travelling to japan with a baby

Traveling To Japan With A Baby Or Toddler: What To Know!

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There’s no denying it: All countries are different. But believe it or not, Japan is somehow more different than most.

Imagine a country where tipping is considered disrespectful; English is not the national language but is widely used and understood!

For any grown-up visitor, Japan is an exotic destination. It is a unique country that offers an exciting escape from familiar surroundings, with its peculiarity being part of the captivating appeal.

🏆 Best Baby-Friendly Hotels in Japan

Don’t have time to read the whole article? Here are my picks for baby and toddler-friendly hotels in Japan!

• Hotel In Tokyo: Imperial Hotel Tokyo (5-Star)  (Where we stayed!)
• Hotel In Kyoto: Hotel Imagine Kyoto (4-Star)  (Where I wished we stayed!)
• Hotel In Osaka: Hotel Nikko Osaka (4-Star)  (Most popular hotel for families)

The big question, however, remains; can you travel to Japan with a baby or toddler?

Is Japan safe and baby-friendly? And where can you stock up on baby supplies?

We cover all these questions in our guide below.

What You Will Find In This Article:

Click to hop straight to these sections.

• Is Japan Baby-Friendly ?
• Japan with a Baby: Everything You Need To Know (Tips, What to expect, where to find supplies & more!)
• Where to go in Japan with a Baby or Toddler

Traveling to Japan with a Baby: Is Japan Baby-Friendly?

We have read repeatedly about how baby-friendly Japan is, yet we found the holiday a bit challenging (*honest truth).

(We have a complete guide of other ideas on the best places to go on a holiday with a baby .)

So here are my thoughts: if you are traveling to Japan with only a baby (and no other kids), I think Japan is a great destination. It is also crucial to pick one to three destinations at most to visit during your trip (we did seven different places). Keep it easy.

We were traveling with three kids, though, and together with having to drag luggage + hold hands + carry a baby up and down stairs to subways & train stations regularly ; we found the trip REALLY HARD. The same would be true if you visited Japan with a toddler.

However, I have some invaluable tips on how to ensure your holiday will be easier than ours! Learn from our mistakes and take them on board.

There are definitely many benefits to visiting Japan with a baby. The country is safe.

You can find baby supplies in the stores. The streets are stroller-friendly.

You will even often see little baby seats in toilet cubicles so you can pop your baby down whilst you do what you need to do.

A vacation to Japan is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that promises lots of adventure, education, and a giddy blend of culture, it is always worth a little challenge.

Guide to a Baby-Friendly Japan Trip: Top Tips + Everything You Should Know

Before you embark on your journey to Japan, these great tips will help you create the ultimate baby holiday in Japan.

This guide will also be helpful to those traveling to Japan with a toddler.

You will find all the information about how to prepare for your trip, where to find baby supplies, how to explore, and more!

You will find information on where to go in Japan with a baby or toddler down lower in the post.

1. Passports

Children are required to have their passports to be allowed to travel to and around Japan.

You will also need to carry the passport when you travel on trains as you might be required to show it.

2. Vaccinations

There are no mandatory vaccinations for a child to travel to Japan.

3. Don’t Pack Too Much!

Getting from one destination/attraction to the next in Japan can be a bit of a mission when you have too much luggage, especially when traveling with your baby!

While the train system is super-efficient, taxis are costly , so you will most likely use the trains to get around.

We found that very few stations had lifts or escalators, which meant that we had to carry our baby (in a carrier) and all the luggage down and up too many stairs.

So is Japan baby friendly? Not always!

Try to minimize and pack as light as you can.

Think hard about which items you will really need. (We have a complete list of the best baby travel gear you might find helpful).

You will also need to be able to fit the luggage in the luggage compartment above your seat (see the photo above to see how much space you have – not much!).

Tip: If, like us, you find it too hard to drag all your luggage from one destination to the next, here is a handy tip: Japan has a luggage forwarding system!

We used this because we got so sick and tired of struggling to get from point A to point B.

Essentially, you can organize and pay for your luggage to be collected from your hotel in one city and dropped off at your hotel in the next city.  

You can do this at the hotel reception. We thought the prices were pretty reasonable (nothing in Japan is cheap).

Important to note that the process typically works overnight, so you will have your bag the next day (depending on how far they have to travel).  

So we always took our essentials in one suitcase and only carried that suitcase with us.

You can learn more about this forwarding system here .

4. Be Prepared for the Flight to Japan

Remember to book bulkhead seats with a bassinet when traveling to Japan with a baby.

You can use the bassinet and have loads more room (and no reclining seats in front of you!).

You should also know what your ticket price includes.

If your baby is eating solids, remember to call the airline and request a baby meal. This meal usually includes a drink box and some pureed food pouches.

Remember, airline food is never guaranteed to be a hit with kids. So make sure you have your own snacks and baby food supplies for the trip on hand.

• We have loads of tips for flying with a baby that you can read in our post here .  
• You can also find bucketloads of traveling with baby tips by clicking on our baby or toddler travel guide here.
• Find a list of the best travel items for toddlers in our complete guide here.

5. Is Japan Stroller Friendly?

The streets and parks are definitely stroller friendly! In fact, there is so much walking from subway stations to tourist attractions that a stroller could definitely be useful.

The only thing is that there are typically no lifts or escalators leading to the subway station and you might have lots of stairs to climb, so my suggestion is to make sure that you have a lightweight stroller.

When we visited Japan, our daughter was still pretty young and so we mostly had her in a baby carrier.

It was cold during our trip so it also helped to keep her warm as we didn’t have all the fancy gear that Japanese moms use to keep their little ones warm in the strollers.

We actually ended up sending our stroller to the storage at the airport as we got sick and tired of carrying it up and down the stairs at subway stations, but if our daughter was older and heavier I think we would have kept our stroller instead.

6.  Travel Slower

Traveling through Japan with a little one will undoubtedly slow you down.

One of the downsides is that you won’t be able to visit as many locations as you’d have wanted.

You should, therefore, always consider planning activities that are close to one another.

Ensure you travel slower and allow plenty of time for your baby to be changed, fed, or rocked to sleep.

Don’t forget to schedule some downtime for yourself too; otherwise , you might get exhausted.

Because it can be so tricky getting from point A to B in Japan with a baby, I recommend minimizing the number of cities you will be visiting.

We tried to see Tokyo, Kyoto , Miyajima , Nara, Shirakawa-Go, Takayama , and Kanazawa on our 3-week trip, and we were exhausted by the end of it!

So pick 1-3 cities for your trip and keep it simple and easy.

Tokyo with a baby is lots of fun, and so is Osaka and Tokyo – you can find more information about these cities down further in our post!

7. Always go for Public Transport in Japan

While we are on the topic of transport, here is another tip: If you’re planning to stay in Japan for longer than a week and plan to travel between major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto (which is obvious), traveling by rail would be the most economical option.

Japanese public transport is undoubtedly one of the best in the world!

So whether it’s a bus, a subway, or the Japan Rail Pass (basically long-distance train travel), Japanese public transport is a great option for those with kids. Kids under the age of 6 can travel for free, and kids between 6 and 12 will be half-price.

This makes Japan with kids a whole lot more affordable!

• Further Reading: Let us help you decide whether the Japan Rail Pass will be of benefit to you.

Tip: Always avoid rush hour in the main cities. This is because it can sometimes get hectic, and the lack of space can scare the little one.

You will be surprised at how many people can squash into the trains at these times. I wouldn’t recommend it.

The weekday rush hours peak between 8 am and 9 am in the morning and shortly after 5 pm in the evening.

8. Do you Need a Car Seat in Japan?

Legally if you rent a car you do need to use a car seat for children under 6 years of age, you can find more information on car seats in Japan here .

Because taxis are so expensive we only used a taxi once and we did not use a car seat for the taxi.

We also hired a private driver to take us from Kanazawa to Shirakawa-Go because the bus was already sold out. The drive took around 1 hour and we did not have a car seat.

Overall I highly suggest a car seat for obvious safety reasons. We planned on public transport and relied on trains and buses because we did not want to carry a car seat around with us on top of all the other luggage.

9. Try to Travel Hands-Free

We found that many attractions were located in beautiful hilly areas, which meant that not only did we have to deal with stairs at the train stations, but we also had to climb stairs at the attractions!

While we did indeed take our baby stroller along, we barely ever used it on our Japan trip, and I would suggest that you leave it behind altogether.

Instead, try to travel hands-free. We had Avalee in a baby carrier all the time. It made life so much easier as we climbed many stairs at attractions or headed down all the stairs to the subways.

We also prefer to travel with a backpack diaper bag , which is great to not only balance out the weight of our baby on the front but also makes it easier for us to have our hands free to deal with money and tickets (and to hold our other two daughters hands at the busy train stations).

Tip: If you find that you do need a stroller, you can always rent one.

There are a lot of online shops that offer baby cots, car seats, baby carriers, and many more baby amenities at affordable prices.

There’s also some great baby food in Japan! Everything is in Japanese , so best to ask your hotel receptionist to help you. They tend to be super friendly and happy to help.

Most of the department stores and shopping centers in Tokyo have free stroller rentals, which will give you a break from the carrier if you need it .

10. Japanese Department Stores Are Baby-Friendly

Most department stores in Japan are extremely baby-friendly.

They have nurseries with changing tables and private breastfeeding rooms. Some well-known stores with these amenities include; Daimaru, Isetan, Matsuya, and Mitsukoshi.

We often found it best to head to the drug stores instead of the supermarkets for food and baby supplies.  

Drug stores are an excellent source of baby supplies, and you can typically find them easily. They will sell your pre-packaged baby food, formulae, snacks, and diapers.

• Pureed Baby Food: Our baby didn’t like Japanese baby food and purees, so make sure you pack your own just as a backup.
• Baby Formula: Our baby didn’t mind the baby formula in Japan.  The best brands are Meiji, Morinaga, and Icreo. We couldn’t understand how many scoops to add, but our hotel receptionist managed to translate the instructions for us, so ask if you are confused.
• Baby Diapers: While they are readily available, they are expensive. Our Australian diapers were much better quality as well, so we made sure to keep a good supply of our diapers for the flight home (because nobody wants to change a baby’s diaper more often on a plane than is necessary)

Note: We did struggle to find supplies in the smaller towns, so stock up in the cities before you head out to islands or remote destinations.

11. Restaurants in Japan

While most restaurants and pubs allow babies, use your common sense when deciding which restaurant is appropriate for him/her.

Many restaurants in Japan are tiny, crowded, and noisy, which is such a great atmosphere for us but can be pretty overwhelming for a baby.

Smoking in restaurants is also allowed, and we often walked into a restaurant only to turn back around when we realized how heavy the cigarette and cigar smoke was.

You also won’t easily find a high chair in these restaurants, so expect to hold your baby on our lap or in your baby carrier.

If your baby is a bit older, you might like to take a lightweight travel high chair with you. Here are our recommendations for portable high chairs .

Dinner time for us typically meant that our baby Avalee was tired, but the restaurants were way too noisy, so we struggled to get her to sleep, and she spent dinner crying. It wasn’t fun.

So my tip here is to remember that they have Domino’s Pizza Delivery. 

We ended up ordering delivery for a few nights so that we could eat in our VRBO apartment instead (and that way, Avie could get some sleep in her portable cot) – dinner + peace = heaven!

12. Breastfeeding in Japan

If you are planning on breastfeeding in Japan, I highly suggest you pack in a cover-up.

While breastfeeding in public is fine, I never saw anyone with their boob visibly out; it is all about discretion.

If you prefer to feed in breastfeeding rooms, you will always find them in department stores, museums, and play centers.

13. Book a Machiya (Japanese-Style House) or VRBO Apartment

As a pre-warning, hotel rooms in Japan are really tiny and pretty pricey. I also highly recommend asking them if a baby cot will be available.

If your baby is moving, you might prefer a Machiya or an VRBO rather than a hotel so that there is room for your little one to crawl and play.

They are also fabulous choices for those who can’t afford the pricey prices of the hotels.

We enjoyed staying in a mix of all three of the above.

We loved our VRBO’s in Japan as they typically come with a fully functional kitchen that certainly allows you to cook your meals, especially for the baby.

Most also have a washing machine that will make the baby’s laundry easier.

I will share some hotel links below for those who wish to stay in a hotel.

You will find that most hotels will have some information on their cots/extra beds that say, “There is no capacity in this room for a cot”, so if you use our links below for hotels that do offer and have space for cots it will save you loads of research time.

Note about cots: We ended up taking a portable baby cot with us to Japan as many of the hotels and VRBO’s did not have a cot available, so it is essential to ask the question before you book to ensure that baby has a safe space to sleep.

>>> Click here to see a list of recommended travel cribs to take along.

Let’s look at our top recommended places to visit with a baby and I will also include our recommendations of which hotels actually provide a baby cot.

Where to go In Japan with a Baby or Toddler

Wondering where to go in Japan with your little one? We share a simplified version of our way-to-busy itinerary.

Find below 3 destinations that I recommend you include in your Japan Itinerary with a baby or toddler.

1. Tokyo with a Baby or Toddler

Is Tokyo baby-friendly? Yes – well mostly!

Here are our top tips for traveling to Tokyo with a baby or toddler.

Tokyo’s streets are narrow and popular spots will be packed to the brim with people. Many of Tokyo’s subway stations don’t have elevators or escalators, so keep in mind that you need to be able to carry all your luggage and strollers up and down stairs if you take public transportation.

So a small lightweight stroller will be key. A stroller will be helpful though because you will be walking A LOT.

So even if you have a toddler that loves walking, they will get tired and the stroller will be very helpful to have.

See if you can book a hotel or VRBO that is close to the subway station – honestly, you will be surprised at how many trains you will be catching during your stay.

Things to do in Tokyo with a Baby or Toddler:

• Meiji Shrine & Yoyogi Park
• Senso-ji Temple Tokyo and Ueno Park
• Day Trip to Nikko (lots of stairs so don’t bother taking the stroller – book a tour here )
• Visit the Government Building for views over Tokyo
• Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
• Imperial Palace
• Tokyo Disney Parks (for older toddlers – buy your 1 day pass online here )

How Many Nights to Stay for:

• I recommend staying for 5-7 nights in Tokyo.

Where to Stay in Tokyo with a Baby:

Find below our three favorite accommodation options for those traveling with a baby.

• Imperial Hotel Tokyo (5-Star): This hotel is perfect if you can reach the price. It is convenient with an airport shuttle drop-off at its front door. It is also in a central location with three stations within a 5-minute walk. They have family rooms available that offer more space. Babysitting is available, as well as cribs. Click here to check availability and prices .
• Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi (5-Star): Another fabulous option as it is directly accessible from JR Tokyo Station. They also have babysitting services as well as cribs available. Fabulous location; you can’t go wrong.  Click here to check availability and prices .
• Nohga Hotel Ueno (4-Star): This hotel is conveniently located 3.3 km from Tokyo Skytree, in the Taito district of Tokyo. No babysitting services here, but you can request a cot for free.  Click here to check availability and prices .

After more suggestions of where to stay in Tokyo? You can find our list of the best family hotels in Tokyo here.

2. Osaka with a Baby or Toddler

Osaka is fairly easy to explore with a baby or toddler. Our favorite thing to do in this city was to use it as a base for some stunning day trips.

Things to do in Osaka with a Baby or Toddler:

• Stroll Around Dontonbori (A good place to go for food)
• Osaka Castle Park
• Miyajima Day Trip (You can either DIY or book an organized tour here )
• Kurashiki Day Trip
• Himeji Castle Day Trip
• Universal Studios (for older toddlers – book your transport + entrance ticket online here )
• Nara Day Trip (You can either DIY or book a guided tour here )
• I recommend staying for 3-4 nights in Osaka.

Where to Stay in Osaka with a Baby:

• InterContinental Hotel Osaka (5-Star): In an excellent location and only a 5-minute walk from JR Osaka Train Station. Their rooms are lovely and soundproof. They have babysitters available as well as free cribs.  Click here to check availability and prices .
• Art Hotel Osaka Bay Tower (4-Star): This hotel is conveniently located close to the train station. They have larger family rooms available to offer space. The rooms are soundproof, and cribs are available as well.  Click here to check availability and prices .
• Hotel Nikko Osaka (4-Star): The Hotel Nikko brand is a popular one for travelers due to their affordable prices. They are also located with direct access from the airport shuttles. It is also directly connected to  Shinsaibashi Subway Station. They also have cribs available as well.  Click here to check availability and prices .

2. Kyoto with a Baby or Toddler

Kyoto is a BIG city. Expect to spend a lot of time on public transport in order to get from one tourist attraction to the next.

Try to stay close to a train or bus station to make life a bit easier.

Streets and many tourist spots are stroller-friendly.

Things to do in Kyoto with a Baby or Toddler:

• Explore Arashiyama and the Fushimi Inari Shrine (Included highlights include The Kimono Forest of Arashiyama, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji Temple, and Fushimi Inari Shrine)
• Ginkaku-ji Temple, Nanzen-ji Temple, Shimbashi Street, and Gion District (A great way to see these sights is on a private walking tour ).
• Southern Higashiyama, Nijo Castle, and the Golden Pavilion
• To make life really easy, you could also see all the Kyoto highlights on a full-day tour. Check prices and availability for the Kyoto highlights tour here .
• I recommend staying for 4-6 nights in Kyoto.

Where to stay in Kyoto with a baby:

Find below our two favorite accommodation options for those traveling with a baby.

• Hotel Imagine Kyoto (4-Star): What we love about this hotel is that all the units have a seating area (which means more space). The hotel is close to Kyoto station, so exploring other areas of Kyoto is easy. Free cots are available too.  Click here to check availability and prices .
• Kyoto Tokyu Hotel (4-Star): This hotel offers a free 5 min shuttle to the Kyoto Station. The World Heritage site Nishi Honganji Temple is just a 5-minute walk away. We love their family-size rooms, and they have cots available as well.  Click here to check availability and prices .

Of course, if you want to include a few more destinations, then you can check out our guide on the most beautiful places to visit in Japan for first-timers .

Conclusion To Our Japan with Toddlers or Babies Guide

The idea of traveling to a foreign country is often an intimidating prospect for many.

The idea of making the trip with a baby or toddler in tow is even more worrying to many, but that doesn’t mean parents cannot have an exciting holiday in a foreign land far away from home.

You can travel to Japan with your baby; you must be well-prepared!

Visiting Japan with a baby is more straightforward than in many other countries.

That’s because Japan is a baby/kid-friendly country, and everybody seems to love babies.

To highlight this, there are seats for babies to sit on in many public places and kid areas for children to let loose, run around and have some fun!

Believe it or not, changing tables are everywhere, including in the men’s bathroom! Some places even offer free diapers and microwaves.

This is a place where you’ll walk in big cities such as Tokyo and Kyoto and see babies everywhere.

But do learn from our mistakes and travel slowly and lightly for your Japan travels.

So if you’ve been planning to travel to Japan and have some worries about going with your baby, know that it is an excellent destination if you use our tips above (do it better than us!)

Traveling to Japan with a baby or toddler is possible! All you have to do is keep up with the above fantastic tips, and you and your baby will be good to go.

Over to You:

• Do you have any helpful tips to add to our Japan baby travel guide?
• Do you have any other questions that you need answers to?
• Looking for best places to travel with toddlers ? Read our complete guide to worldwide destinations.

Jolene Ejmont

40 thoughts on “traveling to japan with a baby or toddler: what to know”.

Great article and thank you for the tips – we are travelling in May 2019 with our baby boy who will be 2 years old by then. Would you be able to recommend the AIRBNB places you stayed in, please?

This is amazing! We are planning to travel in December with a 7 month old! Will it be too cold for him? What do you recommend to tackle the cold weather?

Hi, looks like the temperature will be similar to when we went with our little one. Make sure to take layers – we had leggings on the legs with jeans over the top, layer a jumper with warm jacket over the top. Beanie on the head. Many people in Japan used a special warm cocoon on their prams to combat the cold as well. We chose to baby-wear our little one to help with body temp instead as we knew we wouldn’t use the pram cocoon again after the trip, but could be worth looking into as well.

Such a fantastic post – thanks for all the tips! We are going in 2 weeks time and have pretty much sorted itinerary and travel. Only question I have is where would you recommend staying in Tokyo (AirBnB) there are soo many properties!

Hi, we had a super dodgy place in Tokyo that I don’t want to recommend – it didn’t have a mattress on the bed, just the base!! Make sure you pick a property that has lots of reviews on it and that has at least a 4-star rating! We went during Cherry Blossom season and made the mistake of booking to late, so was left with the newly added properties that hadn’t been reviewed yet – big mistake.

Hi Jolene! We are going to Japan in December with our 10 months old baby, just to let you know that your tips are very useful! Thanks a lot 🙂

Hi there, thanks for your article. I will be traveling in Feb -Mar for 2 & a half weeks with my hubby and baby (who will be turning one over there) . Just wondering what you recommend we do with the JR rail pass. I thought I would just get a two week pass instead of three weeks (to save on Money) and activate when we leave Tokyo to our next destination however I wasnt sure if we’d need this pass activated on arrival to Tokyo to get from the airport to the accommodation. What do you think would be the most cost efficient option for us? Get the 3wks JR pass or organise a transfer to the hotel from the airport maybe? Also are there any destinations that are easy with a baby or on the other hand to difficult with a baby and we should avoid? Thanks for your help!!

Hi! Your post is so helpful! We plan to travel on February and witness the snow festivals in Sapporo. My baby will be 1 year old by then 🙂 What winter clothes would you recommend? And is the water in Japan safe for our baby? We are feeding him formula milk so I’m worried if there will be safe water to use.

Hi Jen, water in Japan is safe. Japan is such a modern country you really don’t have to worry. In regards to clothing, I highly recommend you layer her up, you might also like to baby-wear your 1 year old for extra warmth. Take a beanie or warm hat too. we had leggings under jeans for our little one and a vest, long sleeve t-shirt, jumper with a thick jacket over the top. Easier to take off some layers when/if a day warms up. Have a fabulous trip!

We’re leaving in a few weeks to Tokyo to attend the Sapporo Ice Festival as well. We have a doona stroller that converts from a stroller to a car seat. Would you recommend just leaving that behind? Or bringing it with? I ask because we’re not planning on strolling her that much, and she has a carrier, but for the car seat. Did you bring a car seat? And if so was it helpful on the plane to have a place for her to settle in? Or did you do a lap baby ticket?

Hi, we used a lap baby ticket and had her sleeping in the baby carrier on the plane and in the car trips as well. We mostly used the trains and to be honest it is really tricky when you have to much ‘stuff’ and you use the trains as space for luggage, prams etc are so limited. Travel as light as you can if you plan on moving around Japan.

Hi Jolene, your article is great and full of good tips. I am trying to plan a 8 to 10 day trip to Japan in May with my husband and 2 year old son. I cannot decide if we should stay in tokyo for about 6 days and then head out to Fuji 5 lakes area (mainly to check Thomas the tank engine Land) or head south to Kyoto and Osaka. What would you recommend for a first time trip or could we squeeze in both Osaka and Fuji?

Well, I love Kyoto and Osaka much more than Tokyo – but that is probably for personal reasons 🙂 You can also visit Universal Studios Japan if you head that way. You could try to do Osaka and Fuji but the thing with Fuji is that you don’t want to have anything set in stone, because it is actually tricky to get visibility on it – so best to call them in the morning to check if it is worth the trip or not.

This is super helpful! My partner and I are in love with Japan and have been three time so far, but have been feeling a bit nervous about going back with baby, so it’s super reassuring to hear from someone who’s survived! 🙂

Haha, we survived 🙂 Just pack light and make sure to take a baby carrier along with you on the trip. Have a fabulous time!

This is such an inspirational and helpful post! We are hoping to travel to Japan with our then 10 month old during the cherry blossom season this April. Which travel bed is Avie pictured in here? Also, for a trip of about 10 days, would you suggest about 2 days in Tokyo and then having a main base out of Kyoto or Osaka? TIA!

Hi Avi, our little one is in the PeaPod travel bed, which worked nicely. You will probably need more than 2 days in Tokyo (depends on what you want to see though), but the city is MASSIVE and it takes a while to get to interest points. For Cherry Blossom season I would definitely choose Kyoto as a base and just do a day trip to Osaka from there. Be prepared for crowds though – recommend taking a baby carrier as it will be hard to squeeze into the crowds with a stroller.

Do you plan where to break when the baby wanto take a nap?

Where is like a good place to rest while baby sleep

Our baby mostly slept on the go. We used the baby carrier a lot and she just fell asleep in there whilst we kept on exploring.

Your blog is what encouraged us to plan a trip to Japan with our 3 month old baby for end March/beginning April 2019. Considering how young he is he’ll almost always be in the carrier facing inward, so won’t get to see nor interact with much during the trip, especially with the weather being cold, so we are a bit apprehensive of our decision. I guess the main concern is, will it be miserable for the little one since he’s awake most of the day? He barely takes naps during the day. Any words of wisdom would be great!

We went around that time and it sure was chilly, but our little one was cozy in layers of clothes (because it does warm up in the day), a beanie and in the baby carrier close to our warmth. Our little one didn’t sleep easily out of our arms, but she did fall asleep easily in the carrier though. You could keep your outings short if you want and just head out at midday when the day is warmer and keep inside in the morning and late afternoon when it is colder.

Where are you planning on going?

Very very cool blog! I’ve been living in Kyoto for the last 5 years and recently had a little baby girl. Living here obviously makes it completely different, but after travelling quite a bit with her this winter in Europe, here are the things I love about Kyoto; (hopefully you do not mind me sharing this with everyone, I don’t mean to hijack your post!!)

1- Most traditional restaurants here in Kyoto have tatami floor seating; so even without a high chair, you can just lay/sit baby on the floor and actually enjoy a meal!! 2- You’ll find a nursing room in almost ANY department store. 3- Hotels (or air bnb rentals) again are great; no need for a baby cot because you can just sleep on futons! Most of them have a rental one if you ask them though.

I hope that all the families planning a trip here will have an amazing time. I look forward to reading more of your articles!

Hi there, thanks for your thoughts 🙂 Our baby was moving around a lot, so the tatami floors didn’t always suit, sometimes we needed her strapped in to stop her from getting up to nonsense – but a helpful suggestion for those with little babies. Also, the boutique hotels we stayed in didn’t have cots, only the larger chain hotels did, so I would ask before I book, not after 🙂 I love Kyoto, I think it might be my favorite city 🙂 Thanks for sharing some tips – always helpful for our next readers to have choices so they can pick what suits them 🙂

Thanks Jolene for amazing article, it is full of great information. I’m planning to travel to Japan from the UK with my husband and our 4 months old baby this year. Do you think 4m baby is too little to travel so far? Also, please can you recommend a travel cot? Best, Monika

Hi, thanks – so glad you enjoyed the article. I don’t think travelling a long distance to Japan with a 4m baby is too far. Try and do overnight flights where possible. We have a link on the article that will take you to travel cots – there are some great ones on there. I would suggest seeing which one you prefer based on size, weight etc. When you have booked your accommodation, I would suggest reaching out to them to see if they can provide one before purchasing one to travel with. Thanks and have a great time!

Thanks for the information. We’ve been once before and now going back with a 1.5 year old in summer. It will be hot in a carrier, but we’ll use it sometimes and take a stroller too.

I’m looking for information about the laws of crossing the boarder into Japan with a car seat made for Canada. I think the car seats here are better regulated and maybe even cheaper. Do you know where I cam find information about this? I’d hate to get to customs and have to leave it behind.

Hi Sandra, no idea on the laws for that sorry. My main concern would be whether you would be able to strap the car seat into a car. Every country has a different adjustment for seats, in Australia we use an anchor strap, here in Italy, they have clips to clip the seat into and other countries often just use the seat belt. If it is for a rental car, I would suggest maybe just hiring a car seat with the car so that you know it will fit.

How old was your baby when you travelled to Japan? We were thinking of travelling with our baby end of May and he will only be 3 months old, do you think that is too young to be travelling to japan from vancouver, canada? He will have his first sets of shots by then but he is too young to get any extra vaccinations as per the travel clinics here in vancouver. Please let me know your thoughts, thank you so much!

Avie was around 6 months I think, but I would have zero hesitation in taking a 3-month-old to Japan. To me, Japan is on the same level as countries such as USA, Australia and European countries. I don’t even think we needed any vaccines for Japan as adults 🙂 Enjoy your trip and don’t stress about it 😉

Can you use your own car seat in Japan?

You would need to research how your car seat connects to a car and what type of connection they use in Japan. For example we are in Italy atm and they have both an anchor point in the back as well as two clips that the car seat connects to in the car seat, so our seats from Australia won’t work well here. Where are you from?

What a great way to live your life with passion. I have been to japan before and loved your post. This time I am traveling with a 1 year old and I just have one concern. Can I travel thru japan without a car seat? I will be taking both trains and cabs. Kindly advise.

Hi, yes you don’t need a car seat for taxi or for trains 🙂 Would, of course, be a good idea to have something to secure bubs to keep your little one safe. So consider an option, even having them constrained in a baby carrier and the seat belt inbetween you and your the baby carrier is safer than nothing at all.

Hi Jolene, such great post tons a great tips!! We are planning a one month travel with our 6 months old this November and we are hesitating between Australia/New Zealand or to go back to Japan. What would you recommend, since you lived in Australia?

Oh gosh, that is a tough question if I don’t know what you love doing and what your personalities are like. Australia and New Zealand are easy countries to visit and perfect for those who love nature. Japan obviously is a fabulous destination if you prefer a good dose of culture on your trips instead. What do you usually love doing on holidays?

Hi! This is such a great post. Can you recommend which AirBNBs you stayed at ?

Hi! Is it possible if we book 1 week in osaka and travel within those days to kyoto, tokyo and nara? thanks Hope to receive any recommendations. thank you in advance.

Hiya Irene, I really wouldn’t do that with only 1 week – you could easily fill up 1 week in Tokyo alone. You could, however, base yourself in Osaka and do a day trip to Nara and a day trip to Kyoto (although I LOVE Kyoto and would rather recommend you stay there for at least 2-3 nights). More info on day trips from Osaka here: https://www.wanderluststorytellers.com/absolute-best-day-trips-from-osaka/

Hi! When you were in the train (not the shinkansen one) for such a long trip (let say 1 hr) can baby eat snacks on the train?

Hi, we avoided it. You can though on regional long-distance trains – you will know as they will have a tray and cup holder. I think we did give her a milk bottle on some trains though and nobody complained about that.

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How to Travel Japan with a Baby

I love Japan. It’s one of my favorite countries in the world. But is it a suitable destination to visit with a baby? Solo female travel expert Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse was recently there with her baby and has tons of tips and advice for travelers thinking of taking a baby with them to Japan.

Japan was our first major international trip with our then six-month-old. I’d heard mixed things about how baby friendly Japan would be, from DMs telling me it wouldn’t be a great trip to the total opposite with people gushing about how baby friendly it was.

We decided to go for it, hitting four spots in two weeks, taking public transportation and staying in a mix of apartments and hotels. Traveling with a baby in Japan comes with some special considerations, but overall, it can be a great trip IF you plan it right. Here’s everything to know:

Table of Contents

Japan Baby and Toddler Friendliness

Getting around japan with a baby, packing light is wise for japan, renting baby gear in japan, buying baby essentials in japan, choosing where to stay in japan with a baby, baby sleep in japan, feeding and meals in japan, medical services in japan.

With a few strange exceptions, like the lack of cribs, Japan is one of the most baby and family-friendly places I have been. It all started when we were personally escorted to the aircraft by a Japan Airlines gate agent when boarding our flight to Osaka. They even offered me a place to sit with the baby while I waited. It felt like first class treatment.

Each time we encountered an airport queue in Japan, whether it was for security or boarding, they always had a family line, which is sadly missing from every US airport I’ve encountered.

There are family restrooms everywhere as well, and I really mean everywhere. Even the smallest metro and train stations had them, and I never encountered one that wasn’t sparkling clean. People respected that they were only meant for those with disabilities and young children, as well. I never had to wait to use one and never saw an able-bodied single person walk out of them, which I see all the time in the US.

The bathrooms are also full of useful items like a baby holder, which I’ve only otherwise seen in Singapore, changing tables, and padded benches for nursing. I’ve truly never seen a family bathroom as equipped as the ones in Japan.

The locals also LOVED our baby. Everywhere we went, people would play peek a boo with him, smile at him, and light up when they saw him. We felt very welcome everywhere we went with him.  

Although they’re more expensive, we tended to prefer train travel to bus travel in Japan so that we could make use of the changing tables on the trains. They were more spacious, and the buses rarely had a place to change diapers.

If you’re traveling during high season, be sure to book train tickets ahead of time and reserve seats to avoid having to stand with your baby.

Alternatively, consider renting a car to get around. They can be pricey, and if you’re North American you’ll be driving on the opposite side of the road, but it also gives you ultimate flexibility.  

We opted to leave the stroller at home and just travel with a soft baby carrier . While a stroller can be helpful at times, Japan has a lot of stairs and some metro stations, even in Tokyo, don’t have elevators. We always found them at JR stations, though.

I have mixed feelings about this decision as we were aching by the end of the trip. If I were to do it with a toddler or older baby I’d probably opt for a hiking baby carrier instead. It distributes weight better and is a more comfortable experience, plus they have storage space. Just keep in mind that they’re bulky and you’ll most likely need to remove it when using public transport.

If you absolutely have to bring more than you can physically carry, there are luggage forwarding services in Japan that can help transport your luggage from hotel to hotel for you.  

Since our baby was a bit younger and not yet mobile when we visited Japan, we felt OK with not having a dedicated sleeping space and utilizing the floor beds instead. However now that he’s older, he needs a dedicated sleeping space and ideally a stroller. If we were to visit now, I’d utilize rental services to keep our suitcases light and still have access to the items we need for safety and comfort.

It’s possible to rent strollers in various cities in Japan , depending on how remote you’re going. You can also rent other baby gear in some parts of Japan, particularly in the more major cities.  

One way to pack lighter is to plan to buy baby essentials in Japan. It’s easy to find diapers, formula, and baby food if you know where to look.

If you’re doing baby-led weaning, which we were at the time, you can shop at any Japanese supermarket for fruit and veggies.

It was actually a treat to visit the grocery stores there since they had almost entirely different snacks and brands than I’ve seen elsewhere. The produce was also way better, as it was mostly locally grown. Even in the winter, we were eating perfectly ripe, locally-grown strawberries.

If you need diapers, baby food, or formula, you won’t find them at a grocery store. These items are for sale in drug stores only. Matsumoto Kiyoshi (with brown lettering) is the one we came across the most often.

Diapers were easy to buy. They will have the weight clearly displayed in kilograms. Jarred baby food and formula were in the same section of the store. If you need a specialized (non-cow) formula, that may be harder to find. Since we did for my baby, we brought enough with us from home for the whole trip.

Download the Google translate app so that you can hold your phone camera up to the Japanese Kanji and read what the ingredients and baby food flavors are. Don’t expect to see English translations in stores.  

Unless you’re willing to pay up a bit more, especially in Tokyo, you can expect hotel rooms to be on the smaller side. However they tend to include breakfast, which makes life easier for parents with young children.

Apartments, which you can book on Airbnb, usually have two floors and a kitchen. The kitchen was helpful for food prepping for the baby, and the two we stayed in had microwaves. I travel with microwave steam bags to sanitize our bottles, so this was a nice surprise.

The two floors also gave us a place to hang out while he took his naps. Apartment rentals are almost always larger, and in my experience, more affordable than hotel rooms can be. Sometimes they have washers and dryers as well.

Hot water kettles are a nice feature whether you’re in an apartment or hotel room. They seem to be the standard in Japan, which makes sanitizing, washing, and heating water for formula easier. Tap water in Japan is generally safe to drink and wash with.  

The most bewildering and disappointing thing about traveling in Japan with our baby was the lack of cribs. Even in the 5-star ryokan we stayed at in Kawaguchiko , there was no baby crib on offer. It made me wonder what locals do. Do they bring their own? Do they co-sleep?

In half of the places we stayed, the beds were traditional-style mattresses on the floor, so it was fine for our baby to sleep on the floor mattresses, however now that he’s more mobile, I’d want to bring along our travel bed.

One of the negative things I heard was that we’d be turned away from restaurants in Japan with our baby. While I’m sure it happens, I didn’t encounter this, even at kaiseki (which is the highest level of dining in Japan) restaurants. Sometimes they even had toys they’d bring out for our son.

We were told that the lounge in the hotel we stayed at in Tokyo wouldn’t be available to the baby in the evenings when alcohol was served, however. Some restaurants, including the Michelin star ones you might be hoping to eat at, could hold the same policy. There are some restaurants in Japan that are specifically geared towards families. The most common you’ll find are Bikkuri Donkey, Joyfull, and Gusto.

Most restaurants in Japan will have high chairs, but when at more casual ramen or yakitori restaurants, you’re less likely to come across them.

If you’re nursing, my sense in Japan was that it’s best done in private. I never saw anyone openly nursing in Japan, though I saw plenty of bottle feeding. The family restrooms are probably your best bet for a comfortable and private experience. I saw a nursing pod (a little room that offers nursing privacy, similar to the Mamava pods at US airports) at a few major train stations in Japan as well.  

As a parent, I’m more concerned with the availability of healthcare services than I ever was before traveling with a baby. Thankfully Japan has a wonderful medical system with perfectly capable doctors.

I know this firsthand as I needed to visit a doctor in Kyoto when my asthma flared up. I was able to visit an international doctor at a clinic that services foreigners the same day. All of the medication the doctor prescribed was available there as well. In most cases they’ll want a cash payment which you can then submit to your travel insurance for reimbursement.

In non-emergency situations, look for a doctor that specializes in international patients as there can be language barriers. I was able to find mine easily on Google Maps. Otherwise, hospitals are widely available, even in smaller towns.

Overall, I loved traveling in Japan with our baby. The clean family bathrooms provided an easy place to change him, feeding and buying supplies were easy, and getting around was simple with such a well-connected rail system .

I was worried with so many stops and logistics that it might be a nightmare, but everything is so well-organized in Japan, it all worked out. Plus, the adorable interactions between our son and the locals made it a heartwarming experience.

Kristin Addis is a solo female travel expert who inspires women to travel the world in an authentic and adventurous way. A former investment banker who sold all of her belongings in 2012, Kristin has been traveling the world ever since. You can find more of her musings at Be My Travel Muse or on Instagram and Facebook .

Book Your Trip to Japan: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe, so you always know no stone is left unturned!

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the most comprehensive inventory so they are best for booking a hostel. If you want to stay in a hotel or guesthouse in Japan, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancelations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it, as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• Safety Wing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel — and I think they will help you too!

Be sure to check out the Japan Rail Pass if you’ll be traveling around the country. It comes in 7-, 14-, and 21-day passes and can save you a ton of money!

Looking for More Travel Tips for Japan? Check out my in-depth Japan travel guide for more ways to save money; information on costs; tips on what to see and do; suggested itineraries, reading, and packing lists; and much, much more!

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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Want to visit Japan with an infant? Here's how to make your trip a success

When I first started traveling solo and blogging 10 years ago, one of the most persistent things I got asked was, "When are you going to settle down?"

The question irked me. It suggested that there were only two paths in life. But it didn't seem to me that traveling and having a family had to be mutually exclusive.

Years later, having returned from my 20th flight with my now 7-month-old (which was our second international trip together), I know firsthand that adventures don't have to end just because you have a baby. That said, traveling does look different with a little one.

When I decided to visit Japan with a young child, for example, I asked my community on Instagram for suggestions and received a direct message saying that Japan was "not really baby friendly."

The more research I did, however, the more conflicting information I found.

People complained that the hotel rooms were too small, that some restaurants did not allow babies or children, and that transit could be difficult with all the extra baggage that children often require.

I'd been to Japan twice already, and I remembered it being one of the friendliest, most accommodating places I'd ever visited. So, I trusted my initial impression and decided to give it a shot for our first international family vacation. Fortunately, the country turned out to be just as welcoming to babies as I'd hoped.

Right away, Japan impressed me with its family-friendly amenities. There were impeccably clean family bathrooms almost everywhere, as well as ample changing tables. Several airports even have free strollers , should you decide to leave yours at home.

Restaurants were also quite accommodating, often offering an extra bowl of rice, a toy, a high chair and other amenities without us needing to ask. Plus, our baby got attention everywhere we went in the form of smiles and peek-a-boo interactions. I'm sure he'd happily move there full time.

That said, there were some key things I did to make our trip successful.

Related: 12 tips on how to travel internationally with a baby

Book business-class flights

This was our first trip crossing the international date line and several time zones. My biggest worry was how we were going to get over the jet lag . I knew if we could have a comfortable experience flying to Japan and back, our chances of preserving nap time and having our baby sleep on the flight were much greater.

It just so happened that we flew both of Japan's major airlines during this trip. For our flight out, we struggled to find a mileage option that matched what I had banked, so I used American Express Travel's International Airline Program to find a 25% discount for our business-class flights with Japan Airlines and used my The Platinum Card® from American Express to book. The tickets were fairly reasonable at $2,000 each, plus $250 for having a lap infant .

I was so glad we opted for business class on this part of the trip. Not only was the service top-notch, but Japan Airlines' Sky Suite meant we had almost complete privacy, with plenty of room for naps and tummy time.

During the trip, I scanned for deals and found flights home on ANA via United for 90,000 miles each.

Like our experience with Japan Airlines, we thoroughly enjoyed our time in the air with ANA. Our little guy slept almost the entire overnight flight home, as did his parents.

If you're like me, you may worry about getting dirty looks for bringing a baby into business class. Don't stress about it, though, as we had no issues during our trip.

Odds are your child will not be the only baby (as was the case for us). People frequently remarked about how our son handles flights like a champ, even though we weren't doing anything special to keep him calm. Lie-flat seats and the white noise of an airplane can do wonders for sleep!

Related: The best ways to travel to Japan with points and miles

One of the toughest things to do with a baby is pack light. However, given the number of stairs in places like metro stations, I knew we'd thank ourselves later if we only took what we could carry. So, we left the stroller and car seat at home, opting to baby-wear and rely on public transportation.

Ultimately, it was the right way to go. Japan's public transit system is efficient and reliable, so you can easily get to all the places you'll want to visit without renting a car or using a ride-hailing service.

To make our journey to and from Japan that much easier, we also rolled the dice and opted not to bring his travel Pack 'n Play. As light as it is, it still requires its own bag and was too much to carry on this trip.

Instead of bringing a portable crib, focus on accommodations with floor beds so your child can easily have their own mattress. I did this and also took advantage of my American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts credit so we could stay at The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho, a Marriott -affiliated property that offered a surprisingly rare family amenity: a crib.

Related: How to pack — and prepare — for travel with a baby

Feast on convenience store cuisine

It was a running joke during our trip that we were either eating like royalty or dining on convenience store cuisine. We enjoyed both ends of the culinary spectrum, sitting for traditional multicourse kaiseki dinners and taking multibowl ramen tours. We even brought 7-Eleven's finest back to our hotel so our baby could have his normal early bedtime routine. It saved us on long travel days, too.

I can't imagine any other country where I would be as pleased with eating so many meals from convenience stores, but as anyone who has been to Japan knows, the country has some incredible food. You can get everything from hot meals to dried fruit in addition to inventive chip flavors, boiled eggs, mochi and Belgian waffles, among other items.

An added bonus is that convenience stores are everywhere, from train stations to just about every major city block, so you won't have to venture far to grab a bite to eat. This proximity to affordable dining makes it extremely easy for anyone, especially a young family, to find sustenance.

Related: A beginners guide to visiting Tokyo: Everything you need to eat, see and do

Keep the itinerary loose

When traveling with a baby, flexibility is key. My biggest regret about the trip is that we did not have enough days for our first stop, Kyoto. Since we were still adjusting to the new time zone, we mostly stayed in our apartment rental until midday.

It was a good thing I hadn't planned or booked too many activities, as things always come up when traveling with a baby. Sure, that means you can't check as many things off a bucket list as you'd like, but the trade-off of watching your baby experience a world where everything is new to them is more than worth it. They may not remember the trip when they're older, but it still means a lot to them in the moment.

It means the world to me, too. Instead of squeezing in more sightseeing, I'm glad we decided to prioritize one or two things per stop so we could save time for precious spontaneous moments with our son. Anytime we were able to achieve more was a bonus, and we never regretted keeping our day-to-day activities limited.

Related: The best types of vacations to take with a baby

Bottom line

Though what your trips look like will ultimately change after expanding your family, it doesn't mean you have to limit your time away from home. There's a big world to see, and we all deserve to keep adventuring, regardless of our age.

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I flew to Japan with my baby. Here's the travel advice that helped me survive the trip

Emily Siner

Journalist Emily Siner went on a trip to Japan with her 8-month-old son and knew it would be daunting. What should she pack? What should she expect? Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR hide caption

Journalist Emily Siner went on a trip to Japan with her 8-month-old son and knew it would be daunting. What should she pack? What should she expect?

Last winter, my husband and I made the ambitious decision to fly 13 hours with our 8 month old for a two-week vacation around Japan.

We knew flying with a baby would be daunting. What if he has a meltdown on the airplane? What gear do we bring? How will he adjust to the 15-hour time change? And ... will we actually get to enjoy ourselves?

Siner's husband and their 8-month-old son on the 13-hour flight to Tokyo. Siner says their baby loved watching other passengers on the plane. Emily Siner hide caption

Siner's husband and their 8-month-old son on the 13-hour flight to Tokyo. Siner says their baby loved watching other passengers on the plane.

Preethi Harbuck, author of the travel blog Local Passport Family and a mom of six agrees that taking a big trip with young children — that is, babies and toddlers under age 2 — isn't easy. But with the right preparation and mindset, it can also be fun for everyone. You may even be able to "connect with people and places in a new way that [you] wouldn't have been able to experience without kids," she says.

To help set parents up for success, Harbuck and Christine Sarkis, editor-in-chief of the travel website Family Vacationist , share tips on what to pack, how to overcome travel challenges and set realistic expectations.

Take a practice trip

Before you pack your passports for a big international trip, try a shorter trip that's closer to home so you can work out the kinks of traveling with a young child. Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR hide caption

Before you pack your passports for a big international trip, try a shorter trip that's closer to home so you can work out the kinks of traveling with a young child.

The first step to preparing for a big trip is to take a smaller one, like an overnight trip somewhere close by. It can give you a sense of what it's like to travel with your little one and grow your confidence, says Harbuck. "Find what feels comfortable and keep practicing. It will become easier."

Luckily, my husband and I had a chance to take some shorter trips with our baby before going to Japan. When our baby was three months old, we stayed overnight at a cabin about a half hour away by car. A month later, we took an 8-hour road trip to Chicago to see family.

How to take better (and more distinctive) photos on vacation

From these outings. I learned how important it was to pack a sound machine, which helps my baby fall asleep, and a portable diaper changing pad. I also learned that I didn't need to bring too many toys. My kid loved watching other people talk, walk and interact with each other.

So when we went to Japan, I put those lessons to use. I packed the essentials, left half the toys behind and made sure to sit in an aisle seat on the plane so that my baby, who sat on my lap, could get a good view of the passengers and stay entertained.

Make plans your future self will thank you for

When traveling with a baby or a toddler, everything becomes a little more complicated. There's a lot more to pack (more on that later) and a lot more considerations to make (like naps and kid-friendly meals, perhaps). So the key is to prioritize decisions that will simplify travel, says Sarkis. "Anything you can do to smooth your way [will make you] so happy with yourself."

Here are some planning decisions that our experts recommend.

Put your kid in their own plane seat. Many airlines allow kids under 2 to fly in your lap for a very low rate, sometimes even for free. While that can make travel more budget friendly, Harbuck says it's worth buying your child their own seat. Placing them in a car seat is the safest place for them to sit on an airplane, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Plus, having your own seats can make long flights more comfortable for the both of you.

Consider their developmental stage. Keep in mind that your child's needs will change as they age. For example, if your kid is walking, it may be harder to "keep them busy and happy" on the airplane, says Sarkis. So you might enjoy your trip more if you choose a destination that's closer to home. Anticipate what stage they'll be in at the time of travel and plan accordingly.

Add more adults to the trip. My husband and I traveled with friends for part of our trip around Japan. They helped us carry luggage and held our baby while we ate. "If you have someone to trade off with, that's really helpful," says Sarkis.

7 tips to help you keep the peace when traveling with a group

Book a vacation rental. If you are traveling with a little one who still naps in the middle of the day or has an early bedtime, you may not want to book a single hotel room. Sarkis says she made that mistake on a trip once and had to bring pillows into the bathtub just to have a place to read after her kids went to bed. "Whereas in a vacation rental I could have sat on a couch."

Plan solo time. Carve out time for you and your travel partners to do things without the baby. On our trip to Japan, my husband and I decided we'd give each other as much time as we wanted in the guesthouse onsen , the heated communal bath, while the other watched our sleeping baby. Another night, we hired a babysitter so we could go out together and sing karaoke.

Pack well ... and lightly

It’s hard to travel light with a baby. So opt for the travel versions of strollers, cribs and car seats — they are often smaller and weigh less than the usual gear.

Credit: Becky Harlan/NPR

Portable cribs, high chairs, playpens and sleep canopies? There's no shortage of recommendations when it comes to choosing travel gear for your little one. But the No. 1 takeaway is to make sure "everything you're carrying is worth the stress of carrying it," says Sarkis.

Planning a trip? Here's how to pack like a pro

Focus on the basic gear. At the minimum, your child will likely need a stroller or baby carrier to get around, a car seat for car trips and a safe place to sleep, like a portable crib. See if you can get travel versions of that gear, which are often lighter, smaller and easier to carry. Many airlines will let you check a stroller and a car seat for free, either before you go through security or at the gate. (If you do this, get some sort of carrying case to protect them.)

Cut down the big stuff ... There may be opportunities to leave some of that gear behind, says Sarkis. Check whether you can rent a stroller at your destination. Your accommodation may offer baby cribs. And some ridesharing apps may have vehicles outfitted with infant car seats.

... and the little stuff. "Kids live all around the world so you can access most of what you really, truly need" at your destination, says Harbuck. If your luggage is getting too full, consider buying diapers, wipes, formula or baby food when you land. In Japan, we did laundry halfway through our trip to minimize the clothing we had to pack.

Set your expectations

Traveling with young children alters the nature of the experience. It's important to set realistic expectations for your trip. Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR hide caption

Traveling with young children alters the nature of the experience. It's important to set realistic expectations for your trip.

I'll be honest: There were a lot of moments on our trip when I felt overwhelmed and a bit disappointed. Like when my jet-lagged baby woke up crying at 1 a.m., 3 a.m. and somehow again at 3:30 a.m. — for two nights in a row.

Both Harbuck and Sarkis acknowledge that post-kid travel is harder in many ways. But there are a few things you can do to set yourself up for success.

Redirect your attention to the positive aspects of your journey. "If you're focused only on the challenges, you're going to miss the joys," says Sarkis. For me, it was delightful to witness my baby do new things in Japan. He ate new foods like udon, miso soup and smoked fish. He was mesmerized by the Ryoanji Temple's rock garden in Kyoto and even more mesmerized by the steady stream of tourists' faces to observe.

A flight expert's hot take on holiday travel: 'Don't do it'

See drawbacks as opportunities. If you have to go back to your hotel twice a day to let your child nap, see it as a moment to read, journal or "recharge for the next thing you do," says Sarkis.

Look out for special ways your child is helping you connect with the world. On flights, our neighbors told us about their own children or nieces and nephews. In restaurants, servers would come over to coo at him and make conversation with us in the process, despite the language barrier.

And finally, give yourself some kudos. For us parents, traveling was a big priority for us before he was born, and the experience made us proud to realize that yes — even with a small child, we can still see the world.

The audio portion of this episode was produced by Andee Tagle. The digital story was edited by Malaka Gharib. The visual editor is Beck Harlan. We'd love to hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or email us at [email protected].

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• Life Kit: Parenting

Traveling in Japan with a baby

Whether by half-Japanese families or young parents in love with Japan, travel to Japan is totally feasible with a small kid. Yet, whether you want it or not, it will create some disruption to the kid’s habits. We can (hope to) minimize just about everything else but only flight duration and jet lag  🕓 remain unavoidable. Some babies easily deal with these disruptions, while the vast majority of the other kids do not. And it is hard to plan based on empirical evidence.

Let’s not be too optimistic or deeply anxious: accept the fact that those supporting your travel are mainly experienced travelers with kids and eventually supplemented by those who getting benefits from your departure. And in this context, there are obviously worse destinations than Japan!

The essential condition remains to plan your stay in advance in order to better approach it and therefore minimize unexpected events and worries once there.

Before leaving

Administration and security.

All Canadian, English or American children, from newborns to age 16, need their own passport to travel. Your child’s passport will be valid for a maximum of 5 years. A child’s passport is valid until it reaches its expiry date, even after the child turns 16.

You can apply for a passport online or print out the form online from the governmental websites to start the application process. Do not forget that it might take 4 to 6 weeks to obtain the final document.

It is also wise to check you insurance contract and especially the repatriation conditions, in case something happens.

Choosing the season

Regarding the period of the year for traveling, let’s review the highlights already given in the article here...

...which are:

• The hanami period will already be very crowded—too crowded to add another difficulty with an infant.
• Summer is much too humid and hot for young children.

Two excellent seasons to go to Japan, according to our experiences, are:

• During May , as soon as the Golden Week finishes: The temperatures are nicer without being stifling, the tsuyu is not here yet, and the greenness is beautiful (especially azaleas). It is also a break from tourists!
• From mid- September to the beginning of October : After the typhoon period, one can enjoy an Indian summer and its pleasant temperatures, just before the third touristy outburst of fall for the maple trees.

Duration of the stay

There are two quite opposite opinions about the duration of the stay.

Those thinking travel is already hard to swallow for a young kid may choose to stay a maximum of one to two weeks in Japan. Others may argue that, as they are going to handle all of these inconveniences, why not stay for a longer duration? They may decide to travel for three weeks or more.

Each family will make their own choices based on their knowledge and experience.

Choosing the flight

With the goal of minimizing the duration of the flight as much as possible, a direct flight should logically be the first and wisest choice. Only a few companies fly directly:

• From New York: All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL)
• From San Francisco: ANA and JAL
• From London: ANA, JAL, and British Airways

If you choose to land in Tokyo , favor flights arriving in Haneda and not Narita, as this will halve the transportation time to your accommodations.

Of course, the higher the class of seat, the larger the space that will be allocated, for your and your baby’s comfort. Therefore, a business class seat will allow everyone to lay down on the seat/bed, which will favor better sleep. For babies up to 9 kg, companies will provide a "bassinet" (a small cradle) and reserved seats: usually the first row of each class.

An infant’s fare depends on his or her age:

• Under 2 years old, we pay, at most, the airport taxes (about 10% of an adult’s fare)
• Above 2 years old, the fare usually varies from 25% to 50% of an adult ticket, but the kid will have his/her own seat.

A baby is also allowed several suitcases in the cabin and in the hold.

The stroller is usually considered a supplementary piece of luggage that can, in international airports, can be used up to the airplane’s doors. It is useless to invest in a costly model specific for cabins: a classic stroller will be enough. It is totally possible to bring water in a baby bottle or bottle (note how hypocritical it is for the rest of the population).

When going through customs  🛂 , a control may happen by testing the liquid or asking you to drink a little of it.

In the plane

If your baby has frequent otitis media or other ear infections, be very careful! It is not feasible to consider traveling with a baby who has otitis media, as his or her ears might not resist the takeoff and landing: the suffering is real, and aftermaths are possible. A health check-up is essential before planning any travel with a baby. To avoid discomfort during pressure changes, having a baby bottle ready will allow your baby to calm down during these moments of the flights.

Once at cruise, most companies’ staff will be caring. Patience and courage will be necessary during times when the baby is not sleeping. Get ready to walk the corridors. Depending on the baby’s age, an anime or cartoon on your smartphone  📱 (or on the plane  ✈️ ’s screen) will help to make the baby quieter (although it might condense the excitement for later on…).

The ideal remains to test several of these conditions before locking up your family for 12 hours!

Maybe even more than for adults, the goal is to synchronize children as early as possible in the country to the rhythm for the same school hours. It is sometimes easier to cope with jet lag when arriving in Japan rather than when coming back from there, yet there is no true evidence—it depends on each person.

In Japan, the sun rises and sets very early, whatever the season is. This would not be an issue if Japanese homes had normal curtains or sun blinds… but they tend not to. It is not easy to have a baby wear a sleeping mask  😷 .

This could be a great opportunity to visit temples and shrines, which are empty of tourists at these early hours!

Health/hygiene

Naturally, prepare a health and medicine case with the essentials: anti-diarrhea/constipation medicine, anti-fever medicine and pain killers, anti-allergy medication and arnica balm, if your baby walks.

If your baby has fragile bottom, then plan to bring its daily diapers, although there are many sorts of Japanese supermarkets and pharmacies. One can easily find places to change your baby’s diaper in malls and train  🚅 stations.

Traveling in Japan does not require any vaccines, but the one against Japanese encephalitis is advised if you plan to go to rural areas or if you are planning to hike. Bring your health documents and health insurance with you.

Prepare a list of medical health centers: international and famous hospitals will allow you to easily find an English-speaking doctor.

Finally, avoid onsen   ♨️ and sento, where temperatures are not adapted to babies’ bodies.

• Accommodation

Let’s be honest here: there is nothing more comfortable than a house or an apartment, and Airbnb happens to be the most resourceful website to find a good place. Some homes even have services and materials, such as baby beds or playpens. Also, the Japanese bathroom  🛁 , which is very watertight, makes it practical to clean yourself with your baby.

When everybody is tired, you might end up spending a lot of time inside, more than if you had traveled without your baby, so the choice of accommodation is critical and justifies a larger budget. If possible, avoid staying at multiple homes during your travel, or avoid constantly changing it.

Whatever the selected type of home, it is essential to find one with excellent insulation for heating during the harsh winters and cooling during the stifling summers. We will insist on this aspect, as it should be almost the first criterion, knowing the climate of Japan and the bad insulation quality of homes.

Attention: Baby-sitting services are not a cultural habit, so do not rely on them.

• Transportation

Commuting may be a problem when traveling with kids in Japan.

We more or less cannot find taxis with baby seats. Only one company, tokyo-taxi.jp , can have these childcare accessories and can easily be booked online in English; moreover, they only have services in Tokyo region. Yet, classic taxis will never refuse to have a baby come aboard. It will rely on you to determine if this sounds secure enough for you.

In public transportation (free for children under 6 years old), space reserved for strollers does not exist:

• Reserved seats in Tokyo trains and metros are still not respected;
• Buses happen to be a baffling problem (let’s not even talk about Kyoto ’s buses)
• The shinkansen remains the most comfortable, if you book seats in first class or in the last row to enjoy more space.

However, most train stations have lifts, which are very useful as strollers are forbidden in escalators. Expect to spend more time when transferring in a station, as numerous travelers with big suitcases, seniors and lazy people use them.

If baby is comfortable with it, do not hesitate to rent a car  🚙 and / or a bike  🚲 properly equipped to reduce commuting times and schedules by public transportation.

Depending on your baby’s feeding phase, you will need to plan to have a certain stock of baby formula or other favorite foods. Applesauce and prepared mashed potatoes are also very useful.

On site, the choice of baby food remains quite small. If you doubt whether to introduce raw fish sushi  🍣 to your kid, do not worry too much— Japanese cuisine offers a wide variety of food. Even while enjoying your sushi, your kid can have vegetarian or cooked sushi and maki.

For the rest, the huge amount of food choices in Japan will offer some interesting and funny tasting experiences, based on your ability to read the ingredients in Japanese.

Japan happens to be an easy country to enjoy with a baby, at least in the cities. Numerous visits are possible with a young child, and some are even created for them (including numerous gardens and squares in Japan). Also, we easily find bathrooms for babies with changing tables in malls.

In the countryside, it is a little more complicated, and it is wise to correctly inform yourself before climbing a mountain to reach a temple, for example.

The essential accessory for travel with a baby is a stroller and/or a baby carrier, which will allow you:

• to comfortably access numerous places;
• to start nap time while still visiting, which is more convenient: no need to go back to the hotel/apartment in the middle of the day; and
• to tidy up the space around you, if needed, in public transportation, for example.

A stroller is easier to use, and you can still enjoy access numerous attractions.

With one objective being to minimize transportation time, it is important to plan ahead district by district.

Avoid planning very busy days, as they will be tiring both for you and your child.

Feelings and benefits for baby

Your child’s consideration and enjoyment of the travel will vary depending on the age and developmental phase of your child. Most babies are emotional sponges (even perhaps with delayed effects). Travel can be tiring and stressful, even more so when having to take care of a baby. The main goal for parents is to remain as serene as possible.

It is important to take the baby’s favorite games and toys, with which he or she spends most of his or her time playing, without forgetting the doudou—your baby’s comforting toy or blanket. Keep a secure and reassuring cocoon around your kid to prevent anxiety. As a rule, Japanese people tend to accept babies’ anger crises (from their own babies and those of others!).

When everything is going well, interacting with locals becomes so interesting. Japanese people of all ages will remove their serious faces, even the strictest salarymen. Therefore, we will ask the mother the age of the child. And if your baby is blonde, get ready to hear massive amounts of " kawaii "!

A little vocabulary

• baby: 赤ちゃん aka- chan
• stroller: ベビーカー baby-car
• diaper: おむつ omutsu
• Flights and Airports
• Internet & Phones
• Budget and money
• Japanese Food
• Visit with Kids
• Seasons: spring / summer / autumn / winter
• Weather forecast
• Time in Japan
• Holidays & Festivals
• Natural Disasters
• Customs and Duties
• Works and Closures
• May 12 -- Mother's Day in Japan
• June 6 -- Beginning of the rainy season (Tsuyu) in Japan
• June 21 -- Summer starts in Japan
• July 1 -- Season start for climbing Mount Fuji
• From July 1 to 31 -- Gion Matsuri Festival in Kyoto with float processions on July 17 and 24
• July 15 -- Sea day / Umi no Hi in Japan (holiday)
• Tokyo : Shinjuku , Shibuya , Harajuku , Asakusa , Akihabara , Odaiba , Ikebukuro , Ueno , Roppongi , Chiyoda , Ryogoku ...
• Around Tokyo: Kamakura , Nikko , Hakone , Mount Fuji , Mount Takao , Yokohama ...
• Kansai: Kyoto , Nara , Osaka , Mount Koya , Himeji , Kobe , Kinosaki , Kumano Kodo , Ise ...
• Japanese Alps: Kanazawa , Matsumoto , Takayama , Shirakawa-go , Nakasendo ...
• West: Hiroshima , Miyajima , Shikoku , Onomichi , Naoshima , Izumo , Kurashiki , Matsue ...
• South: Kyushu , Okinawa , Yakushima ...
• North: Hokkaido , Tohoku ...

• Temples and Shrines
• Gardens and Parks
• Hiking and Trekking
• Observation Decks
• Public Baths (Onsen and Sento)
• Festivals (Matsuri)
• Amusement Parks
• Visit on a Budget / Luxury

Keikaku is a travel agency specialist of Japan and providing different kind of services:

• Japan Rail Pass
• English speaking Guides
• Pocket Wi-fi
• Japan Nightlife
• Working in Japan
• Religion and Spirituality
• Arts and History
• Movies / Animated Movies
• Japanese Music
• Studio Ghibli
• Photos / Videos
• Weird Japan
• Translations
• Kana & Kanji
• Japanese Swear Words
• Honorific Suffixes (san, kun, chan...)
• Introducing yourself
• Thank you / Apologize
• Count / Say Your Age
• Say the Date / Tell the Time
• Happy birthday
• Enjoy Your Meal
• Writing your name

Kanas are the much-needed basic characters of written Japanese language. Memorize them at a fast pace with our method.

Ask any kind of question and share your knowledge about Japan in Kanpai’s community space, our Q&A section Kotaete.

Isshoni means "together" in Japanese: share your trip details (dates, places you would like to visit) and find companions to travel in Japan.

Create your Kanpai account to manage your profile and view your participation history (questions, answers).

How to Travel Japan with a Baby and Toddler 

I travelled a lot before having children and since welcoming two lovely babies into the world I’ve been keen to continue exploring, taking them with me. Some places are easier than others to travel with kids and as we recently experienced, Japan is an excellent place to travel with babies. 

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. This means that if you click a link and purchase something I’ve recommended I’ll earn a small commission. This does not affect the price you pay but helps me to run this site. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. You can read my full affiliate disclosure here.

We spent a week travelling Japan with a baby and a toddler and would recommend taking your little ones there for a holiday. It’s clean, it’s safe and has excellent transport, delicious food and great baby facilities. We did a lot of research before travelling, spoke to other families that had travelled and after visiting ourselves now have some key tips to make a holiday in Japan with babies as stress-free as possible. 

Take the Shinkansen Train

We loved travelling on the Shinkansen with the babies. It’s speedy and comfortable, and you can take plenty of snacks, drinks and all your luggage on board. Previously, many people opted to purchase the JR Pass which allows unlimited travel on most Shinkansen train services for a set period. (7, 14 or 21 days). However, the prices went up significantly in October 2023, so if you’re only taking a few train journeys in Japan then it makes much more sense to book individual point-to-point (P2P) train tickets , which is what we did. The other bonus of this is you can take the fastest trains (Nozomi and Mizuho Shinkansen Bullet Trains) which weren’t previously included in the JR Pass. 

Our Japan family itinerary started and ended in Tokyo with a stay in Kyoto in between. So purchasing two single tickets was the best option and even if we had visited an additional city such as Osaka, P2P tickets would still be cheaper than buying a JR Pass. 

We booked our tickets through Klook . Make sure you select a ticket with ‘reserved seat’ on booking, which allocates you a seat. Babies and toddlers don’t require a ticket, but they won’t have their own seats unless you purchase them a ticket with a seat reservation. We had both the toddler and baby on our laps for the 2 hour train trip and it was fine.

There is just one row on each Shinkansen carriage that has an allocated space for large luggage, so if you need this, pop to a train station in Japan before your journey and ask to swap your reservation to that seat. Alternatively, you can pay a fine onboard which is 1000 yen to store your luggage providing there is space. (The reservation swap is free for one change). If you have small pieces of luggage then you can place them in the luggage racks above the seats. 

One tip for taking the Shinkansen with a toddler and a baby is to make sure you get prepared for embarking/disembarking early. The trains don’t stop for very long, so it’s good to have one parent dealing with the bags while the other focuses on getting the kids on and off. A baby carrier is a good idea for this.

Take a Travel Pram and a Baby Carrier

It’s hard work lugging a big pram around, especially if you are taking the Metro and Shinkansen, so it is a good idea to take a travel pram to Japan. We have a double travel pram so that both the baby and the toddler can nap on the go, and it made it much easier to navigate the busy streets. It is compact enough to easily get on and off the train when folded and we took it on the Metro with no problem. Just be aware that not all stations have lifts, but we were always able to manage on the escalators. It’s also available as a single .

In Tokyo, we also visited the Tsukiji Fish Market, which is pretty busy and the stroller was narrow enough that it wasn’t too stressful! However most of the time, we kept the baby in a baby carrier – I think it was more enjoyable for her and in busy places like Tokyo it’s much easier. So if you don’t already have one it’s worth investing in a good baby carrier before the trip. We love the Ergobaby Omni Breeze . The baby also slept most of the flight there and back in the carrier too. 

It’s worth noting that not all tourist attractions are stroller-friendly. For example, Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto has lots of steps, especially the later sections. So it’s better to leave the pram at your accommodation when visiting and use a baby carrier. 

Family Friendly Accommodation in Japan

Japanese hotel rooms are notoriously small, so I highly recommend booking an apartment hotel in Japan. We stayed our entire trip at Mimaru Suites – a chain of apartment hotels – which we loved. These are perfect for families, with one, two and three bedroom apartments with kitchens and living spaces. Most also have a washing machine which is ideal for washing baby clothes after a poonami or a messy dinner. All of the apartments had microwaves so I could sterilise dummies and bottles in this handy reusable sterilisation bag .

It also means that you can put the babies to bed and enjoy an evening in the living space – rather than having to sit in the dark and trying not to wake the kids – something we did in Milan before realising apartments are the way to travel with children! 

Mimaru Suites offer an extensive range of free rental items too, including baby cots and bedside panels for toddlers and they even provided us with a nappy bin! There are also more unusual items available like rice cookers, kitchen scales, yoga mats and luggage scales. 

We particularly loved Mimaru Suites Kyoto Shijo which had lots of nice extras like a coffee machine that was available all day, a free craft beer and sake happy hour and calligraphy lessons. 

Pack Light 

It’s worth being as minimalist as possible when packing for a Japan trip with a baby. We managed to take one suitcase for all four of us, along with a big backpack, a daypack and a nappy bag. It’s not easy pushing a suitcase and a pram simultaneously, so if you can reduce wheeled cases to one, then it makes life a lot easier when travelling between destinations. 

This is another reason why staying in an apartment with a washing machine is a great idea. You can take less clothes and wash them during the trip. 

What to Pack for a trip to Japan with a Toddler and a Baby 

I’ve written an article all about what to pack when travelling with a baby , which includes most of the things required for a trip to Japan. But a few extra things to point out specifically for travelling in Japan with a baby and toddler are listed below: 

• Hand sanitiser – this may sound like a strange one, but we found that while the baby change facilities were excellent, lots of them did not have soap. So it’s well worth bringing hand sanitiser and hand sanitising wipes with you everywhere, as well as Milton wipes .
• Disposable nappy bags – Another thing we noticed in the baby changing rooms was that many of them didn’t have bins and in fact around Japan, it’s very rare to see a bin. People tend to eat in restaurants or at home in Japan – not on the move – so the take-out culture isn’t as common as it is in places like Australia and the UK. If you do get a takeaway coffee for example, you are expected to take your cup home with you or back to the place you bought it from for them to dispose of. So it’s a good idea to have some plastic nappy bags with you as you might not find a place to dispose of a dirty nappy for a while! 
• Cash – Japan is such a modern and developed country that I wasn’t expecting to need cash. However, there were many occasions where only cash was accepted or only Japanese credit cards worked, such as for tickets on the Metro and for food at the fish market, so make sure you bring some cash with you or head to the ATM when you arrive. 

Restaurants and Food in Japan 

One of the main reasons I wanted to visit Japan was to eat the delicious food and it didn’t disappoint. Not all restaurants in Japan are baby-friendly, so it’s worth doing a bit of research before you go, but we had some fantastic meals with the children. 

In Tokyo, there are lots of fun little areas of laneways with tiny restaurants, such as Golden Gai. Unfortunately, many of these are not that accessible when travelling with babies. Some only seat a few people so there is no way you’ll be getting a pram into one of these tiny eateries. However, we did manage to sit outside at one of the Omodie Yokocho restaurants and had a great meal with the babies. 

We generally tried to find bigger places to eat, such as Kura Sushi in Asakusa which is very child-friendly and fun. We also enjoyed Yakiniku Marutomi in Kyoto and they were happy to provide a high chair for our toddler which was handy given that there was a hot plate in the middle of the table so we needed to keep him contained! 

Quite a few of the restaurants we ate at offered a kid’s menu, including children’s sushi (which generally seemed to be smaller and sweeter portions of regular sushi). 

Read our guide on what to eat in Tokyo

In the evenings, we either ate early at a restaurant or ate at home in our apartment hotel. You can use Uber Eats in Japan and there is also a Japanese app called Wolt. On other evenings we bought sushi from 7 Eleven or Fresco supermarket and ate that in our apartment. Both have great options and are very affordable. 

In Japan, legally you have to be 20 to enter a bar. We tried to go out for a drink one evening with the baby in a carrier but sadly couldn’t get in anywhere for this reason. So that’s worth bearing in mind if you’re planning an evening out. 

Baby Changing

You will find baby-changing facilities in shopping centres, train stations and most tourist attractions. These are in general very clean and spacious. Though worth noting as mentioned before, that many don’t have soap. Nappies can be purchased from most pharmacies. Lots of the public toilets also have a little seat to put your baby in while you use the toilet which I thought was very cute. Though my baby is far too wriggly to trust putting her in one!

Japanese Parks

Parents of toddlers will know the importance of having somewhere for the little ones to let off steam. Luckily the Japanese cities we visited have fantastic parks. Yoyogi Park in Tokyo is huge and has lots of green space to enjoy – it’s also very beautiful – particularly during the Cherry Blossom and Autumn periods. I also bookmarked a variety of children’s playgrounds on Google Maps before the trip so we could pop to a park for a quick swing or slide when out and about each day. 

Travelling to and from Japan with Babies 

We flew with ANA who were amazing and I would fly with them again. The staff were so attentive and helped us with the baby and the toddler. Tokyo Haneda airport is great and has excellent facilities and they have prams that you can use once you have checked in your luggage. (ANA also had this option when flying from Sydney too). 

Overall, travelling in Japan with babies was a fun and easy experience and I’m keen to go back soon and see more of the country. 

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HI! Great blog entry, super thorough and makes me feel like it will be possible to travel to japan with 20 month old twins! How long were you in Japan for and was this an adequate amount of time?

We were there for 8 days – I’m in the process of writing up our itinerary so check back soon! I think if I were to do it again I would allow a little longer as we loved Kyoto so much I could have spent much longer there. Hope you have a great trip!

Thank you for this! Looking to go in November and would love to spend most of our time in Kyoto!

We travelled in November – it was a great time to visit. Have a lovely time!

Thanks for all your helpful tips! Traveling with kids can be very daunting so it helps to have a little insight from others. I’m going in May with my 1 year old, he would have just turned 12 thought. For your younger one, did you take baby food with you or did you buy over there?

My baby was only 5 months and not on solids yet so I didn’t need baby food and the toddler ate what we ate. I suppose it depends what your baby eats – my daughter is now 9 months and mostly eats what we eat – we do a lot of baby led weaning. However I think its a good idea to take some pouches with you so you have a back up. Have an amazing time!

Hello, your articles are with complete information and no answer to your photography, very beautiful photography.

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Traveling with a Baby in Japan – Everything You Need to Know

Is Japan baby friendly? Absolutely. Does that mean it’s always easy to travel through with a baby? Not exactly.

We just returned from two wonderful weeks traveling through Japan with our 6-month-old and while some parts of the trip were challenging, I think we did a pretty good job of successfully navigating four cities in two weeks with our baby. Here’s everything we did to make our trip to Japan with our baby a memory we’ll always hold dear:

Table of Contents

Overall Japan Baby Friendliness

When I was planning our trip, I read mixed reviews from other bloggers of the baby friendliness in Japan. I even received Instagram DMs saying it was the most baby friendly place ever – or not baby friendly at all. So which is it?

I’m happy to say that I was impressed by how family and baby friendly Japan was.

It’s the first country I have traveled to where attendants will usher you to a special family line whether it’s at airport security, check in, or waiting to board. I’ve never had people actually seek us out to help us board like that before.

There were also family/handicap bathrooms everywhere. From train and metro stations to historic folk villages, and more places I really didn’t expect, they were plentiful, clean, and unlike in the US, I never saw a single, able-bodied person walk out of them. People really respected that they were meant for those who actually needed them.

I also saw lactation pods in major transit hubs, and bathroom stalls even had little baby holders!

People were also incredibly friendly and playful with our son. We heard “kawaii!” (cute) all the time. Someone even pulled over on a major city street in Tokyo to tell us that we’d dropped a sock while we were walking on the sidewalk. Can you imagine that happening anywhere else?

We were also given our own private room to dine in at one of the fancier places we stayed – Ubuya near Mt. Fuji. They put two chairs together for a makeshift crib and even brought in toys for Felix when he was fussing. Although we’d heard babies aren’t allowed in some nicer dining establishments in Japan, we never ran into that issue.

Still, I can see why some people struggled. Make sure you do the following when traveling to Japan with your baby.

Pack LIGHT!

It seemed the biggest struggle people had was with bringing too much.

I understand! It’s easy to do when you have a baby. It seems like the smaller the human, the more things they need.

Between the three of us, we only had one large bag, two backpacks, and one shoulder bag – even in the winter with bigger clothes! Garrett would stack the shoulder bag on the rolling suitcase and wear one backpack during transit while I wore the baby in this front carrier with the diaper bag backpack on my back. This way, we could get through public transport without issue. This is how we pack light with a baby.

Most train stations have elevators and escalators, though you may come across some in Tokyo that don’t. We bought this rolling suitcase/backpack just for this purpose. It’ll come in so handy in Europe as well, where we’ll encounter the same problem.

There were some key things we left out: Half of the diapers for the trip (we bought there), a stroller , car seat , and a baby bed/crib .

There are luggage forwarding services in Japan, but that seemed like more trouble than just packing lighter to me. Still, if you need it, it can be helpful.

Consider Your Transport Plans

We traveled without a car seat because we were using all trains and buses where they aren’t necessary. The one time we did need to catch a quick taxi, he didn’t mind us having the baby on our laps. That went in contrast to what I had read about Japan’s strict car seat laws. Maybe it’s because we were in a small town?

Regardless, since taxis are crazy expensive in Japan, we didn’t rely on them very often. The one time we took a private transfer to the airport , we reserved a car seat in advance for a few dollars.

The one area where I am still torn is the stroller. There were many times when we were walking down the sidewalk and a stroller would have been great. Our baby is pretty big for his age, so we were hurting from all of the carrying. But there were many times when I thought to myself, I’m so glad we don’t have a stroller to deal with in addition to everything else!

During rush hour, trains in bigger cities can get quite crowded, so you’ll be folding up that stroller anyway.

If I were to do it again, I’m not sure I would do anything differently, although now that my son is older a stroller is a must, and there are plenty that are nice and small!

The best strollers that fit in the overhead bin of an airplane

Book the Right Accommodation

Another area where people ran into issues was with accommodation. It’s true that hotel cribs are difficult to come by in Japan. Affordable hotel rooms can also be quite small, particularly in Tokyo.

I loved using Airbnb for this. We were able to book multi-level apartments in Kyoto and Takayama that cost under $100 per night. Both had floor beds so we had no problem putting Felix on his own mattress and sleeping next to him on our own. He never sleeps quite as well on the road as he does at home, but that would be true regardless of whether we brought a travel bassinet or not.

We did run into a little bit of an issue in Kawaguchiko at Ubuya, which did not have any kind of infant bed despite being a five star, family-friendly hotel. We had to put him between us on two beds pushed together so he wouldn’t roll off. That was the worst sleep of the trip!

In Tokyo, the Prince Gallery Kioicho hotel had a crib for us, which was great.

Buying Baby Products in Japan

Drugstores are your best bet for buying baby food, formula, diapers, and any other baby-related needs while you are traveling in Japan. Don’t expect to find these things at grocery stores. Matsumoto Kiyoshi (マツモトキヨシ) is the one we came across the most often.

Although you will find a bigger selection in bigger cities, we were able to get the diapers we needed in the smaller town of Takayama. You can easily find the right size as the baby weight in kilos is printed on each package. That said, it may be the brand we bought, which was the only one available, but it just wasn’t as absorbent as the Honest Company ones we use at home, and we had a few pee-throughs.

Since our baby was just turning six months and we mostly do baby-led weaning with him, we mostly fed him a combo of milk I pumped with my wearable pumps and specialized formula we traveled with from home. and bought a few fruits and veggies at grocery stores and fed him at home. I’ve never had such delicious strawberries in my life!

From time to time I’d share any unsalted food I had with him, including some breakfast salmon. I think he was more excited about the chopsticks than the food, which was so fresh and delicious.

Nursing in Japan

Can you publicly nurse in Japan? I never saw anyone do it. My feeling is that it’s not something people openly do there. Since I can’t nurse , I didn’t run into this issue, but I did see lactation pods from time to time. Since the water is clean, pumping on the go and cleaning parts was no problem for me. It’s also common to have hot water kettles in accommodation, which made sanitizing easy.

The family bathrooms are also a great place to nurse since they always had a fold out bench/bed. If it were me, in a pinch, I’d also use a nursing cover.

Overall, Japan was a wonderful place to bring our son for his first ‘big’ international trip. With the right preparation and packing light , we had a blast. You can check out our Japan itinerary here.

*Some links in this post are affiliate links that support us at no extra cost to you when you purchase through them. We only recommend products we love and use ourselves. Your trust always comes first!

Kristin is the founder of Parenthood Adventures, combining her love of travel and newfound joy of motherhood. She's the creator of one of the most-read women's travel blogs in the world, bemytravelmuse.com, with a readership in the millions each year.

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How to Travel With a Baby in Japan

While making an overseas trip may not be the first thing on your mind if you have recently added a new member to your family, if you’d be so inclined you should definitely consider Japan. Japan, including the capital, Tokyo , is a surprisingly family-friendly holiday destination. As traveling with babies is always a bit of a challenge, it is good to be prepared so you can make everyone’s travel experience a great one. Here are 7 tips on how to travel with a baby in Japan for your best family trip to the Land of the Rising Sun!

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Family friendly accommodation, public transportation in japan, baggage shipping service, bring a baby carrier and a lightweight stroller, baby friendly spaces in japan, plan for extra time, family friendly tours in japan.

Packing and dressing smart is half of the work of making any long-haul trip as stress-free as possible. First of all, it is always a good idea to travel as light as possible. As most accommodations have laundry machines on the premises and coin laundromats are also ubiquitous in Japan, you shouldn’t worry about packing a change of clothes for every travel day. Bringing 4 or 5 sets of clothing per person is enough for most people, and for babies, you may want to bring one extra set for little accidents that happen on the go. Bringing one comfortable vest or light jacket for everyone is also a good idea, as temperatures can differ quite a lot between air-conditioned spaces and outside. If you travel during the winter , make sure that some of your clothing is thermal clothing, as conditions can be cold and humid. If you don’t have that type of clothing yet, you can buy ‘heat tech’ for a good price at Uniqlo .

Looking to travel lighter on your trip to Japan? Go sustainable and lighten your load with Any Wear, Anywhere!

Many hotels in Japan cater to business travelers, meaning that the rooms are small and so are the beds. Business-style hotels are great for budget-conscious people who travel solo or as a couple, but for families, they tend to be too cramped. If you travel with a baby or bigger kids that you want to stay in the same room with, you’d better make sure that the accommodations you book are family-friendly. Bigger resorts tend to have family rooms that are spacious and can sleep larger groups, and they also often have special kid rooms where babies and toddlers can play safely. You can also opt for a whole apartment or even a house to yourself through services like Airbnb, especially if you prefer to cook (most of) your own meals. And if you don’t mind a bit of a splurge, luxury ryokan can also be a very comfortable lodging option for those traveling with kids.

While traveling through Japan in a rental car is possible, we recommend families with young children travel by train. Unlike in some countries, train and bus travel is convenient and comfortable in Japan, and it can also be surprisingly affordable. Longer distances are usually best traveled by shinkansen , the super-fast bullet train that is an experience of its own. There is ample space, and you can take a walk through the long train with your kids if they get restless. The JR pass is what makes the shinkansen affordable for foreign tourists, and kids under 6 travel for free.

If you are using public transportation to get around in Japan, you may be worried about lugging your large suitcases along with you and your baby. Luckily, for those who didn’t manage to travel light, there is a great service available in Japan. The so-called Takuhaibin service can help you ship your large pieces of luggage from one accommodation to the next for as little as 1500 JPY. Hands-free traveling has never been this easy before! If you stay in a hotel, the front desk can take care of the shipping process for you. Are you staying in self-arranged accommodation? In that case, you can get assistance in English by phone to find out where to drop off your luggage.

Getting around can be a challenge if you have one of those large baby strollers that can weigh a ton, especially if you want to use public transportation or want to visit places that can only be reached by taking the stairs. What we recommend is to do what the local parents do, and bring a baby carrier. In Japan, parents usually carry their kids until they are around 1 and a half years old and start to walk on their own. It is so much easier to move around that way, and babies tend to be quieter if they are carried around. If your baby is a bit older but can’t walk long distances yet, a combination of a carrier and a lightweight stroller can be the winner. 

There are many public places in Japan that were designed for the needs of young parents. Newer public toilets in parks as well as in places like shopping malls have clean and spacious accessible toilets with diaper changing stations and small seats where babies can safely sit until the parent is done. Many malls also have nursing rooms near the toilets that can be used for breastfeeding. In Japan, breastfeeding in public is acceptable as long as you use a blanket to stay discreet.

One of the most important things to do if you travel to Japan with a baby or young kids is not to pack your itinerary too tight. As things always don’t go exactly the way you planned them, you will greatly decrease your chances of any travel stress if you leave enough extra time in your schedule to deal with these unforeseen circumstances. Besides, isn’t it much more enjoyable and relaxing to leave yourself plenty of time to actually soak up your surroundings and enjoy the details instead of just trying to cram as many things as you can into your trip? The best way to do this is to limit the number of cities you visit in one travel week to 2 and to only make day trips to places that are easily accessible from the city your accommodation is in. This way, you will maximize your travel time without losing out on many of the beautiful things that can be seen and done in Japan.

If you do your best to stick to the tips mentioned above, you should not have too many issues traveling with young children in Japan. Generally, amenities that make life with babies easier are readily accessible in Japan, especially in larger cities. Another good idea is to book a private guide for one or more days. This can help make your trip even easier as companies like us can make any necessary preparations to make your day smooth, fun, and educational. We offer private tours in Tokyo , Kyoto , Osaka , as well as other cities in Japan. If your kids are a bit older, we also have a special Harajuku tour for the whole family . We hope that your trip to Japan with your baby is a safe, fun, and memorable experience!

As more people get COVID-19 vaccines, travel becomes safer for adults and children. Loveholidays penned this guide to help parents make preparations for traveling with babies and kids abroad.

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Happy traveling!

Stefanie Akkerman moved from the Netherlands to Japan in 2013 with her Japanese husband and son. She jumped into the niche of Dutch tour guiding in Tokyo and Kamakura in 2015 and occasionally writes articles about all the great sights and activities Japan has to offer. She loves (Japanese) food, and to work that all off she goes diving, snorkeling, cycling, or hiking.

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Japan with Kids: How to Plan the Perfect Japan Family Trip

Last Updated on March 6, 2024

Japan is a great family travel destination, with its neon streetscapes and kid-friendly amenities. This is my detailed guide to traveling Japan with kids.

There’s nowhere else like Japan. It is ultra modern yet traditional, and highly urbanized yet filled with nature. The multi-faceted country is truly unique in every sense of the word.

I’ve been to Japan three times, and my favorite was definitely the Japan family trip we did with our then 3.5-year-old daughter. It turns out Kaleya is just as crazy about Japan as we are.

Japan is a great destination for kids. T he country is home to psychedelic neon cities, bizarre themed cafes, and ancient towns. The great infrastructure in the country means it’s easy to get around and explore without worrying for your kids’ safety.  For those planning to travel Japan with kids, I’m sharing details of our trip to help you plan your Japan family trip.

Table of Contents

How to Get Travel Insurance for Kids

When to travel japan with kids, how long to travel japan with kids, by public transport, language in japan, what to eat in japan with kids, where to eat in japan with kids, traditional ryokan, what you should know about ryokans, modern hotels, our hotel recommendations in japan, go to the robot restaurant , visit the mori digital museum in tokyo, eat at the kawaii monster cafe, try rainbow food in harajuku, go to a hot spring themed park, wander around the omicho market in kanazawa.

• Try on a Kimono in Kyoto 

Explore the Arashimaya Bamboo Groves in Kyoto 

Feed deers in nara, see the snow monkeys in jigokudani, cost of traveling japan with kids, packing for a trip to japan with kids, final tips for traveling japan with kids, travel resources, japan with kids.

In general, traveling Japan with kids is easy and fun thanks to the great infrastructure and kid-friendly amenities. The whole country is organized, clean and efficient.

Ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) are great places to stay with kids. The tatami rooms have plenty of space for kids to run around. Y ou get to all sleep on futons laid out on the floor, which is a fun experience for kids (though a back-breaking one for adults). Many ryokans have their own onsens (hot springs), which are super fun for both kids and adults alike.

Tokyo is an exception though: Many izakayas (bars) tend to be tiny and not suitable for kids. Most subway stations don’t have elevators, and the Tokyo subway is possibly the deepest underground subway I’ve ever seen. That said, almost everywhere else in Japan is easy and superb for travel with kids.

It’s important to have travel insurance for travel during the pandemic. Safety Wing is the most popular travel insurance company for COVID19-coverage. They cover kids for free as long as you’ve got a plan with them. I use their Nomad Insurance plan , which covers COVID-19 as any other illness as long as it was not contracted before the coverage start date. Refer to my travel insurance guide for more details.

Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-October) are the most popular months to travel Japan due to the mild weather and moderate humidity. Some spots can get overcrowded, especially during the cherry blossom season. Each year, the sakura season varies (usually around April), so make sure you check the predicted dates beforehand.

We traveled to Japan in late September and still found many places quite crowded, particularly Kyoto. During our trip, we experienced mostly warm days of 21-25 deg C, with some rainy days. In the mountainous areas like Takayama and Nagano prefectures, temperatures ranged around 10-15 deg C, but a light jacket was enough.

Winter (December-February) is pretty cold with temperatures dipping to freezing point. But Japan has lots of great ski stations and it’s a good time to see snow monkeys in Nagano.

Japan is a big country and there’s just SO much to see and do, whether your family prefers nature, cities, culture or food. We only had five days on our first trip to Japan and it definitely left us wanting more.

Two weeks in Japan are perfect; though you would probably want to have even more time to see and experience it. In two weeks, we managed to see the best of Japan, but I’ll admit I packed in too much into the itinerary. 

If you want to explore Japan off the beaten path , then you would need at least three or four weeks. Tokyo is a must-see; check out my detailed Tokyo itinerary .

Here’s a summary of our Japan itinerary :

• 3 Days in Tokyo — to experience all the wacky fun experiences
• 2 Days in Hakone — with a stay at a hot spring resort and water park
• 2 Days in Okuhida — to experience nature in the Japanese Alps
• 1 Day in Kanazawa — to eat the freshest seafood
• 3 Days in Kyoto — with day trip to Nara to see the deers
• 1 Day in Shibu Onsen — to see snow monkeys in Jigokudani
• 1 Night in Narita — to catch our flight home

How to Get Around Japan with Kids

We chose to rent a car in Japan as we wanted to explore Japan off the beaten path and see more natural sights. It was also a lot more convenient when traveling with our 3.5-year-old daughter who still needs the stroller from time to time. 

While the Japanese public transport system has an impressive coverage across the country, there are still some places that are only accessible by car or foot. The quaint villages and mountainous areas that we went, such as Okuhida in the Japanese Alps, happened to be my favorite parts of Japan. I recommend driving the Golden Northward route if you’re looking for a scenic route that brings you off the well-trodden path.

It was surprisingly easy to drive in Japan . Most road signs are in both Japanese and English. We could find our way easily using Google Maps since we had a mobile WiFi dongle. Car rentalin Japan is quite affordable. We booked from Discover Car rental and paid US$565 for our two-week rental of a compact Japanese car and a child seat. 

Read all about driving in Japan!

By Intercity Train

Japan is well known for bullet trains (shinkansen) that are ridiculously fast and efficient. I personally think taking a shinkansen is a must-try experience when in Japan! We did it on our first trip to Japan and were blown away. It’s actually faster to travel around Japan by bullet trains than by car. For example, it takes four hours to get from Tokyo to Kyoto by train, but it takes seven hours by car.

If you’re traveling Japan for more than a week, I suggest getting a JR Pass to get unlimited travel on JR transportation (including bullet trains, local trains, buses, monorails and ferries).

A 7-day JR Pass costs around US$265 while a 14-day pass costs US$420.  Getting a JR Pass will definitely save you money, as individual trains are super expensive. Kids under 6 travel for free. You can compare individual train prices with the cost of the JR Pass using the handy Japan Rail Pass Calculator .

Get your JR Pass here!

If you’re taking public transport, I’d recommend getting the Pasmo / Suico pass. It’s a prepaid smart card that allows you to use most public transport (metro, trains, buses, monorail) in Japan.

The card also functions as an electronic wallet. You can buy things on trains, in vending machines, convenience stores and restaurants that accept the card. Suica and Pasmo cards can be purchased through ticket machines at any JR stations.

More info here.

English isn’t commonly spoken in Japan. On our first trip to Japan almost 10 years ago, it was quite challenging to travel Japan without any knowledge of Japanese as all signs on the street and public spots were shown only in Japanese.

This time round, we found it much easier as most signs are now in English as well. Japan has definitely become more travel-friendly in the past decade.

Also, free WiFi is easily available in many public places in Japan and you can use Google Translator to translate signs etc. It’s also affordable and convenient to rent pocket WiFi router. We rented our router from GetYourGuide for US$71 that provided us unlimited WiFi for two weeks. 

Many people have the misconception that Japanese food is all about raw seafood and sushi. That can’t be far from the truth. The megadiverse cuisine consists of a huge array of food types: from different kinds of noodles to rice bowls, grilled meat to bubbling stews.

EVERY meal we had in Japan was great — even ramen from vending machines tasted amazing. You really can’t get bad food in Japan. My 3.5-year-old daughter, who’s usually a fussy eater, absolutely loved the food in Japan. Her favorites were edamame (steamed peas) and onigiri (triangular rice balls) as well as udon noodles.

Check out my detailed Japanese food guide, including 40 best Japanese dishes to try.

You can find food everywhere in Japan and they’re surprisingly affordable. A meal in a standard sushi restaurant costs around 800-1500 yen per person, not including drinks. Every restaurant/diner provides free iced water or tea with your meal.

There are also entire restaurants devoted to food that looks like characters such as Hello Kitty or Rilakkuma. Other themed restaurants like Kawaii Monster Cafe and Maid Cafe are also great fun for kids.

If you’re on a budget, seek out the vending machines. You can easily get a ramen or katsu rice bowl for around 500-800 yen. Even convenience stores like 7-11, Family Mart, and Lawson’s have cheap and delicious yakitori (meat skewers), onigiri (triangular rice buns) and bento sets.

If your kids aren’t adventurous eaters, there are plenty of fast-food restaurants, western cafes and bakeries in Japan. The convenience stores also stock sandwiches and other food that are familiar to them.

Here are some of the places we ate at and really enjoyed:

Sushi Dai, Tokyo — Located outside the famous Tsukiji Market, this is indisputably one of the best places to enjoy sushi in Tokyo. You’ll get an affordable taste of the freshest and finest seafood for only a fraction of the price of upmarket sushi restaurants. But it’s a tiny place and might not be suitable for those with strollers/babies. Reserve your table here!

Kisoji, Tokyo — Our Japanese friend brought us to this shabu-shabu (hotpot) restaurant and we had some of the best wagyu beef I’ve had. You can book a tatami room and cook the shabu-shabu or sukiyaki yourself. Book a table here.

Sengoku Buyuden, Tokyo — This samurai-themed restaurant is quite an interesting place to celebrate a special occasion. Alberto booked a seven-course dinner here for my birthday and the food was really good. Book your table here.

Sakura Tei, Tokyo — We absolutely loved this restaurant chain that lets you make you own okonomiyaki and monjayaki (pan-fried pancake batter). It’s cheap and casual, and filled with character. Reserve a table here.

Tenka Chaya, Kawaguchiko — While driving around the Mount Fuji area, we chanced upon this gorgeous roadside teahouse and had an amazing meal there. All of its tables are on tatami floor and the menu is traditional hot broth pot.

Kaseidon Ichiba, Kanazawa — Inside the Omichi market, you’ll find the best spots to try fresh sashimi that the city is famous for. This place serves awesome salmon roe, oysters, scallops and outstanding sushi. Read reviews here!

Sakaguchi-Ya, Takayama — Housed in a Samachi traditional building, this restaurant serves the famous Hida beef in the form of handrolled sushi or beef rice bowl. A little pricey but well worth for the quality food and atmosphere! Book a table here.

Hokkyokusei, Kyoto — Right next to Yasaka Shrine is this cute ‘Western’ cafe that specialises in omurice (Japanese omelette rice), which is one of our favorite Japanese dishes. Kid-friendly and good service. See reviews here.

Where to Stay in Japan with Kids

Hotels in Japan get booked up quite fast, especially during the peak period (March to May). I strongly suggest booking early and confirming your hotel stay a few days before arriving in Japan.

Another thing to note is that many hotels don’t seem to respond to emails promptly – even top rated hotels. So you can often wait a day or two for a response to a simple question regarding your accommodations.

One of the experiences I think every visitor must try in Japan is staying in a traditional ryokan. A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn that usually has tatami flooring, futons as beds, and an onsen (hotspring).

Staying in ryokans gives you the chance to experience how the Japanese traditionally used to live. Plus, they tend to be spacious, which makes it great for families who want to share one room.

Every ryokan provides yukata (simple Japanese robe) for you to wear to the onsen or as pyjamas. In hot spring towns like Shibu Onsen, you can even wear the yukata out to town. Read about our stay at the best ryokan in Hakone .

However, there are some things you need to know about staying in a ryokan. Firstly, ryokans tend to be the same price or even pricier than modern three-star hotels in Japan. We paid an average of around $80-120 per night for a room.

Secondly, you sleep on thin mattresses or futons that are laid out on the tatami floor. We found it quite hard to sleep at first and had backaches after our second night. (I know we sound so spoiled!).

One of the ryokans we stayed at had such bad soundproofing walls that we were kept up all night because of noisy neighbors. It felt like we were staying at a hostel despite the high price we paid.

So take my advice, book just 1-3 nights at a ryokan (instead of 7 nights like we did!).

Recently there was a government crackdown on the use of residential accommodation as Airbnb in Japan. As a result, all hosts must be issued with a permit to offer Airbnb services. This has seen many travellers left without accommodation when their Airbnb was cancelled.

There are several modern hotel chains in Japan that are affordable and have quality facilities. APA Hotels and UNIZO have branches all over Japan and great locations. However, most of these have tiny rooms where you’ll barely have space to walk.

I suggest paying more and booking twin rooms or family rooms if you want to be a bit more comfortable. The APA Hotel we stayed in Tokyo even had an onsen and a rooftop outdoor pool

We wanted to try the capsule hotels, but they turned out to be more expensive than budget hotel rooms (as we would have to pay $30 per capsule and get three capsules). Plus the capsules are divided between men and women, so Alberto would have to be separated from us.

Here are the places that we stayed at and can recommend to family travelers:

APA Hotel Tokyo Nishishinjuku, Tokyo — A modern three-star hotel centrally located in Shinjuku and steps from a subway station. Good quality facilities, including an onsen (hot spring) and rooftop swimming pool. The small double room is tiny; opt for a twin or family room instead. Check latest rates here.

Hakone Kowakien Tenyu, Hakone — Opened in April 2017, this spectacular five-star hot spring resort is a worthwhile destination on its own. Read my detailed review of the hotel here ! All of its rooms have tatami flooring, open-air stone bath and mountain views. The hotel also has an attached hot spring themed park that’s perfect for kids. Check the latest rates here.

Fujino Kirameki Fujigotemba, Gotemba — Possibly the most family friendly hotel we stayed at in Japan, this glamping site has beautifully furnished cabins transformed from cargo containers and huge play areas for families to hang out. Best of all, it has a gorgeous setting high up above Gotemba, with Mount Fuji in the backdrop and a thick cypress tree forests surrounding it. Book here!

Konji Ryokan, Gifu prefecture — Located in the Okuhida hot spring villages, this traditional ryokan is located in the Japanese Alps and close to hiking trails. Sadly it rained the whole time we were there and the nearby Shin-Hotaka Ropeway was closed. Still a gorgeous area to visit. It’s a 1-hour drive to Takayama from here. Book here!

Kaneki Hotel, Shibu Onsen — This ryokan in the village of Shibu Onsen is clean, cute and affordable. It has a nice and brand new private onsen which you can use for your own (which we really appreciate as most other hotels don’t have that). You’ll also get a key to enter the nine onsens that the village is famous for. It’s the nearest village to the Jigokudani Snow Monkeys Park. Check the latest rates here.

Search for Japan hotels here!

Best Things to Do in Japan with Kids

There’s no shortage of things to do in Japan with kids. You can choose from themed cafes, unique museums, cultural experiences and excursions, but these are best booked in advance before your trip to avoid disappointment.

There are also lots of free things to do, for instance most temples in Japan are free to visit. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Japan with kids:

This over-the-top entertainment show is great fun, and kids under three go for free. Take note that it can be very loud and bright for young kids, though they provide noise-cancelling headphones.

Our daughter really enjoyed the crazy show. Note that it’s more of a show than restaurant. You do need to book your tickets in advance (they’re cheaper online as well) as they can sell out.

Book Your Tickets here!

Definitely make some time in your Tokyo itinerary to visit this museum! The newly opened museum is hugely popular thanks to social media, so book your tickets way in advance. In a huge three-dimensional 10,000 square meter space, artworks created by computers move in and out of the rooms freely, creating magical formations.

Personally, the MORI Digital Museum is a MUST-see in my opinion and particularly interesting for kids. There are several areas designated to babies and young kids and lots of interactive artworks for adults.  but be prepared to wait in line even if you have tickets (we only waited for 30 minutes to enter).  Read reviews and tips here!

Bright, whimsical and bizarre, the Kawaii Monster Cafe is a themed cafe is definitely designed for kids. Besides its psychedelic interiors, the food here also comes in rainbow colors.

There’s an entry fee of 500 yen (US$4.40) and you have to order at least 1 food and 1 drink per person. We ended up spending around $40 here for the 3 of us, twice of what we usually spend. In my opinion, it’s way overpriced and only suitable for young kids. Book your table here!

Harajuku is Tokyo’s wacky playground for those who love alternative stuff. There are lots of cartoon comic stores, cutesy boutiques and big-chain lifestyle shops here. Best of all, it’s home to Tokyo’s most innovative foodie experiences.

We highly recommend trying the rainbow-colored cotton candy at Totti Cotton Factory, and rainbow grilled cheese sandwich at the nearby Le Shinier. Kids (and adults) go crazy over these things!

Sign up for a Harajuku Tour!

Yunessen hot spring park in Hakone is not just any typical water park: here you can dip in pools with wine, sake, coffee and tea. It’s a lot of fun for both kids and adults alike. All the pools are fed with natural hot spring water, so they stay warm even in winter. 

Tickets are quite cheap and you can easily spend a whole day here. Entry tickets cost 2900 yen (US$3.30) per adult and 1600 yen (US$1.80) per child. Reserve your ticket here.

Kanazawa is best known for its fresh seafood and out-of-this-world sashimi. The Omicho Market is an excellent spot to bring the family and get a good introduction to Kanazawa’s seafood. You’ll see huge Japanese crabs here as well as larger-than-life oysters, shrimps and sea urchin.

If your kids are adventurous eaters, see if they want to taste some! It costs around 600 yen ($5) to try an oyster or two big shrimps. There are also some interesting things to try like blue beer and gold-leaf icecream!

Try on a Kimono in Kyoto  

What an experience it was to try on the Japanese national costume! We got to see the complicated process of putting it on and then experienced wearing it all over Kyoto. Even Kaleya loved putting on the kimono.

To capture the special moment, we even booked a photography session with Flytographer . The results turned out great and we now have gorgeous family shots.

If you’re interested in booking a photography session, use this link and the code “NELLIEHUANG” to get US$25 credits. You can also combine your kimono rental with a tea ceremony to have a full cultural experience. 

Book your kimono rental here!

In the outskirts of Kyoto, you can find beautiful bamboo forests as well as large gardens and hiking trails in and around the Katsuragawa River. The Path of Bamboos is packed with tourists these days, but it’s still a beautiful area to visit especially for families.

You can even hire a rickshaw to bring you around parts of the bamboo groves that are exclusive to rickshaw riders. More info here.

Nara park is home to hundreds of freely roaming deer. Considered in Shinto to be messengers of the gods, Nara’s nearly 1200 deer have become a symbol of the city.

Deer crackers are for sale around the park, and some deer have learned to bow to visitors to ask to be fed. The park is big and dotted with temples, shrines and lots of greenery. 

The Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park is best visited in winter when the Japanese macaques are often seen dipping in the hot springs. However, the monkeys are fed by park staff, so they do hang out in the park year round.

Even if the monkeys don’t interest you, the area is worth visiting for a chance to hike and experience Japan’s nature. Read more about it here.  

The nearest town, Shibu Onsen, is a cute hot spring village that I highly recommend visiting. If you stay at one of their associated ryokans, you’ll get a key to enter all of the 9 onsens in the village for free. These are not scenic onsens, but are rather public baths that villagers use for their daily baths. 

Let’s face it, Japan IS expensive (especially if you want to do all kinds of activities) but it’s still affordable compared to the US or Western Europe. 

The cheapest way to travel Japan with kids is to use local transport and book budget hotels. Transport was the biggest cost for us and we spent around US$1050 on our car rental, toll fees, parking and gas.

You might spend less if you opt for the JR Pass — remember kids under 6 travel for free and kids aged 6 to 11 enjoy half price on the JR transportation.

As for accommodation, expect to pay at least US$65 per night for a tiny 3-star hotel room and around $100 for a traditional ryokan room . Accommodation in small towns (e.g. Shibu Onsen and Kanazawa) tend to be cheaper. Hostels and capsule hotels are around the same price for families as you’ll be paying around $20-35 per person. 

Activities can add up too if you’re planning to book experiences like the Robot Restaurant and sushi-making classes.

Here is a breakdown of our expenses in USD (not including airfare):

Transport: $1050

Accommodation: $1400

WiFi rental: $100

Miscellaneous: $200

Activities:

• Robot Restaurant: $64 x 2
• Harajuku Owl Cafe: $5 x 2
• MORI Digital Art Museum entrance: $28.25 x 2
• Kimono rental: $100
• Kawaii Monster Cafe: $40
• Yunessun hot spring themed park: $10

TOTAL: $3600

The biggest tip I have for those traveling Japan with kids is to pack as light as possible . Japan is very urbanized and you’ll probably be doing lots of walking, using public transport and moving between places. Packing lightly will make getting around easier, especially with kids.

Most cities in Japan are busy and crowded. The subway is often packed and commuters are in a rush. It can be a challenge walking around with a toddler who can’t keep up with the pace. Decide if a stroller is useful as it can be a pain getting strollers in and out of the subway and along busy walkways. 

On this two-week trip in Japan , we traveled with just our day-packs, Kaleya’s Pockit lightweight stroller and our Eagle Creek Gear Warrior 32 wheeled suitcase .

Since it was September and the weather was still warm, I packed mostly t-shirts, thin pants, dresses, and leggings. I also had a cardigan and a thin leather jacket for the chilly days. For Kaleya, it was the same — mostly long-sleeved tshirts, a few dresses and skinny jeans.

Be sure to pack comfortable walking shoes as you’ll be walking quite a lot. As it gets quite rainy in autumn, we only packed waterproof jackets for us and a raincoat and rain boots for Kaleya.

The first thing you’ll notice when arriving in Japan is that the Japanese are incredibly polite and respectful. They don’t expect foreigners to follow their etiquette, but they do appreciate it when you make some effort and blend in.

Here are some important things for families to keep in mind:

• The Japanese bow a lot to show their gratitude. You don’t need to do the same if you’re uncomfortable with that. Make sure to learn some basic Japanese words and express some courtesy. “Thank you” is one word you’ll hear a lot: “Arigatō gozaimash ta”. “Hello” is “Kon’nichiwa” and “Excuse me” is “Sumimasen”.
• Japanese toilets are the coolest — both kids and adults are sure to be amused by them! There are plenty of buttons on the side of the toilet, each with a different function (heating, drying, washing etc). However, some places still have the squat toilet (hole in the ground), so get your kids prepared for that.
• Kids would love the fact that it is customary to slurp noodles loudly in Japan to show that you’re enjoying it. My daughter completely embraced it and had slurping competitions with us!

• Keep in mind that placing chopsticks upright in your food, crossing them or passing food with them are what people do at funerals. Just place your chopsticks on the side of your plate when you are not using them.
• Breastfeeding is generally not done in public, though you can find a quiet corner and use a shawl to cover. Many department stores have nursing rooms as well as spacious baby-changing facilities where you can breastfeed in private if you prefer.
• Remember to bring any medication that your child takes regularly (or may need), as Japanese pharmacies don’t sell foreign medications.
• Always remove shoes when entering a private home, temple or traditional ryokan. Some restaurants with tatami mat seating also require you to remove your shoes and use their slippers. Note that they have different slippers for bathroom use, so make sure not to confuse them.

• Japan runs mostly on credit cards, but some places don’t take international cards. It’s best to have some Japanese yen at hand at all times. Many ATMs don’t take international cards either — the best places to withdraw cash are the 7-11 stores.
• There is no tipping in Japan, though of course you’re free to give some spare cash if you want to show your appreciation for their good service.
• No eating, drinking or talking on the cell phone in the train or subway. The Japanese are very considerate to other people, so please try to do the same.
• Always stand on the right side of the escalators.
• It’s extremely rude to blow your nose in public. Try to do that in the toilet.
• Don’t be surprised to see many people walking around with hygienic masks. People who have a cold or illness often wear these to prevent spreading their germs.

Phew! That’s it from me for now. Thanks for reading all the way to the end.

On an ending note, I’d like to remind you not to plan too much when traveling Japan with kids. Because there’s SO much to do, many people end up trying to pack too many places into their itinerary. We made the same mistake and definitely wished we weren’t so ambitious in seeing so many places.

Keep in mind that you’re there to have fun and explore, so slow down and enjoy the beautiful country with your family in a relaxing pace! I hope this guide has been useful. Feel free to leave me any questions or comments you may have below.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to companies I use and trust. I get a small commission when you click on my links, at NO EXTRA COST TO YOU.

Over the years (and traveling to 140+ countries), I’ve learned a thing or two about travel planning. I’ve put together this list of travel resources that I personally use to find the best deals and book travel! For more details, check out my travel tips resource page .

• Booking Flights : Kayak is brilliant for finding the best dates to fly as it allows you to search for the lowest airfares within a 3-day period. Then I use Skyscanner as they’ve consistently given me the lowest airfares.
• Accommodations:  I always use  Booking.com   to book hotels, mainly because of the flexible cancellation policy and good customer service. You can also find short-term rental apartments there (I prefer not to use Airbnb due to the extra charges).
• Travel Insurance:  It’s important to have travel insurance, regardless of whether you’re traveling for a few days or months. Safety Wing is the most popular travel insurance company for COVID19-coverage. I use their Nomad Insurance plan , which covers any healthcare expenses I may have worldwide. Refer to my travel insurance guide for more details.
• Health Advice:  I always refer to the travel guides on the   CDC website  for recommended medications and vaccines. You can get them at your travel doctor’s office or a walk-in pharmacy.
• Tours:  If you’re looking for all-encompassing tours, I recommend small-group adventure tour outfitter, G Adventures . I’ve traveled with them to Antarctica, Mongolia, Svalbard, and Nepal, and loved every single trip. For day tours, I always book with  Viator  and  GetYourGuide ; they have easy booking systems and free cancellations.
• Car Rental: I always book car rentals on Discover Cars , as they’ve consistently given us the best rates and customer service (with free cancellations). We’ve used them in Seychelles, South Africa, Spain, Peru, and Mexico.
• Transportation : Whenever possible, I book local transportation online using  Bookaway and Busbud . They’re more reliable than many local transport websites and cover trains, buses, and car hire.
• Restaurants: TripAdvisor is my go-to resource for restaurant reviews and bookings. I also make restaurant reservations on OpenTable .
• Travel WiFi: I always travel with my Travel WiFi Sapphire 2 device; it’s the most convenient way to get internet data on the go. Instead of getting a local SIM card in every country I travel, I get an internet data package online and the device works immediately when I land.

Nellie Huang

Nellie Huang is the founder of WildJunket. Originally from Singapore, Nellie has traveled to over 150 countries across 7 continents. She is a book author and Lonely Planet guidebook writer. As an adventure travel blogger, she has a special interest in unusual destinations and deep experiences. Follow her travels on her Facebook and Instagram .

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The Comments

the Curious Pixie

Absolutely loved this guide. It’s my dream trip to go to Japan with kids. I am a veggie, so the food situation slightly concerns me, but not enough to put me off going.

Thank you! I have a vegan friend who just went to Japan, who said she managed to get by. But I met a vegetarian in Japan and he said he struggled to find things that were suitable for him. So I guess it depends on individuals as well.

madhu sharma

Wow it’s great to know that Japan is kids friendly.i also have 3.5 year old son.n this guide is really helpful

hi Madhu, glad you found it useful! :)

I’d love to go to Japan with my daughter one day. Thanks for the inspiring post!

This is a great guide for adults as well as kids. Or for the kid in all of us. Your final tips are also really helpful.

This is a really helpful guide! I just got back from Japan and stayed 3 weeks, and I rushed it, too. I would agree that it’s important to go at a slower pace and spend more time in Kyoto and Tokyo. It sounds like you had a great time!

Thank you so much !!! ? So helpful and detailed !! All your advices are great, can’t wait to go there with my son and husband !

Malvika Vithani

This was such a detailed guide – thank you! I actually don’t have kids but all the activities still sound amazing. :)

Lesia Joukova

I love reading Japan guides so much. I also think family guides really work out well for me because I’m such a kid that I would totally go to a themed hot springs park and a robot show! Thank you for sharing, really-really loved this post!

hi Lesia, thanks for the kind comment! Glad you like the post!!

Muy bonito reportaje Nellie

Hi – great blog post! I do have 2 kids – 6 & 2 so this definitely helps a ton in planning as most vlogs on youtube chronicle singles or couples with no kids.

Similar to the other commentor above – we are also a family of vegetarians. So it’ll be our added challenge. But at the same time kids do need to know there is a whole world that surrounds us – not just where we live. You have definitely given us enough tips & activities to consider. Thank you for being so detailed!

Carla Hookway

Thanks for posting this – very informative, helpful & interesting – it’s inspired my want to travel to Japan even more!

You are welcome and hope you enjoy Japan with your kids!

Really enjoyed your blog. Planning to do a trip with a 10 and 8 year old probably this November and appreciate all the tips!

Thank you so much Gary! Let me know if you have any questions at all and I’m happy to help if I can!

Wonderful review of your trip to Japan, very useful tips. Thanks for sharing all the detailed information. Can’t wait for us to book our trip.

Pamela Robinson

Love this!! I’ll be following your blog from now on. This is such a helpful guide!!

This is great, we’re going to japan with two toddlers in march and im following your itinerary. Did you Book a JR railpass on this visit or just drive it all? I’m contemplating just driving but not sure about getting into tokyo that way?

hey Laura, good to hear you’re following my itinerary! We drove the whole time, though I used a JR pass on my first trip. During our time in Tokyo, we used a combination of the local subway and our car rental. The subway was useful for busy areas like Shinjuku but we found the car to be useful to go to areas that were further out, like Akihabara, the Tsukiji fish market, and the interactive museum. It can be exhausting walking and taking the subway all day, especially for young kids. Driving in Tokyo wasn’t too stressful, but parking can be expensive (around $10-20 a day) and there are tolls in some parts of the city. It was really relaxing and fun to drive though, especially in the mountains. The car hire companies are so good at explaining everything when you’re picking up the car, and they make sure you’ll clear about the rules and how things work.

Thank you Nellie, this was really helpful. We can’t wait! Definitely want to check out the interactive museum too. I’m actually really relieved to be driving. I couldn’t imagine how stressful dragging two toddlers through the busy subways would be!

we will be going to Japan end of March. We want to take our three kids but are unsure since we’ve never been. They will be 6 months. 3 and 4 years old. In your opinion will three under 5 be too challenging for a first time trip to Japan? We travel state side frequently but this will be our first international with them.

Hey Ariel, I don’t think there’s ever the ‘best’ time to travel with kids. So yes, I encourage you to travel Japan with your kids! Japan is honestly fantastic for kids of all ages – the bright lights, animation characters, interesting food will all make your kids go wow! Plus the infrastructure is great and you can easily get around on public transport. To make things easier, I would recommend going slower so you won’t feel too stressed up and the kids get to enjoy and play more rather than moving around. I recommend spending 5 days in Tokyo and 5 days in Kyoto. That way, you can take your time to see and experience things. We rented a car to make moving around easier and to explore the mountains. So perhaps you can consider that too. It is slightly more expensive than taking the train because of the tolls and parking fees.

Such a great guide! I’m in the beginning stages of planning and this helped alot! Thank you!

Aww thank you! I’m really glad you find this useful. :)

Helen Wearmouth

This has been a fantastic post to read, very informative. Thank you very much. We are considering Okinawa, have you been? If so would you recommend it? Many thanks in advance.

hi Helen, oh we haven’t been to Okinawa but I’ve always wanted to go!

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Traveling with Children

Children introduce unique challenges to travel planning , but luckily Japan is a destination that is easy and safe to explore with kids. The following are some things to consider that can make your family's experience in Japan smoother, cheaper and more enjoyable. Also, check out our Traveling with kids in Japan blog series.

For the purpose of fares and admission fees, children in Japan are typically classified by their school year rather than their ages. But because school systems differ from country to country, children of foreign travelers are more commonly classified by their age: Children aged 12 or older (junior high school and above) commonly pay adult prices while children aged 11 and younger (elementary school and below) qualify for discounts. Children below the age of 6 (pre-school) are often free.

Transportation

Trains are a convenient way to explore Japan, however train stations can be crowded and busy, especially at urban stations during the morning and evening rush hours (typically 7:00-9:00 and 17:00-19:00 on weekdays). Platforms and trains often become packed with travelers around these times, and it is easy to get caught up in the surging flow of people as they move about the stations and get on and off trains, especially in the mornings and in Tokyo and Osaka .

It is important to keep small children close lest you become separated from each other in the foot traffic. Or better yet, try to avoid rush hours altogether. Even outside of rush hour, make sure to hold small children by their hands when boarding trains and give yourself extra time for transfers, especially when traveling with a baby stroller or pram. Most major stations are equipped with elevators to access the platforms, however they may not always be conveniently located.

Many local trains offer priority seating for pregnant women and those traveling with small children. Most trains (except some urban ones) carry at least one car equipped with a toilet . Note that toilet paper is usually provided, but paper towels are not.

Train fares are generally charged as follows:

• Adult (12 years old and older) Children twelve years old and older pay the full adult fare.
• Child (6-11 years old) Children 6 to 11 years old pay 50% of the adult fare. On JR trains, limited express and seat reservation fees are also half off, but green car fees are charged at full price.
• Young child (1-5 years old) Up to two young children, 1 to 5 years old, can travel for free when accompanied by one adult (e.g. two adults bring for free up to four young children). Additional young children are charged the regular child rate (50% of the adult fare). The child fare also applies to young children who occupy a reserved seat.
• Infant (less than 1 years old) Infants travel for free unless they occupy a reserved seat, in which case the child fare applies.

Additionally, most rail passes offer 50% discounts for children aged 6 to 11.

Child discounts for local buses generally follow the same pattern as for trains. On highway buses , discount fares are not always available. If they are available, they are usually less than 50 percent. Infants that do not occupy a seat on their own generally travel for free.

Car seats, child seats or booster seats are not required on local or highway buses, and in some cases, are even prohibited. Infants, for example, must be carried by an adult when riding a highway bus and may not occupy their own seat, even if placed in an infant carrier.

Rental cars

Children under the age of six must be buckled into a child seat in the rear seats when traveling by car . Car seats are available for rent at car rental outlets.

Accommodation

Western-style hotels in Japan generally charge by the room, however they limit the occupancy of each room. Children under twelve are usually allowed to co-sleep with a parent or another child. While triple and quadruple rooms are only rarely found, extra beds and cots are available at many hotels for an additional fee. Each hotel varies on their specific policies regarding children, so please contact your hotel for more information.

Traditional Japanese-style inns, such as ryokan and minshuku , usually include meals in the price of accommodation and use different systems to calculate children's rates based on the age and type of meal the child needs. Again, details differs from place to place, but the following options are commonly encountered:

• Adult meal Children 12 years and older and those who have an adult meal pay the full rate.
• Child's meal Children under 12 years old who are served a child's meal pay a discounted rate.
• No meal Some establishments allow young children, who occupy a bed but share their parents' meal, to stay for an even more discounted rate.
• Infants Most establishments allow infants who are not served meals to stay for free.

One more option to consider is vacation rentals which are furnished houses or apartments available for rent on a short term basis. Though often less centrally located than hotels, vacation rentals may be a more economical choice, especially for larger families.

A wide variety of restaurants can be found throughout Japan, and most establishments are welcoming to those with young children. Family restaurants and chain restaurants tend to be the most family-friendly, as they usually offer special children's menus and child-friendly booths or traditional-style zashiki seating . Most of these types of restaurants are good at listing food ingredients on their menus and offer segregated smoking and non-smoking sections. Conveyor belt sushi also tend to be popular, child-friendly restaurants.

Shokudo and other casual restaurants also tend to be pretty family-friendly; however, there is a lot of variation, and drinking places might become smoky or rowdy later in the evenings. Small eateries and food stalls are probably best avoided as they are often cramped, smoky and tend to have limited, counter-only seating.

High chairs or booster seats are often provided, although they are not often equipped with restraining belts. A scarf or luggage strap may come in handy to secure your child in the seat.

Changing, nursing and public toilets

Changing stations are becoming increasingly more common in public restrooms, and may be found in both women's and men's toilets . Public toilets in Japan are free and numerous. They are commonly found in department stores , shopping malls, train stations and many convenience stores . Large handicap toilets are also often available for use by families with small children and almost always provide a changing station.

Breastfeeding in Japan is allowed in public, but it is best to be discreet. Department stores , shopping malls, outlet malls and theme parks often provide special rooms equipped with private booths for nursing mothers, as well as providing changing stations.

Hot springs

Many hot spring lodgings and bathhouses offer private baths (known as kashikirifuro or kazokuburo) where families can bathe together. They often must be reserved and may require a fee to use (typically 2000-5000 yen per 45 minutes). The number of ryokan that offer private onsen baths on the guestrooms is also increasing. They tend to be expensive.

Children who still use diapers should not enter onsen baths. Note further that the water at many onsen may be too hot or too strong for young children. At gender-segregated baths, young children may enter the baths of the opposite sex when accompanied by a family member. The maximum age to which this is allowed varies by region, but it is usually allowed up to the age of nine.

Sightseeing

Admission tickets to museums , theme parks , amusement parks and other sightseeing spots are often discounted half price for children below the age of 12. Many educational museums also offer discounts for junior high school, high school and college students.

Find below a short list of child-friendly tourist attractions:

Amusement parks and theme parks

Tokyo Disney Resort

Universal Studios Japan

Fuji-Q Highland

Legoland Japan

Legoland Discovery Center

A wider selection of amusement parks and theme parks around Japan can be found on our amusement parks page.

Anime and manga

Ghibli Museum

Ghibli Park

Fujiko F. Fujio Museum

Sanrio Puroland

More anime and manga based attractions can be found on our Manga and Anime Guide and our Tokyo Anime Guide .

Kids Ninja Park

Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura

Toei Uzumasa Eigamura

The Railway Museum

SCMAGLEV and Railway Park

Kyoto Railway Museum

National Science Museum

National Museum of Emerging Science

Nature and sports.

Monkey parks

Snow activities

Churaumi Aquarium

Osaka Aquarium

Questions? Ask in our forum .

Japan with children

• 1 Understand
• 3.1 By local train
• 3.2 By long-distance train
• 3.3 By taxi
• 4.1 Theme parks
• 4.2 Aquariums
• 4.4.1 Railway Museums
• 4.5 Game centers
• 4.6 Purikura
• 4.7 Playgrounds
• 8 Stay healthy

Japan is an exciting, safe and rewarding place to travel with children , but the big cities like Tokyo and Kyoto are not always super-friendly or convenient from the parents' point of view, especially if your children are still young. Here are some tips for making your visit a bit easier.

Understand [ edit ]

Japan has always been a hierarchical society where everything and everyone has its place, and traditionally, the place for young children to be is at home with their mother. It's still common to keep babies at home for several months after birth, and strollers are a comparatively rare sight on the streets of Japan's cities. If parents do take the kids out, they're expected to keep them in check: running around yelling in trains or restaurants is not acceptable and will earn you cold stares.

Get in [ edit ]

If you're flying to Japan with young children, it's worth paying a little extra for Japan's own airlines, Japan Airlines (JAL) or All Nippon Airways (ANA), which are both extraordinarily kid-friendly. For example, in addition to the usual slew of services (bassinets, infant meals, etc.), JAL offers a child seat rental service : just buy a seat for your child, and they'll install a plush deluxe child seat in it absolutely free, pre-adjusted to your child's size to boot. Both airlines offer a special family check-in counter at Tokyo's Narita Airport , let you gate-check strollers, and will usually let you cut in the security line as well. And regardless of which airline you fly, most Japanese airports including Tokyo's Narita and Haneda have free kids' play areas (キッズコーナー kizzu kōnā ) suitable even for babies.

Get around [ edit ]

In a nutshell, leave your giant stroller at home , as they can be a nightmare to deal with. City sidewalks are busy, temple and shrine paths are nearly invariably gravel, trains are crowded (impossibly so in rush hour), and while elevators are slowly being retrofitted everywhere, there are still many stations where you'll need to use the stairs or take long detours to use the one elevator available. You can check ahead of time with Rakuraku Odekake's English service [dead link] , and if you unexpectedly get stuck, station staff or passersby are happy to help if you ask.

Instead, the Japanese prefer baby carriers , often for children as old as two, and lightweight collapsible umbrella strollers that fit through normal ticket gates and can be carried up or down a flight of stairs one-handed in a pinch. You may not even need to lug a stroller at all, since quite a few major attractions like Ueno Zoo and Tokyo Disneyland even rent out strollers for free or a nominal fee.

On trains and buses, children under 6 travel for free, although they're not supposed to sit in their own seat if adults are standing. (This rule is widely ignored.) Children under 12 are half price. You can get a special children's version of JR's Suica smart card (こども用Suica kodomo-yō suika ) that can be used pretty much anywhere and automatically deducts the children's fare at gates, but you'll need to show ID and fill out a form at commuter pass office (定期券売り場 teikiken-uriba ), because the card will automatically expire at the end of the month they turn 12.

By local train [ edit ]

Young trainspotters will be in for a treat, as Japan is full of modes of transportation rarely seen outside theme parks elsewhere. In Tokyo , check out the elevated Yurikamome and Tokyo Monorail lines, make a trip out to Enoshima or Chiba to ride their wacky suspended monorails. or visit Saitama 's massive Railway Museum (see below).

The one thing to beware of is rush hour , which peaks on weekdays between 8-9AM on services towards the city center, and again (not quite so badly) after 5PM in the other direction. It still takes a combination of bad luck and bad timing to end up squished into one of those infamous trains where people are literally pushed on board, and you can usually see them coming: if the station is a whirling maelstrom of humanity even before the turnstiles, you might want to come back in an hour or two.

By long-distance train [ edit ]

Children without paid tickets are not entitled to their own seats. In trains with unreserved seating, including all bullet trains, they are welcome to use any free seats. However, on limited expresses where all seating is reserved (eg. Narita Express , Yufuin no Mori ), you are supposed to either buy them a child ticket or hold them in your lap for the entire journey, even if there are seats free, although enforcement varies. If it's peak season (eg. Golden Week), the train is looking full (marked △ or ×) or it's a long way, bite the bullet and buy them a seat.

Shinkansen bullet trains are generally well-equipped for babies. Most models come equipped with a "multi-purpose room" (多目的室 tamokuteki shitsu ), which can be used for breastfeeding or changing diapers.

Children's playrooms are not standard equipment, but a few special themed trains like Tsudoi in Ise and select Uzushio/Tsurugisan services in Shikoku have them. If you happen to be traveling between Osaka and Fukuoka , some Kodama 500-series bullet trains are equipped with a kids' "control panel" (運転台 untendai ) right next to the real one in carriage 8, so children can try their hand at "driving" the train!

By taxi [ edit ]

While children under 6 are required by law to use child seats, taxis are exempt and do not have child seats , full stop. Even digging out the back seat's middle seat belt can be a pain. If you are uncomfortable with this, the only (often poor) alternatives are to use public transport or to rent a car and drive it yourself.

See and do [ edit ]

Discounts for children at tourist attractions are ubiquitous in Japan, often with a range of prices depending on the exact age. The usual suspects are:

• 幼児 yōji , often glossed "infant" but usually meaning any child under 6, often free
• 子供 kodomo , child, usually 6-12 years (elementary school) or 6-15 years (elementary & middle school), typically half price
• 小学生 shōgakusei , elementary schooler (6-12 years)
• 中学生 chũgakusei , middle schooler (12-15 years)
• 高校生 kōkōsei , high schooler (15+ years), often charged adult prices

Theme parks [ edit ]

Yes, there is a Tokyo Disney Resort and Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, but since you've made it all the way here, why not check out Japan's homegrown cartoon heroes instead? Some of the more ubiquitous are:

• Anpanman (アンパンマン), the "Red Bean Paste Bun Man" (yes, it's more catchy in Japanese), is a jolly bun-headed fellow who's always flying around to rescue a ridiculously huge cast of edible friends ranging from Uncle Jam to Cream Panda from the antics of the more-naughty-than-evil Baikinman (Bacteria Man). A huge favorite among the toddler/preschooler set, he's got his own " museums [dead link] " — really more like themed indoor playgrounds with random Anpanman characters walking around — in Yokohama (near Tokyo), Nagoya , Kobe (near Osaka), Fukuoka and Sendai . The main museum however, is in Kami where the author is from. In spite of its isolated location in southern Shikoku, the popularity of the character is great enough to make it among the most visited anime-related museums in the nation.
• Doraemon (ドラえもん) is a blue cat-shaped robot with a magical pocket that contains anything and everything, plus an inexplicable fondness for dorayaki pancakes. Doraemon comic books are sometimes available in English at larger bookstores. His museum in Kawasaki is, oddly, geared more for adults.
• Hello Kitty (ハローキティ) hardly needs an introduction, with her feline cuteness emblazoned onto a ludicrous range of merchandise. Harajuku remains the epicenter of the pink epidemic, but if you're still left wanting more, her theme park Sanrio Puroland is in Tama , western Tokyo .
• The painstakingly animated whimsical movies from Studio Ghibli are quintessentially Japanese, with furry Totoro (トトロ) taking pride of place among the wide cast of characters. The Ghibli Museum in Kichijoji near Tokyo is a place of pilgrimage and tickets must be booked well in advance. There is a special procedure for booking from outside Japan. Tickets in Japan can be booked via the museum website and retrieved at the Lawson convenience stores. Ghibli Park , in Nagakute near Nagoya , is a low-key rideless theme park completed in 2024.

For all of these, it will pay off to familiarize yourself (and your children) with the characters and storylines before arrival. Most of Ghibli's movies are available in English, and there are plenty of dubbed and subtitled cartoons of the other characters on YouTube and other sites as well.

Aquariums [ edit ]

• Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Okinawa is the largest aquarium in the nation, featuring a variety of fish, corals, and larger marine life, including manatees.
• Toba Aquarium in Toba features a variety of fish and aquatic animals found in the seas surrounding Ise-Shima as well as other animals, like walruses, African manatees, and it's one of only 3 aquariums in the world where you can see dugong. They also have fun sea lion shows.
• AQUAS Aquarium in Hamada , a large aquarium featuring aquatic life from around the world. The highlight of the aquarium are the famous beluga whale shows in which the belugas blow bubble rings and then swim through them.
• Nagoya Port Aquarium in Nagoya , The aquarium has a large performance tank where you can watch dolphin and killer whale shows.

Ninja [ edit ]

Ninja have a universal "cool" factor that attracts kids and adults alike. Japan has a handful of fun and educational ninja sites in actual former ninja towns.

• Koka was once home to the Koka (or Koga) Ninja. The rural town has two ninja sites where you can learn and experience ninja culture. The first is the Koka Ninja Village where you can test yourself on 9 different ninja skills to earn a Ninja License. The final challenge is crossing a moat. You can decide not to participate; otherwise, make sure you have a change of clothes! The other site in the city will interest adults as much as kids. Koka is home to the only authentic ninja house in existence. The Ninja House and Ninja Village are in separate locations in the town, so plan accordingly to ensure you can visit both.
• Iga Just south of Koka, the Iga Ninja formed their own school of ninjutsu. The city has its own Ninja Museum featuring popular demonstrations and a museum with information about ninja and a variety of ninja tools. The museum is located right below Iga Ueno Castle, so many visitors enjoy renting ninja costumes and getting pictures around the castle.
• Ureshino The Hizen Yume Kaido is a ninja theme park with a wide variety of ninja experiences, as well as a fun ninja performance. Concerning the city's ninja connections: Conflicts in the area during the Edo Period suggest the possibility that Saga had ninjas. It is believed that the area's famous hot springs may have even be used by the ninja as convenient places to pass on information to their hires.

Museums [ edit ]

Tokyo's Miraikan in Odaiba is probably the best of the lot, but any self-respecting Japanese city will have a "science hall" (科学館 kagakukan ) full of hands-on experiments and wacky science demonstrations for kids of all ages. Entry is usually free or very cheap and understanding Japanese is rarely necessary, making these a good diversion on a rainy day.

See also the Tokyo Toy Museum and nearby Fire Museum (complete with helicopters to climb in) in Shinjuku .

Railway Museums [ edit ]

• The Railway Museum in Saitama , outside Tokyo, is almost entirely geared for kids, with mini-trains to drive around (school age kids on their own, any age with a parent), train simulators, train-themed outdoor playground, a room filled with model trains to play with, train-shaped boxed lunches, etc. As a bonus, you can even ride the Shinkansen to get there. Packed on weekends and holidays, but quiet on weekdays.
• In Nagoya , the MC Maglev Railway and Railway Park features a variety of trains you can enter, some railway history exhibits, and some interactive experiences (some for additional fees) that are fun.
• Kyoto has its own Railway Museum featuring much of the same types of exhibits as in Saitama and Nagoya.

Game centers [ edit ]

Game centers (ゲームセンター geemu-sentaa ) are basically the Japanese take on the video arcade. Smaller centers, such as Taito , typically contain a wide variety of video games, including the dancing- or drumming-type rhythm games, timing or coordination games where you can win candy or stuffed animals, air hockey tables, purikura (see below) and other fun activities for children or teens. Large centers, such as Round One , often have additional activities such as karaoke, bowling, mini-bikes, mini-basketball, and other more space-consuming activities.

Purikura [ edit ]

Purikura (プリクラ, short for "print club" in English) is a Japanese-style photo booth where, once you have taken your photos, you can alter or decorate them on a digital screen with handwritten messages and wide variety of effects such as adding mustaches, accessories, sparkles, or backgrounds, before printing them out as stickers or photos or emailing them to yourself in digital form. This somewhat goofy form of entertainment is wildly popular with teenagers, who are known to decorate their cell phones and everything else with stickers and even keep books full of them, but they are quite popular and enjoyable for younger children and adults as well, and silly Japanese-style photos of you and your children can make great inexpensive souvenirs. Purikura booth centers can occasionally be found as stand-alone establishments, but are more common at shopping malls, game centers, and some of the larger manga shops or bookstores.

Playgrounds [ edit ]

There are plenty of parks in Japanese cities, but parents will want to look for "children's parks" (児童遊園 jidōyūen or 児童公園 jidōkōen ), which have play equipment and a high tolerance for kids running around. Older ones tend to be rather grim affairs of concrete and rusting monkey bars, but there are plenty of newer ones as well; Google's Street View and (if you can read Japanese) websites such as Parkful and Ikōyo (いこーよ, a guide site specifically for parents and children) can come in handy for previewing what you'll get. You can also find playgrounds on the rooftops of many major department stores, including Keio in Shinjuku and Seibu in Ikebukuro .

Buy [ edit ]

Finding baby products can be a hassle, as most inner-city Japanese groceries, supermarkets, convenience stores and corner drugstores do not stock diapers (オムツ omutsu ) or formula (粉ミルク kona-miruku ). Do not expect to find Western brands either: the local market leaders are Kao Merries for diapers and Meiji Hohoemi for formula.

Your best bet is to look for the large, multi-story drugstores (薬局 yakkyoku ) nearly always found outside larger train stations, which always prominently display the character 薬 ( kusuri , "drug/medicine"). Matsumoto Kiyoshi (マツモトキヨシ) is particularly ubiquitous and easily spotted thanks to its garish yellow signage, but not all stores carry baby goods. Other major chains are KokokaraFine (ココカラファイン), Welcia (ウエルシア) and Tsuruha Drug (ツルハドラッグ).

If you want to be sure of finding what you're looking for, head for Japan's baby superstores Akachan Honpo (赤ちゃん本舗) and Nishimatsuya (西松屋). Babies'R'Us (ベビーザらス, check on English and search) has quite a few stores in Japan as well, although most of them are awkwardly located in suburban shopping malls. Large department stores also have children's sections, but the range is often limited and prices are usually high.

For the most part, commercial Japanese baby food (ベビーフード bebii fuudo ) still subscribes to the traditional belief that salt, spices and oil are all bad for babies, and is thus bland in the extreme and/or loaded up with sugar to make it palatable. If your baby already expects food to have some taste, you'll probably have better luck bringing or making your own, or sharing suitable adult foods like rice porridge (お粥 okayu , available in ready-to-eat packs).

Eat [ edit ]

Most Japanese restaurants do not cater to babies, with highchairs (ハイチェア haicheā ) being virtually unknown, and the average Tokyo hole-in-the-wall won't even have the space to park a stroller. The main exception is family restaurants (ファミレス famiresu ) like Jonathan's , Royal Host , Gusto and Denny's , which can often be found near train stations and all of which offer a wide range of Japanese and Western food for both kids and adults at reasonable prices, with baby food on the menu, highchairs, etc.

Once your children reach an age where they can sit unrestrained and not make too much of a mess, things get a little easier. Larger restaurants and most all chain outlets will often have "child seats" (こども椅子 kodomo-isu ), which are like a cross between a highchair and a booster seat, and kids' menus (お子様ランチ okosama lunch ) featuring Japanese family favorites like fried rice wrapped in a thin omelette (オムライス omuraisu ), hamburger steaks, deep-fried croquettes or mild Japanese curry, more often than not decorated with a cartoon character or arranged in a cute way. Among the Japanese fast food chains, ubiquitous beef bowl and curry chain Sukiya makes a point of being family-friendly, complete with Happy Meal-style "Suki Suki Sets" with a box of juice and a toy.

Larger Japanese restaurants may have private rooms (個室 koshitsu ), often Japanese style (座敷 zashiki ) with tatami mats and low tables. These are great with young kids, since they can romp around a bit without disturbing other guests, and they're usually free and available even to a single family, especially during early evening off peak hours. Just make sure to request a non-smoking room (禁煙 kin'en ).

The fourth option is to do takeaway (持ち帰り mochikaeri ), which is offered by a surprisingly wide range of restaurants, even at the high end of the gourmet spectrum: it's not uncommon for a Japanese salaryman to enjoy an expensive banquet on the company dime and bring back a sampling for the family. There are also plenty of shops dedicated to cheap and tasty bentō (弁当) take-away meals, although opening hours are often limited (in the inner city, often weekday morning to lunchtime only).

Last but not least, Japan's ubiquitous convenience stores are always handy in a pinch, offering onigiri rice balls, prepacked bentō meals, triangle sandwiches and other bakery goods, etc.

Sleep [ edit ]

Accommodation in Japan is usually charged per person, and once past the age of 12, children are considered adults when it comes to pricing. Younger children are often free as long as they sleep in the same bed, but if you ask for an extra bed, you'll be charged for it. Cribs for babies are usually free, although the age limit may be as low as 1.

Finding hotel rooms that can sleep four or more, much less with four separate beds, can be a real challenge, and most large families end up having to book two rooms. Don't try to sneak in more people, as maximum occupancy rules are a part of the fire code and usually strictly enforced.

An alternative is to book a room in a traditional Japanese inn ( ryokan ), which do not have beds, but where guests sleep on mattresses spread on traditional tatami mats on the floor. Ryokan often accommodate extended families, sleeping up to 8 grownups per large room. However, since food is a big part of the ryokan experience, even small children will get charged extra if you request meals for them. For preschoolers who clearly don't need adult-size portions, they're usually happy to offer a complimentary bowl of rice and bowl of miso soup while you feed them a part of your own meal. Also, since meals are usually served in your room, they can be less stressful than eating out — just try not to spill the soy sauce all over the tatami mat! Breakfast is however often served as a buffet or in a ballroom or one of the hotel restaurants, so try to be early to grab the children's high chairs. Not all ryokan accept young children as guests. Of those that do, not many are genuinely child-friendly. Smaller ryokan, minshuku and "pensions" (family-run bed and breakfast) are usually more child-friendly. It pays to do your research.

Short-stay serviced apartments are rare in Japan (bookings of one month plus are usually required), and apartments with more than one bedroom even more so. A welcome exception is Tokyu Stay , which rents out for as little as two days, has "twin" apartments that fit three, and come with basic cooking facilities and laundry/dryer. If your apartment does not have a washing machine or dryer, there are often coin laundries attached to the public bathhouses (sento) found in most neighborhoods.

Stay healthy [ edit ]

Japanese health care is generally excellent and reasonably priced, although as always you should have travel insurance to cover any major accidents.

For most issues, your first port of call should be a local pediatric clinic (小児科 shōnika ), which any town of size will have several of. Clinics are typically open six days a week, sometimes Sundays as well but with reduced hours, and a basic consultation will not cost much more than ¥1000. Larger hospitals will also have pediatric wards that may accept walk-in patients, although typically only during the morning. There are English-speaking clinics in major cities, and in a pinch Nihongo de Care-Navi can translate most medical terminology.

For life-threatening emergencies that need an ambulance, call 119 , which has English-speaking operators. For less urgent issues and anything outside office hours, the emergency department (救急科 kyūkyūka ) of a large hospital is the best place to go, although you may be in for a long wait.

Once the issue is diagnosed (and assuming it does not require hospitalization), you will be given a stack of prescriptions (処方箋 shohōsen ) to take to a pharmacy (薬局 yakkyoku ). By Western standards, Japanese doctors have a distinct tendency to overprescribe, so feel free to ask what each potion does and whether it's really necessary. Medicines like antibiotics (抗生物質 kōseibusshitsu ) in Japan are often issued as premeasured doses of powder, which you'll need to mix into a liquid or food of your choice. These are typically flavored and quite palatable, so one low-tech but functional method is to simply pour them in the patient's mouth and wash it down. Alternatively, pharmacies sell special jellies which are to be used to take powdered medicine.

Cope [ edit ]

Public toilets in Japan are free and ubiquitous, and larger train stations and tourist attractions nearly always have a large toilet equipped with a change table, or at least a change table in the women's section. You may also encounter stalls equipped with a mysterious device called a "baby chair" (ベビーチェアー), basically a wall-mounted bracket with holes for legs, which is quite handy for briefly restraining inquisitive toddlers while you take care of your own business. The one thing Japanese toilets sometimes don't have, though, is toilet paper, so bring along a packet of tissues!

Breastfeeding in public is acceptable, but most Japanese women use discreet wraps that hide everything. Department stores will usually have a breastfeeding room (授乳室 junyūshitsu ) or a "resting room" (休憩室 kyūkeishitsu ) serving the same purpose, with larger ones (eg. Mitsukoshi in Ginza and Isetan in Shinjuku ) often having an entire floor devoted to kids and parents. Almost all shopping centers and department stores have play areas for children, usually with changing rooms for babies and feeding rooms, together with an area with soft mats and blocks for the children to play. As usual in Japan, children (and adults) must remove their shoes before entering. You can easily find the nearest baby changing room with mobile apps such as "Mamamap" (in English).

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Tokyo With A Baby: family travel in Tokyo, Japan

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We traveled to Tokyo with baby J when he was 10 months old and loved our family time in one of the world’s most fun, quirky and chaotic cities. Tokyo is an awesome choice for a family vacation and there are endless things to do in Tokyo with kids. Together we explored its iconic sights from Shibuya Crossing to Harajuku to the amazing Digital Art Museum. Here’s our guide to traveling to Tokyo with a baby!

Where to stay in Tokyo with a baby

As we were spending two weeks in Tokyo we wanted somewhere relatively spacious in a city where hotel rooms are notoriously small! We always chose a hotel within a short walking distance of a subway station or, preferably, one of the major train stations such as Tokyo Station.

Most hotels and are very welcoming to younger guests: when we arrived at both our hotels J was gifted a little welcome package with slippers and a baby cloth which was a lovely gesture. Many hotels provide cribs but we prefer to travel with our own compact travel cot which we know meets the recommended safety standards we follow.

Tokyo with a baby tip: lots of hotels in Tokyo have coin operated laundry on site and we loved having the flexibility to do some laundry especially as we were on a multi country trip. We brought baby sensitive detergent with us but the detergent was often automatically included in the washing cycle.

Our Tokyo hotel picks

• Mitsui Garden Hotel Koyobashi: close to both Tokyo Station and the Koyobashi Metro Station as well as within walking distance of Ginza, the Mitsui Garden Hotel is a great base for exploring the city. We opted for a standard room which was a decent size and we appreciated the hotel’s coin-operated laundry – Check prices here!
• Shibuya Excel Hotel, Tokyu: close to Shibuya Station the hotel’s 25th-floor restaurant level offers the best views of Shibuya, has laundry facilities and the location is excellent for exploring the city – Check prices here!

Click here for the best Tokyo hotel prices

Stroller or baby carrier in Tokyo?

We traveled with a stroller and a baby carrier to Tokyo and used both countless times – we would definitely recommend traveling with both to Tokyo if it’s an option.

We tend to walk for miles and miles while on vacation and Tokyo is a city made for walking so it was great to have the stroller for J to relax in. The stroller was perfect for places that required a lot of walking: navigating the airport, exploring Tokyo’s green spaces and wandering through the city.

Tokyo with a baby tip: we travel with the cabin friendly BabyZen Yoyo+ and most of the strollers we saw in Tokyo were super compact – we saw many BabyZen’s and GB Pockit’s on the city streets. Bring a compact, foldable stroller if possible as it’s just easier for navigating the crowded city and storing in restaurants.

Baby carrier

For subway trips, exploring crowded neighborhoods like Harajuku or wandering through the narrow alleys of Golden Gai and Memory Lane in Shinjuku a baby carrier is a necessity.

Tokyo with a baby tip: we use an Ergobaby 360 baby carrier while travelling.

Tokyo Essentials: Sim Cards and Internet

One of the best investments you can make for your trip to Japan is to buy/rent a sim card or 4G hotspot. This will give you internet access while on the go. We have used both sim cards and 4G hotspots during our trips to Japan. A sim card is perfect if you just have your phone while the 4G hotspots are great if you have multiple devices that need internet or if you’re travelling a group. They also avoid any compatibility issues with installing a sim card.

We used the Klook app to order our sim cards for our last trip. The app is great as you can order in advance and pick up on arrival or from various departure cities.

• The best 4G hotspot on offer is provided by URoaming with unlimited data – check prices now!
• The best sim card is from Docomo (who we used) – check prices now!

Click here to order your sim card or 4G hotspot now

How to get around Tokyo with a baby

From airport rides to navigating the city, it is important to plan how you will get around Tokyo with a baby. We used a mix of trains, the subway and walking during our visit.

Tokyo trains and subway

In Tokyo, the trains and the subway are generally the quickest, cheapest and most convenient way to navigate the city. There’s no reason to shy away from the public transport system when traveling with a baby.

The Tokyo subway (which is made up of the Tokyo Metro and the Toei Subway) and the JR line (run by the private company Japan Railways) are the two main train networks in Tokyo. The Yurikamome Line runs to Odaiba and the Digital Art Museum and the Narita Express operates between Narita Airport and Tokyo Station, Shinjuku and Yokohama.

We found it easier to locate elevators on the JR line. It was more of challenge in the metro stations where elevators often required a lot of extra walking. We got by with a mix of our baby carrier or carrying the stroller up and down the stairs.

On many of the trains there are designated areas for stroller parking. However, at rush hour, it’s likely you will need to fold the stroller and carry your baby. Also, try to be conscious not to block the subway door or free seats with the stroller.

Tokyo Subway Passes

Depending on the duration of your stay, a 24, 48 or 72 hour subway pass is invaluable for navigating the city.  We saved so much yen by using our 3 day subway pass for sightseeing trips rather than paying for each individual journey. The passes can be picked up at one of the designated arrival airports in Japan. The pass works for unlimited rides on Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines – check prices now!

Click here to order your Tokyo subway pass

Tokyo with a baby tip: To make the most of our subway pass we tried to do as much of our subway travel as possible within the 72 hour pass period.  For the rest of our trip we purchased a Suica or a Pasmo card instead of individual tickets for each train ride. The rechargeable cards can be swiped at the ticket barriers and used to pay for the train fare. They work on the JR trains, the subways lines and the Narita Express. We found them much quicker and more convenient than having to find money and purchase a ticket each time we took a train.

Tokyo Taxis/Cabs

Children below the age of 6 are required to travel in car seats but taxis are exempt. If you plan on grabbing a cab from the airport, you need to either bring a car seat or be comfortable taking a car journey with an infant on your lap.

Dining out in Tokyo with a baby

Tokyo is extremely baby friendly and most restaurants welcomed J – we ate at sushi joints, a gyukatsu (deep fried beef cutlets) hole in the wall, themed restaurants, high-end bakeries and even a Michelin Star ramen bar! The majority of the restaurants we ate in provided high chairs and baby plates and cutlery.

Tokyo with a baby tip: Often it is easier to eat out earlier in the day when places are less crowded and more relaxed. Lots of restaurants have counter seating but ask staff to save a booth for more space.

Things to do in Tokyo with a baby

Tokyo is quirky, chaotic and charming and there’s an abundance of things to do which are fun for both adults and kids. Our baby friendly recommendations include Harajuku, Shibuya Crossing, the Digital Art Museum and exploring Tokyo’s parks.

Check out our guide on things to do in Tokyo with a baby for a full lowdown!

Tips for Tokyo travel with a baby

Tokyo is a world-class city and, as a result, we had no concerns traveling there with a baby. There is an extremely high standard of accommodation, transport and hygiene.

Other considerations include:

• Travel insurance: always purchase travel insurance for the baby so you have access to private healthcare in the event of illness.
• Healthcare: the standard of healthcare is excellent in Tokyo. Check with a medical professional regarding any recommended vaccinations and if they are licensed for a baby.
• Baby Supplies: it can be a little hit and miss finding baby essentials in Tokyo’s supermarkets and pharmacies. Many cater for the local office workers and convenience seeking tourists who pass through. Even the stores which did stock baby supplies tended to have limited ranges. For example, many only had diapers suitable for young babies. As such, a quick google of baby specific stores or nearby residential areas will help, as these tend to be better equipped with baby products.
• Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes are common in Tokyo’s parks and gardens as well as in the grounds of the temples and shrines. They generally make an appearance around dusk. We covered J’s stroller with a mosquito net during our evening adventures.
• Weather: Tokyo can be very hot and humid so, during these times, make sure to avoid the hottest part of the day, use sunscreen and carry water for you and baby. We arrived during a heat wave and had to be really careful that J was hydrated and protected in the extreme temperatures.

For more on Japan Family Travel

• Check out our guide on the best things to do in Hakone with kids

9 thoughts on “Tokyo With A Baby: family travel in Tokyo, Japan”

What is your recommendation for a travel cot? We are headed to Japan in June with our then 8 month old daughter. Thanks!

Hi Arielle, we used a pop up tent cot until our little guy was about 10 months (until he discovered he could use it like a zorb ball and roll around the floor in it!!). We coslept for a while on trips after that so we could save space.

thank you for sharing all your tips! We are traveling to Japan with our 15 months old baby this fall. We also have the pop up tent cot that we are tending to use, but how did you manage that in hotels? Was there always enough space next to the bed(s) to put it? Also, didn’t your baby woke up when you were in the room 🙂

Thank you for the advice! Karen

There was always space in our rooms but we made sure not to choose any super compact rooms – we use booking.com to reserve and it was usually apparent in the room pics if there was space! Not long into the trip J decided his pop up tent was more fun as a Zorb ball so we spent 2 months co sleeping!

Thankfully lights/noise don’t bother him once he goes to sleep so us being in the room wasn’t a problem.

Your blog is super helpful as we will be traveling to Japan with our 22 and 6 month old babies. Do you have a list with stores where we can find diapers for all ages? And did you buy babyfood? Or 6 month old started eating solids.

Hi, we are going to Tokyo in December with our baby who will be 7 months old. Would you recommend making reservations at all the restaurants we are going to for dinner? We booked one restaurant for a date night where we will have a baby sitter, but figured we will eat on the fly so to speak for the other days (both lunch and diner), wherever we currently are that day. Do you think that’s reasonable?

We didn’t reserve anything although we did queue in a few places. I didn’t notice a lot of places that took reservations but we eat quite casually (ramen and sushi mostly!).

Enjoy the date night! We visited Tokyo before we had kids as well and our nights out were so much fun!

We hope to head out to Tokyo with our 14 month old in a couple of weeks, are there any places you would recommend for getting baby food/restaurants that serve baby friendly food? Or do most places offer baby friendly options?

Thanks if you are able to help! 😀

I don’t remember anywhere we ate having baby friendly options. My little guy was younger and was still favoring milk over solids so we didn’t seek out places that catered to him.

Wishing you a great trip! Elaine

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Travel Stories: Japan with a Baby

I’m so pleased to share Amy Ballantyne’s story. She traveled to Japan with a baby at 7.5mos pregnant and with her 16-month-old son. They had a great time!

Japan with a Baby…

What an amazing place to travel. It has been a year since we traveled to Japan with a baby but an experience we will never forget. Japan is filled with kind, generous, and helpful people. They were excited to take care of the travelers to their beautiful country.

10 Days in Tokyo

We travelled to Tokyo for 10 days for a baseball tournament and decided to bring our 16 month-old with us (along with Grandma and Grandpa!). He was the perfect age for this trip. He still wasn’t walking but learned in Tokyo. And he would he eat pretty much anything we gave him.

We stayed right in the heart of Tokyo and the hotels we used were the Tokyo Prince Hotel and the Prin ce Park Tower Tokyo . Both hotels were very nice and the staff were exceptional at making us feel welcome. They helped us find our way in a city with little to no English and helped us stay cool in the extreme heat. Thanks to the concierge’s assistance we could navigate the intricate subway and rail systems used by millions each day.

These two hotels were in the beautiful Shiba Park area and close to one of the historic Zo Jo-Ji Buddist temples.

Getting Around Tokyo with a Baby

A couple of points to note when traveling to Tokyo, Japan with a baby. First, using a shuttle to get from the airport to your hotel is critical. We used Friendly Airport Limousine buses. The Narita airport is located a good distance from downtown Tokyo. After a very long flight and transition of approximately 20+ hours, take a reliable shuttle and don’t sweat figuring out the subway or rail system. Not to mention figuring out the language while sleep deprived.

Second, we decided not to rent a car so we used the subway and rail system. It is an amazing system but you must pre-plan routes to the places you want to visit. It is so intricate and complicated that you could become easily lost and there is little English available.

Navigating the Tokyo Subway with a Baby

Some stations have maps that include written words for the station, but usually there is just the Japanese symbols. Acquaint yourselves with the maps and if you have an idea of where things are, the Japanese people are quick to rescue travelers who look lost. A little old lady who could tell we were lost attempted to provide directions using the maps and body language since neither of us could speak the same language.

Consider also that the subway and rail systems are below ground (sometimes very, very far down) and in most cases there are no elevators. We had to carry our baby, the stroller, the diaper bag, and anything else we had up and down the stairs. In other words, bring a light, small stroller ! We frequently saw Japanese women carrying their strollers up and down the stairs on their own. Impressive!

Finding Diapers in Tokyo

Finally, I am glad I followed someone’s advice about packing lots of diapers. I brought about 45+ for the flight and transition and the first few days. It was absolutely impossible to find diapers that were not ridiculously overpriced in downtown Tokyo. I was able to find two diapers (yes, just two) in the hotel store. It was going to cost me about $10 USD for those two diapers.

We searched nearby grocery stores in the Nakamise-dori Asakusa Market and in the grocery stores near our hotel but found nothing. It wasn’t until we went out of the metropolitan of Tokyo to a city called Yokohama (a beautiful city with numerous sights to see) that we found a drug store close to the subway station. They had a package of diapers (about 35 or so) for $10 USD. Thank goodness for that store! We were on our last few diapers and I was starting to worry. They got us through the remainder of the trip and our flight home.

Food in Japan with a Baby

As far as food goes, it should not be a concern at all. It is very easy to find familiar food everywhere in Tokyo. And most places post pictures of the food they offer outside the restaurants so you can see what the meals look like. We found grocery stores and were able to eat very North American food for most of the trip. We did try some food (that was delicious) here and there. And I found some baby food at a grocery store for my son, but we had packed enough jars of food, puffs, Cheerios, formula, and apple sauce to last the entire trip.

Each day we would buy bananas and apples at the grocery store and sandwiches for lunch at the bakery in the lobby of our hotel. Having the store and bakery in the hotel lobby was a godsend for food we knew and not having to go far to get it.

Fun Things to Do in Japan with a Baby

The July we visited was the hottest on record that Tokyo had seen in many years. We purchased a significant amount of water and tried to stay cool any way we could. Be advised that even if your hotel has a pool it likely is not included in your price. We had to pay to swim and only did so on one day because of the cost.

In general Japan is a very baby and kid-friendly place. A few highlights include: seats for baby to sit in inside the washrooms at baseball diamonds, stores, airports, and more. At department stores (i.e. MYLORD ) we found kids areas for children to let loose, play, and have some fun.

Out and About in Tokyo with Baby

At the R oppongi Hills mall there were a few baby/kids locations that were equipped with change tables, microwaves, snack spots, toys, breast feeding rooms, and more. Also at this mall we found an open outdoor area where over a hundred Japanese children were playing with water toys donated by a toy company for the children to ‘test out.’ My son loved playing side by side the Japanese children!

At the Narita airport we were so happy to find another kids area similar to the mall that had everything our son could need during the long wait.

Travel While Pregnant in Japan

In addition to having our toddler with us, I was also 7.5 months pregnant. This was not an issue at all. I was not able to eat any sushi but that was easy since most menus (even in the rural areas we visited for baseball) had English translation under the foods on the menu.

Having great footwear was important as we did a lot of walking and it was hot! I was sure to take advantage of the priority seating on the subway/rail system for the pregnant and individuals traveling with a child! Finally, many spots in Japan have ‘western’ toilets. However, in subway station washrooms, malls, and many other locations, you will only find the traditional Japanese squatting holes. This was a bit tricky as a pregnant person but I had to try it anyhow!

Traveling with Grandma & Grandpa

My husband and I were very lucky to travel with his parents. Taking them with us was absolutely amazing! Traveling to such a different place, it was great to have comfort and security every step of the way.

Some favourite locations we visited included: Zo Jo-Ji Temple, Nakamise-dori Asakusa Market , Tokyo Tower , Senso-ji temple in Asakusa, Yokohama park and stadium , the MYLORD department store in Atsugi, Meiji Jingu Stadium , the Imperial Palace in Kokyo and the R oppongi Hills shopping centre.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Japan with a Baby

I am so thankful that we had the experience of a lifetime traveling to the beautiful country of Japan. The people were amazing. The sights and culture was spectacular. It was a trip we will never forget. Sure, the flight was long, the weather hot, and the language tricky to learn. But I would 100% recommend traveling to Japan (even pregnant and/or with a baby) if given the opportunity!

Amy is an executive, life, and wellness coach and a former personal trainer. Connect with her at AmyBallantyne.com .

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8 Responses to Travel Stories: Japan with a Baby

Amy I would love to learn more about how your trip was in Japan with pregnancy and also a little child. I have been wanting for the longest time to go to Japan with my husband and we’re about to have our first child. I have so many questions about how you got around, how much walking there was, etc. How receptive were Japanese to children? Were you able to travel/walk much? How much were you guys able to cover? Did you find yourself using the taxi a lot? Do they do Uber there?

I always wanted my son to come and experience.

Thank you for sharing your travel experience with your baby in Japan. I’ve always dreamed of going there too and now that I have a little girl, I think it will be even better now to realize this dream with her. 🙂

Great tips on visiting Japan with wee ones. Now I want to visit Japan with my adult babies!! It’s number one on my travel list.

My daughter is a huge anime buff so Japan’s on the top of her list as well 🙂

I have been to Japan last September (without the kids) but I have seen a lot of parents with kids struggling (at least in Tokyo) due to the lack of escalator and the only way was via the long stairs! I felt pity for them!

I visited Tokyo without my family but they’re so jealous and begging to plan a trip there. Will need to get back to Japan someday, hopefully with the kids!

Japan is totally on my daughter’s bucket list as well!

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Travelling to Japan with toddlers

By: Author Wandermust Daddy

Japan is a country that had long be top of my bucket list  but I wasn’t sure if travelling to Japan with toddler in tow was a good idea. I am so glad that we threw caution to the wind as it turned out that Japan was one of the best toddler friendly vacations we have ever done. In this guide up all our tips and tricks for travelling to Japan with toddlers to make sure you have as much fun as we did.

Important Note : This post may contain affiliate links which means if you click through and make a purchase I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you!

Table of Contents

Travelling to Japan with toddlers tips and tricks 

Be Prepared for Jet Lag 

Now if you are coming from Europe or North America for your Japan vacation then it is best to be prepared for jet lag. Now jet lag with toddlers is never fun however I actually found that my toddler bounced back quicker than I did when we were traveling around Japan. Our biggest tip is to make sure you have plenty of snacks with you, keep to the correct meal time at the correct time and most of all make sure you get outside and into the sunshine. 

Move Around – Don’t just stay in one place

The rail system in Japan is amazing and I would definitely say that it is worth even if you are only in Japan for a week to sample at least two locations. The obvious two are of course Tokyo and Kyoto and they are two completing contrasting sides of Japanese life. But..

Don’t move around too much 

Now that we travel with a toddler we have started to embrace slow travel. We find that two locations in a week is more than enough. It can be so tempting especially in Japan with the amazing transport system and bucket list worthy attractions to try and cramp as much as possible into your itinerary. However I would advise limiting how much you travel around and change accommodation on your Japan with toddler itinerary . 

TOP TIP : Also while for most couples and solo travellers in Japan who plan to move around a lot the JR Pass can be a definite budget saver however if you are looking at only doing one or two big journeys on the trains I would advise doing the calculation as it might not be a cost saving to you. But be sure to factor in the cost of day trips too. 

If you are traveling to Japan with a baby instead of a toddler check out this guide. 

Take Day trips 

To get as much in your Japan itinerary with toddlers I would advise to consider taking some day trips rather than having to pack everything up every couple of days. Osaka, Hiroshima, Nara and Arashiyama all can be done as day trips from Kyoto while Yokohama, Disney, Hakone and more can be taken as easy day trips from Tokyo with kids. 

Avoid Rush Hour if you can

Although the Japanese rail system is amazing, the subway can get extremely busy at peak times especially if you are trying to carry a toddler or stroller around with you. My advice is try and avoid the Tokyo rush hour on the subway if you. We did things in walking distance to our hotel first thing in the morning so we were hopping on the  subway once the commuters had all started work which definitely made things a lot easier. 

Eating with Toddlers in Japan

Perhaps my biggest concern about traveling to Japan with my toddler was eating out. However we actually found that my child had a relatively good diet while we traveled around Japan but there are a few things that helped. 

Try the cuisine at home first

We prepared our toddler for Japanese cuisine by letting her sample a few of the flavours before we went. By the time we were in Japan she was quite happy eating noodles and Katsu. 

Don’t expect a plentiful availability of high chairs 

Now those of us from Europe and North America might be used to all restaurants having a provision of high chairs however don’t expect this to be the case in Japan. We found very few restaurants had high chairs so we packed a fold up fabric high chair which can covert any chair into a high chair which was very useful. On occasions where we didn’t have this with us she just sat on our lap during the meal. 

While we didn’t eat at any high end places we did find that everywhere we went was more than happy for us to take our toddler in and on many occasions the waiting staff are extra helpful with our little one. 

Food and Fussy Toddlers in Japan

As I mentioned if you can try and get your toddler used to some of the Japanese food staples before you go it will help but if you have a fussy toddler fear not we found plenty of Pizzas restaurants and places that had more familiar fare. 

Japan with toddlers Packing List 

Should i use a stroller in japan .

Before we went to Japan I was unsure about taking the stroller with us. I was concerned about how easy it would be to manoeuvre around the busy city and subway of Tokyo with a stroller and wasn’t sure we would use when at temples and shrines as many have uneven ground or steps. But let me tell you we were really glad we did take it. We used it in both Kyoto and Tokyo with our toddler  and it was a lifesaver for a toddler with jet lag. My only advice is to be sure that you take an umbrella stroller with you that collapses down to almost nothing as it will be needed if you get on a crowded subway etc. We used this one and it was perfect for our needs. 

For a more complete guide of using a stroller in Japan check out this post. 

Should I take a Carrier to Japan? 

But even if you like us decide to take a stroller to Japan, I would also recommend taking a carrier. We travelled to Japan in August and September and it was crazy hot so my only advice would be to take the right type of carrier with you. If you are traveling in summer make sure it is a hot weather carrier that has extra breathability to make you and your toddler more comfortable. 

Next Read:  For more information on traveling to Asian countries to visit with kids check out this post.

What are the best places to visit in Japan with toddlers 

Tokyo with toddlers.

No Japan itinerary is complete without visiting Tokyo. The capital of Japan and the busiest place we went during our trip but not to be missed out. Tokyo has plenty of toddler friendly attractions including the Borderless Teamlab digital art museum, the two Tokyo Disney resorts and plenty of gardens and parks that will keep your toddler entertained. I would recommend spending at least 3 days in Tokyo. 

Be sure to check out our Tokyo with toddlers guide for more information on conquering this city with toddlers. 

Kyoto with toddlers

Like Tokyo, no Japan itinerary is complete without a visit to Kyoto. Kyoto is the historic capital of Japan and the cultural heartland. I would personally that you should allocate a minimum of 4 days in Kyoto to make sure you cover all of the main cultural attractions. 

For a full guide on what to do on Kyoto with kids click here. 

Osaka with toddlers

If you are traveling to Japan with toddlers I would personally recommend either staying in either Osaka or Kyoto as they are quite close together and can easily be done as day trips and will save you having to take luggage and all your toddler paraphernalia to a new location.

We opted to stay in Kyoto as it had more of the things we wanted to see (Gion, Fushimi inure Tashi and the golden pavilion to name but a few) but this is really a personal choice so I would advise picking the one you think you will be spending the most time in for your base location. 

Nara with toddlers 

Again, this is an easy day trip from Kyoto and while toddlers will love seeing the deer in Nara I think it makes a better day trip from Kyoto than as your base. 

Hokkaido with toddlers

We spent over a month in Japan so decided to head up to Japan’s most northern island of Hokkaido. We loved visiting H okkaido with kids as it is much quieter than the island of Honshu and has lots of things that toddlers will enjoy doing such as the zoo in Sapporo, the ice festival – if you are there in Winter, as well as beautiful flower fields etc. 

I wouldn’t advise going to Hokkaido on your first visit to Japan especially if you are short on time but if you are a repeat visitor or like us are in the country for an extended amount of time it is definitely worthwhile. Check out our guides on the best time to visit Hokkaido and our Hokkaido itinerary for more information. 

Okinawa with toddlers

We didn’t make it to Okinawa with our toddler but it is currently near the top of our Japan Bucket List . Okinawa still has loads of cultural things to do but the attraction for me is to see its beautiful beaches. Hopefully I will be writing about a trip to Okinawa soon! 

Have you been to Japan with toddlers? What were your favourite things or top pieces of advice?

Tuesday 2nd of January 2024

We can't wait to travel to Japan. We love to find children's books to read before the trip - and here are some of the great kids books I've found to get them excited about traveling to Japan: http://storybooklists.com/country/storybooks-with-japan/

Valerie Sattkowski

Wednesday 23rd of August 2023

This is an amazing guide! How old was your toddler when you traveled to Japan and what age would you recommend? thanks :)

Wandermust Daddy

Wednesday 6th of September 2023

Ours was 18 months old when we went and it was lots of fun but obviously depends on toddler. My son, we are taking later, more like 3 as he would have been more fazed by some of the attention

Tuesday 21st of March 2023

Hi! How old was your toddler? Do you recommend the same advices with a 2 year old?

Also - how trick were you with bedtime? I figure it would be hard to fully enjoy Japan if bedtime is at. 7:30-8 every night!

I spent 6 months in Japan before on my own and wanted to visit it again with my husband and baby!

My lo was 18 months old. We did largely stick to early bedtimes but on some nights she slept in the stroller. I would def go again even with a toddler

Sunday 19th of January 2020

Vous êtes simplement Génial! Avec vos astuces, je crois qu'en été prochain, c'est Tokyo qui nous servira de refuge ma famille et moi. Merci et bonne continuation.

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Travelling in Japan with Kids Practical tips for planning a trip to Japan that is enthralling to travellers of all ages

When one thinks of Japan, their mind tends to go for the grandiose – whether this means climbing Mount Fuji, hiking through lush forests, or navigating the bustling cityscapes filled with packed trains and busy intersections. With all of this in mind, Japan might not necessarily seem the most kid-friendly of places. However, it is possible to plan an exciting and immensely fascinating trip for both you and your young one. In the article below, we’ll field some common questions and concerns that might arise when planning family travel in Japan, which we hope will put a parent/guardian’s mind at ease.

Is it safe?

The first factor that any parent will think of when it comes to their child is “Is this destination safe?”. Parents will be relieved to know that Japan is among the top-ranked countries on the Global Peace Index . This is further evidenced by the often-mentioned independence of Japanese children, who are often trusted to walk to school or even run errands by themselves. This has even been the topic of news articles and other media such as “Old Enough”, a reality show wherein children as young as 3-6 years old are sent on errands. While sending your kids off to pick up groceries in a foreign country is certainly not recommended, the fact that Japanese children often go out on their own is a reassuring indicator of public safety in Japan.

Is it Practical?

Japan enjoys a reputation for its robust infrastructure and stellar hospitality industry. Whether it’s the cool trains or soothing hot springs, there’s plenty to keep both parent and child entertained throughout the journey. With that said, it is important to know your needs, and how they might factor into booking travel and accommodation.

Transportation:

When it comes to public transportation, Japan reigns supreme. The majority of the country is easily accessible thanks to its fast, frequent, and extensive rail service. With a variety of unique trains (some featuring motifs from Pokemon to Hello Kitty), trains in Japan are as fun for kids to ride as it is convenient. Similar to Canada, most local trains and buses have priority seating for passengers who are pregnant or have young children, whereas long haul and express services such as the shinkansen offer reserved seating. In addition to guaranteed comfort, most railways also provide discounts for younger passengers, similar to those in the table below:

*Additionally, most rail passes offer 50% discounts for children aged 6 to 11.

Most stations have elevators and washrooms are available at almost all train stations, as well as onboard trains serving long distances, though they may lack soap and paper towels. In Japan, it is customary to bring your own hand towel or sanitizer with you, and these can be easily purchased at one of Japan’s omnipresent convenience stores. 

Navigating local metros can be a little more challenging as crowds can get quite intense, particularly during the rush hours, which span approximately 7-9 AM and 5-7 PM on weekdays. It is best to avoid public transit during these times when travelling with young kids. For those who are more comfortable avoiding public transit entirely, rental cars are an option. Driving is on the left side of the road, whereas the steering wheel is on the right (opposite to Canada in both regards.) Beyond that, driving is relatively straightforward, as many road signs include English. It should be noted that international drivers do require a permit, which can be obtained fairly easily from the Canadian Automobile Association here in Canada. More details regarding rental cars can be found on JNTO’s driving page .

Finally, when it comes to navigating Japan with children on foot, there are a few things to be aware of. Because Japan is a small, mountainous, island country, some streets may be steep and narrow.  This is particularly true for those looking to enjoy shrines and temples, which typically involve a fair amount of stair-climbing. As such, many travellers opt for baby carriers rather than strollers. 

Finding ways to travel compact while in Japan is always recommended. That said, part of travelling as a family means that luggage tends to accumulate fast. In cases like this, delivery services such as Kuroneko Yamato are a great means of couriering luggage to your next destination, for a relatively low cost.

Accomodations:

When it comes to accommodations, there are plenty of great options for unique, yet family-friendly stays. Traditional Japanese-style inns such as ryokan and minshuku, for instance, are a popular choice among locals when it comes to family vacations. These are typically very spacious, featuring open-concept rooms with tatami floors, and bedding that can be put away when not in use. This makes for an excellent option for kids to play and roll around on to their heart’s content. It should be noted that ryokan typically include breakfast and dinner. Though this is a highlight of their stay for many people, this typically involves traditional Japanese fare including plenty of fish and vegetables. If your child’s palate is less adventurous, it is worth confirming the menu in advance and seeking out alternative dining options if necessary.

Western-style hotels are generally immaculately maintained, offering plenty of amenities, and are often located in more central locations than traditional inns. When it comes to food options, these hotels commonly have on-site restaurants, and some of the most extensive breakfast buffets out there. Whether it’s bacon and eggs, miso soup, or even curry, there's usually something for everyone's taste.  The one thing to be mindful of while booking is square footage, as there are many economical western-style hotels called “Business hotels”, where the rooms tend to be smaller. At most hotels, small children can stay with parents in the same room for free of charge and some offer child-related items such as cribs, but rules need to be checked with each hotel before booking.

If your child hasn’t acquired a taste for sushi yet, then fear not - Japan is home to plenty of foods that are friendly to the less adventurous palates. In fact, “Family Restaurant” has even been used as a loan word to describe its own genre of restaurant, which typically has large tables and booths and offers a variety of different dishes for a reasonable price. Commonly, this is a mixture of western and Japanese – sometimes both at the same time (see: omurice ). Restaurants like these provide an option for families that offers familiar menu items with a Japanese twist, while offering something fun and new to the typical Canadian diner. Kids meals are usually available at these restaurants as well.

Conveyor belt sushi, or kaiten-zushi, is also a great option for those who are a little more adventurous. Items are served a la carte, starting from one or two dollars a plate, meaning that it is easy to sample and share. In spite of the name, it is typical for these restaurants to have a number of non-sushi items as well (generally including french fries, noodle dishes, salads, and desserts) that can be selected from an easy-to-use tablet menu, which will show pictures for each dish. Kid-friendly features such as high chairs will often be available at these kinds of restaurants as well (not to mention, some of these “conveyor belts” take the form of tiny bullet trains!) 

Popular Sights for Kids

When it comes to kid-friendly activities, children are spoiled for choice in Japan, and your child may have some passing knowledge of what’s in store – be it Pokemon Centers  or the Ghibli Museum . There are several amusement parks, such as Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea in Tokyo, as well as Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. Those looking for more educational fun may consider Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan in Osaka or the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo. If you’re looking for a happy medium between the two, there are Cup Noodles Museums in both Yokohama  and Ikeda , where visitors can learn the history of Nissin’s iconic instant ramen, while even creating their own custom flavours and packaging. For adventurers and animal lovers, there are plenty of other locations where one can find friendly cats , rabbits , and deer  roaming in the wild. But beyond the destinations themselves, it is hard to understate the value of exposure to a different culture at an early age. With a safe environment to explore all kinds of entirely new sights, sounds, flavours, and experiences, few destinations are better suited to the task than Japan.  

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