Tokyo attractions for families: zoos, aquariums and indoor venues

Compare opening hours, closure days and admission fees for Ueno Zoo and Kasai Rinkai Aquarium, with other family-friendly attractions listed by Tokyo's official tourism website.

Last checked:

  • Tokyo
  • Family
  • Rainy-day options

When visiting Tokyo with children, check opening days and costs first, as zoos and aquariums have regular closure days. This page compares official information for Ueno Zoo and Kasai Rinkai Aquarium (checked on 2026-10-28), followed by other family attractions listed on Tokyo’s official tourism website. Details not given officially, such as stroller rental and nursing rooms at each facility, are not included; ask the facility before departure. Return to the Tokyo travel guide.

Key points

  • Ueno Zoo: 9:30 to 17:00; closed Mondays; adult admission 600 yen; children in elementary school grade 6 or below free.
  • Kasai Rinkai Aquarium: 9:30 to 17:00; closed Wednesdays; adult admission 700 yen; children in elementary school grade 6 or below free.
  • Both have final admission 1 hour before closing (16:00 at Ueno and 16:00 at Kasai).

Comparing the zoo and aquarium

Item Ueno Zoo () Kasai Rinkai Aquarium ()
Opening hours 9:30 to 17:00; entry and ticket sales until 1 hour before closing; some animal areas close earlier 9:30 to 17:00; entry and ticket sales until 16:00; hours may change
Closed Mondays (if a national or substitute holiday falls on Monday, closed the following day); 29 December to 1 January Wednesdays (if a national or substitute holiday falls on Wednesday, closed the following day); 29 December to 1 January
Individual adult tickets 600 yen; visitors aged 65 and above 300 yen; junior high students living outside Tokyo 200 yen 700 yen
Free admission Elementary school grade 6 or below; junior high students living or studying in Tokyo (proof required); people with disability certificates and one companion Elementary school grade 6 or below; junior high students living or studying in Tokyo (student ID required); people with disability certificates and generally one companion
Free admission days 20 March, 4 May, 1 October; all junior high students free on 5 May; people aged 60 and above free during Respect for the Aged Week (15 to 21 September) 4 May, 1 October, 10 October
Annual pass 2,400 yen (high school students and adults); 1,200 yen for age 65 and above; sold only at the zoo ticket office 2,800 yen
  • Both pages say they may open on some otherwise closed Mondays or Wednesdays; check the official April 2026 to March 2027 opening calendars.
  • Neither page displays an update date; check the official sites again before visiting.

Other family attractions listed by Tokyo’s official tourism website

Tokyo’s official family-attractions page lists the following venues but does not give prices or opening hours. Check each facility’s official website:

Facility Highlight in official description
Ghibli Museum, Mitaka () Meet characters such as Totoro from Ghibli
Sanrio Puroland () Meet characters such as Hello Kitty
KidZania Tokyo Indoor theme park where children aged 3 to 15 try adult occupations
Ueno Onshi Park Sports grounds, shrines, a lake and zoo; enough for a full day
Hamarikyu Gardens, Arisugawa-no-miya Memorial Park Japanese gardens
Futako-Tamagawa Have bento and stroll along the Tama River; about 15 minutes by train from Shibuya
Ninja Karakuri House Experience Edo-period ninja and Sengoku warriors
Tokyo Skytree Views over Tokyo
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (Shinjuku) Free observation deck with a view of Mount Fuji
Sunshine Aquarium (Ikebukuro) An exhibit making penguins look as though they are flying through the air

For Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation deck rules, see Free observation decks in Tokyo.

Rainy-day alternatives

Official information explicitly identifies KidZania as an indoor theme park. Parks, gardens and zoos are mainly outdoors, so plans should be adjusted for rain. Ask the aquarium about the arrangement of its indoor and outdoor areas.

Planning your visit

  1. Check the day of the week first: avoid Ueno Zoo on Mondays and Kasai Rinkai Aquarium on Wednesdays.
  2. Plan only one major facility per day, with a nearby park or shopping centre as the second stop.
  3. Free-admission days are busy, so arrive earlier.

Next: Tokyo attractions by area and Choosing where to stay in Tokyo.

Sources