Shibuya is one of the most visited cities by foreign tourists in Japan. Especially the Shibuya Scramble Crossing and the Hachiko Statue are famous tourist attractions.
The Scramble Crossing is an intersection where all vehicles are stopped, allowing pedestrians to cross freely in any direction. It's called the world's busiest intersection, with about 3,000 people crossing during a single green light. The Hachiko Statue is of a dog that continued to wait for his owner at Shibuya Station, and is now a popular meeting spot.
Shibuya is known as the source of Japanese youth culture, but it's also a city of art and music with art galleries and live house clubs. Recently, it's also popular as the setting for the anime "Jujutsu Kaisen". As it's a city visited by many Japanese and foreigners, there are of course plenty of restaurants.
Shibuya, which is constantly undergoing redevelopment and changing, can be enjoyed by a wide range of people from young to old. This time, I, as a parent with children, will introduce family-friendly restaurants around Shibuya that children can also enjoy!
Restaurant where you can experience fishing
Zauo
Source: Tabelog
Zauo is a unique izakaya where you can fish for your own fish or shellfish in the indoor fishing pond, have it cooked to your liking, and eat it.
It's recommended for those with small children as even young kids can easily catch fish. It's also exciting for adults alone, and there's an English menu available, so you can feel at ease.
At Zauo, having the fish you caught cooked is cheaper than ordering from the regular menu. If you can't catch anything, it's good to ask the staff for tips. Since you can't release the fish you catch, consider which fish to catch. I recommend trying the sea bream sashimi or fried horse mackerel.
Course menus require reservations and are available for groups of two or more. For those who want to enjoy fishing, the "Fish Shabu Course" with many fishing tickets is recommended. Also, on weekends and holidays, there's a limited reservation experience where children can make their own sushi, which is fun and recommended!
As a note, strollers need to be carried down to the basement floor restaurant, and it's better to wear clothes that can get a bit dirty as water might splash. There's a 2-hour time limit. It's relatively less crowded after 7 PM or on weekday afternoons.
<Information>
- Address: B1F Highman-ten Jinnan Building, 1-19-3 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Closed: New Year's holidays
- Phone: 03-6427-0207
- Business Hours: Weekdays 17:00-23:00 [L.O.22:00, Drink L.O.22:30], Weekends and Holidays 11:30-15:00 [L.O.14:30] 16:00-23:00 [L.O.22:00, Drink L.O.22:30]
- Official Website: https://www.zauo.com/
- Reservations: Available
- Payment Methods: Cards accepted (VISA, Master, JCB, AMEX, Diners), QR code payment available (PayPay), Electronic money not accepted
Karaoke Restaurant where running around is OK!
Karaoke is an entertainment originating from Japan where you can enjoy singing songs in private rooms. In Japan, it's loved by a wide range of ages from children to the elderly, and can be found in busy areas and in front of stations, making it easy to enter.
Points recommended for families with children include: soundproof facilities so children can sing loudly or make noise without disturbing others, spacious private rooms where children can run around freely, and the ability to eat light meals and drinks in the private room. Some locations also offer toys for children and DVD player rentals, ensuring they can enjoy without getting bored.
While meals at general karaoke rooms may not be expected to be great, recently there are places known for good food and drinks. This time, we'll introduce karaoke restaurants that both adults and children can enjoy.
MODIS Shibuya
Source: Official Website
This restaurant, perfect for special occasions, is also ideal for families with children. The soundproof private rooms mean it's okay if children make noise. While many karaoke shops generally prohibit bringing in food and drinks, here it's allowed, so you can bring what your children like. DVD & Blu-ray players can be borrowed for free, so you can prepare something for the children to keep them entertained.
While there's no kids' menu, the "Premium Petit Honey Toast" can be shared with children. It's delicious with honey and ice cream on top of half a loaf of bread baked with butter!
Reservations are recommended for rooms and lunch or dinner course meals. The "Seasonal Dinner Course with Dual Mains of Meat & Fish" available only after 6 PM on weekdays is perfect for special days like birthdays. It comes with a cake, is delicious, and the portions are large, leaving you very satisfied.
<Information>
- Address: B1F Humax Pavilion Shibuya Koen-dori, 20-15 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Closed: None
- Phone: 0120-926-428
- Business Hours: Mon-Fri & Day before holidays 11:00-7:00 next day, Sat/Sun/Holidays 10:00-7:00 next day, 24-hour operation with advance reservation
- Official Website: https://www.modis-premium.jp/shibuya/
- Reservations: Available
- Payment Methods: Cards accepted, Electronic money accepted
Karaoke PASELA
Source: Official Website
Karaoke PASELA Shibuya Branch, an affiliate of MODIS, is popular as a private room restaurant where families with children can have fun.
Points recommended for families with children include: baby food can be brought in and there's a kids menu, children's tableware, chairs, aprons, and hot water for making baby milk are available. There's also a nursing room and diaper changing space, with free diapers and wipes. Moreover, there are many ways for children to enjoy themselves, such as connecting smartphones to the TV screen to watch YouTube, borrowing portable DVD players for free to watch DVDs brought in, playing with toys that are lent out, and relaxing by taking off shoes and lying down.
The recommended menu item is "Honey Toast", which is generous in volume and has the perfect level of sweetness. Also, the Afternoon Tea Set, which comes with hors d'oeuvres, sweets, and honey toast, is easy to eat even while taking care of active children.
Online reservations allow for coupon use, so advance reservations are recommended. Please note that food service may be delayed during busy times.
<Information>
- Address: 1F PASELA RESORTS Shibuya, 1-22-9 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Closed: None
- Phone: 0120-428-875
- Business Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00-5:00 next morning, Sat/Sun/Holidays 9:30-5:00 next morning, Day before holidays 9:30-7:00 next morning
- Official Website: https://www.pasela.co.jp/shop/shibuya/room.html
- Reservations: Available
- Payment Methods: Cash / Credit Cards (Visa, MasterCard, JCB, AMEX) / Various electronic money
Beruberu Park 36
Source: Official Website
Beruberu-park-36, located a 4-minute walk from Shibuya Station, is ideal for families with children aged 0 to 2 years. It's an integrated kids park and restaurant where both small children and adults can have fun.
In addition to a well-equipped playground with slides, ride-on toys, and blocks, it allows bringing in baby food and has a microwave for warming baby food, a water server, a nursing room, and a diaper changing corner.
A nice point is that up to two elementary school children or younger are free per adult.
The dining area at Beruberu-park-36 consists of private rooms with karaoke, allowing you to relax without worrying about other people's eyes. As an affiliate of Karaoke PASELA, the food is delicious, and you can also enjoy "Honey Toast"!
In the karaoke rooms, you can also project your smartphone screen to watch YouTube or other preferred videos, making mealtime enjoyable.
With all-you-can-drink soft drinks and all-you-can-eat popcorn and ice cream, adults can relax too.
Children 3 years and older can also use the facility together, but note that they can't use the play equipment in the kids space as it's targeted at smaller children.
<Information>
- Address: 2F PASELA RESORTS Shibuya, 1-22-9 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Closed: None
- Phone: 0120-428-875
- Business Hours: 10:00-17:00
- Official Website: https://www.pasela.co.jp/shoplist/news/shibuya/beruberu36-shibuya/
- Reservations: Available
Character-themed Cafes & Restaurants
You're probably familiar with the world-famous "Disney" known for Mickey Mouse, but do you know "Sanrio", the Japanese original character brand that's also popular?
Sanrio has many adorable characters like Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, and Pompompurin, and their character theme park "Sanrio Puroland" is also popular.
In Shibuya, there are cafes and restaurants themed around Disney and Sanrio, which are perfect for enjoying casually. These are places that fans of the characters and their worlds should definitely visit.
From here, we'll explain the features and recommended points of each store!
Disney HARVEST MARKET
Source: Official Website
A must-visit for Disney fans! There's a cafe recreating Disney World on the 7th floor of Shibuya Hikarie, directly connected to Shibuya Station. You can take photos with the large Mickey Mouse in the center and enjoy cute dishes modeled after characters.
Points recommended for families with children include a spacious interior with semi-private rooms for a relaxed experience. There are kids' menus, children's chairs, and tableware, and hidden Mickeys in the store are fun to search for.
This cafe offers Disney's unique healthy dishes that are "600 kcal or less" and "2.5g or less salt". The recommended dish is the teriyaki chicken plate, which has plenty of vegetables and deliciously tender meat!
You can enter if there's availability on the day, but advance reservations through the official website are recommended. Reservations are only for private rooms, where you can choose designs like Minnie or Donald, but there's an additional fee for private rooms. There's a 90-minute time limit.
The portions are modest and prices are slightly high, but the taste is good and you can enjoy your meal more leisurely than at Disneyland. It's a place Disney fans should definitely visit.
<Information>
- Address: 7F Shibuya Hikarie, 2-21-1 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Closed: None
- Phone: 050-3733-5055
- Business Hours: Mon-Fri 11:00 - 20:00 (L.O. 19:00), Sat/Sun/Holidays 11:00 - 21:00 (L.O. 20:00)
- Official Website: https://d-harvestmarket.com/
- Reservations: Available
- Payment Methods: Cards accepted, Electronic money accepted, QR code payment accepted
Pom Pom Purin Cafe
Source: Official Website
This is a cafe themed around "Pompompurin", a Sanrio character popular overseas as well, located on the 3rd floor of CUTE CUBE HARAJUKU in Harajuku. If you want to take photos of cute, elaborate dishes, this is definitely a place to go.
The "Dreamy Souffle Omurice" expressing Purin-kun sleeping contentedly under an omurice blanket is delicious with a perfect combination of fluffy eggs and demi-glace sauce.
While there's no kids' menu, there are many dishes that children can enjoy.
There's a one-drink minimum, so even those ordering food should order one drink per person. Free kids' drinks are provided for preschool children.
As reservations are not possible, get a numbered ticket when you arrive. On weekdays, you might be able to enter without waiting, but on weekends, you might have to wait up to 90 minutes. As many items tend to sell out by evening, an earlier visit is recommended.
You can take photos inside the store and of the food, but be careful not to include staff members in your photos.
<Information>
- Address: 3F CUTE CUBE HARAJUKU, 1-7-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Closed: None
- Phone: 050-5472-9378
- Business Hours: Weekdays 11:00 - 19:00, Weekends/Holidays 10:00 - 19:00 (Last food order 18:00, Last drink order 18:30)
- Official Website: https://pompompurincafe.com/
- Reservations: Not available
- Payment Methods: Cards accepted
Experience-based Cafe
Ninja Experience Cafe
Source: Jalan
The Ninja Experience Cafe in Harajuku is a recommended spot where you can easily experience being a ninja, known from series like "NARUTO".
You can actually experience swords, shuriken, and blowguns, and ninja training experiences like entering hidden doors are very popular with children. Adults can participate too, so please try becoming a ninja!
The ninja experience is an indoor activity, so it's no problem even on rainy days. While costumes are not mandatory, wearing them enhances the mood, so the "Sasuke" or "Jiraiya" courses are recommended. There are plenty of sizes available for children too. The ninja staff are very kind and provide a fun experience.
Reservations are required for the number of people participating in the ninja experience. Reservations for accompanying persons are not necessary, but a one-order minimum is required on the day.
The recommended cafe menu item is the Fondant Chocolat, which comes with an enjoyable ninja fire performance. You can also enjoy other unique dishes themed around ninjas, like curry! Vegetarian, vegan, and halal food options are also available, so please inform them when making a reservation.
It gets crowded on weekends, so it's recommended to visit early, such as right when they open.
<Information>
- Address: B1 539 Building, 1-16-11 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Closed: Irregular
- Phone: 070-9117-2841
- Business Hours: 10:00-21:00 (May close earlier depending on reservation status)
- Official Website: https://ninja-cafe.com/training/
- Reservations: Available
- Payment Methods: Cashless only, cash not accepted