Senso-ji + Nakamise 浅草寺・仲見世
Tokyo's oldest temple, iconic Kaminarimon Gate, and the Nakamise approach lined with taiyaki and ningyoyaki stalls. Grounds open 24h; main hall ~6:30–17:00 (Oct–Mar). Free.
The classic first-morning anchor in Asakusa.
HOLIDAY 2026 · DEC 26–31
Tokyo City Guide
Six days in the city for a family of four — science museums, digital art, ramen queues, night alleys, and a New Year's Eve departure. Every claim sourced.
FACTS in normal text. SPECULATION in italics. Prices are indicative late-2026 estimates — confirm at booking.
Zeus · Sep 2026 · Internal
Section 01
Trip Context & Hotels
Confirmed: Beijing → Tokyo Sat Dec 26, 2026. Tokyo days Dec 26–31, then direct home Dec 31 (ZIPAIR NRT ~S$942 researched fare). Base: a Hyatt.
Tokyo days
6
Dec 26 arrival → Dec 31 evening flight
Late-Dec weather
5–12°C
dry winter; layers + coats
Currency
¥100 ≈ S$0.95
≈1:1 for quick mental math
Kids
9 & 13
science/tech-interested; P3 & Sec1
Hyatt picks (family of 4, one room where possible)
Pick 1 · Best family value
Hyatt Regency Tokyo (Shinjuku) — recommended base
33m² twin rooms with sofa bed genuinely fit a family of four in one room — rare in Tokyo. Directly connected to Tochomae Station, ~10-min walk from Shinjuku Station. Airport Limousine Bus stops at the hotel (~120 min from Narita).
Late Dec ~US$313–341/night (~¥45,000–50,000) — January is its cheapest month, so late December runs higher; book early.
Sources: Hyatt · Kayak · Booking.com · Airport Limousine Bus
Pick 2 · Best location + comfort
Grand Hyatt Tokyo (Roppongi Hills)
Inside the Roppongi Hills complex, 3-min walk from Roppongi Station (Hibiya/Oedo lines). Mall dining and cinema on-site; kids' menus at nearby Roppongi Hills restaurants. Late-Dec rates ~¥90,000–130,000/night — a big step up in price.
Sources: Hyatt · Kayak · Roppongi Hills kids dining
Pick 3 · The splurge icon
Park Hyatt Tokyo (Shinjuku) — reopened after 19-month restoration
Reopened Dec 2025 after 19 months of renovation; 171 rooms incl. 29 suites; New York Grill with 360° views and live jazz. December is its most expensive month (~US$1,758/night avg) — better as a treat night than a family base.
Sources: Hyatt newsroom · Kayak
Booking warning: late December (21–31) carries Christmas/year-end premiums and Shinjuku/Shibuya/Ginza hotels sell out first — book now. Hyatt Centric Ginza was skipped: year-end rates commonly start at ¥100,000/night. Sources: Self Guide Japan · r/JapanTravelTips
Section 02
Critical Planning Flags
These change what you book and which day gets what. Read before anything else.
Critical
Critical
teamLab tickets are online-only, not sold on-site. Planets runs through end-2027; Dec 2026 tickets went on sale late-Sept 2026 — book now if not already done. Dynamic pricing. teamLab Planets · Borderless
Heads-up
Gundam statue removed (display concluded Aug 31, 2026) — The Gundam Base Tokyo store inside DiverCity stays open as the flagship Gunpla destination. Gundam Base · TechTimes
Heads-up
Ghibli Museum is advance-only, no walk-ins — tickets drop on the 10th of the prior month; early-close/winter closure risk ~Dec 26 and year-end. If you can't get tickets, use Inokashira Park/Kichijoji instead. Tickets
Heads-up
Year-end closures hit many museums Dec 29–Jan 1 (some from Dec 28) — prioritize science/tech museums Dec 26–28; shrine/temple and teamLab venues stay open. Senso-ji grounds open 24h. Kahaku hours
Heads-up
Keyakizaka lights END Dec 25 — after Christmas, evening illuminations shift to Yebisu (to ~early March), Marunouchi (to mid-Feb), and Midtown. Marunouchi · Yebisu
Good news
Shibuya Sky closes Jan 1 only — open all Dec 26–30; timed-entry, sunset slots sell out first. Go Tokyo · KKday guide
Good news
Depachika runs by Dec 30 — department stores close Dec 31–Jan 1+; do food-hall grazing before New Year. Fun Japan
Good news
NYE departure Dec 31 — final morning plan + Narita logistics in Section 7; Hatsumode/Joya-no-Kane only if you extend a night. teamLab
Section 03
Day-by-Day — Dec 26 to 31
Two options per day. Pick one column, or mix-and-match blocks between them — every block is standalone.
Sat Dec 26 — Arrival + first eveningAsakusa · Skytree
Option A
Tokyo Skytree 東京スカイツリー
634m tower; Tembo Deck 350m with optional Galleria 450m glass-floor walk; clear-day Mt Fuji views; Solamachi mall below. Hours ~10:00–22:00. Deck ≈ ¥2,100 advance; +Galleria combo ≈ ¥3,100.
Do the tower while legs are fresh — the mall underneath handles lunch and warming up.
Sushi-making class (interactive) 寿司教室
English family sushi class — e.g. Homecoming TAKA (kids 7–12 ¥9,500) or group classes from ~¥3,000/kid. Reserve ahead.
Eat what you make; the 9-year-old's souvenir is the skill.
Option B
Kappabashi Kitchen Street 合羽橋
Kitchen town: hundreds of shopfronts of sample-food and cooking gear. Kids love the fake-food displays. Free to browse.
A quick, quirky Asakusa-adjacent walk with zero ticket needed.
Skytree at golden hour
Same tower, sunset-entry tickets — city lights come up while you're on the deck.
The evening alternative if the morning got eaten by the flight.
Sun Dec 27 — Miraikan dayOdaiba · science
Option A
Miraikan — National Museum of Emerging Science 日本科学未来館
ASIMO robots, live geo-cosmos globe, space-station module walk-through; very interactive and kid-centric. Open 10:00–17:00. ¥630 adult / ¥210 ages 18 & under; +Dome combo ¥940/¥310.
Open ONLY Dec 25–27 in your window (closed Dec 28–Jan 1 + Tuesdays) — today is the day.
Odaiba seaside + Rainbow Bridge お台場海浜公園
Free bayside promenade with Rainbow Bridge views; light-up at dusk.
The zero-cost walk between museum and malls.
Joypolis + Gundam Base ジョイポリス・ガンダムベース
Indoor digital amusement park (20+ VR/thrill rides; 1-Day Pass adult ¥5,800 / kids ¥4,800) and Bandai's flagship Gunpla store at DiverCity 7F (statue gone, store open).
Indoor warmth, high kid-appeal — the 13-year-old's territory.
Option B
National Museum of Nature and Science 国立科学博物館
Dinosaurs, a full 1:1 blue-whale skeleton, robotics halls. Open 9:00–17:00, closed Mondays. ¥620 adult; high-school and younger FREE.
Ueno's backup science museum — kids free makes it an easy call.
Ueno Park + Ameya Yokocho 上野公園・アメ横
Park stroll plus the postwar market street for snacks.
Snack-grazing and people-watching between museums.
teamLab Planets / Borderless evening
Booked timed-entry slot for the digital-art museums (online-only tickets; dynamic pricing; Planets runs through end-2027).
Evening slot at Planets = barefoot warm-water walk after a cold day.
Mon Dec 28 — teamLab Borderless + RoppongiAzabudai · lights
Option A
teamLab Borderless, Azabudai Hills 麻布台ヒルズ
The largest digital-art venue (opened 2024, 4M+ visitors); artworks without boundaries, Sketch Factory for kids' drawings. Hours ~9/10:00–21:00. Adult ¥3,600–5,600 dynamic (+¥200 on-site); kids 4–12 ¥1,500.
The other must-do digital museum — pair it with the evening lights nearby.
Azabudai Hills + Tokyo Tower views 麻布台ヒルズ・東京タワー
New central district with free viewing areas; Japan's tallest skyscraper on-site.
Free skyline fix between venues.
Tokyo Midtown Christmas lights ミッドタウン
Garden light show through late Dec (Keyakizaka ended Dec 25 — this is the Roppongi-area replacement).
The after-Christmas illumination swap.
Option B
Calligraphy / tea-ceremony workshop 書道・茶道
rie.Tokyo family workshop (Hiroo): calligraphy + origami + yukata; kids ~¥4,000, adults ¥10,000. Or tea ceremony from ~¥3,500. Reserve ahead.
Take-home art + culture in one session.
Ginza afternoon 銀座
Flagship stores; Ginza Kagari (Michelin-listed chicken-paitan ramen) for lunch.
Low-effort afternoon with a famous-ramen lunch built in.
Tue Dec 29 — Shibuya + lightsShibuya · skyline
Option A
Shibuya Sky 渋谷スカイ
Open-air 229m roof deck over the scramble crossing; 360° skyline, Mt Fuji on clear days. Open Dec 26–30 (closes Jan 1). 10:00–22:30. Daylight ≈ ¥2,700 / after-15:00 ≈ ¥3,400.
The skyline must-do; sunset slots sell out first.
Shibuya Scramble + coffee 渋谷スクランブル
World's busiest crossing photo moment; then %Arabica / About Life Coffee / Onibus espresso bars near the station.
Icon + caffeine in one stop.
Yebisu Garden Place illumination 恵比寿ガーデンプレイス
Baccarat chandelier + Christmas tree + winter market; runs to ~early March 2027.
The post-Christmas lights pick — runs months longer than Keyakizaka.
Option B
Meiji Shrine + Harajuku 明治神宮・原宿
Forest shrine next to Takeshita Street's quirky shopping.
Culture then candy — the classic pairing.
National Museum of Nature and Science (backup) 国立科学博物館
If not done Dec 27 — closed Mondays, open Tuesdays; high-school and younger free.
The 9-year-old's science backup with zero ticket cost.
Marunouchi Illumination 丸の内イルミネーション
Champagne-gold lights along Nakadori from Tokyo Station to the Palace; runs to ~mid-Feb 2027. Free.
Evening show that costs nothing.
Wed Dec 30 — Tsukiji + Ginza + last nightGinza · food halls
Option A
Tsukiji Outer Market breakfast 築地場外市場
460+ stalls of street food, knives, souvenirs; fresh sushi breakfast. ~5AM–2PM. Note: closed some Wed/Sun — the market's official calendar governs; check Dec 30 (a Wednesday) before committing.
The food highlight of the trip — go early, eat everything.
Ginza + depachika run 銀座・デパ地下
Flagship stores; Isetan-style depachika food halls for picnic supplies and gifts. Department stores close Dec 31–Jan 1 — today is the last full day.
Last-day gift-and-picnic logistics.
Marunouchi / Nihonbashi lights finale 丸の内・日本橋
Champagne-gold Nakadori lights + Nihonbashi displays run into Feb.
The final-night show.
Option B
Ghibli Museum (if tickets secured) 三鷹の森ジブリ美術館
Advance-only (10th-of-prior-month drop); winter/year-end closure risk — confirm the official calendar; ¥1,000 adult / ¥700 ages 13–18 / ¥400 ages 4–12.
Only if the lottery gods smiled.
Akihabara 秋葉原
Electronics + anime/maid-café hub; arcades, gachapon, model shops.
The 13-year-old's heaven.
Thu Dec 31 — Departure dayNarita · NYE logistics
Final morning
Final morning near hotel
Pack, check out, luggage forwarding to the airport is a common hotel service — ask the concierge the night before. If time allows: a local shrine visit for New Year prep (many shops/museums close Dec 31–Jan 2).
Keep it light — airport math first.
Narita Express from Shinjuku 成田エクスプレス
N'EX Shinjuku → Narita ~80–90 min; Airport Limousine Bus also serves Hyatt Regency Tokyo directly (~120 min).
The two airport legs, pick per luggage volume.
ZIPAIR NRT → SIN evening
The researched direct fare was ~S$942 (researched Sep 2026); check-in ~3h before an international departure.
The way home on New Year's Eve.
Section 04
Attractions Deep-Dive
Everything in one priced table, plus booking lead-times. Prices in ¥; ≈S$1 = ¥100.
| Venue | Adult | Kids | Hours | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| teamLab Planets (Toyosu) | ≈¥3,800+ dynamic | 13–17 ¥2,800 · 4–12 ¥1,500 | ~10:00–22:00 timed entry | Online-only |
| teamLab Borderless (Azabudai) | ¥3,600–5,600 dynamic | 13–17 ¥2,800 · 4–12 ¥1,500 | ~9/10:00–21:00 | Online, can sell out |
| Miraikan (Odaiba) | ¥630 | ¥210 (18 & under) | 10:00–17:00 · open only Dec 25–27 | Miraikan |
| Nature & Science Museum (Ueno) | ¥620 | free (HS & younger) | 9:00–17:00 · closed Mondays | Kahaku |
| Shibuya Sky | ¥2,700 day · ¥3,400 after 15:00 | varies by slot | 10:00–22:30 · last 21:20 | Go Tokyo |
| Tokyo Skytree | ≈¥2,100 deck · ¥3,100 combo | varies | 10:00–22:00 | Skytree |
| Joypolis (Odaiba) | ¥5,800 1-Day | ¥4,800 | ~10:00–22:00 | Joypolis |
| Gundam Base Tokyo | free entry | kits ~¥1,000+ | ~10:00–21:00 | Gundam Base |
| Ghibli Museum | ¥1,000 | ¥700 13–18 · ¥400 4–12 | 10:00–18:00 timed | Advance-only |
| Sushi class | ~¥3,000–10,000 | kids ~¥9,500 (TAKA) | ~2h | Japan for Kids |
| Calligraphy / tea | ~¥3,500–10,000 | kids ~¥4,000 | ~2h | Travel Japan Kids |
| Illuminations (Yebisu / Marunouchi / Midtown) | free | free | evenings | none |
Booked-out risk ranked: Ghibli (highest) > teamLab Dec tickets > Shibuya Sky sunset > Skytree golden hour > workshops.
Section 05
Food — By Neighborhood
Long-queue local favorites, night alleys, street food, and where the queues move. From the researched food file (101 source URLs).
SHINJUKU — base neighborhood
Fuunji 風雲児
Queue 45–90 min
Rich chicken-seafood tsukemen ~¥1,000–1,200. Shortest right at 11:00 open, ~14:00, or 17:00 reopen; closed 15:00–17:00 gap; cash only.
Sobahouse Konjiki Hototogisu
Michelin-quality
Clam/seafood broth ramen from ~¥900–1,000; only 7 counter seats + small tables; expect ~30-min queue; English menu.
Shinjuku Kappo Nakajima
¥800 Michelin lunch
Legendary budget Michelin: lunch teishoku ~¥800; dinner full kaiseki.
Omoide Yokocho 思い出横丁
Night alley · before 8pm with kids
Cramped postwar yakitori alleys by Shinjuku west exit; ~60 tiny joints, ¥2,000–3,000/person, cash only, open ~4pm–midnight. Go 5–7pm — a food spectacle; after 9pm it's drunk-salaryman territory.
Golden Gai
Adults-only nightcap
200+ 6-seat bars; tourist-friendly but most open ~8pm+, cash-only, cover ¥500–1,500, no-photo rules — skip with kids.
Isetan Shinjuku depachika B1
Food hall · by Dec 30
Tokyo's most opulent basement food hall — jamón ibérico legs, caviar samples, gorgeous bento; rainy-day grazing and picnic-supply stop. Dept stores close Dec 31–Jan 1 — come by Dec 30.
Ichiran 一蘭 (Shibuya)
Queue 15–30 min
Solo-booth tonkotsu ramen; base ~¥980; 10% late-night surcharge 22:00–06:00; kids love the sliding-blind gimmick; booths move lines fast.
Gyukatsu Motomura (Shibuya)
Queue 45–60 min
Deep-fried rare beef cutlet you sear yourself on a mini grill; ~¥2,000–3,000; arrive 30–60 min before opening; no sharing (each person orders a set).
Uobei 魚べい (Dogenzaka)
Sushi bullet-train
Touch-screen ordering, plates by rail, 2 pieces ¥130–280, most plates under ¥500. (Genki Sushi Shibuya has permanently closed — Uobei is the same group.)
Ikinari Steak (Shibuya Center-gai)
Fun + cheap wagyu-ish
Order by the gram: 200g from ~¥1,320–1,800; Center-gai branch has seating (many branches standing-only).
Shibuya Yokocho (Miyashita Park)
Family-friendly before 8pm
19 regional-food counters in one covered alley on Level 1 of Rayard Miyashita Park; open until ~5am Mon–Sat, ~11pm Sun; lively but organized — the best yokocho for kids.
Takeshita Street snacks (Harajuku)
Street food for the teen
Marion Crepes ¥400–700; Totti Candy Factory giant rainbow cotton candy; Time Out's Harajuku snack list for candy apples etc.
Kura Sushi / Sushiro
Kids' kaiten catnip
Kura: plates from ¥115–150 + free gacha toy per 5 plates; Sushiro: from ¥115/plate with half-size kids' portions.
ASAKUSA / UENO / TSUKIJI-adjacent — with kids
Sometaro (1937 okonomiyaki)
DIY-grill
1937-vintage okonomiyaki joint where you cook at the table; kids adore the DIY aspect.
Ameya Yokocho アメ横
Market street
Postwar market street with street food stalls — kebabs, fruit candy, fresh seafood bites.
Tsukiji Outer Market
Early breakfast
460+ stalls; fresh sushi breakfast ¥1,500–4,000; ~5AM–2PM; closed some Wed/Sun — check the official calendar for Wed Dec 30.
Pokemon Cafe (Nihonbashi)
Reservation-only
Opens bookings exactly 1 month ahead — book Nov 26–Dec 1 for a late-Dec visit.
Monjayaki in Tsukishima
Unique Tokyo dish
Monja alleys in Tsukishima — the DIY griddle pancake Tokyo specialty.
GINZA — flagship + food halls
Ginza Kagari
Michelin-listed ramen
Chicken-paitan ramen; lunch queues inevitable but fast-moving.
Ginza depachika
Food halls
Mitsukoshi/Ginza Six B1 halls for picnic supplies; dept stores close Dec 31–Jan 1.
Ikinari Steak (Ginza branch)
By-the-gram steak
Same standing-steakhouse concept; check the branch has seating for kids.
ROPPONGI / ODAIBA / AZABUDAI
%Arabica Azabudai Hills
Coffee pilgrimage
B1 + 4F at Garden Plaza — the flat-white stop right at teamLab Borderless.
Azabudai Hills food court + market
New-district dining
Azabudai Hills Market's food court and stalls — easy family meal near Borderless.
Joypolis Cafe & Odaiba malls
Mall dining
DECKS/DiverCity/Aqua City courts — the zero-effort warm meal between rides.
Shibuya %Arabica (backup)
Espresso bar
Walk-up %Arabica espresso; About Life Coffee / Onibus as alternates near Shibuya Station.
Section 06
Cafes + Unique Finds
Coffee pilgrimage, depachika, konbini, and the Christmas strawberry cake tradition.
%Arabica
Coffee pilgrimage
Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza (B1+4F) — right at teamLab Borderless. Also Shibuya/Daikanyama branches.
Blue Bottle Coffee
Flagship roastery
Kiyosumi flagship — the minimalist pilgrimage; multiple Tokyo branches including Shinjuku.
Koffee Mameya (Omotesando)
Coffee geeks
Omotesando's coffee-geek pilgrimage; espresso from ¥380+.
Depachika
Mitsukoshi/Ginza Six/Isetan B1 food halls — the gourmet picnic-supply play; closes Dec 31–Jan 1.
Konbini breakfast
7-Eleven/FamilyMart onigiri + hot snacks — the zero-friction breakfast between early starts.
Christmas strawberry cake
Christmas-cake tradition at depachika/bakeries — if the 26th hasn't fully cleared them out.
Section 07
Maps
Key reference images captured during research. Click any image for the live map.
Tokyo Metro official network map — capture from research (source: Tokyo Metro).
Google Maps capture: central Tokyo cluster of the guide's stops (source: Google Maps).
ZIPAIR NRT→SIN Dec 31 researched fare (~S$942) — captured Sep 2026 from the ZIPAIR booking flow (source: ZIPAIR).
Section 08
Practical — Transit, Money, Year-End Logistics
Suica/Pasmo, child pricing, tax-free, and the year-end closure calendar that governs the last week of Dec.
| Item | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Suica / Pasmo | IC cards work on all rail/metro/bus; buy at any station machine or add to Apple Wallet. | JR East |
| Child transit pricing | Children 6–11 get ~half fare; 12+ full fare. IC child cards available. | JR East | Passport + min spend ¥5,000 at licensed tax-free counters; new Nov 2026 rule change tightening verification. | Skytree tax note |
| Year-end closures | Museums from Dec 29 (some Dec 28); dept stores Dec 31–Jan 1+; teamLab/shrines stay open; Senso-ji grounds 24h. | Kahaku |
| Tsukiji calendar | Closed some Wed/Sun — Wed Dec 30 is a check-first day. | MOFA |
Booking checklist (by lead time): 1) Ghibli — 10th-of-prior-month ticket drop (highest risk). 2) teamLab Planets Dec tickets — went on sale late-Sept. 3) 2–3 weeks ahead: Borderless, Shibuya Sky sunset, Skytree golden hour, sushi/calligraphy workshops, Joypolis. 4) Confirm Miraikan window Dec 25–27 (Dec 27 chosen) + verify Tsukiji Wed/Sun calendar.
Section 09
Sources
Every claim in this guide links to its source inline. A consolidated list:
teamLab Planets
teamLab Borderless
Miraikan
Miraikan booking
Kahaku (Nature & Science)
Go Tokyo — Shibuya Sky
KKday — Shibuya Sky
Tokyo Skytree
Joypolis
Gundam Base Tokyo
Ghibli Museum
Japan Guide — Senso-ji
Japan Guide — Tsukiji
Japan Guide — illuminations
Go Tokyo — Odaiba
Yurikamome
Tsukiji calendar
Go Tokyo winter guide
Tokyo Cheapo — Marunouchi
Tokyo Cheapo — Yebisu
Tokyo Cheapo — Roppongi Hills
Hyatt Regency Tokyo
Kayak — Hyatt Regency
Booking — Hyatt Regency
Airport Limousine Bus
Park Hyatt reopening
Kayak — Park Hyatt
Kayak — Grand Hyatt
Grand Hyatt Tokyo
Roppongi Hills kids dining
Self Guide Japan hotel prices
Self Guide Japan — Omoide Yokocho
Japan Experience — Omoide Yokocho
Japan Bites — Fuunji
Ramen Adventures — Fuunji
Time Out — Konjiki Hototogisu
Truly Tokyo — Nakajima
Tokyo Cheapo — Golden Gai
Time Out — depachika
Fun Japan — year-end closures
Ichiran Shibuya
TripAdvisor — Gyukatsu Motomura
TableCheck — Motomura
LIVE JAPAN — Uobei
Japan Travel — Ginza Kagari
%Arabica
Bon Traveler — Tokyo coffee
Japan for Kids — sushi classes
Travel Japan Kids — workshops
100 Days Away — sushi class
Glos Travel — kaiten sushi
Japan for Kids — kaiten
ZIPAIR
JR East N'EX
MOFA Japan
r/JapanTravelTips
TechTimes — Gundam statue
Tokyo Cheapo — Takeshita
Time Out — Harajuku snacks
Navitime — Shibuya Yokocho
The Ondo — Uobei
Stars & Stripes
Kanko Map
Truly Tokyo — Ichiran
Truly Tokyo — Kahaku
Tokyo Cheapo — Planets
Tokyo Cheapo — Borderless
Tokyo Cheapo — calligraphy
Tokyo Cheapo — Skytree
A few ticketing/review sites return 403 to automated requests but serve content in a normal browser. Prices are indicative late-2026 estimates — confirm at booking.