Are you thinking about taking your teen across the world to Japan and you’re afraid that your days will be filled with eye rolls and Wi-Fi withdrawals? We are here to tell you that going to Japan with teens can be a blast! There are PLENTY of amazing things to see and do there to make even the most unimpressed teenager crack a smile! Today we will uncover the best must-see spots and hidden gems that Tokyo has to offer.
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Unique Places to Stay
Japan offers so many unique places to stay, especially in Tokyo. Normally, we recommend that everyone try a capsule hotel at least once. However, this time, we’re skipping those cozy little coffins, so quintessentially Japanese, in favor of a couple of other hotels that work better for kids and teens.
Henn na Hotel
First up is the Henn na Hotel Tokyo Akasaka, the world’s first robot hotel! Eerily lifelike robots check you in at reception. They speak several languages, bow, blink, make hand gestures, and even make eye contact! Yes, it’s shocking and kinda freaky! In actuality, there are 8 of these Henn na Hotels located throughout Tokyo. In some locations, a dinosaur wearing a bow tie might even greet you, and yet another robot could carry your bags to your room.
Aside from the weird reception staff, this place is affordable, super clean, and close to 3 metro stations and other attractions. And don’t worry, if you need help, there ARE some human workers to take care of any issues that our robot friends cannot.
Godzilla Hotel
Technically, it’s called the Hotel Gracery Shinjuku. However, most people know it as the Godzilla Hotel, It’s easily one of the weirdest hotels in Japan! Additionally, if you’re a film buff, you’ll love how Godzilla’s head and claws loom over the outside of the building. Even better, he roars every hour on the hour. Then, as night falls, they light him up, and the whole thing looks absolutely magnificent!
Upon entering the building, you’ll have an opportunity to take a selfie with Godzilla as he stands over his destruction. After entering, you ride the elevator up to the 8th-floor reception area, where vintage Godzilla movie posters line the walls and showcase decades of his cinematic madness. Before heading to your room, step out onto the terrace where you’ll get an up-close and personal view of Godzilla’s massive head.
To make the most of your experience here, be sure to book one of the 36 rooms located on the top floor, known as The Godzilla Floor! The rooms and hallway on this floor are all decorated in Godzilla paraphernalia. Some of the rooms even have a view of Godzilla’s head outside. Even better? Stay in The Godzilla Room! This is a special themed room featuring Godzilla posters all over the wall and Godzilla claws protruding from the wall above the beds.
Fun Activities
“Mario Kart” Racing
If you have an older teen that is 18+, we HIGHLY recommend the famous “Mario Kart” street racing. Trust me, this is a must! I mean, to be in a real-life Mario Kart race in Tokyo, Japan — come ON! This is gamer heaven! Plus, it’s fun for the “older people” too! That said, since this experience requires you to be at least 18 (and have an international driver’s license), let’s turn our focus to other epic adventures that your teens can enjoy right now.
Joypolis
Located in Decks Tokyo Beach, your teens will LOVE Joypolis! Picture a 3-story indoor amusement park fused with an arcade on steroids. There are wild VR experiences, racing simulators, haunted attractions, and high-tech rides that you won’t find back home. This is the kind of place where teens can let loose and geek out, and it’s pretty affordable too. Pro Tip: Get there early. The lines get longer as the day goes on!
Game Centers (aka Arcades)
I know, you’re probably thinking, “I’m going all the way to Japan with teens, and you want us to go to an arcade?” Gaming in Japan is kind of a way of life, and it’s not just the kids that are involved. Game centers are loud and almost taken as seriously as an Olympic sport. There are claw machines EVERYWHERE around Japan with cute and sometimes weird prizes. There are rhythm games with dance pads, there are old-school Mario Kart games, and games where you duel other people with cards and strategy. It’s kind of wild. You will see business guys still in suits, people on dates, and hardcore gamers all having a blast at these centers. The kids will love it. Even for the adults, it’s definitely worth checking out. Wander through, press buttons. You’ll figure it out!
Sumo Wrestling
What could be more interesting than watching two 400-pound men in glorified diapers trying to take each other down in a ring? This isn’t just about brute strength. There is a whole tradition and ritual behind this: salt throwing, stomping, and intense stares. This is uniquely Japanese and way more dramatic than you’d think. We highly recommend it.
If you’re interested in this and the timing is right, there are 3 Sumo tournaments (called Honbasho) a year in Tokyo:
- January: (New Year Basho)
- May: (Summer Basho)
- September: (Autumn Basho)
Each tournament lasts 15 days, from day 1 through the final championship matches. Tickets can be bought here and tend to go on sale about a month or so before each tournament.
If no tournaments are happening while you are there, there is also the option of taking a Sumo Morning Practice Tour. You’ll be able to watch the wrestlers pretty darn close (maybe too close?) in sumo stables as they stretch, train, and practice their moves on each other. Afterward, you are welcome to get pictures taken with them.
Immersive Experiences
teamLab Interactive Art Museums: Planets vs Borderless
I know, I know….. museums? YAWN. Hear us out, because we don’t do ORDINARY museums. (I mean, check out our TikTok on the Disgusting Food Museum).
teamLab Planets and teamLab Borderless are both located in different sections of Tokyo. They are sensational digital art museums! We love them both and think that you and your family will also.
teamLab Planets: Walk Through Water & Light
Located in Toyosu (Central Tokyo), teamLab Planets Tokyo is an immersive, barefoot adventure where you literally wade through knee-deep water at times and interact with mesmerizing digital art installations. There are over 30 installations spread across nature themes: Water, Garden, Forest, and Open-Air. This place is awe-inspiring, and words just cannot do it justice. We think that both you and the teenagers in your life will love it. You will want to allow a minimum of 2 hours for this museum. Pro Tip: Women may want to forego skirts or dresses. Some of the exhibits here are made with mirrored floors!
- Key Features Include:
- Floating Flower Garden: A room filled with 13,000 floating orchids that move as you approach
- Infinite Crystal Universe: A spectacular array of LED lights that respond to your movements
- Water Area: Walk barefoot through shallow water with interactive projections of koi fish swimming around your feet and reacting to your steps
- Soft Black Hole: A squishy, marshmallow-like floor that challenges your balance
Tickets can be bought at teamLab Planet and are sold in 30-minute entry intervals. Alternatively, you can also purchase tickets on Klook.
teamLab Borderless: A World of Artworks with No Boundaries
TeamLab Borderless (now located in Azabudai Hills, Tokyo) has a similar feel to teamLab Planet and features over 75 digital artworks. The art here LITERALLY moves with you spilling over from one room/installation to the next. The museum is divided into 5 main sections:
- Borderless World: The largest area, where artworks seamlessly flow into one another, creating an immersive environment.
- Athletics Forest: An interactive space encouraging physical activity through digital installations.
- Future Park: A collaborative creation space designed for children and families.
- Forest of Lamps: A room filled with hanging lamps that change color in response to visitor movement.
- EN TEA HOUSE: A unique experience where digital flowers bloom in your teacup.
Some of the more notable installations include:
- Universe of Water Particles on a Rock where People Gather: A digital waterfall that reacts to visitors’ presence.
- Infinite Crystal World: An LED light installation creating the illusion of an infinite space.
- Bubble Universe: A room filled with glowing spheres that respond to touch.
So, are you wondering which one’s better — teamLab Planets or teamLab Borderless? Honestly, we think teamLab Borderless edges out Planets just a little. Even so, both are absolutely fantastic. If you can swing it, definitely see both!
Attend a Kimono Tea Ceremony
This is where Japan’s culture truly shines. Taking part in a Kimono Tea Ceremony is like stepping back into history where you get to dress the part and become one with Japanese tradition. First, ladies get to choose a beautiful, colorful kimono. It’s no joke getting into one of these, and luckily they help you with it. In addition, women will also be offered complimentary simple hairstyling to complement the kimono and enhance the traditional Japanese look. Men get kimonos too; however, as tradition dictates, theirs are slightly more understated compared to the women’s.
Once you look the part, you are taught how to prepare matcha green tea, the traditional way, right in a formal room. Next, you’ll take part in an actual tea ceremony — methodically, intentionally, and with a calm sense of ritual. You will learn that EVERY movement in this ceremony has a meaning behind it from how the tea is scooped to how it is served. And please, no chugging here. This is a sensory experience. It’s almost meditative. AND it’s an experience to remember with some great photo ops as well!
There is nothing quite like Japan for getting your teen out of his/her bubble. And we barely scratched the surface of what this city has to offer. So, prep for sensory overload and get ready to make memories that will have your family talking about Japan LONG after the trip’s over.
P.S. More Japanese goodness is coming soon!
If you loved this peek into Japan with teens, you’re definitely going to want to stick around. My daughter’s putting together her own post featuring unique day trips from Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. You won’t want to miss it, so stay tuned.
Additionally, if you’re looking for other trips to bring your kids on that are within the United States, check out our post on One of the Best Trips in the U.S. for an Unconventional Vacation!
