Part of our Things to Do with Kids in Tokyo series. Last checked: November 2026.
What can you book for kids in Tokyo when it rains? If it’s raining tomorrow, you can still walk into most museums and play centres without booking, including the National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno (free for high school students and under), the Edo-Tokyo Museum (free for junior high and under), the Subway Museum in Kasai and the free Tokyo Fire Museum. teamLab tickets are sold online and can sell out at busy times, so book as soon as you see the forecast. The Ghibli Museum and the Tokyo Fire Department’s life safety centres need booking well in advance.
Here’s what to book when. For more ideas by age, see our indoor activities guide.
Walk in on the day: no booking needed
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| National Museum of Nature and Science | Ueno | Adults ¥630; high school and under free (official) |
| Edo-Tokyo Museum (reopened March 31, 2026) | Ryogoku | Adults ¥800; high school ¥300; junior high and under free (official) |
| Subway Museum | Kasai, Edogawa | Adults ¥220; children 4 to junior high ¥100 (official) |
| Tokyo Fire Museum | Yotsuya | Free (official) |
| Toei Animation Museum | Oizumi, Nerima | Free (official) |
| Indoor play centres such as ASOBONO! and BorneLund | Various | About ¥800–¥1,300 per child for the first 30–60 minutes |
- National Museum of Nature and Science: 9:00–17:00, closed Mondays (Tuesday if Monday is a holiday). No reservation is needed for general admission.
- Edo-Tokyo Museum: 9:30–17:30. Tokyo families get half-price adult admission (up to two guardians) on Family Day, the third Saturday and following Sunday of each month.
- Subway Museum: under the Tozai Line tracks at Kasai Station; 10:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30), closed Mondays.
- Tokyo Fire Museum: 9:30–17:00, closed Mondays, directly connected to Yotsuya-sanchome Station.
- Toei Animation Museum: 11:00–16:00 (last entry 15:30), closed Wednesdays and some other days.
- Play centres: walk-in is normal, but expect queues on wet weekends. Register online the night before where the venue offers it. See our play-centre price comparison.
Book a day or two ahead
- teamLab Planets (Toyosu): tickets are sold online only, not at the venue, and are for a set time. Prices from ¥1,500 for children aged 4–12, with dynamic pricing. Bring a change of clothes: you walk barefoot through water that can reach adult knee height.
- teamLab Borderless (Azabudai Hills): timed tickets online; a limited number are sold at the venue for ¥200 more, while they last. Children aged 4–12 from ¥1,500.
- PLAY! PARK (Tachikawa): tickets go on sale three weeks before through Asoview. Same-day tickets can sell out on weekends and holidays.
Book well ahead: not for a last-minute rainy day
- Ghibli Museum (Mitaka): tickets are sold only in advance through Lawson Ticket and aren’t available at the door. Next month’s tickets go on sale on the 10th.
- Ikebukuro and Honjo Life Safety Learning Centers: free earthquake simulators and fire-safety experiences, but tours must be reserved. Ikebukuro takes online bookings up to five months ahead; for visits within four days, call.
Closed right now
- Miraikan (National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Odaiba) is closed for renovation and plans a grand reopening on April 23, 2027.
- Gas Science Museum (Gastenani) in Toyosu was scheduled to close on September 23, 2026.
Rainy-day tips
- Head for venues connected to a station or with underground access, such as the Tokyo Fire Museum or teamLab Borderless (connected to Kamiyacho and Roppongi-itchome stations by underground passage).
- Go early. Wet weekends fill play centres and free museums by late morning.
- Pack socks for play centres, and a change of clothes for teamLab Planets.
- Many museums have stroller storage rather than letting strollers inside; a baby carrier helps.
FAQ
What’s free in Tokyo for kids on a rainy day?
The Tokyo Fire Museum and Toei Animation Museum are free for everyone; the National Museum of Nature and Science is free for high school students and under, and the Edo-Tokyo Museum for junior high students and under.
Can I buy teamLab tickets on the day?
Online, if they haven’t sold out. teamLab Planets doesn’t sell tickets at the venue; teamLab Borderless sells a limited number on site for ¥200 more.
Sources and official information
- National Museum of Nature and Science — Admission
- Edo-Tokyo Museum — Tickets and admission
- Subway Museum — Hours and admission (Japanese)
- Toei Animation Museum — Official site (Japanese)
- teamLab — teamLab Planets TOKYO and teamLab Borderless
- Miraikan — Official site
Hours and prices change. Check official websites before you go. TokyoParents has no commercial relationship with any venue listed. See our editorial policy.
Featured image: Umbrella and smartphone by Franck Michel, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
