THINGS THAT GO – TOKYO TRAINS, PLANES & CARS

Have a kid who love things that go? Trains, planes & cars we got you covered. Our sons were obsessed with transportation when they were 3-5 years olds so we have first hand experience at all of the recommended locations. Whether a museum, interactive experience or shopping all of our recommendations are transportation related. If you have other recommendations to add to the list, please let us know! Other recommendairtons for active kids are Tokyo Adventure Sports, Best Parks To Rent and Ride Bikes and our favorite Mud Parks.

THINGS THAT GO – TOKYO TRAINS, PLANES & CARS

1. Tokyo Police Museum (Kyobashi, Tokyo)– Motorcycle and Helicopter Ride-on

The Tokyo Police Museum 警察博物館 will inspire all youngsters to be a person in blue. If you are a fan of the Tokyo Fire Museum, the Police Museum is a must visit. The museum reopened in May 2017 following a one year remodel. Five floors of Tokyo police history, criminal investigation techniques and hands-on games and simulations about safety. Entry to the museum is free. Plan for about 1-2 hours to visit all five floors.

Address: 3-5-1 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo (google map)
Phone: 03-3581-4321
Hours: Closed Monday, Open all other days 9:30 – 17:00
Admission cost: Fee
Website: Tokyo Police Museum English Page
Access: 2 min walk from Kyobashi station (Exit 2) on the Ginza Line: 4 min walk from Yurakucho station (Exit 7) on the Yurakucho Line; 5 min walk from Takaramachi station (Exit A4) on the Asakusa Line

2. Tokyo Subway Museum (Kasai, Tokyo) – History, Engineering and Fun!

If your children love trains, planes and cars than a visit to the Tokyo Subway Museum in Kasai will be a win. Adults will also learn about the 90-year history of the Tokyo Subway system. After visiting this museum, you will never ride a Tokyo subway again and not think about the technology and history behind the ride. The Tokyo Subway Museum is organized into ten different areas starting with history then covering construction, maintenance, engineering, traffic control and more.

Address: 6-3-1 Higashi Kasai, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo (google map)
Hours: Closed Mondays, Tuesday – Sunday open 10:00 – 17:00
Admission cost: Adults 210 JPY, children 4+ 100 JPY
Website: http://www.chikahaku.jp/en/index.html
Access: Located on ground level right outside Kasai Station on the Tozai Line. Tozai Line is available from Otemachi Station.

3. Toyota Mega Web Ride Studio (Koto-ku, Tokyo) – Kids` Indoor and Outdoor Driving Track

Toyota Mega Web Ride Studio is located in the Toyota Mega Web Theme Park, in Koto-ku near Odaiba. Toyota Mega Web is split into 3 sections; The History Garage; Toyota City Showcase and the Ride Studio. All are located walking distance to Venus Fort, Palette Plaza and the Epson teamLab Borderless digital exhibition, and all are free to enter. The History Garage holds more than a dozen classic cars manufactured between 1950’s and 1970’s, they have a 30m long corridor with books and car toys, rally and model cars are on display and a restoration garage. The Toyota City Showcase has about 60 Toyota models on display. Test drive a few cars and see some of the newest models on display. Reservation required.

Address: 1-3-12 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo (google map)
Phone: 03-3599-0808
Hours: Open everyday, Daily 11:00-19:00
Access: 3-minute walk from Tokyo Teleport Station / Directly connected to Aomi Station.
Website: https://www.megaweb.gr.jp/lang/en/about/

4. Kidzania (Toyosu) – Leant how to be a driver, ambulance driver or airplane worker

Kidzania is of our kids` favorite indoor theme park on our list of TOP Theme Parks in Japan. Kidzania Tokyo, located at the Urban Dock LaLaport in Toyosu, is an indoor theme park for families. The park is a city built to scale for children complete with buildings, shops, paved streets and vehicles that look like everyday workplaces in Japan. Children aged 3 to 15 years perform activities and are paid for their work. Activities include a fireman, doctor, police officer, model in a fashion show, dancer, cook, baker, etc. There are over 90 jobs to choose from! It`s excellent for learning role-play, how society works and just having fun.

Address: Urban Dock LaLaport Toyosu, North Port 3rd floor, 2-4-9 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo (google map)
Phone: 0570-06-4012
Business hours: Open everyday :1st shift: 9:00-15:00, 2nd shift: 16:00-21:00. Doors open 30 minutes before each shift.
Access: 8 min walk from Toyosu Station on the Yurakucho and Yurikamome lines
Facebook: facebook.com/KidZaniaJapan.E
Website: http://www.kidzania.jp/tokyo/en/

5. Fire Museum (Yotsuya, Tokyo)

Kids and Firefighting fans will enjoy a few hours at the Fire Museum in Yotsuya, Tokyo. This free five-floor museum run by the Tokyo Fire Department both explains the history of fire and earthquake prevention and protection in Japan and is a fun, interactive environment for kids to climb on equipment and dress up. Entry to the museum is free and it is connected directly to the subway walking tunnels; the staff is also super friendly. For kids under ten years, there are a few climb and ride on exhibits including two rescue helicopters (one inside and one outside on the roof). You can not climb on the older firetrucks. However, on the 3rd-floor play area, little ones (2-6) can dress in fire jackets and drive a mock-firetruck and enter the rescue helicopter which has a video in the windshield which enables kids to make believe they are resuming someone.

Address: 3-10 Yotsuya, Shinjuku, Tokyo (google map)
Business days and hours: Closed on Monday; open 9:30-5:00 Tues-Sun
Phone number: 03-3353-9119
Cost: Free
Access: 4 min walk from Yotsuya 3-chome station on the Marunouchi Line, Public parking at various lots around neighbourhood
Email: fire-museum@siren.ocn.ne.jp
Website: http://www.tfd.metro.tokyo.jp/ts/museum.html

6. Setagaya Park (Setagaya, Tokyo) -Mini SL train rides, pedal race tracks and more!

Setagaya Park is a great park for kids. They offer train rides on a Mini Steam Locomotive (Wednesdays, Weekends and Holidays only), pedal go carts in a traffic park with working traffic signals, 2 separate playgrounds equip with swings, spring riders, slides, monkey bars and sandpit, and a children-sized shanty town where they can make bread, roast potatoes, etc. The park also includes a real stationary Steam Locomotive that kids can explore, a skateboard park, tennis courts, outdoor pool and open space for children and dogs to run around.

Address: 1-5-2 Ikejiri, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo (google map) 東京都世田谷区池尻1-5-2
(inside Setagaya Park)
Business hours: Open 24 hours
Access: 10 min walk from Ikejiri-Ohashi or Yutenji Stations

7. Honshiba Park (Tamachi, Tokyo) – Train Watching and Petit Water Play Park

Honshiba Park is a sliver of a park that offers train watching, a playground and petit water play park (July/Aug). The park is conveniently located next to Tamachi Station on the JR Yamanote Line. The playground equipment is new and the park very clean. Added bonus is that there is a Starbucks that opens at 6:30 a.m. on the main street before you turn into the park so Mom and Dad can grab a beverage and relax on a bench while the little tikes go crazy. If you have a train fan in the family, you can watch the Yamanote Line train, the Shinkansen, and the Monorail all from the park. If you are looking for other water play areas in the area try Futo Park #13 on this list about a 15 min walk.

Address: 4-15-1 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tōkyō-to (google map)
Business hours: Open 24 hours
Access: 2 min walk from Tamachi Station (Mita side exit) on the JR Yamanote Line and Mita Subway Line (A6 exit)

8. Haneda Airport Observation Deck (Haneda, Tokyo) – Watch Planes Land and Takeoff

The Haneda Airport Observation Deck is a great place to spend the afternoon with your kids – and toddlers. The observation areas allow aviation enthusiasts to hear the roar of the jet engines as they arrive and depart the runway, the enclosed space allows your kids to run around freely, and there is no shortage of places to shop and eat with a mix of Western and Japanese cuisine. Observation decks are located in JAL Terminal 1 on the 6th Floor and rooftop, and in ANA Terminal 2 on the 5th Floor. Both give unobstructed views of arriving and departing planes, the city outline, and on a clear day, Majestic Mount Fuji. The observation decks are comfortably stocked with tables and chairs, cafes, vending machines, mounted binoculars and ample space to walk around.

Address: 4-3 Haneda-Kuko, 2-Chome, Ota-Ku, Tokyo 144, Japan
Phone: + 81-03-5757-8111

9. Harbor Circuit (Chiba) – Indoor Go-Carting for 4 Years and Up!

Harbor Circuit (Chiba) – Indoor Go-Carting for 4 years and up! Harbor Circuit in Chiba is a great place to spend a few hours for indoor go-carting. If you have a speed demon in your family, this is a great family outing or a location for a birthday party. You can try one race for six mins, multiple runs or rent the entire race track. There are three speeds of go-carts available; Bambino for four years to 1st grade (10 KM per hour max), 1st grade to 14 years (40 KM per hour max) and 15+ (a50 KM per hour max). The indoor course is open year round rain or shine. We combined with a shopping trip to Makuhari Costco.

Address: Chiba Sports Plaza 2F, 13-26 Dezuminato, Chuo, Chiba (google map)
Phone: 043-441-3243
Business Hours: M-F 14:00 – 23:30, Sat 10:00 – 23:30a, Sun 10:00 – 21:30
Cost: 1,480 up to 18, 1,980 adults for one lap about six mins; discount is applied to multi-lap tickets details here. http://www.harbor-circuit.com/2014english.asp
Website: English http://www.harbor-circuit.com/2014english.asp
Access: 45 min drive from downtown Tokyo, or 14 min walk from Hon-Chiba Station on the Sotobo Line; 19 min walk from Chiba-Minato Station on the Keiyo Line

10. Tokyu Train and Bus Museum ( Kawasaki-shi, Kanazawa)

The Tokyu Train and Bus Museum is a small museum located at Miyasakidai Station. The museum has many functioning miniature trains as well as actual train cars and busses on display. It holds a virtual driving simulator for both a bus and a train, a panorama theatre of miniature functioning model trains, a small museum shop and much more.

TOKYO TRAINS PLANES CARS

11. The Railway Museum (Omiya, Saitama) – One of Japan`s More Popular Train Museums

The Railway Museum (鉄道博物館ミュージアム) is a great place to visit for families and railway enthusiasts rain or shine. Opened in late 2007 the museum features railway cars, train car simulators for would-be-train drivers, model dioramas, miniature trains, train rides, an outdoor playground and indoor playrail area, cafeteria, museum shop, train library, and more. The museum has many small model trains as well as actual train cars on display covering the history of the Japanese railways to the present. Parents and kids can climb in and explore the train cars from different eras, have lunch in the dine-in train car, operate mini trains by remote control or operate a child-sized train outdoors (must be atleast 6 years old to operate), play at their train library filled with books about trains and more.

Address:3-47 Onaricho, Omiya-ku, Saitama (〒330-0852 埼玉県さいたま市大宮区大成町3丁目47番 (google map)
Phone:04-8651-0088
Hours:Wednesday – Sunday 10:00 – 18:00. Closed Tuesdays & Dec 29 – Jan 2
Cost:Adults 1,000 yen, Elementary to HS students 500 yen, Children 3 years and older 200 yen, 3 years and under are free. Parking 500 yen.
Access:Take the Saikyo Line or Shonan-Shinjuku Lines from Shinjuku Station to Omiya Station. Then take the New Shuttle and get off at Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan Station. The museum is connected to this station. Less than a 1-minute walk.

12. Kyoto Railway Museum (Kyoto) – The Newest & Largest Railway Museum in Japan
The JR West Kyoto Railway Museum (京都鉄道博物館), formerly the Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum, was expanded and modernized, and reopened in April 2016. It is the newest and largest railway museum in Japan.The museum houses 53 retired railway vehicles from a steam locomotive built in 1880 to a 500 series shinkansen built in 1996. Visitors begin their journey by exploring the promenade housing an SL train, Tokaido Shinkansen and the Tokaido Honsen. Towards the center of the platform sits the Na-shi 20 series dining car where visitors can stop-in and order a bento meal. Visitors have the option to walk left towards the massive SL roundhouse platform or go indoors and explore the inner workings of trains and try out the interactive exhibits.

Address: Kankijicho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto (京都市下京区観喜寺町)
Phone: 075-323-7334
Fees:General admission (18 years and older): 1,200 yen University and high school students: 1,000 yen Junior high and elementary school students: 500 yen Children (3 years and older): 200 yen
Hours: Thursday – Tuesday 10:00 – 17:30 (Last entry 17:00). Every Wednesday (open on holidays) and year-end through New-Year season (12/30 to 1/1).
Access: By Bus: From Kyoto Station Bus stop B3. Approximately 10 minutes on bus route 205 or 208. Get off at Umekoji-koen-mae bus stop and walk for approximately 3 minutes. For Passengers using a Keihan Kyoto Kotsu Bus (Bus stop C2) Approximately 10 minutes on bus route 2, 14, 15, 26, 26B, or 28A. Get off at Umekoji-koen-mae bus stop and walk for approximately 3 minutes.
Website: http://www.kyotorailwaymuseum.jp/en/

13. SC Maglev and Railway Park (Nagoya)
The SC Maglev and Railway Park is a great museum for train enthusiasts young and old. It houses 39 of JR`s rolling stock displays, some with marked world speed records. Visitors can see, touch and tour the interior of the trains, learn the mechanics behind the bullet train and Maglev as well as learn the history of the railways. Combine with a trip to the Nagashima Spaland Resort or the new Legoland Outdoor Theme Parkfor an exciting long weekend family trip.

Address: 3-2-2 Kinjofuto, Minato-ku, Nagoya (名古屋市港区金城ふ頭3-2-2) (google map)
Phone: 052-389-6100
Business hours: 10:00 – 17:30 (Last admission 30 minutes before closing); Closed Tuesday. When a National Holiday falls on a Tuesday, the museum will be closed on Wednesday. Also closed from December 28 – January 1.
Fees:Adults 1000 yen; Elementary School Aged Kids 500 yen; Kids aged 3 years + 200 yen
Train Simulator Fee per drive:Shinkansen 500 yen (15 minutes); Train Crew Simulator 500 yen (15 minutes); Train Driving Simulator 100 yen (10 minutes)
Access: A 2-minute walk from Kinjofuto Station on the Aonami Line from Nagoya Station
Website: http://museum.jr-central.co.jp/en/

TOKYO TRAINS PLANES CARS

14. Shinkansen Bullet Train Trivia – Info to Educate and Impress Your Kids

Impress and educate your kids with some Shinkansen Bullet Train Trivia on your family trip. The Shinkansen train system was invented over 50 years ago, but the technology, efficiency, and cleanliness continue to awe residents and travelers. Here are our top trivia tips which have been kid tested to prove interesting. Make your speedy trip even pass faster!

15. Maach Ecute (Akihabara, Tokyo) – From Train to Boutique Station

Akihabara is no longer just for electronics shopping. About 500M away from Akihabara station a renovated train station with cool new food and boutique. The train station integrity was maintained so you know you are in an old train station due to the shape of the walls and walkways at Maach Acute. The station houses about 15 boutiques of beautiful Japanese-designed products from home and a handful of restaurants. The station used to be the Manseibashi station that was a major station on the old Chuo line opened in 1912, but closed in 1925. From 1932-43, then 1948 -2006 the station was the National Railroad Museum. September 2013 (101 years after originally being build) it was rebirthed and opened as Maach Ecute. This space is very special and would make a nice date spot if you have a few hours to watch the water go by.

Address: 1-25-4 Kandasudacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Mon-Sat 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.; Sun and Holidays 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Tel: 03-3257-8910
Website: https://www.ecute.jp/maach

TOKYO TRAINS PLANES CARS

16.Tomica Specialty Shops – Great Gifts for Toddlers & Car Lovers

Tomica (トミカ) is the line of die-cast toy vehicles produced since 1970 by Takara Tomy Co. of Japan. It`s a favorite in our home and among boys in Japan two to seven years of age. You can find Tomica products in toys stores around Japan but if you`re looking for limited items, Tomica-branded household goods, candy, apparel, and other merchandise we recommend visiting one of the four locations throughout Japan or at their annual expo in August (details on this link).

Tomica Specialty Shop Locations: Ichibancho Station, Marunouchi; Yokohama Landmark Plaza, Minato Mirai; Sky Tree Town, Sumida, Tokyo; Daimaru Umeda Store, Osaka

17. Tamiya Plamodel Factory, Shinbashi

If you have a small or big child who loves building cars, battlefield displays or general construction models the Tamiya Plamodel Factory is one stop you should not miss while in Tokyo. The store has the entire line of Tamiya products (over 6,000 SKUs). The first floor and basement are stocked with static display model series (figures and mobiles that do not move), radio controlled series, mini 4WD, educational construction series, tools and paint.

Address: 6 Toryokaiji Building, 4-7-2 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (google map)
Phone:03-6809-1175
Hours: Monday – Friday 12:00 – 22:00; Saturday, Sunday and Holidays 10:00 – 18:00
Access: 5 minute walk from Shimbashi Station on the JR Yamanote or Ginza line (Karasumori exit), or 7 minute walk from Uchisaiwaicho Station on the Mita Line
Website:http://www.tamiya.com/english/e-home.htm (English)