older and may lack the modern amenities found in more central or newer hotel districts.
TOP TIP! You have a lot of options getting to your hotel from the airport, I have covered the best, fastest and cheapest ways to do that for both Haneda and Narita. I specifically talk about the ways you can make your life easier as a family and start your holiday right!
FREE GUIDE
Planning your trip to Japan?
I made a free 13-page guide that strips Japan planning down to the few decisions that matter.
No ads, instant download.
FAQ’s about family friendly hotels in Tokyo
Is Tokyo a good place to travel with kids?
Yes, Tokyo is a fantastic destination for families. The city is brimming with attractions that cater to children of all ages. From Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea to the interactive exhibits at the National Museum of Nature and Science, there’s plenty to keep kids entertained. Tokyo is also very safe, clean, and has excellent public transport, making it easy to navigate with little ones.
What is the most family-friendly city in Japan?
Tokyo is very family-friendly, but it is not the only option. Osaka is often singled out for families thanks to Universal Studios Japan and the Osaka Aquarium. Kyoto offers a more cultural experience, with temples and gardens that can genuinely engage older children. Fukuoka is known for spacious parks and family activities.
How long to stay in Tokyo with kids?
Four to seven days works well with children. That gives you the major draws, Tokyo Disneyland, Ueno Zoo, the interactive museums, without rushing, plus time for some of the neighbourhoods and parks that make the city feel less relentless with kids.
Can a family stay at a capsule hotel in Tokyo?
It is possible but rarely practical. Many capsule hotels do not allow children, and those that do often have age limits. They also typically separate guests by gender, which is awkward when a family wants to stay together. For families, traditional hotels or serviced apartments are the sensible choice.
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