Japan with Kids

Japan is surprisingly family-friendly. Clean facilities, safe streets, amazing food kids actually like, and experiences that captivate all ages. Here's how to make it work.

Why Japan Is Great for Families

Kid-Friendly Culture

• Safety - One of the safest countries for children
• Cleanliness - Spotless public facilities
• Respect for kids - Children welcomed almost everywhere
• Convenience - Everything designed to be easy
• Kid-friendly food - Familiar flavors available

Practical Benefits

• Clean public restrooms - With baby facilities
• Stroller accessibility - Metro has elevators
• Family restaurants - Kid menus everywhere
• Medical care - Excellent if needed
• Low crime - Kids can be kids safely

Best Ages for Japan

By Age Group

Age	Considerations	Best For
0-2	Stroller-friendly, nursing rooms	Cities, short trips
3-5	Theme parks, trains, animals	Tokyo, Osaka
6-10	Can walk more, understand culture	Golden age for Japan
11-14	Anime, gaming, more complex sites	Pop culture, history
15+	Independent exploration	All of Japan

Sweet Spot: Ages 6-12

Kids this age:

• Can walk reasonable distances
• Are amazed by everything
• Enjoy cultural differences
• Remember the trip
• Eat more adventurously

Kid-Friendly Activities by City

Tokyo

Theme Parks:

Park	Best Ages	Notes
Tokyo Disneyland	All ages	Classic Disney
DisneySea	6+	More sophisticated
Sanrio Puroland	3-10	Hello Kitty indoor
Legoland Tokyo	3-12	Indoor, Odaiba

Interactive Experiences:

Activity	Ages	Why Kids Love It
teamLab Borderless/Planets	All	Immersive digital art
Pokemon Center	5+	Every Pokemon fan's dream
Ghibli Museum	4+	Magical, book ahead
Akihabara arcades	8+	Gaming paradise
Ninja experience	5+	Active, costume fun

Animals:

Place	Highlights
Ueno Zoo	Pandas, affordable
Sumida Aquarium	Penguins, jellyfish
Maxell Aqua Park	Dolphins, near Shinagawa
Cat cafes	Ages 6+ usually

Free Activities:

• Train watching (Shinkansen at Tokyo Station)
• Yoyogi Park (space to run)
• Harajuku people-watching
• Shibuya Crossing experience

Kyoto

Kid-Friendly Temples:

Temple	Why Kids Like It
Fushimi Inari	Running through gates
Kinkaku-ji	Golden temple, short visit
Monkey Park	Wild monkeys, great views
Tenryu-ji	Garden pond, fish

Activities:

• Samurai/Ninja experience - Dress up, sword fighting
• Kimono rental - Kids sizes available
• Bamboo grove - Arashiyama, impressive
• Train ride - Sagano Romantic Railway

Nara Day Trip:

• Feed the deer (supervise young kids)
• Todai-ji giant Buddha
• Flat, walkable
• 30 minutes from Kyoto

Osaka

Theme Parks:

Park	Best For
Universal Studios Japan	All ages, Super Nintendo World
Legoland Discovery	3-10, indoor
Kids Plaza Osaka	Toddlers-10, interactive museum

Food Fun:

• Dotonbori - Bright lights, street food
• Cup Noodles Museum - Make your own ramen
• Takoyaki making - Cook octopus balls

Beyond Big Cities

Nature & Animals:

Destination	Experience
Nara	Deer feeding
Hiroshima/Miyajima	Beach + shrine + deer
Hakone	Pirate ships, ropeway
Okinawa	Beaches, Churaumi Aquarium

Accommodation with Kids

Best Hotel Types

Family Rooms:

• Western hotels with connecting rooms
• Japanese-style rooms (futons, space)
• Apartment hotels (kitchen, laundry)

Recommended Chains:

Chain	Why Good for Families
Tokyu Stay	Washer/dryer in room
Mitsui Garden	Family rooms available
Hotel Gracery	Character-themed rooms
APA Hotels	Affordable, reliable

Ryokan with Kids

Considerations:

• Floor sleeping (kids love it!)
• Kaiseki dinner (kid-friendly options vary)
• Onsen rules (kids welcome in family baths)
• Noise in hallways (thin walls)

Family-Friendly Ryokan:

• Look for "family welcome" designation
• Private bath options
• Western bed options available

Apartment Rentals

Benefits:

• Kitchen (cook familiar food)
• Laundry (essential with kids)
• Space to spread out
• Cheaper for families

Where to Book:

• Airbnb (check legal status)
• Vrbo
• Japan-specific: JapanStay, Homeaway

Eating with Kids

Kid-Friendly Restaurants

Chain Restaurants:

Chain	What It Is	Why Kids Like It
Saizeriya	Italian family restaurant	Pizza, pasta, cheap
Gusto	Family restaurant	Menu variety, drink bar
Cocos	Family restaurant	Curry, hamburg steak
Kura Sushi	Conveyor sushi	Touch screens, prizes
Genki Sushi	Conveyor sushi	Train delivers food

Kid-Approved Japanese Food:

Food	Description	Why Kids Like It
Ramen	Noodle soup	Familiar, delicious
Curry rice	Japanese curry	Mild, comforting
Katsu	Breaded cutlet	Chicken nugget-adjacent
Udon	Thick noodles	Easy to eat
Onigiri	Rice balls	Portable, various fillings
Tamagoyaki	Sweet omelet	Breakfast favorite
Yakitori	Grilled chicken skewers	Like chicken fingers

Convenience Store Saves

When kids are hungry NOW:

• Onigiri (rice balls) - ¥100-150
• Sandwiches - ¥200-300
• Nikuman (meat buns) - ¥150
• Banana - ¥100
• Juice boxes

Tips for Picky Eaters

1. Don't force it - Familiar food is fine 2. Konbini backup - Always nearby 3. Lunch over dinner - Kids fresher, restaurants less formal 4. Point at pictures - Menus usually have photos 5. Family restaurants - Always have options

High Chairs & Kid Sets

• Most family restaurants have high chairs
• "Okosama" (お子様) means kid's meal
• Portion sizes often smaller anyway
• Sharing works well

Getting Around with Kids

Trains with Children

Free Travel:

• Kids under 6: Free on JR
• Kids 6-11: Half price
• Under 6 need seat: Child fare

Tips:

• Avoid rush hour (7-9am, 5-7pm)
• Priority seats for families
• Elevators at most stations
• Practice station names as game

Stroller Considerations

Bring Your Own:

• Compact/umbrella stroller best
• Fits in train overhead
• Japan is stroller-accessible

Rent in Japan:

• Available at airports
• Some hotels offer free use
• Theme parks have rentals

Accessibility:

• Major stations have elevators
• Escalators common
• Some older areas challenging
• Temples often have stairs

Taxis with Kids

• No car seats required (legal!)
• Can use your own if wanted
• Roomy taxis available
• Expensive but convenient

Carrying Babies

• Baby carriers work well
• Easier than strollers for temples
• Japanese love seeing babies
• Lightweight carrier recommended

Managing Jet Lag with Kids

Before You Go

• Start adjusting sleep 3-4 days before
• Book day flight if possible (arrive evening Japan time)
• Keep kids awake during travel day

First Few Days

Day	Strategy
Day 1	Stay awake until 8pm local, outside time
Day 2	Normal schedule, expect early wake-up
Day 3	Getting better, nap if needed
Day 4+	Usually adjusted

Tips

• Natural light - Get outside morning and afternoon
• Stay active - Keep moving during the day
• Accept the chaos - First 2 days are hard
• Early dinners - Kids will crash early

Health & Safety

Medical Care

• Clinics - English-speaking doctors exist (AMDA, JMIP)
• Pharmacies - Familiar medicines hard to find
• Hospitals - World-class if needed
• Insurance - Essential for families

Pack These

• Children's medicine - Tylenol, Benadryl, etc.
• Prescriptions - With documentation
• Sunscreen - Especially for Okinawa
• First aid basics - Band-aids, antibiotic cream
• Comfort items - Lovey, familiar snacks

Staying Safe

• Hold hands in stations (gap!)
• Meeting point - Establish if separated
• ID card - Hotel name in Japanese
• Photo daily - Of kids in current outfit

Budget Considerations

Family Travel Costs

Budget Family (¥15,000-25,000/day for 4):

• Budget hotel with family room
• Konbini and family restaurants
• Free activities

Mid-Range (¥30,000-50,000/day for 4):

• Comfortable hotel
• Mix of restaurants
• Theme parks, attractions

Comfortable (¥50,000-80,000/day for 4):

• Nice hotels
• Good restaurants
• All major attractions

Saving Money

• JR Pass - Usually worthwhile for families
• Free attractions - Parks, shrines, neighborhoods
• Bento lunches - From convenience stores
• Off-season - Lower prices, fewer crowds

Sample Family Itinerary

10 Days Classic with Kids

Day	Location	Activities
1	Tokyo	Arrive, rest, explore hotel area
2	Tokyo	Ueno Zoo + Park, easy day
3	Tokyo	Tokyo Disneyland
4	Tokyo	Akihabara, Pokemon Center
5	Hakone	Pirate ship, ropeway, ryokan
6	Kyoto	Fushimi Inari, bamboo grove
7	Kyoto	Monkey Park, Arashiyama
8	Nara	Deer, big Buddha
9	Osaka	Universal Studios Japan
10	Osaka	Cup Noodles Museum, depart

Key Tips

• Don't over-schedule - Kids need downtime
• Park time daily - Let them run
• Snack breaks - Prevent meltdowns
• One big activity/day - Maximum

Practical Parent Tips

Bathrooms

• Clean everywhere
• Family restrooms in stations/malls
• Squat toilets exist (Western available)
• Changing tables common

Nursing & Baby Care

• Nursing rooms in department stores
• Private, clean spaces
• Hot water for bottles
• Generally accepted in public (discreetly)

What to Pack

Essential:

• Lightweight stroller
• Baby carrier
• Snacks from home
• Entertainment for transit
• Layers (temperature varies)

Nice to Have:

• Inflatable booster seat
• Familiar foods
• White noise machine
• Travel potty seat

Apps for Families

• Google Maps - Elevator routes
• Google Translate - Camera for menus
• Japan Official Travel - Family info
• Tablet games - For trains

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Japan with kids is absolutely doable and incredibly rewarding. The combination of safety, cleanliness, amazing food, and unique experiences makes it one of the best family destinations in the world. Kids who experience Japan young often develop a lifelong love for the country.