Parenting
Child-Friendly Destinations To Visit On Your Japan Trip
Living in Bali, Indonesia, as a travel journalist with my family, we have the privilege of viewing all of Asia as our own personal playground. We eagerly and frequently venture out to explore this diverse continent. For our inaugural trip as a newly expanded family of four, we embarked on a journey to Japan with our little ones aged 3 years and 4 months. It was serendipitous that our adventure coincided with Mother’s Day, evoking nostalgic memories of my own previous visit to this beautiful country with my mother during the same holiday five years ago. My earlier encounter with Japan left me enamored by its ability to transform even the most ordinary tasks into exquisite art forms, fostering a deep appreciation for slowing down—a sentiment that has only been magnified by the presence of my children.
My initial expectation that Japan would be a welcoming destination for young children was confirmed, but I was pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming kindness and warmth extended to them by everyone we encountered. The term Kawaii, meaning “cute,” reverberated consistently from Japanese locals of all ages, including taxi drivers, servers, schoolchildren, and elderly individuals, as they affectionately referred to my daughters. Moreover, this concept of cuteness is not merely a superficial observation but is deeply ingrained in Japanese culture. There are even specialized food tours that revolve around adorable culinary creations—a concept that undoubtedly appeals to many youngsters. Below are some invaluable suggestions on how to maximize the enjoyment, charm, and flavors when traveling to Japan with your children.
Allow for Leisurely Exploration.
When embarking on a family trip to Japan from the United States, it is advisable to allocate at least a week for your stay—ideally aim for 9-10 days to comfortably experience two to three destinations without feeling rushed. Our itinerary included six nights in Tokyo, a brief overnight stay in Nara (which we could have easily extended to two nights), and four nights in Kyoto. Despite this duration, we found ourselves unable to cover all the experiences and sights we had hoped to explore.
As for the timing of your visit to Japan with your children, it may be wise to avoid the peak season, particularly during the cherry blossom season in April, unless you are a fan of bustling crowds and meticulous planning well in advance. Although this festive period and the Golden Week (usually spanning late April to early May, marked by consecutive national holidays leading to a surge in domestic travel) are exceptionally busy, spring showcases the country in all its glory. Fall is equally enchanting, especially for the vibrant crimson hues of the Japanese maple trees, while summer can be quite warm, humid, and rainy. Winter, on the other hand, presents an excellent opportunity for snow enthusiasts, with Japan renowned for its pristine powder snow. Properties like Club Med Tomamu – Hokkaido are particularly child-friendly during this snowy season.
Prepare for Time Zone Adjustment.
Be mindful of potential jet lag and plan—or rather do not plan—accordingly. I recommend refraining from scheduling any activities for your first day upon arrival. Despite only encountering a one-hour time difference coming from Bali, our energy levels were severely depleted due to taking a seven-hour overnight flight, landing at 8 a.m. Tokyo time. The resulting fatigue, physically and emotionally, underscored the importance of not having rigid commitments and allowing us to leisurely meander, eat, and nap as our bodies demanded.
Our initial stop was HOSHINOYA Tokyo, a delightful retreat featuring an onsen—a classic Japanese geothermal hot spring—on its rooftop, fed by water sourced from nearly 5,000 feet underground, providing a rejuvenating soak for our weary souls. The property, styled in the traditional ryokan fashion, boasted an ochanoma lounge on each floor, offering round-the-clock access to teas, refreshing beverages, ice cream, and an assortment of Japanese snacks that we gleefully sampled whenever hunger pangs struck. Clad in the cozy pajamas provided by the hotel, we indulged in this ritual, a charmingly common amenity among Japanese accommodations.
Limit Intensive Activities.
Through my experiences, I’ve come to realize that my former tendency as a travel writer to cram as many activities into each day no longer aligns with the pace suitable for exploring with children. In Japan, taking things slow is key when traveling with little ones.
Irrespective of your mode of transportation or route, you will undoubtedly encounter captivating attractions and moments that beckon you to pause or linger. Embracing these serendipitous encounters and relishing in their magic can elevate your trip. To prevent overwhelming your schedule, I suggest adopting a minimalist Japanese approach to planning. Whether it involves dedicating an entire day to Tokyo DisneySea, a must-visit destination for families with toddlers and older children, or spending several hours at teamLab Borderless—an immersive digital art museum that captivated even my baby—at Azabudai Hills (make sure to enjoy a meal at Azabudai Hills Market, a culinary paradise with a diverse array of food stalls), or simply exploring a temple or shopping district, allowing your itinerary to organically unfold can lead to delightful discoveries.
At certain destinations, intricate planning may not be necessary. Instead, embrace spontaneity and allow the day to evolve naturally. Take, for instance, Nara, a historic capital of Japan famous for its revered population of freely roaming deer. During our relaxed sojourn at Shisui, a Luxury Collection Hotel situated adjacent to the expansive Nara Park, my daughter was enchanted by the abundant deer that willingly bowed in anticipation of “deer cookies.” Playfully interacting with these fearless stags, does, and fawns added a touch of whimsy to our visit, as we meandered through the impressive Todai-ji temple. The hotel surprised us with a daily casual Champagne hour, offering a serene ambiance where we could unwind before dinner, while our daughter savored juice and relished the delectable snacks on offer.
Embrace your daring side—or your inner child.
Engage in go-kart racing sporting a banana outfit? Experience sumo wrestling? Spend time with hedgehogs or micropigs at an animal cafe? Participate in a cute food tour (such as Arigato Travel)? Explore a robot park? Wander through a shrine filled with tiny felines? Japan offers an abundance of pure amusement that is worth unleashing as a family, engaging in activities that your children will cherish forever, whether whimsical or not.
As composed and solemn as one facet of Japanese culture may appear, the presence of play is equally significant, demonstrated by the multitude of places to engage in just that. A few locations suggested to me but unfortunately not visited due to time constraints include the massive indoor play area ASOBono, Ueno Park housing Japan’s oldest zoo, and KidZania Tokyo, where kids can dress up and utilize authentic equipment to simulate various professions, from a pilot to a Shiseido makeup advisor. Some accommodations, like Six Senses Kyoto, offer exceptional kids’ clubs where friendly staff who adore children engage them in activities like origami crafts (our daughter especially enjoyed creating origami butterflies).
Discussing daring, maintain an open outlook towards cuisine.
It would be erroneous to assume that enjoying sushi—which, let’s be honest, can be a stretch for individuals of all ages—is essential for a remarkable experience, culinary or otherwise, when traveling in Japan with your children. The country boasts a plethora of dishes that do not involve raw fish. Yet, I can guarantee that a sushi train restaurant (such as the beloved Sushi-Go-Round below Tokyo Station) should be on your list. The sheer novelty of ordering food through a tablet and witnessing it magically whiz around a conveyor belt to your table is thrilling for everyone.
Our 3-year-old figured out how to place her orders independently and kept requesting more shrimp nigiri. (Opting for tablet ordering allowed us to request no wasabi and varying rice sizes to accommodate different tastes.) Essentially, a meal in Japan can evolve into an activity in itself.
Surprisingly, Japanese cuisine offers a variety that even the fussiest eaters would find enticing. Indulge in karaage, crispy fried chicken, or ramen, which is undoubtedly superior to Cup-o-Noodles but just as palatable. The array of delightful chicken dishes—skewers, roasted, and more—alongside katsu, panko-coated cutlets of chicken, pork, or premium beef that are incredibly tasty. Also, savor udon and other noodles, slurping loudly (a gesture encouraged in Japan to show gratitude to the chef), an act that every child will relish. Western cuisine is prevalent as well (think pizza! burgers! pasta!), and we found that our meals were generally more economical than they would have been in an American city.
Undoubtedly select family-friendly accommodations.
You may not anticipate it, but the luxurious Bulgari Hotel Tokyo, in all its grandeur, emerged as one of the most child-welcoming hotels we encountered. Our toddler was greeted with little Bulgari puzzles, coloring books, and colored pencils upon arrival, special cutlery and dishes at breakfast, and exceedingly kind staff who escorted her to the Tokyo Station platform for our departure train, carrying our baggage as well. With numerous hotels available at various price points and styles, opting for one that caters equally to its youngest guests is prudent.
Location can significantly enhance or detract from the experience. I always find proximity to a park or garden advantageous when children are involved. At TRUNK(HOTEL) YOYOGI PARK, a stylish, eco-friendly, and supremely welcoming Tokyo boutique hotel where the front desk team taught our daughter the Japanese V-sign for photos, we relished easy access to a vast green park right across the street. She was ecstatic to have a sprawling green space to play safely, gather leaves, and smell flowers, providing a scenic view during swims in the rooftop pool and hot tub, which was made even more enjoyable with a branded TRUNK inner tube. Their ultra-soft toddler-sized pajamas and slippers were a hit, permitted even at breakfast.
Also worth mentioning, I came across several lodgings with stringent regulations for their swimming areas, either prohibiting children under 4 years old from accessing them or restricting their hours of entry. For us as guardians, this could be perceived as positive or negative. I thoroughly appreciated a peaceful 45-minute break during naptime at Bulgari’s stunning towering indoor pool where little ones are not permitted, yet I also yearned for my daughter to be slightly older to relish ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts’ picturesque outdoor thermal pool alongside me. Nevertheless, she had a delightful time running around and collecting dandelions on the lush lawn beside it.
No Need to Worry About Taking Your Infant to Japan, Either!
Out of all the destinations I’ve journeyed to with an infant, Japan proved to be one of the most smooth and stress-free—and not solely due to the overwhelmingly positive reception of our baby. It’s a humble country with numerous well-equipped communal changing and nursing spaces (even within train stations, shopping complexes, and department stores), which I found to be incredibly beneficial as it allowed me to comfortably nourish my baby while my spouse and toddler enjoyed the outdoors.
Almost every eatery offers a baby seat, although many restaurants are quite compact and lack space to keep a stroller indoors. We were content to have brought our Uppababy duo, which enabled us to fold and store the Cruz stroller at the restaurant’s entrance while situating the baby in the Mesa car seat on a bench or chair. Many of our accommodations provided a diaper bin without us needing to request one and, naturally, a crib with plush bedding.
Upon exploring Tokyo, Nara, and Kyoto with my own family for nearly a fortnight, I am wholeheartedly in favor of families embarking on a bucket-list expedition to Japan. Presently, the Japanese Yen stands at its weakest point in over three decades, making it quite literally the ideal time to travel to Japan with your children.