We’re so lucky to have recently explored Japan with our little ones—it was an unforgettable adventure! Japan is such a beautiful country, and even though it was a busy holiday with not much time to rest, every moment was packed with incredible moments that are now memories I will cherish forever.
Before I start I also wanted to share something I shared on the IG story while away that resonated with so many people:
I've never understood when people say,
"But they won't remember it," about taking kids on holidays/ to special places. Childhood memories are often a blur.. most of us only remember a few key things from the early years, but the experiences we have during those early years profoundly shape our development and who we become as adults.
It's not just about remembering the details of a specific trip; it's about the feelings.. the excitement and adventure.It gives our kids a worldly view.The exact moments might fade but the impact of those moments remain forever. So take them. It's about enriching their lives in ways that will influence who they are long after the details are forgotten."
The kindness and courtesy of the Japanese people was truly heartwarming, and Japan is a safe place to travel with kids so if you're looking for an adventure, Japan is a beautiful one and I highly recommend, but it's certainly a trip that takes a lot of organisation, forward planning/ booking; so I hope this helps a little.
Tips for travelling with babies:
Before I get into sharing some tips for travelling in Japan I wanted to give some of my recommendations when travelling with a baby. Bambi had just turned 1, she had flown heaps but this time she was moving around, knew what independence was and the 10 hour flights both ways (yes, even the night flight) were hard. Here are my tips for travelling with a baby (my 7 and 5 year old were perfect, ate snacks, watched iPads and slept):
✅ Book direct flights if possible
✅ Book night fights if possible and book early so you can secure the bassinet and try to be in an aisle seat
✅ Pre-board with your babe so you can get comfortable and everything that you need out
✅ Bring disinfectant wipes and wipe down your seat and area, the last thing you want is them getting sick for your holiday
✅ Pack a baby bag that has everything you need for quick access (nappies, wipes, food, bottles, medication)
✅ Share with your partner. We did 30 min on, 30 min off and swapped as she was constantly moving etc
✅ Bring food on the plane for babies (and kids).They really don't cater well at all in my experience
✅ Feed baby milk when taking off and landing, the sucking helps equalise their ears
✅ Bring your carrier on the plane - this is the only place she slept while we did laps
✅ Dress bub in something that's comfortable for them but also easy for you to change their nappy in a tiny toilet
✅ It’s so normal for a little human to get upset when flying and get stuck on a huge weird thing in the sky. Their sleep is disrupted and they are massively overwhelmed. Don’t stress if they cry, anyone who gets annoyed at a little beautiful baby that is crying literally deserves to hear one cry their entire flight! You got this. Remember once you arrive you will create the most beautiful memories with your little one.
✅ Ask for help from the staff, they are always so lovely in my experience!
Our itinerary:
We stayed in Tokyo for 6 nights, Kyoto 4 nights and Osaka 4 nights. Here are the places we stayed at the top places we visited.
Tokyo: Busy, futuristic and fun
- Disneyland and DisneySea
- Team Labs (so fun)
- Harajuku
- Shibuya Sky Deck (try for sunset); books out 1 month in advance
- We stayed at Four Seasons Otemchi
- Pro: amazing set up for kids, in the same building as a train station.
- Con: expensive and we needed 4 rooms to sleep us all (family of 5) .
- This was one of the best hotels I have ever stayed in; 9.9/10. The service was impeccable and they catered for the kids so beautifully and thoughtfully.
Kyoto: Historic, Serene, Traditional
- Bamboo forest
- Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Gion District
- Nishiki Market
- Eat at Trattoria Sette - beautiful Italian restaurant
- We stayed at Four Seasons Kyoto
- Pros: was beautiful, rooms were large, a big pond of Koi fish the kids could feed.
- Cons: quite small property, expensive - especially breakfast, not a great location where you can easily walk to key places, but transport was easy to get.
Osaka: Energetic, Modern, Culinary
- Universal Studio - Super Nintendo World inside Universal is a must! Get the app and learn how to reserve your pass into the world as it’s not guaranteed
- Osaka Castle
- Dotonbori
- We stayed here and although it was beautiful, it wasn’t suitable for kids and felt more like a hotel for travelling business people.
General Japan tips:
👉 Download and use google translate. I was caught out a few times when I thought we understood each other and we absolutely did not!
👉 Download and use google maps, it's really helpful with the trains and tells you exactly which line and how many stops. I still confirmed everything with the Concierge for the first few days and then you get the hang of it.
👉 You need to be organised and planned to travel Japan. Usually I plan out our days and where to eat once we arrive on a holiday but that is not possible in Japan. Most tourist attractions open for booking 1 month out and they sell out.
👉 Disneyland: everything the kids ever dreamed of. Amazing place, food is difficult to get. I packed stuff for Bambi and snacks for the kids and highly recommend you do.
👉 DisneySea: I was worried that my kids might be too young, and although there were rides they were too little for they still absolutely loved it.
👉 For Disneyland, DisneySea and Universal you check a website for crowd predictions. We went on the quietest days and it was still really busy. Also watch lots of Tik Toks on using the apps as it’s important you understand how to reserve rides and even sections of the park (like Superninendo World at Universal)
👉 Street Go Karting (adults only): We learned the hard way that you need an international driver's licence and need to arrange this in Australia before you leave!
👉 Accommodation is notoriously small so look at sqm of the rooms. They also don’t like babies over 1 in a cot. The cots are small; like half way between a bassinet and cot here in Australia. We ended up getting it approved for Bambi and it was fine as she is small, but consider a portable cot.
👉 7/11 and other convenience stores are everywhere and have so many great food options. We visited one almost every day and loaded up on items for Bambi to eat like fresh fruit, yoghurt, sandwiches etc
👉 Stay near public transport, prioritise booking somewhere that is within close walking distance
👉 We went in July and it was summer. It was hot and humid so pack a pram fan. I got this one and loved it! The older kids got one of these each
👉 Japan is notoriously a busy place. I purchased airtags and these and these. My kids knew if they were lost to stop, stay where they were and look for someone who had kids with them and get them to scan their wristband for our contact details
👉 I pack using these cubes and it makes life so much easier to find things (especially if you're in a tiny hotel room with kids!)
👉 We used this stroller to travel around. It folds up and goes in overhead storage and I swear by it!
👉 We used this carrier heaps too as Bambi’s sleeps were very disrupted. This one is expensive and you can definitely get cheaper versions like this or even this one. If you’re going in summer they would be cooler for bub too.
👉 Beds and bedding in Japan is quite different to Australia (or at least my home). Beds are hard and pillows are all feather (so your head sinks right through). We ended up going to Japan’s equivalent of IKEA called Nitori (they do have IKEA but wasn't close by). We got pillows for $6 each and it was a game changer!
👉 In most pools you need to wear a swim cap to cover your hair. I didn’t know this and if I did I would have probably purchased our own as the kids hated them and it was a bit weird reusing someone's swim cap. I would have purchased something like this.
👉 In Japan, it is common to bathe nude in Onsen (hot springs) due to cultural traditions and the importance placed on cleanliness, relaxation and communal bathing experiences. We found this to be the case. Also, the last hotel we stayed at wouldn't let the kids in the spa unless they were naked (which we didn’t do).
Anywhere you travel make sure you:
✅ Register with smart traveller
✅ Research any natural disasters and what to do (Japan has Earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, floods, landslides)
✅ Know emergency contact numbers and how the healthcare system works
✅ Know where the closest hospital is
✅ Have travel insurance
✅ Take medications with you. I packed lockable medication bags and filled them with:
- Basic first aid supplies like bandaids, antiseptic wipes, gauze, adhesive tape, and scissors
- Paracetamol and Ibuprofen
- Antihistamine
- Thermometer
- Insect repellent
- Oral rehydration
- Pulse oximeter
I hope these tips help you create a beautiful trip to Japan with your little family. Enjoy the chaos of the bustling cities and the quietness of the temples. It truly is a magical place filled with amazing food, incredibly kind people, and rich cultural experiences that your little ones will remember forever.
Nik x
