Shinjuku with Kids! Complete Guide to 5 Major Kids Parks (Sanrio, Disney, Thomas, Yomiuri, Tokyo Dome)
Looking for family-friendly courses departing from Shinjuku?
Based on children and elementary school students,
From Sanrio Puroland, Tokyo Disneyland, Fuji-Q Thomas Land, Yomiuriland, to Tokyo Dome City,
Indoor courses for rainy days, transportation info, schedules, admission fees, and tips all in one,
This is your dedicated Shinjuku family travel guide.
⭐If you want to see all Shinjuku travel courses and restaurants, shopping, and night view info at a glance
➡️ Complete Shinjuku Attractions Guide
Is Shinjuku Just for Adults?
Shinjuku may seem like a grown-up city, but if you’ve chosen Shinjuku for your accommodation, you can absolutely center your family trip with kids here too.
There are exactly three reasons why Shinjuku is the best base camp for family travelers with children:
Busta Shinjuku (Bus Terminal), Keio Line & JR Line Transfer Hub, JR Limited Express Fuji Kaiyū (富士回遊)
These three transportation hubs all converge in one place.
With this one guide, you can design children, elementary students, and family courses among Tokyo Shinjuku attractions all from Shinjuku Station at once.
1. Tokyo Disneyland
🏰 The Classic Family Trip (Direct Bus Access)
About 40 minutes by bus from Shinjuku.
This is the No.1 Shinjuku family trip course that makes everyone—kids and adults alike—happy.
With the limousine bus, families with strollers, preschoolers, lots of luggage, and everyone can sit down and travel in one go.
Departing early from Shinjuku and arriving at Disneyland’s opening time gives you much more energy throughout the day.
➡️ Complete Tokyo Disneyland Guide (Tickets, DPA, Afternoon Pass, Hotels, Restaurants, Map)
✅ Buy Disneyland Tickets on Klook
🚌 How to Get to Disneyland from Shinjuku
From Busta Shinjuku’s 4th floor terminal (connected to Shinjuku Station’s South Exit/New South Exit), you can take the limousine bus to Disneyland and DisneySea.
🕒 Travel time: 40-60 minutes (depending on traffic) 💰 Fare: Approx. 1,000 yen adult / 500 yen child (one way) 📌 Advantages: Can load strollers and luggage, everyone sits and travels in one go
👉 For detailed Busta Shinjuku bus schedules, fares, booking methods, and last bus info, check the dedicated post below.
➡️ How to Get to Disneyland from Shinjuku (Busta Shinjuku Bus Guide - Complete Schedule & Fares)
2. Sanrio Puroland
🌸 Best Indoor Course for Rainy Days
Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, My Melody…
For kids who love Sanrio characters, this is a more powerful happiness space than anywhere else in Tokyo.
What’s especially great is that all attractions and shows are completely indoors!
Rain, hot summer, cold winter—you can play all day without worrying about conditions.
The moment you get off at Keio Tama Center Station, the entire station is decorated with Sanrio characters, and kids react immediately.
✅ Buy Sanrio Puroland Tickets on Klook
How to Get to Sanrio Puroland from Shinjuku
🚆 Route (Keio Line): Keio Line Shinjuku Station → Keio Tama Center Station → About 5-minute walk from station exit → Sanrio Puroland entrance
🕒 Travel time: 40 minutes 💰 Fare: 360 yen
3. Fuji-Q Highland (Thomas Land)
🚂 Paradise for Train-Loving Kids
For train enthusiasts and Thomas-loving kids, the place you absolutely must show them once is Thomas Land inside Fuji-Q Highland.
The experience of riding Thomas and Friends trains while facing Mt. Fuji is quite moving even for adults.
🚌 Three Ways to Get to Fuji-Q from Shinjuku
🚆 Method 1: Shinjuku Station → Fuji-Q Highland Station
- Direct on JR Limited Express Fuji Kaiyū (no transfers)
- The most convenient transportation method is JR Limited Express Fuji Kaiyū (富士回遊)
➡️ Buy Train Tickets on JR Website
📍Route: JR Shinjuku Station → Fuji-Q Highland Station 🕒 Travel time: 2 hours 💰 Fare: Limited express fee + reserved seat required
🕒 Shinjuku Station Departure → Fuji-Q Highland Station Timetable ★ Operates 2025.10.4 (Sat) ~ 2026.2.28 (Sat)
| Train Type | Weekdays | Weekends |
|---|---|---|
| 🚄 Limited Express Fuji Kaiyū (特急 富士回遊) | 7:30 dep - 9:25 arr 8:30 dep - 10:24 arr 9:30 dep - 11:26 arr 10:30 dep - 12:21 arr ★11:34 dep - 12:21 arr | 7:30 dep - 9:25 arr 8:30 dep - 10:24 arr ★9:02 dep - 11:12 arr 9:30 dep - 11:26 arr 10:30 dep - 12:20 arr |
🕒 Fuji-Q Highland Station Departure → Shinjuku Station Timetable
| Train Type | Weekdays | Weekends |
|---|---|---|
| 🚄 Limited Express Fuji Kaiyū (特急 富士回遊) | 14:12 dep - 16:07 arr 15:00 dep - 16:59 arr ★15:42 dep - 17:45 arr 16:52 dep - 18:45 arr 17:43 dep - 19:47 arr | 14:13 dep - 16:05 arr 15:03 dep - 16:58 arr ★16:14 dep - 18:27 arr 16:51 dep - 18:45 arr 17:41 dep - 19:40 arr |
🚆 Method 2: Shinjuku Station → Otsuki Station → Fuji-Q Highland Station
For families who want to ride various trains, the Otsuki transfer course is recommended.
📍Route: JR Chuo Line Shinjuku Station → Otsuki Station → Transfer to Fujikyu Line at Otsuki → Fuji-Q Highland Station 🕒 Travel time: 2 hours 💰 Fare: Limited express fee + reserved seat required
Between Otsuki Station ↔ Fuji-Q Highland Station, there are Thomas Land trains (トーマスランド号) wrapped with Thomas and Friends characters, as well as reserved limited express trains.
🕒 Otsuki Station Departure → Fuji-Q Highland Station Special Train Timetable (Regular trains operate at other times)
| Train Type | Weekdays | Weekends |
|---|---|---|
| 🚂 Thomas Land Train (トーマスランド号) ※ No reservation needed | 7:55 11:01 13:55 | 7:55 11:01 13:55 |
| 🚄 Fujisan Limited Express (フジサン特急) | 12:41 17:41 | 12:43 15:50 |
| 🚄 Fujisan View Limited Express (富士山ビュー特急) | 13:45 16:57 | 13:44 16:57 |
🕒 Fuji-Q Highland Station Departure → Otsuki Station Special Train Timetable (Regular trains operate at other times)
| Train Type | Weekdays | Weekends |
|---|---|---|
| 🚂 Thomas Land Train (トーマスランド号) ※ No reservation needed | 6:44 9:01 12:30 15:29 | 6:44 9:18 12:30 15:28 |
| 🚄 Fujisan Limited Express (フジサン特急) | 11:03 15:42 | 11:03 14:29 |
| 🚄 Fujisan View Limited Express (富士山ビュー特急) | 12:11 15:21 | 12:11 15:12 |
🚌 Method 3: Busta Shinjuku → Fuji-Q Highland
For families who find buses more comfortable than trains, there’s also a direct bus to Fuji-Q departing from Busta Shinjuku.
🕒 Travel time: About 2 hours 📌 Advantages: Just sit down and you’re done, convenient when you have lots of luggage
🚨 Bus vs Train Choice?
If your kids love trains: Limited Express Fuji Kaiyū or Thomas Land Train If you want simple travel: Direct bus recommended
4. Yomiuriland
🎠 Family Amusement Park with Light Festival and Water Park
About 35 minutes from Shinjuku.
This Tokyo suburban amusement park is large-scale and its character completely changes with each season:
- Winter: Jewellumination
- Summer: Water Atrium (water park) operation
Especially for Shinjuku elementary student attractions, the ‘Goodjoba!!’ zone is key.
With attractions and hands-on experiences themed around various industries like automobiles, food, and stationery, kids can naturally experience jobs and processes while riding attractions.
🚆 How to Get There from Shinjuku
Keio Line Shinjuku Station → Keio Yomiuriland Station → Take gondola ‘Sky Shuttle’ from station front → Yomiuriland entrance
🕒 Travel time: 35 minutes 💰 Fare: 270 yen 💰 Gondola fare: 500 yen round trip
The Tokyo panoramic view and amusement park view from the gondola is something kids enjoy, but it’s also quite healing for adults.
5. Tokyo Dome City, ASOBono
🎡 Closest Urban Amusement Park - 15 Minutes from Shinjuku by JR
The closest urban amusement park to Shinjuku is Tokyo Dome City.
“A full day at a theme park is too much, I just want to play lightly around Shinjuku for half a day”—this is perfect for that.
Free admission (individual payment per ride) Carousel, small rollercoaster, Ferris wheel, etc.—many rides for children
If it rains, there are two indoor kids spots right next door: Super-sized indoor kids cafe “ASOBono!” Space museum “TeNQ”
For Shinjuku children’s attractions, this is the strongest half-day rainy day course.
➡️ Tokyo Dome Guide: Concerts, Baseball, Attractions, Restaurants, Hotels - Complete Guide
🚆 How to Get There from Shinjuku
JR Chuo-Sobu Line (yellow) Shinjuku Station → Suidobashi Station (水道橋駅) → Walk from station → Tokyo Dome City
🕒 Travel time: 15 minutes 💰 Fare: 180 yen
[Bonus] Free Kids Spots Within Shinjuku
When you only have 2-3 hours to spend within Shinjuku, the Tokyo Fire Museum is virtually the only free kids spot.
Boarding actual fire helicopters and fire trucks, hands-on fire simulators All exhibits and experiences are free
Just 2 subway stops from Shinjuku Station, it’s also good for killing time before your flight on the last day.
Tokyo Fire Department Fire Museum
3-10 Yotsuya, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0004, Japan
☔ Rainy Day vs Sunny Day, Where to Go?
Wondering about Shinjuku children’s courses on rainy days?
Here’s the 5 major kids parks organized by weather:
☔ Completely Indoor, Best for Rainy Days: Sanrio Puroland, Tokyo Dome City ‘ASOBono!’
🌤️ Recommended for Sunny Days / Outdoor Focus: Tokyo Disneyland, Fuji-Q Highland Thomas Land, Yomiuriland
Wrapping Up Your Shinjuku Family Trip
Now you can see why Shinjuku is the ultimate base camp for Tokyo family travel with kids, right?
Shinjuku attraction recommendations—especially for children and elementary student family courses—can fill 2-3 days with just these 5 places alone.
For adult-focused Shinjuku sights and places to visit, check out the posts below.