Most Useful Travel Tips for Exploring Japan with Kids

Traveled in October 2025

Japan is an amazing family vacation destination thanks to its safety, cleanliness, and many unique kid-friendly things to do. However, planning a Japan trip with kids can also feel very daunting, especially if your kid is not used to city life. Japan’s major cities are crowded and fast-paced. While the public transportation system is incredibly efficient, navigating large train stations can feel overwhelming. Even more so with tired or cranky kids in tow. But don’t stress! After surviving (and even enjoying parts of) traveling Japan with a toddler as a very type A planner, I’m sharing my most practical travel tips to help you confidently explore Japan with kids!

1. Planning Your Trip and Itinerary

Best Time to Visit Japan with Kids

One of the best ways to set yourself up for success is to visit when there are fewer crowds and dry, cooler weather. Nothing overstimulates kids more than lots of people and temperature extremes. And parents know overstimulation leads to meltdowns.

Another big tip is to avoid traveling during Japanese public holidays. There are a lot of people in Japan. And during Japanese public holidays, the Japanese will all be traveling domestically. Which means super crowded trains, sold out hotels, and a lot more crowds and lines at attractions. On certain weeks, the Japanese have a series of public holidays all in a row. So there is a big uptick in domestic travel on those weeks. Look up when these public holidays weeks are before booking your plane tickets!

There are other random school holidays interspersed throughout the year. It would be difficult to avoid all school holidays when planning a trip to Japan. Just try not to plan a visit to theme parks or kid attractions on a school holiday. They will likely be super crowded with local families.

Seasonal weather concerns to keep in mind when traveling with kids:

• Avoid summer if you can. It can be insanely hot and humid, making sightseeing with kids unbearable with the addition of the crowds. Everyone will just be hot, sticky, and cranky, and it won’t make for a fun time.
• Winter can bring snow in some areas, and a lot of rain. This can be magical, if that’s the vibe you’re going for. Or it can put a damper on sightseeing if your kids complain about being out in the wet and cold. One benefit of traveling in the winter is that accommodations and tickets are usually cheaper since it’s low season.
• September is usually typhoon season.

Explore Outside of the Big Cities

Most people who visit Japan spend time in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka since they’re major international airport hubs. They’re also Japan’s largest cities with the most tourism infrastructure, which makes them feel more approachable for first-time visitors. These cities have tons of kid-friendly activities, so I’m not saying to skip them! But these cities can be very crowded, hectic, and overstimulating. Both for kids and adults who are not used to this kind of population density. Building time into your itinerary in smaller cities like Nagoya or the Fuji Lakes areas can be a great way to slow things down and experience a calmer, more relaxed side of Japan.

• Check out our guides on what to do in Nagoya with kids and what to do in Kawaguchiko with kids for inspiration!

Choose Kid-Friendly Accommodations Near Public Transportation

When traveling as a family, picking the right location to stay in is just as important as the hotel itself. Staying further away from the city center can be cheaper. But staying near a big train station in the city center like Tokyo Station may be worth the cost to save time. Since you’ll be relying on public transportation and doing a lot of walking each day, staying close to a well-connected train station can be a lifesaver for minimizing toddler meltdowns after a long day. I personally aimed for hotels no more than a 10 minute walk from the train station. This is because Google Maps walk times in Japan can be deceiving. A Google Maps estimated “15-minute walk” often ends up taking longer than expected in Japan.

Hotel rooms in Asia are notoriously tiny, which can be difficult for families traveling with small kids. I tried to look for hotels with slightly larger rooms or apartment-style hotels with more space. The Mimaru brand hotels are great apartment-style hotels that have kitchenettes and enough room for families. The Mimaru hotels are usually a little further away from the train station. But if space is more important than location then it’s the ideal choice for families. The &Here brand hotels are another good choice for families, with larger bunk style rooms and some rooms with kitchenettes.

• These are our favorite family-friendly hotels in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Kawaguchiko that we stayed in and considered. They all have kid-friendly amenities and more space to accommodate families.
• I personally prefer hotels when traveling in Japan rather than Airbnbs. Hotels are usually easier to find than Airbnbs. I also like the convenience of having front desk staff who can help me with directions, making reservations, or luggage storage.

Planning Your Days

• Balance sightseeing with downtime and playtime. It’s tempting to try to maximize and see as much as possible in a day when traveling some place new. But unfortunately, young kids don’t have that kind of stamina! We try to build in playground or kid museum days in the middle of our itinerary in between busy days. We also tried to pick cultural sightseeing that would be more interesting to our kid. Nature sightseeing that involves gardens or pagodas is usually more interesting than temples since there is opportunity for climbing stairs.

• Use parks, playgrounds, interactive museums as breaks. Playgrounds are not as easy to find in big cities in Japan, but they exist! Japan also has many interesting and interactive museums for kids that are often free! These were a good break for us as parents while keeping our kid entertained. Our list of kid-friendly things to do in Tokyo includes a bunch of interactive museums and playgrounds close to major attractions.
• Go to kid-friendly museums and theme parks in the mornings. Things open late in Japan because they stay open late. Most stores and businesses don’t open until 10am at the earliest. This feels even later because we’re usually up at the crack of dawn because of jetlag. Luckily, most kid museums and theme parks open earlier around 9am. So it’s a good way to get an earlier start to the day when traveling with kids.
  • Pro tip: Shinjuku is a great area to explore with kids in the early morning! There is a great green park and museums that open early.
• Follow our 10 day kid-friendly Tokyo, Kawaguchiko, and Nagoya itinerary to make planning even easier!

2. Pre-Departure Checklist For an Easier Travel Day

• Complete immigration documents before arriving in Japan using Visit Japan Web. This official Japanese government website allows you to upload your passport and customs information for the whole family. It then generates a QR code that you can scan at immigration and customs after arriving in Japan. It really helped us speed through immigration! When waiting for luggage at the carousel, look for the customs machines where you can scan your QR code to clear customs.

• Request kid’s meal from the airline.
• Decide how to get from the airport to the hotel ahead of time. So you don’t have to figure it out after landing while jetlagged with cranky kids.

From Haneda Airport	From Narita Airport
Direct and easiest: Airport Limousine Bus (our pick!) Direct, easiest, but most expensive: Private transfer Fastest and cheapest, but with transfers: Tokyo Monorail or Keikyu Line	Direct, easy, and faster: Narita Express (our pick!) Direct, easy, slower and slightly cheaper: Airport Limousine Bus Cheapest option but slower and with no luggage space: JR Sobu Line

• Inform your bank of international travel. You will definitely need to withdraw cash in Japan, so make sure your debit card will work as soon as you land. We use Charles Schwab checking accounts for fee-free international ATM withdrawals.
• Obtain a pin from your credit card before departure. Some ticket vending machines in Japan (like the one for the airport bus) require a PIN for credit card users, which I have never needed in the US. To get a credit card PIN, you’ll typically need to call your credit card company. They’ll send it to you via regular mail, which can take a few days. If your card is issued by a bank with physical branches (like Chase), they might be able to provide you with a PIN directly at the branch. I was worried we wouldn’t be able to use our credit card at all in Japan after having trouble with the vending machine, but it turned out we could use it easily at stores and restaurants without needing a PIN.
• Figure out internet options so that you can stay connected as soon as you land. We use Airalo e-sims and have always had a seamless experience. We install the e-sim at home before travel, and turn the e-sim on right after landing so we are instantly connected. Such a game changer compared to having to stop at a cell phone store after arrival to buy a physical sim card!

• If you have an iPhone, load the Suica Card to your Apple Wallet ahead of time. You don’t need to install the Suica app on iPhone. It’s must easier to just load the Suica card in Apple Wallet. To do this, open Apple Wallet, hit the plus sign, tap transit cards, and search for Suica. You can reload the Suica Card using Apple Pay as needed. Load some money into the Suica before you arrive. When the airport bus ticket machine wouldn’t accept my credit card without a PIN, the Suica card on my phone saved the day.
• Download useful phone apps: pick and choose the ones that are helpful to you!
  • Navitime (Japan Travel by Navitime): for planning train routes. Includes a special search function specifically for JR Pass holders.
  • Safety Tips: for earthquake warnings, tsunami warnings, and other weather warnings.
  • Tabelog: for restaurant recommendations, like Japan’s equivalent of Yelp.
  • mymizu: for finding locations to fill your water bottle for free.
  • Ecbo Cloak: for finding luggage storage options.
  • Wanderlog: not specific to Japan, but Wanderlog is a trip planning app that integrates with Google Maps. You can consolidate all your itinerary information, like accommodations, tickets, and day to day activities, all in one place. Since it integrates with Google Maps, you can also visually see where your activities are located on a map This helps you arrange the best route for the day. It also includes suggestions for popular restaurants or activities near whatever area you are in, if you find yourself with some extra time to fill.
  • Tokyo Disney Resort App: necessary if visiting the Tokyo Disney resorts. Allows you to make advance bookings for restaurants and shows, get fast passes, order food ahead, and check wait times.
  • Payke: for translating product information on packages. This app allows you to scan the barcode of an item, and it will translate what the product contains. SO helpful if looking for over the counter meds, or for figuring out what those interesting snacks or skincare products actually contain.
  • Get Your Guide and Klook: for booking activities, experiences, entrance fees, and local guides.

3. Packing Essentials for Kids in Japan

• Layers of clothing:
  • Light rain jacket: it’s helpful to keep a packable rain jacket that doesn’t take up too much space in your everyday bag. We didn’t want to bother with carrying multiple umbrellas so a rain jacket was clutch on the sprinkly days.
  • Comfortable walking shoes: everyone does a lot more walking in Japan than usual. Make sure kids have comfortable shoes that are easy on and off!
  • Sun hat
  • Socks: part of Japanese culture is taking shoes off indoors, so you will find yourself removing your shoes much more than usual. Make sure to pack the good socks without holes!
  • Japan is a shopping mecca (for tips on what to get, check out my curated list in this Japan shopping guide for moms!). If you forget to pack anything, you can probably find what you need at Muji or Uniqlo at a good price!
• Snacks and hydration:
  • Favorite snacks: Japan is a snack paradise, so I’m sure your kiddo will eventually find something that they like at the convenience stores. But bring some favorite snacks from home to tide you over until you figure out which Japanese snacks your kids love.
  • Water bottle: tap water is generally safe to drink in Japan, though we still prefer bottled water to avoid stomach upset as a result of the difference in mineral content.

• Entertainment options for downtime:
  • Screens will usually keep kids occupied, and while our kiddo gets a lot more screen time than usual when traveling, we don’t like to rely solely on screens for entertainment because there are usually more massive meltdowns when we try to turn it off.
  • We bring one new book (search and find books or lift the flap books are great!), Water Wow coloring books, sticker books, and drawing pads for travel days.
  • We usually make a toy store one of our first stops and get a small toy for our kid to play with during the trip. This also doubles as a souvenir, because whenever he plays with the toy at home he remembers where he got it. In Japan, he picked out some Tomica Thomas Trains that he loved.

• Kids supplies for daily living:
  • Sleep essentials: bring anything that your kid needs to sleep well to encourage good sleep while traveling. For us, that is a sound machine.
  • Medications: it goes without saying to pack any prescription medications your kid is taking. I also bring over-the-counter kids medications like Children’s Tylenol, just in case. I’m okay with buying Japanese OTC meds for myself and winging it with the translation, but I prefer using the kids’ OTC meds we’re familiar with because I am sure about the dosing and ingredients.
  • If you forgot anything, look for these stores in Japan that sell all kinds of kids goods: Nishimatsuya, Babies “R” Us, Akachan Honpo
• Travel Stroller: If your kid is not used to walking a lot at home it can be helpful to bring a stroller. But keep in mind that Japan is not as stroller friendly as the US. There are many stairs in train stations and elevators are small and require a longer walk to find. Many restaurants and stores are small and can’t always accommodate a stroller. While we did use our stroller, we folded it up and carried it quite a bit during train transfers to avoid having to take the long way around. If you do bring a stroller, bringing a smaller travel stroller is key. We love our Babyzen Yoyo. The Gb Pockit strollers also pack up amazingly small.
• Hip Seat Carrier: A better alternative to a stroller if your kid is still small enough to carry is a hip seat carrier. We loved using ours during our trip to Switzerland because it’s one less thing to carry through train stations. The hip seat is clutch because it’s more comfortable to sit in for longer periods. We loved our version that had straps and could be worn in the front or back. It’s especially helpful for crowded places like Japan where maneuvering a stroller can be tricky.
• Ride Safer Travel Vest: taxis in Japan don’t require car seats. But that can be nerve wracking for parents. And you don’t want to lug around a car seat for the one or two car rides you may take in Japan. That’s where the compact Ride Safer Travel Vest comes in to keep kids safe in cars without taking up too much luggage space.
• Power plug adapters: Japan uses two pronged plugs similar to the US, except the prongs are the same length. Most 2 pronged chargers will work fine without adapters. If you have any chargers that have 3 prongs, then you’ll need an adapter.

4. Getting Around Japan with Kids

Navigating Public Transportation with Kids

• Cost:
  • Children aged 5 and under do not need to pay for public transportation on buses or metros. They just walk through the gate with a paying adult. Children 5 and under are also free on the train and shinkansen as long as they do not take a seat of their own. If they sit in their own seat, then the fare is 50% of the adult fare.
  • Kids 6-12 years old pay the child fare, which is 50% of the adult fare. Children’s IC cards are available to purchase at train stations. Bring passports for proof of age.
  • Kids above 12 years old pay the full adult fare.
• Using a Suica card is generally cheaper than a Japan Rail Pass.
  • Unless you’re making multiple long distance trips (like Tokyo to Osaka), the Japan Rail Pass will probably be more expensive. This fare calculator can help you decide.
  • Regional rail passes may still be a good value depending on how much travel you will be doing in the region.
  • Use a Suica card on all public transportation rather than buying tickets from the ticket machine. This is a lifesaver when you have a kid and are running late, because Japanese transportation is famously on time. If you have money left over on the Suica card, you can use the Suica card to pay at convenience stores. We used multiple Suica cards and our leftover cash at the duty free store at the airport, and paid the balance with credit card.
  • IPhone users can load a Suica card directly into their Apple Wallet and add money using Apple Pay.
  • Android users will have to get a physical Welcome Suica card. These can be purchased at the airport or major train stations. Airports usually have a vending machine selling them, and you can buy them at the JR East Travel Service Centers in major train stations like Tokyo Station. Once you have the Welcome Suica card, you can top up using cash at the ticket machines at any station.

• Buy shinkansen tickets ahead of time.
  • If traveling on the Tokaido Sanyo Kyushu shinkansen line (the line connecting Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka), buy shinkansen tickets ahead of time online using SmartEx or Klook. I had waited to buy tickets after reading advice from a local that advance purchase is usually not required but regretted it because when I checked 2 weeks prior to travel, many seat reservations were already booked. I was glad I ended up booking tickets online then because the ticket counters with English-speaking staff at the train stations had really long lines once we actually arrived.
  • Smart Ex – the official website.
    • This website allows you to buy reserved seats and reserve seats with oversized luggage space.
    • They have discounted tickets if purchasing in advance, but beware that if you miss your train you will have to buy new tickets and cannot change ticket times.
    • If you purchase regular price tickets, you can change the reservation free of charge until 4 minutes before departure. If you miss your train then you can take a following train on the same day in the non-reserved cars without buying another ticket.
    • Some US credit cards may have difficulty completing the transaction on the website. I needed to use my Amex card (use my contact form to request a referral for extra bonus points!).
    • Generates a QR code that you can save to your Apple Wallet or print out.
    • If you have a mobile Suica card loaded on your iPhone Apple Wallet, the ticket gate will have trouble differentiating whether to use the QR code or the Suica card. To overcome this, open the Suica card in Apple Wallet, click the 3 dots in the top right, select card details, select Express Transit Settings and turn off before scanning your Shinkansen ticket QR code. Just remember to turn it back on before you need to use your Suica card again. Alternatively, you can print out the QR code (which is what I did), print it at a ticket machine at the station, or request an agent to print it for you.
    • At the Shinkansen gates, look for a gate that has a “QR” symbol. Scan the QR code, and then pick up the seat information ticket that pops out at the other end. You will need to scan you QR code again when you exit the station at your destination so keep it handy.

• Klook: if your credit card does not work on Smart Ex or you don’t want to register your credit card information on the Smart Ex site, the easiest way to book is with Klook. You can also reserve seats and select seats with oversized luggage space on Klook. Klook will also generate a QR code. See instructions above if using a QR code on Iphone that has a mobile Suica card loaded.

Manage Expectations Around Waiting

Our American child is used to riding in a car everywhere. Having to wait for a train at the end of a long day made him extra cranky when he was already tired, even though he usually loves trains. You may need to leave earlier than you normally would to account for the extra time waiting for a train. Especially if you’re trying to get to your destination in time for nap time, bed time, or meal time.

Kids will also have to practice patience while waiting in line for things in Japan. We found ourselves waiting in lines at least once a day, whether it was for restaurants, or to board the train, or to pay for something. It was a real lesson in patience for our kiddo. Probably a lesson we should have worked on sooner.

Tips For Using Strollers and Luggage on Trains

In Google Maps turn on the Wheelchair Accessible option to find stroller-friendly routes with elevators. However, be prepared to walk extra if looking for an elevator. You will also likely need to wait longer because the elevators are small and can only fit one family at a time. We mostly folded up the stroller and carrying our kid up escalators and stairs to avoid the extra walk.

Riding in Cars with Kids in Japan

Car seats are not required for small children traveling in taxis in Tokyo. We didn’t use any taxis or cars during our trip. But if we did, I would bring a Ride Safer Travel Vest for our kid. It’s compact and worth the extra car safety.

Uber works in Japan, but hails taxis rather than individual drivers. GO taxi app works similarly to Uber if you don’t want to flag down a taxi or find a taxi stand. Available taxis have a red sign. Officially licensed taxis have green license plates.

5. Where to Eat with Kids in Japan

Finding Milk and Fruit in Japan

Before traveling with a kid, I never thought about where to buy milk and fruit. But now, buying milk and fruit is one of the first things we do when we arrive in a new city since these are my kid’s diet staples.

There is usually a small grocery store in or near big train stations in Japan. They’re not the cheapest, but they’re going to be the most convenient. These small markets usually have the basics like milk, seasonal fruit, and bread.

Japan is big on enjoying fruit in season. When we visited, it was grape season and holy moly those grapes were sweet. You’ll have to go to a bigger supermarket to find berries if they’re not in season. You may have to go a little outside of the city center to find a regular supermarket that locals shop in with lower prices. We did find an OK Ginza supermarket right in the heart of Ginza in Tokyo and a Mega Don Quijote with a full on grocery section in Nagoya. Try to buy fruits at a regular supermarket rather than the department store basements. Department store basements do have fruit stands, but those are the very expensive fruit usually used for gifting.

Convenience stores like 7-Eleven, Lawson’s, and Family Mart also carry juice box sized milk. 7-Eleven had some packaged fresh fruit, like apples and peaches, which were good enough in a pinch.

Breakfast in Japan

Don’t come to Japan expecting a spread of eggs, bacon, and sausage for breakfast. I think that is a very American thing. Japanese breakfast is very different, and can consist of rice and pickled dishes. If you’re looking for a Western breakfast served early, then a hotel breakfast buffet may be the best option. There is also a restaurant chain called Sarabeth’s in Japan that serves Western breakfast. However, I found that they usually didn’t open until around 10am and our kiddo was hungry much earlier than that.

Our go to breakfast in Japan was bread and pastries from a local bakery. Every train station has multiple bakeries. We would usually stop in one during the day to pick up pastries and bread for breakfast the next morning. Our kiddo especially loved the melon bread, but they also have the usual suspects like croissants and chocolate breads. Another option is to pick up bread and onigiri rice balls from 7-Eleven, Lawson’s, or Family Mart.

We also found some nice cafes that opened early near Tokyo Station serving up some yummy french toasts and breakfast sandwiches.

Easy Family Restaurants in Japan

• Chain “family restaurants”. These restaurants cater specifically to families and have a casual atmosphere with kid-friendly menus. Think Denny’s or Applebees vibes.
  • Some popular options are Gusto, Saizeriya (Italian-style), Jonathan’s, and Royal Host. You’re not going to find the most delicious food here, but it’s easy, has kid food, and other families that won’t judge you.
• Restaurants in train stations or department stores. Many basement levels of train stations and department stores have casual restaurants or cafeteria style restaurants that are more likely to welcome families. These restaurants typically do not have as long lines or require reservations.
• Eating in theme parks. Theme park meals were such a boon for me because it was one meal that I did not have to plan ahead for. It’s not the most delicious food, but there is likely something that picky kids will eat.

For a list of yummy and kid-friendly restaurants, bookmark our guide on where to eat in Tokyo with kids!

Kid-Friendly Convenience Store Foods

Convenience stores in Japan, like 7-Eleven and Lawson’s, have all kinds of premade sandwiches, onigiri rice balls, and hot fried foods that you can cobble together into a quick picnic meal. We definitely stopped into a 7-Eleven on the way home one night to pick up a makeshift dinner for our kiddo after he passed on most of his dinner.

Uber Eats

The Uber app works in Japan the same way it does in the US, including the Uber Eats section. We never would have thought to use Uber Eats while abroad. But a friend raved about how reasonable the delivery fees were in Japan compared to here in the US. We did end up using Uber Eats one night in Nagoya when we were too tired to go out for dinner but still wanted to try some local food. My husband met the delivery person in the hotel lobby and showed him the code on the Uber Eats app. The whole process was pretty seamless.

Finding Good Restaurants in Japan that Welcome Kids

One of our main joys when visiting Japan is eating. So we still wanted to find good, local restaurants with tasty food. However, we also understand that culturally, not all restaurants in Japan welcome kids because kids are loud and can disrupt the dining experience for other diners. Plus, many places are small with only counter seating, which isn’t ideal for young kids who can’t sit independently. My challenge was finding highly rated restaurants that would accommodate kids. To avoid getting turned away from restaurants when everyone’s already hungry, it’s worth doing a bit of research beforehand.

• Instead of Google Maps, most locals use Tabelog (Japan’s version of Yelp), and you should too. You’ll find much more local and better restaurants there. Keep in mind, Tabelog ratings are more stringent than Yelp. 3 stars means it’s a very good restaurant, and anything above 3 is truly exceptional (as compared to Yelp where 3 stars would be considered mid). A useful feature for parents on Tabelog is that restaurants can specify whether not they welcome children. This even includes stratifying the age of children that are welcome or what time of day kids are welcome.
• Here’s the Tabelog search strategy that I used to find delicious restaurants that welcomed kids. I searched Tabelog for the area we’d be in, sorted by highest rating, and filtered for the “Children welcome” tag. Even if a restaurant has the “Children welcome” tag, don’t forget to look in the restaurant’s Overview section and scroll down to the Family Friendly section for details. I did see a couple restaurants that specified only “school aged children welcome,” so those with younger kids might be turned away. Then I checked the photos to see interior photos. If it was all counter seating, I skipped it and saved the ones with table seating.

6. Safety and Health Tips

• Toilets: public restrooms are so clean and you can find them everywhere! Some restrooms even have stalls with a baby seat where you can trap your baby while you do your business. Also noticed many nursing/baby rooms in kid-friendly attractions and malls.
• Trash: no public trash cans available in the streets or train stations so make sure to bring a little bag to collect your trash.
• Keeping track of kids in crowded areas: kids can get swallowed up in the crowd quickly in train stations, theme parks, and other crowded areas. Kids can also get overwhelmed by the crowds because they’re so much shorter. We ended up carrying our kiddo when transiting through busier train/metro stations and otherwise made sure he was either strapped in the stroller or knew to hold our hands tightly while walking. Most theme parks will have a lost kids area.
• Pharmacies: Stores like Bic Camera and Don Quijote will have an over-the-counter medicine section. You can also look for pharmacies like Matsumoto Kyoshi, which have the character “薬” on their signage. Use the Payke app to translate the instructions and ingredients of over the counter meds, or talk to the pharmacy staff for recommendations.
• Clinics: Hotel front desk staff can usually recommend English-speaking clinics (another reason why I prefer to stay in hotels in Japan, for the staff help).