Ueno Park

A manageable art museum beside the zoo, useful when one parent wants culture and the kids only have an hour of patience.

Dinosaurs are the hook, but there is enough space, nature and Japanese science here to keep curious kids busy for hours.

An inexpensive full zoo day with elephants, giraffes and hippos, right in a park with several other easy family stops.

The samurai armor and swords are the easiest entry point for kids, and the huge grounds mean you can keep the visit flexible.

One of the more practical Ueno options for families, with apartment-style rooms and bunk-bed layouts that are actually designed around groups.

Apartment style rooms with kitchens and real dining tables make this much easier when everyone is tired of eating out.