If the thought of traveling to a foreign country is anxious for many, the thought of traveling to a foreign country with a baby in tow is enough to make anyone feel a bit nervous. But don’t worry, parenthood does NOT mean the end of an exciting vacation! Read on to find out what it’s like to travel with young children to Japan:
In this blog post, we have collected some tips and advice from parents who have enjoyed a travel experience with their children and us. If there is anything we have forgotten to cover, feel free to let us know in the blog comments.
Surely the first thing you will ask yourself is: can you breastfeed in public?
It is quite rare to see women breastfeeding their children in public in Japan, but there are good nursing rooms available in many places. Here you will find curtained booths for privacy and hot water machines to mix formulas as well.
If you are riding the bullet train, there is a multipurpose room that can be used for breastfeeding, but you will need to ask an attendant to unlock it.
When traveling with young children, it is recommended to avoid taking the subway at peak times of the day, as it can be very crowded and it will be difficult to get a seat.
Should I wear diapers?
We suggest that you bring a supply of diapers for the flight and for the first few days of your trip, but it’s very easy to buy more in Japan, so you don’t have to worry about filling your luggage with reservations. If you need to buy diapers, keep an eye on pharmacies like ‘Matsumoto Kiyoshi’ for diaper supplies.
What else should we bring?
It is recommended that parents bring a baby carrier and a stroller with them, as both are extremely useful for their trip; Strollers are especially useful as they are free to carry on board on most planes, they also provide a good opportunity for your beloved child to have a little nap during the day or even to sleep while going out at night.
Bringing baby food from home is also a good idea, as although baby food is available everywhere in Japan, it can sometimes be difficult to convince your child to eat the local version. Games and toys are a great idea for air travel.
What can we do in Japan?
The main advice we can give you is to take your time: go slowly and don’t expect to keep up with the pace you would if you weren’t with children. Of course, it depends on the age of your little one, but what we’ve found is that what he enjoys the most is having a lot of attention from mom and dad, so it doesn’t really matter much what he does.
Ordinary guided tours and everyday activities, such as traveling by train or visiting a garden, provide enough excitement without the need to worry about specifically ‘kid-friendly’ activities, although there are many adventure parks, aquariums, theme parks and activities available for those parents who agree that their child interacts with other people; It can also be one of the most enjoyable aspects of taking your little one to Japan, and you may find that your baby is treated like a minor celebrity during your trip!
And about the accommodation?
Japan is very well prepared to receive tourist families, from self-contained apartments to family rooms in hotels and traditional inns. Please note that you will need to reserve cribs or family rooms before traveling.
If you need more information about traveling with young children in Japan, please feel free to contact us and we will do our best to answer your questions.