Realistic ways to make Japan with kids even better – to organise even before you arrive.
- If flying into Tokyo – choose Haneda if you can. Haneda is just 30 mins into central Tokyo. Narita is 1.5 hours
Here are all of our favourite ways to get from Haneda into the city and why.
Here are all of our favourite ways to get from Narita into the city and why.
- Make a list of all the types of Japanese food you want to eat (eg tempura, sushi train, high end sushi, sukiyaki etc ) and reserve one restaurant every 2 days *I have a long list of kid-friendly options, if you need
I have a list of foods to try in Japan with kids here.
I recommend then searching on my site here by city or area for my full list of our favourite places to eat as a family and why.
- Choose hotels with a manned front desk so you can forward luggage. Send luggage to every second hotel and travel light on bullet trains. Wash clothes and repack every time you’re reunited with your suitcase
See here on how to go about forwarding your luggage in Japan.
Here are all of my favourite places to stay with kids while in Japan. - If arriving early in the morning with small children (espesh if changing timezones ), pay for a hotel the night before you arrive . Let the hotel know you will arrive early morning. It will be the best money you spend the whole trip.
- Read up on how the Tokyo Disney Park ride and fast pass system works. I have a one day strategy that makes it really easy (and means you won’t be waiting for rides all day)
- Choose an area with parks, museums and kid-friendly restaurants nearby (I have an area guide if you need)
- Stay in Osaka OR Kyoto. They are close together ( Nara too!) and moving hotels many times with kids is so hard going on parents
- Make sure your trip includes one night in a ryokan or a stay in a Machiya ( a former tea house ) and make that day your slow day as it’s not just a place to lay your head. It’s an experience from check in to check out
- Pack small toys for restaurants and in hotels. Kids wake early and parents need time to relax. I have examples of the cheap and disposable toys we bring if you wanted inspo.
- Book a private driver for ½ way or ¾ way through your trip for a day off logistics ( a day trip somewhere green or with a view, etc) Around this time everyone is getting really tired and it’s so nice to hand over the logistics to someone else for a day. Someone else’s job to locate the toilets, find somewhere yummy for lunch etc. I have the best company to recommend if you wanted the details.
