Hey all! I've lurked around on these boards for a long time but have never posted before (mostly I just like to read and dream about vacations).
I was reading through this thread out of curiosity, since I'm living in Japan right now! I wanted to pop in and give a tiny bit of Tokyo advice, as someone who's lived in Japan for a couple of years total (one of those years in Tokyo!)
I saw a few people talking about looking for anime/animation related stuff to do, and one person who mentioned their kid being really into anime. I just wanted to point out that, while Akihabara is probably the most famous "nerd zone" in Tokyo, it's
probably not the best place to take your kids (depending on their age/how comfortable you are with adult content.) Akihabara is chock full of amazing anime/geek shops, and you can definitely find all kinds of rad toys/electronics/books, but keep in mind that in a lot of these shops there is some relatively extreme stuff mixed in with everything else. While most comic shops and toy stores keep the REALLY adult stuff in a separate area, or on the upper floors, you'd be surprised at how much is just mixed in with everything else- and comic shops tend to sell some pretty adult stuff right next to the titles aimed at younger audiences. If this doesn't bother you, shop away! But just something to keep in mind if you are traveling with younger folks.
If you're looking for other anime experiences, the Ghibli Museum is a fantastic option. It can be a little difficult to get tickets from overseas, but it's really a lovely museum, with some beautiful exhibits showcasing sketches and the like. It may be a little less interesting for
very young kids? Although, there is a catbus play area and some outdoor play zones. Tickets are purchased for specific entry times- people can stay however long they like, so try to get an earlier entry time for fewer people.
If you can't get into the Ghibli Museum but still want some Ghibli merch, look for a "Donguri Republic" store (どんぐり共和国)- there's a great one at the base of Tokyo Skytree if you are in the area. Another great place to check out anime related shops with younger people is Character Street (underneath Tokyo Station). Tons of character related shops, including a Jump Shop (Shonen Jump publishes Naruto, One Piece, etc.), and a nice Pokemon Store. I saw that the tour is going to Harajuku/Takeshita Street as well, and there's a permanent Sailor Moon shop that opened there recently. Check out the multi-story "KIDDY LAND" toy store on Omotesando in Harajuku, as well. You could also go see the giant Gundam in Odaiba (there's also a shop, and Gundam Cafe!)
This is already super long, haha. But for any of you who want any other geeky recommendations (or
Disneyland/DisneySea, or any other Tokyo advice!) just let me know.