7 Of The Best (Kid-Approved) Birthday Parties In Tokyo

Browse this list of party ideas, adaptable to fit your kiddo’s personality, age, interests, and your family’s budget.

Regardless of your child’s age, it is important to make him or her feel special on their birthday. If your kid is naturally introverted, this might mean a small intimate party with just family or close friends. For kids with more expendable energy, maybe this looks like unstructured playtime with lots of other kids to rile each other up and then wear each other out. 

A few months before the big day, you start to think about the party. You don’t want to copy the party you were invited to last month, nor do the same thing as last year. You might want an Instagram-worthy party that won’t cost an arm and a leg, or maybe the expense really doesn’t matter to you as long as it is exactly what your child wants.

First, make a list of the things you want. If your child is old enough, include them in this part of the planning process. Big party or small party? Themed or not? At home or at a play gym? Structured activity or free play? How many kids will be invited? 

Once you have your criteria, take a look at this list of party ideas to find the perfect party for your kid (and you!)

1. Keep it small and intimate

Always a classic, stick with the traditional route and invite just a few of your kid’s closest friends or family members to your house. Order in a special cake from a bakery like Bella’s Cupcakes, a few themed decorations from Daiso, and have everyone come over in the middle of the afternoon so you don’t have to worry about preparing a full meal. It’s clean, simple, and keeps the focus on the birthday kid.

Where: Bella’s Cupcakes, 2-1-6 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Cost: ¥2,300 – ¥11,400+
Contact: Order online here
Recommended for: budgeters, kids who love cake

2. Get Outside

Kids thrive in the outdoors, so why not invite some of your child’s closest friends to one of Tokyo’s immaculate natural parks, like Shinjuku Gyoen or Showa Kinen Park? Devise a couple of scavenger hunt type of games for the kids to enjoy, bring a couple balls and bubbles, and let the kids run free in an open field or climb on a playground at one of Tokyo’s mud parks. Plus there’s an added visual bonus because something is always blooming at parks like this, regardless of the time of year. Check out Hike It Baby Tokyo for lots of kid-friendly outdoor destinations in the area.

Where: Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden: 11 Naitomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo | Showa Kinen Park: 3173 Midoricho, Tachikawa, Tokyo
Cost: ¥0-¥500 per kid
Contact: None required!
Recommended for: Active kiddos, playground warriors

3. Leave the entertaining to the pros

If you like the idea of having a party at your house or a local community room, and the idea of hiring an entertainer appeals to you, look no further than Mr. Magicio, the self-proclaimed Tokyo’s Premier Children’s Party Entertainer. There is something magically simple about an in-home birthday party, and Mr. Magicio comes highly recommended among the Tokyo Mother’s Group. His show comes complete with balloon animals, a magic show, a puppet show, music and dancing, science experiments, and more. His basic party program is tailored to entertain up to 20 kids.

Where: Wherever you need him!
Cost: ¥55,000-¥125,000
Contact: Reserve online here
Recommended for: Party kids

4. Learn a little (or more)

Do you have a kid that is constantly on the go, but also thrives in small groups? Pixi Academy — a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) program that offers classes of all sorts for people of all ages, from newborns through retirement age — has party packages that are geared toward children and includes the use of its facility, an optional add-on activity like a science experiment, and optional goodie bags for each guest. Because the facility is primarily a school, parties are only accepted for weekends and national holidays. And because of the facility’s small size, they recommend groups of 10 or fewer.

Where: Pixi Academy, 2-4-15 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Cost: ¥2000/hour, optional ¥500-¥1100 per kid for additional services
Contact: Reserve online here
Recommended for: Small groups of curious kiddos

5. Let your creative juices flow

 

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If your kid is a little bit older and interested in crafts, Artbar Tokyo offers private party packages for groups of 10 or more. Think of your typical paint-and-sip party, except instead of pinot gris and cabernet, the drinks of choice are barley tea and apple juice. The package includes drinks and snacks, plus all of the materials. You are also allowed to bring in your own food if you choose. With a child price of ¥3,500 per person plus a ¥5,000 private party fee, the grand total cost of the party is certainly one of the more reasonable options.

Where: Artbar Tokyo, 7-2 Daikanyama, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Cost: ¥3,500 per kid plus ¥5,000 party fee
Contact: Reserve online here
Recommended for: Future Picassos

6. Have a bouncy birthday

 

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Trampoland is an indoor trampoline park, and two of its locations — Saitama and Tokyo Bayside — offer party packages. Packages come in three sizes (eight guests, 12 guests, and 20 guests) and include 60 minutes of jumping as well as pizza, cake, and water. Children must be over three years old to jump here, and there is a designated jumping area for kids under 110 cm. They request party reservations to be made in advance, even though the party will not have exclusive use of the facilities.

Where: Saitama: 2-46-3 Itabashi, Itabashi, Tokyo | Tokyo Bayside: 5-7-7 Hinode, Urayasu, Chiba
Cost: ¥29,500-¥68,000
Contact: Reserve online here
Recommended for: Up to 20 energetic kids age 3+

7. No budget? Go all out!

If your birthday party motto is “The bigger, the better,” and you plan to spare no expense when it comes to party planning, look no further than KSpace Tokyo located in Shirokanedai. While KSpace’s main business is school, after-school, and parent-child classes, KSpace Tokyo also offers birthday party packages that leave no stone unturned. The standard party packages — before any add-ons — can accommodate 20-25 kids and includes exclusive use of its play gym facility. You can also book photography and videography services, balloon decorations, a science magic show, face painting, glitter tattoos, and more. While website touts that KSpace will work to the budget and plan that you choose, the smallest package available starts at ¥90,000.

Where: KSpace Tokyo, 5-13-39 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Cost: ¥90,000+
Contact: Reserve online here
Recommended for: Up to 25 kids who want a birthday party they’ll never forget

Have a stellar birthday party idea that didn’t make our list? Tell us about it in the comments!