One day in Tokyo with kids

We%26#39;ll be stopping over in Tokyo for 2 nights in July with kids aged 8 and 10 yrs. We need advise on which part of Tokyo to stay in, recommendations on a reasonably priced hotel (C$100-150) for the 4 of us, and on what to see and do on our ONE DAY there! I know very little about Tokyo, and need all the help I can get! I just want to give the kids (and I guess the adults, too) a glimpse of Tokyo and experience a bit of the culture. Thanks in advance!

One day in Tokyo with kids

We%26#39;re looking for a western-style hotel, not a traditional Japanese ryokan...

One day in Tokyo with kids

Shinjuku would be a good option. Easy access to/from Narita.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html

http://www.tokyoessentials.com/

If you stay in Shinjuku, then you could easily visit the Meiji shrine and then walk along the youth-oriented Takeshita-dōri. Your kids will like the Daiso (100 yen store) and Kiddyland (toy store), which is nearby. Best day to go in Sunday but also very crowded.

I also think Sensoji Temple in Asakusa is pretty interesting for kids -- for 100 yen they can get their fortune (in English) and there are lots of snack and souvenir stores in the vicinity. It%26#39;s fun just to sample the sweets and crackers.

Thanks, everyone, for your input! Does anyone know what Kadoya Hotel is close to that we could walk to or take the train/bus to? Are any of the places foodie6 mentioned within walking distance of the hotel?

Neither location is within walking distance but your hotel is very close to the Shinjuku train station where you can easily get a train (JR Yamanote Line) to Harajuku -- it%26#39;s just a couple of stops.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3006.html

Sensoji Temple is in Asakusa. From Shinjuku Station, take the JR Chuo Line to Kanda Station and transfer to the Ginza Subway Line for Asakusa -- about 20 minutes.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3001.html

According to the hotel web site, it is ';steps away from Shinjuku Station%26#39;s West Exit.'; You can get just about anywhere from Shinjuku Station.

My wife and I spent four months in Tokyo with our 10-year old daughter. The advice you%26#39;ve gotten about the Meji Shrine, Asakusa, Harajuku, etc is good. The Meji Shrine and Asakusa are very different. The Meji Shrine is more like a stroll in the woods; Asakusa on a Saturday is packed with thousands of people.

The Shinjuku area is a good one to stay, but two things:

1) The Tokyo Metropolitan Government building is right there and you can take an elevator (free) to the top floor. The view is jaw-dropping. (I don%26#39;t know why anyone takes kids to the Tokyo Tower -- it costs money and it is not nearly as high up.) I%26#39;d make this my first stop with the kids.

There is also a Tokyo Tourist info office on the Ground floor of the building. This is a great resource.

2) The Shinjuku Subway stop is huge. By that I mean that different exits to street level are often very far apart. If you have two kids in tow, make sure that you have a clear sense of exactly which exit you want. The exits are numbered A4, E6, D1 etc. It%26#39;s easy to figure out, but you need to know where you want to come out to street level.

thanks again, everyone, for all your great ideas and suggestions!

What Dave 148 said was true!

conceive any advice