Japan with kids: A family travel guide for planning your trip to Japan.

Considering travel in Japan with kids?  Japan is an exciting, safe and exceedingly rewarding country to visit and travel.  

And in case you haven’t noticed; we love Japan.

Like, really love Japan.

Japan is loveable in confusing ways. Modern life seems to fuse so smoothly with ancient traditions that the culture and everyday routines seem completely normal like that. It’s timeless. And fabulous.

Read on and fall in love with Japan too.  There is plenty to do in Japan with kids; and all kinds of attractions and other unique things to do that you can only do in Japan! 

Contents

• About Japan
• Japan with kids
• Where to go
  – Tokyo
  – Nikko
  – Shiga
  – Kyoto
  – Osaka
• Our itinerary in Japan
• Food
• Kid-friendly food in Japan
• Getting around
  – Metro system
  – Intercity bullet trains
  – Renting a car
• Communication and wifi
• Money and ATM’s
• Budget
• Accommodation options
• Where we stayed

About Japan, quickly

• Population: 125,960,000
• Capital: Tokyo
• National language: Japanese
• Currency: Japanese yen (JPY)
• Land size area: 377,975 km²
• Calling code: +81
• Time zone: Japan Standard Time (JST), UTC +9
• Outlets: Plug Type A, B (100 V and 50/60 Hz)
• Driving side: Left

Japan with kids

The culture of Japan is very different to other countries in East Asia; it’s unique. And I truly feel that the impact of experiencing the culture of Japan is one that will have a lasting impression (a good one!) on our kids for the rest of their lives.

Reasons to visit Japan with kids

If you’re reading and thinking that Japan sounds like a little bit of you… Here is another 10 more reasons you need to travel to Japan with kids:

1. Japan is a very safe country
2. It’s easy to travel around the country with kids 
3. Japan is unique – it’s completely different to other parts of East Asia
4. It is super clean
5. Japanese cuisine is amazing (sushi… and more. MUCH more)
6. It has castles, temples, palaces and shrines 
7. Everything is kawaii in Japan (look that one up – it just is)
8. It has ninjas (enough said)
9. Japanese scenery is stunning
10. The people 

Japan seems to have the perfect mix of culture, history, delicious food and modern comfort.

(Basically, don’t wait! Japan is somewhere you definitely need to experience).

Our itinerary in Japan 

This was our second trip to Japan within two years (our third time visiting!) but our first visit to Japan with kids. We spent two weeks in Japan and visited five different regions: 

• Tokyo
• Nikko
• Shiga
• Kyoto
• Osaka

We flew to Japan (from Taiwan) arriving in Tokyo and departed from Osaka (for South Korea).

Tokyo 

Attractions in Tokyo are spread out over the city but fortunately Tokyo has an incredible subway system that makes all of it accessible and easy. (Even navigating Japan with young kids as novice-train-taking New Zealanders!). 

And Tokyo is home to both Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea if you have time and want to hit the theme parks. 

Things to do in Tokyo

• Cross Shibuyu crossing: Labelled as the busiest intersection in the world, Shibuyu crossing has to be experienced to be believed! 
• Visit Harajuku: Everything you imagine of modern Japan with neon lights, quirky Japanese pop culture and street fashion. Visit the impressive Meiji-jingu Shrine in Harajuku too. 
• Try Karaoke: You can walk into the popular Karaoke Rooms dotted all around Tokyo and have a go! Costs are around 300 JPY per person for an hour. If you get the chance; don’t miss trying karaoke. When in Rome…
• Visit Senso-ji in Asakusa: A busy pedestrian street and market lines Nakamise-dori leading up to the stunning temple of Senso-ji. This is the oldest temple in Tokyo and one of the most popular tourist sights. 
• Tsukiji Fish Markets: This is the worlds biggest seafood market and most famous for daily tuna auctions.  Get there early (even if you aren’t up for the pre-dawn tuna auction tickets) because the market is heaving first thing in the morning. 

Nikko

Nikko is a beautiful small city in the Tochigi Prefacture, in the mountains north of Tokyo.  The most famous sight in Nikko is the famed Shinto shrine, Tosho-gu.  Well, that is unless you want to know the most famed sight of Nikko when travelling with kids… That would be the incredible Edo Ninja Wonderland! 

However, Ninja’s aside, the city of Nikko is a beautiful spot to visit in Japan.  

Things to do in Nikko

• Visit the famous Nikko Tosho-gu: A premier world heritage site and one of the best-preserved Shinto shrines in Japan. 
• Chase waterfalls in Nikko National Park: There are surreal trails following alongside rivers, through forests and over quaint streams. The park is most famous for its tinges of jade and deep reds in autumn. 
• Cross the beautiful Shinkyo Bridge: Built in 1636, the bridge is the entrance to the shrine complex. Even if you don’t want to pay the fee the walk across it; it’s worth a photo stop! 
• See the Rinno-ji Temple and Jizo Statues: Not far from Tosho-gu, the Rinno-ji Temple is another beautiful world heritage site in Nikko.  

Shiga Prefacture

We stayed with friends in Shiga prefecture and spent two days exploring Kusatsu.  It was a great experience to stay out of the big cities and get a taste of rural life in Japan. 

Things to do in Shiga

• Visit Byodo-in: A striking Buddhist temple built in the Heian period around 998 AD, Byodo-in was originally construct as a huge palatial retreat on the outskirts of Kyoto.  The most famous structure within the complex – the Phoenix Hall – is featured on the Japanese 10 yen coin. 
• Try an Onsen: Kusatusu has the largest natural flow of hot water springs in all of Japan. If you have waited to find the right place to try a Japanese hot spring bath this is the place to do it. 
• Find some of the famous Shiga Omi Beef: Food is great all around Japan but Omi Beef is Shiga’s prided brand of wagyu Japanese beef.  
• Visit Shigaraki: This is one of the oldest pottery towns in Japan and is known for its Tanuki or Japanese raccoon dog ceramic figures. (This one officially has to be seen to be believed, but trust me – the ceramic raccoons are everywhere around the town!).  

Kyoto

Kyoto is an awesome mixture of traditional cultural attractions (shrines, temples) and child-friendly mod-cons.  Breathe easy if you are planning your travels to Japan with kids; the city of Kyoto is easy to navigate. Even (and especially!) with young kids in tow… 

Things to do in Kyoto

• Eat at a sushi train: Albeit you can do this one anywhere in Japan with kids, but I have to add it to Kyoto’s list as we went sushi-train-hunting… And found a great one in the city centre inside Aeon mall! 
• Visit Yasaka-jinja Shrine and Maruyama-keon Park: This is a beautiful green island in the middle of the Higashiyama Distrcit. It’s easy to find and great for a walk around to exert energy and find the carp and turtles in the ponds. 
• Arashiyama Bamboo Grove: The famed Arashiyama Bamboo grove is worth savoring and enjoying your time in. Work your way slowly uphill through the magical groves of unreally huge bamboo. 
• Walk up the famed Mount Inari: This is the most iconic of all Kyoto attractions! The incredible bright orange torii gates that wind up the Shinto shrine of Mt Inari. 

Osaka 

Osaka is somewhat of an urban wonderland with all of its neon lights and modern buildings and dining outlets.  The city was originally an industrial town, so on first outset it does appear to lack the huge looming green parks and spaces of Tokyo and Kyoto. However, what it lacks in parks and green spaces, it makes up for with delicious places to eat and some cool activities to do with your kids. 

Things to do in Osaka

• Check out Osaka Castle: It’s damn impressive and the legends of the castle are much to wonder at. 
• Visit Osaka Museum of Housing and Living: If you don’t get the chance to visit Edo Wonderland in Nikko, this museum offers insight to the Edo era of Japan and is very highly recommended.
• Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium: Take a 10 minute boat ride across Osaka bay to the massive Kaiyukan aquarium. It specializes in seafaring creatures that live in the Pacific ring; and especially along the seismically active region(!).
• Take a tour of Asahi Brewery: Ok, so this one is more for the benefit of the parents but it’s worth grabbing the opportunity while you’re there!  (Asahi beer is another of those things that just tastes better in Japan… IYKYK right?)

Food in Japan

Great food in Japan is everywhere.  No matter which city youre in. Which village you find yourself in. Great food is never far away.  Each region has traditionas and variances of national favourites.  And even the most iconic and famous of Japanese foods (sushi…) taste invariably different – and even better – in Japan.  

And it’s acceptable (expected even) to partake in your meal with audible enjoyment.  You’ll find yourself in restaurants surrounded by fellow diners happily slurping away. It’s standard practice in Japan to slurp and enjoy your noodles noisily. So, slurp away! 

Japanese foods you can’t leave without trying

• Sushi: the first thing to spring to mind when we think about Japanese food
• Sashimi: fresh, raw seafood served with soy sauce
• Tempura: seafood or vegetables in batter
• Ramen: famous noodle soup dish
• Tonkatsu: pork cutlets in egg batter and breadcrumbs
• Karaage: seasoned, fried chicken 
• Yakitori: skewered, barbecued chicken  
• Gyudon: beef bowl served on rice
• Onigiri: boiled rice snack ball
• Okonomiyaki: savoury pancake 
• Natto: Fermented soy beans… Despite the dreaded smell of natto, you do need to try it while in Japan! (It’s rich in calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium and a whole lot of other goodness!). 

Tap water is safe to drink in Japan unless stated otherwise. There are water fountains at some of the main tourist sights so don’t forget to bring your reusable water bottle!

Food in Japan with kids

The traditional culture of Japanese food is based on rice, miso soup and other dishes served alongside. This is great news if you are travelling to Japan with kids; and especially if it’s your first time.  There are plenty of Japanese dishes that are kid-friendly, and more often than not they are served with steamed rice on the side. Tempura is popular, and this deep-fried style of dish is not spicy, and thus popular (at least to try) with our kids. 

Noodles are another common main meal staple. And there are lots of traditional Japanese sweets in Japan that are popular with kids.  

Some great kid-friendly dishes to hunt out in Japan with kids, include: 

• Tamago sushi: Rice and egg – it’s a kid-winner!
• Edamame: Green soybeans (but the adventure is in the sucking of the beans from the salted outer case!)
• Miso soup: It’s available everywhere you go in Japan
• Udon: Thick noodles with a winning texture for kids 
• Onigiri: Rice snacks you can buy at the local 7/Eleven 
• Okonomiyaki: Savoury pancakes and a popular street food snack 
• Takoyaki: Octopus balls… But trust me; they’re not like they sound! 
• Tabeko: Buttery, shortbread-style animal crackers. These are for sale in any Japanese convenience store and hook in the young ones.

Transportation options (getting around Japan with kids)

The Japanese have certainly mastered the form of moving human beings efficiently… The country has some of the world’s most technologically advanced trains and 45 of the 51 busiest train stations in the world!  

You definitely need to concentrate when arriving in a new city – and new station – but it doesn’t take long for it to feel familiar. (Even for us NZ travellers and train-novices like us that don’t have a metro system!).  

Getting to and from airports in Tokyo and Osaka is easy with transfer trains directly to each airport and straightforward connections onto the different subway and over-rail lines.

And it’s also an easy destination to hire and navigate with a rental car. 

Hiring a car in Japan

Renting a car is an option worth considering if you plan to explore rural Japan or anywhere off the main city-track (where public transportation is pretty darn convenient). 

We hired a car for 48 hours to explore Nikko, and picked it up at the train station there.  This was a great way to see the countryside and easy for us (coming from NZ) because they also drive on the left side of the road in Japan. 

The minimum age for driving in Japan is 18 years and you will need an International Driving Permit (IDP) in order to rent and drive a car. 

It’s easy to book a rental car ahead online through independent reservation websites like Japan Experience, rentalcars.com or ToCoo! Travel. 

Note: In the metropolitan areas I’d definitely recommend making the most of public transportation (where you’ve got options for trains, subways, buses and taxis!).

Taking the metro

Tokyo metro was our first jumping off point.  This impressive transport system operates 179 subway stations in the heart of Tokyo and surrounding region.  The lines are colour coded and easy to navigate with secondary alphanumeric codes. 

And the good news if that if you are up for trying your luck at an automated ticket machine it’s easy to find the option to switch the process into English.  

The Shinkansen bullet train and intercity rail options

Hands down, trains are a convenient way to explore Japan.  The Shinkansen (bullet trains) are exciting and easy to navigate (and certainly get you there fast!).  

The only downside of these mega machines is that they are pricey to ride and can be comparable to the cost of a domestic flight.  The Shinkansen Line’s fastest train connects Tokyo and Kyoto in as little as two hours and 17 minutes but it does cost 13,080 yen ($120 USD) to ride it. 

As above on the subway system it’s easy to purchase metro-tickets by automated machine.  But to ride the shinkansen and longer inter-city express trains you need to buy paper tickets individually or prepurchase the Japan Rail Pass.  

In planning how on earth to get around Japan with kids you likely will have heard of the Japan Rail Pass and could be understanding of the myth of the belief you need one to travel by train in Japan.  And indeed it might work out cheaper in the long run if you are there for an extended holiday. 

But we found that on this trip for us it was more efficient to purchase tickets individually for the Shinkansen at the main stations.  

The large stations have a ticket office where you can speak with an agent (they are very friendly and used to helping non-Japanese speakers too) and purchase a ticket. 

Communication and wifi

The good news is it’s easy to set yourself up the second you land at an airport in Japan.  There is a multitude of options and picks for prepaid Japan SIM cards. 

Wifi will almost certainly be available in your accommodation in Japan.  And many restaurant and cafes (Starbucks has free wifi in every store), museums and some public spaces also offer wifi hotspots. 

The main providers are: 

• Mobal
• Sim Card Geek 
• Sakura Mobile
• Prepaid U-Mobile

These main providers have stalls and stores just through the arrivals area at the major airports (Narita, Haneda and Kansai). And the process to purchase, install and set up a sim card is straightforward. Well, it definitely is when the lovely attendant at the SIM card store does it all for you! 

Expert tip: Lots of the main railway stations, international airports and Shinkansen stations has free wi-fi hotspots. And don’t worry – the networks all offer instructions for how to connect in English as well as in Japanese. 

Money and ATM’s in Japan

Japan is an expensive country to travel in. But don’t be put off by expectations that it will all cost too much.  

(When planning for travel in Japan as a family, the cost of accommodation in Tokyo made me wince). Accommodation is expensive. But once you get there, we did discover that the rest of it really wasn’t that expensive. 

• Cash: In the cities it is easy to pay for accommodation and meals using credit cards. However, in rural Japan and some smaller ryokan and restaurants you might be expected to pay in cash. 
• ATMs: We found the easiest place to withdraw money from ATM’s in Japan was at the 7-Eleven convinience stores. (They are everywhere and availbe 24 hours).  Other major Japanese banks have ATM’s that accept foreign-issued cards. 
• Exchanging money: Major banks and main branches of post office will be able to exchange common international currencies. 

Budget for travel in Japan

The good news is that as far as food costs go in Japan – unless you’re planning to dine at fancy restaurants for the entirety of your trip – meals can be really great value.  Here are a few cost examples for food and transport options that we found traveling in Japan with kids.

• Budget sushi: 100 JPY per item (USD $1)
• Onigiri (rice ball): 200 JPY ($1.70 USD)
• Tea: Often provided free with a meal
• Bottled water: 130 JPY ($1.10 USD)
• Bottle of beer: 600 JPY ($5 USD) 
• Glass of sake: 800 JPY (or more) ($6.70 USD)
• Bowl of soba or udon noodles: 500 JPY ($4.20 USD)
• Bowl of ramen: 1000 JPY ($8.50 USD)
• Short train or subway ride in Tokyo: 200 JPY ($1.70 USD)
• One-way shinkansen (bullet train) trip: 18,000 JPY ($150 USD)
• 7 day Japan Rail Pass: 29,000 JPY ($250 USD)

Accommodation in Japan with kids

There’s no way around it, Japan IS expensive (and more especially if you want to take up all kinds of activities on your holiday).  But there are options to travel the country and find accommodation that will be manageable; even on a family-travel budget…

There are so many types of accommodation available in Japan.  You could try a capsule hotel, a night in a ryokan, a family-run guesthouse and there are some cool hostels in the cities as well.  

This was our third trip to Japan and finding accommodation on a budget was a priority.  But we were also sure to prioritise at least one stay in tradition style Japanese-accommodation. 

We found accommodation in Tokyo to be notably more expensive than the other major cities – and significantly more costly than the smaller towns (e.g. Nikko or Kanazawa).  

You can expect to pay at least US$100 for a tiny 3-star hotel room or hostel in the city and at least/around US$150 for a traditional ryokan room. 

But the thing about accommodation in Japan is that there are options. 

Japanese style Ryokan accommodation

Ryokan are traditional Japanese-style inns with rooms set up in classic Japanese-style.  A typical stay at a ryokan includes dinner and breakfast.  This is highly recommended for a great traditional Japanese experience on your holiday.  Only note that there are restrictions at some ryokan for children and also if you happen to be a traveller with tattoos… 

Hostels in Japan 

You might assume hostels are the cheapest place to stay in Japan but that’s not quite true.  But there are some benefits to staying in hostels; especially if you are travelling on a budget in Japan with kids in tow! There are usually better facilities including a kitchen (which will save money on dining out), wifi, a laundry, bike hire and space to just chill out and take a break (from your very small room) from the bustle of a modern Japanese city. 

On this trip we stayed in K’s House Tokyo and although the bedroom itself was small (like most in Japan) and we used a shared bathroom; the kitchen was immaculate, the location was great and we really enjoyed meeting other people in the hostel. 

Capsule hotels

We haven’t tried this adventure yet!  Technically aimed at business or single travellers biding time in the city before moving on, capsule hotels look like a quirky place to stay (and if you find one that accommodates families leave us the name below!). 

AirBnB in Japan

We had a great experience using AirBnB in Japan. AirBnB can be a bit hit and miss in the country due to governmental changes in policy of how privately run AirBnB is affecting mainstream accommodation providers. But do your research, because we did find it worth it for a unique home to stay in at Nikko.   

In Nikko (a smaller town), north of Tokyo we found an awesome local house on AirBnB that gave us a taste of living in a charming traditional Japanese style home complete with sliding doors and tatami mats.  

This turned out to be one of the most memorable stays we had in Japan without booking somewhere to be officially hosted.  

Where we stayed in Japan with kids

We were very lucky to stay with friends in Shiga and Osaka. But for the other major towns in Japan here is where we stayed on this trip…

• Tokyo: K’s House Tokyo [Close to metro; nice common space with tea and coffee; shared bathroom; coin laundry; $220 NZD per night for quad room with 4 bunks; close to Sukiya restaurant!].
• Nikko: AirBnB [Big Japanese style house; bedding for 8 people; easy to find]. 
• Kyoto: Rest Inn Kyoto [$91 NZD p/n; good location; small room size; fully self contained including kitchen, bathroom and washing machine]. 

More about travel planning for Japan with kids and beyond…

These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel. 

• Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally. (We love their flexible cancellation policy!).
• Hostelworld– The largest inventory of hostel accommodation in the world. 
• Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.  
• GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
• SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country. 
• World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). 

Read more about East Asia and travel Japan with kids

• Fushimi Inari Shrine: Walking up Mt Inari with kids
• Edo Wonderland: Living our best ninja lives in Nikko
• Would you eat a black egg? Visiting the thermal valley of Hakone.
• Taiwan Travel Guide: A complete travel guide for Taiwan.
• South Korea with kids: Hunting for dinosaur footprints in Namhae.

We hope this has given you lots of ideas for what to do in Japan with kids.  It really is the most epic of Asian destinations for a fun, interesting, memorable and delicious family adventure!  

Have you been to Japan? What were some of your favourite things to do?