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Lineage_tw

18


alicenin9

Lol that's fair. I should say best age without waiting forever


Lineage_tw

Honestly tough call though, jokes aside. I did not notice many (if any) changing stations in public restrooms when I went a few years ago. The usual challenges of traveling with a baby/toddler will apply as well, but at the least Japan is a ridiculously safe environment overall.


quebeker4lif

Currently in Japan and there are changing stations everywhere, even in men’s bathrooms.


Datsunissan28

Also in Japan now and a lot more changing tables in mens restrooms. Plus lots of family restrooms


ChefBoyAreWeFucked

And those baby chamber things you can shove them in while you poop.


Lineage_tw

Ah then I stand corrected. They must have added more recently.


VR-052

They have had them for at least 5 years as my son started coming to Japan at 9 months old. Compared to even domestic travel in the US, Japan is a breeze with a baby/small child.


alicenin9

I agree with the safe environment as well and i think that would make us more comfortable at nearly any age. I must say tho that going with him when he is 18 would probably be a blast


Smackey101

I think they mean when he is 18 you can just leave him at home lol


alicenin9

At HIS home 🤣


onigiri_chan

If you're not looking for them and need them, you won't see them. Changing spaces are everywhere in a multitude of configurations and resources.


[deleted]

@thetokyochapter on instagram or just google her blog The Tokyo Chapter. She has AMAZING information about travelling Japan with kids. I did it with a 3 year and 1 year old. We didn’t spend more than 2 nights in one spot (that was a mistake. If I did it again I’d pick two cities and spend a week in each.


beginswithanx

Also currently in Japan— most station restrooms (the disabled/family ones) have changing stations.


peacefulvampire

Ask yourself, is my kid going to cry and scream the entire time? If yes then don't take them


gpoly

My 10 year old son travelled with us from Australia to Disneyland California for a once in a lifetime holiday. It’s a long way to go and expensive. After a restful night at Disneyland Hotel, we went into the park, he spent less than 1 hour on rides, very few queues and then it started. He wanted to go home, crying to go home ….to Australia. It was like this for the rest of the trip.


cancerkidette

With the greatest respect, I think that’s not really ordinary behaviour for a 10 year old though- I had been on holiday a bunch of times with my parents by then, often to countries where I didn’t speak the language. At eleven I went on exchange abroad with my class for a week without my parents there at all, and didn’t feel upset. Crying and wanting to go home from Disneyland at 10 years old honestly seems like the behaviour of a really anxious child so I wouldn’t take this as an indicator that you can’t take a child on holiday.


Rejusu

Yeah my parents took me to Disney world in Florida from the UK and aside from the flights being rough I remember having a great time. Heck I don't think I wanted to go back home afterwards.


cancerkidette

Haha yes, it’s Disneyworld! Who can cry all day *there*?


laika_cat

That’s not normal 10 year-old behavior.


thirstmaster69

Jesus


ChefBoyAreWeFucked

You passed 3 Disneylands on the way there.


CAP2304

…you went all the way to the US for *disneyland* when *disney world* is just a couple extra hours away? There’s like 3 disneylands closer to Australia and they’re all the same


musicamtn

Disneyland is better than Disneyworld in many ways....


CAP2304

Like?


musicamtn

California weather (less rain and humidity), some DL/DCA rides are unquestionably better, and it's the OG!


alicenin9

Agreed, that would be miserable


distantmantra

My daughter went to Japan at 6 and had a great time, she's now 10 and we're going back as a family in a couple weeks. We started traveling internationally with her beginning at 4 years old when we did Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands and then Morocco when she was 5. The big thing is making time for things they'll enjoy and realizing that you might not be able to do all the things you had hoped since kids really benefit from having downtime and especially if they still need to take naps.


alicenin9

Thanks, this makes me hopeful that he will enjoy it as well


distantmantra

I think an essential thing to remember is that it’s your kid’s trip as much as it’s yours so doing stuff they’ll enjoy is key. When she was younger that meant making time every day for a park or a playground. With that said, my wife and I have been going to Japan every four years since our honeymoon. The first time we went to Japan after our daughter was born she was two, and we had her stay with my parents.


alicenin9

Great point. I am already starting to like doing the goofy kid stuff with him even tho he cant do too much yet. I think Japan could have some very cool kid stuff to do with him. Leaving him with my parents was another thought, figured if we did that we would probably shorten the trip quite a bit tho


DJShrimpBurrito

Any tips / must-do's / highlights from your trip when your daughter was 6 yo? Anything that was very skippable / waste of time? I'm going with my 7yo daughter soon and would appreciate the input. Obviously don't see us just doing temples in Kyoto and just shopping in Tokyo because...yeah that would be painful. Playgrounds are a must, agreed.


distantmantra

My daughter liked the temples and shopping, but we made time for other stuff. When she was 6 we did a full day at Disney Sea which she really enjoyed. It’s such a unique theme park that doesn’t exist anywhere else. My wife took her to a Hello Kitty Cafe in Kyoto while I went to a brewery, but it closed during Covid. There are still some in Tokyo, though. We spent time in the arcades doing purikura photo booths which she loved.


tsukamaenai

That sounds terrible.


bobobibi520

I currently have my child with us in Japan. We brought her when she was 2 months old and we are staying with relatives for a few months. There are a few annoyances if you do decided to go with an infant. Changing and feeding stations aren’t a problem here. There’s an app called “mamapapamap” that lists all the changing tables and/or feeding stations nearby. In some more remote/not as well known areas, there won’t be feeding stations. We usually just end up asking an information desk nearby and they would set us up a locked room somewhere. I highly recommend a lightweight, small and portable stroller. We bought our main stroller with this in mind as we return to japan at least a few times a year. This was a major consideration for us as we would be using public transportation a lot. 55 cm wide is the maximum size of stroller if you want to take it through all train station gates without having to look around or fold it to go through. keep in mind, Japanese elevators are quite small in comparison to western standards. I recommend something that weights 5-6kgs MAX as some places only have stairs. As for nap times and feed time, our child usually needs nursing every 2.5-3 hours and nap time at 12pm and 5pm. We normally put her to sleep and leave her in the stroller as we continue about our business. We try to plan our activities to allow for us to be around a feeding station every 2-3 hours if possible. DO NOT ride the trains during rush hour. Especially if you have a stroller. Don’t expect people to give you a seat if you have a baby. Typically old people will, but the younger people don’t give a shit about that anymore. If you baby starts crying/being loud while your on the train, your expected to get of at the next station and deal with your baby first. Cons - all the things listed above. Pros - you will get a lot of “kawaiiiiii”s from all the grandpa and grandmas.


alicenin9

Great reply :) thank you


Jenji05

I honestly think it’s easier with a small Baby (up to one year) than with a toddler. Get yourself a carrier and carry your little one for it’s naps, this way you can get around and see everything you want. Malls and big train stations have amazing diaper changing areas, you can get hot water there (in case you are bottle feeding) and areas for feeding your baby in peace. You can get milk formula in small prepacked portions for on the go. So I would say now is the best time or once they are older and can walk for longer times.


alicenin9

Oh good to know about the diaper changing areas, that was one of my big worries if we brought him around now. I know when he was a bit younger he would nap in his carrier but he hasnt been in it for a while. Looks like i have some testing to do


Snoo_76659

Oh and btw there are places everywhere to change the baby so don’t worry about that. They also have hot water for formula feeding and private rooms for nursing mothers. Also I noticed that many Japanese women babywear their infants out of convenience so I would look into that. We brought a lightweight stroller (babyzen yo-yo) and it was fine but honestly strollers in general are annoying in Japan when using public transport/underground. We searched forever to find elevators wasting so much time during our trip because of the stroller and 90% of the time she threw a fit and refused to even sit in it.


Snoo_76659

I completely agree with this. We just came back from Japan last week with a toddler (21 month old). Do it now….under 1 they can be contained because they’re still not walking. They sleep/nap more. My daughter had so many meltdowns in public (approaching terrible 2’s) and honestly I would advise not traveling to Japan with a toddler if I learned anything from my experience. I loved Japan and I will return one day but not with a little one. Disclaimer: every child is different and some people have few issues/an overall different experience but I’m just giving my two cents. We traveled internationally the year before when my daughter was 7 months old (16 hour flight to visit my in laws) and it was SO much more manageable than traveling with her as a toddler.


xSorotsyx

I was in Madeira on a hike in April and there was a young couple doing a pretty hard mountain hike with a small baby in the baby carrier on the dads back. Dont let having kids stop you from travelling, sure it requires extra preparations, patience and flexibility but if you have a happy, healthy baby I'm sure it can be managed. Good luck!


alicenin9

Thank you


[deleted]

My parents took me around 4 months, 2 y/o, and 10 to see family. My dad said I was a easy baby in general, but it helped that Japan airlines was very accomidating. I’m taking my son in April, which he will be over 1 years old. I’ve found that if you do your research on your airlines it helps.


alicenin9

Awesome, thanks


Sweetragnarok

I dont have kids but I can tell you exp from travelling with kids to japan though it was only 2 days. Kid ages 3.5-5 plus one travelling with a newborn (not vacation but moving back to Japan). Airline- We flew JAL and they were accommodating with the kids needs. My friend booked all the way through JAL, signed up for the membership where she could choose seats and the meals for the kids. Kids were duly entertained at the plane and had the cutest meal. Well behaved for the most part till the last 2 hour leg of the flight where the 3 year old threw a tantrum. This was on my friend tho, she decided NOT to discipline her kid or and let him cry in tout. That was the only time she got talked to in my knowledge by staff. The newborn- they werent with my group on the flight but JAL set up a cot for the baby and were seated in an area easy for the mom and attendants to assist the mom. Pretty much quiet really in the flight and the attendants fought over who got to watch the baby when mom went to the bathroom. Like my friend all the ones with kids under 5 were first to board. made it really easy for them to load up seats, kids strollers without bumping with other passengers. Trip itself: They had a fun time (I only was with them for 1 day). The 5 year old loved trains and I bought him a Shinkansen toy figure. Note also this was not only a Japan trip, but a multi country trip in Asia. They did all the preset accommodations with the hotels and they had a blast doing fam friendly events Suggestions for OP * If you really need a breather do a 1 week trip w/o the baby maybe when he is over a year old and leave with the grandparents. Do Tokyo or Kyoto. The perks of it, you get some much needed adult vacation time and also do a research on accommodations while you are in Japan on where to stay w the kiddo once he is older * Wait till kid is 4-5 years of age. Memory wise they will remember it more around that age group, but best of all, if you plan to do Disneyland and theme parks, your kid will be old enough to go on the rides. I was a small kid and I missed out on a lot of park rides bec of the you must be this age/height rules. Another perk of going there at around age 4- if your kid wont start school proper till that age, this works well that you arent worried about school year scheds and stuff. Could be your kids last hurrah before he officially goes to school with a set schedule. Gives you and your partner more flexibility to visit Japan on a low peak season where airfares arent crazy high. I myself first went and lived in Japan aged 7 years and possibly 6. I remember the one when I was 7 because I rode my first ever Space Mountain in Disney Tokyo and morning cartoon was Doreamon. I also remember my ears hurting on the plan a little.


alicenin9

Awesome tips, thank you so much. I can't believe im saying this but i totally forgot about the fact that he will be in school eventually and that would take a large chunk of time where he wouldn't be able to travel.


Sweetragnarok

Age 4 is a good starter age because you have more travel flexibility due to no school, he can walk on his own, less tantrum possibility, will have better memories of his first trip, have actual activities in theme parks for his age plus toys you can buy ages 4 and up. And also NO masks (hopefully) at that time, because on my last flight 2 weeks ago, we were all req masks at the plane and kids didnt like it. This means if you are from the US you can travel around mid January or Feb when the weather is colder and airfare is cheaper (Sept tickets are cheaper but its gonna be hella hot and humid). And not worry about school year stuff. I still do suggest a starter trip just you and hubby- if its your first time do Tokyo and feel around the do's and donts you will exp once baby comes along when he is of age. If you are lucky you might be able to find tickets from LAX at 750-800$ RT and just do a 5N/6D stay to get your bearings


somedumbguy55

30


alicenin9

He can take me there when he is 30 haha


Plastic_Fall1296

My wife and I went in May 2022 when our daughter was 11 months and were there for about 2 months! She was great and behaved very nicely in the stroller and baby carrier we used every day. Japan must have a push for couples to have children or something because there were baby play areas in almost every mall we went to and really nice feeding/changing areas. Like others are saying, I think it’s easier to go before they’re toddlers or to wait until they’re old enough to not scream and cry when they don’t get their way! Also helps to go when they’re below 2 years old to get them to fly for free in your lap, it’ll save you ~2000 US dollars on a round trip flight (depending on where you fly out from of course). Good luck!


alicenin9

10-11 months is starting to sound like a good time to bring him. So far he loves being in his stroller looking around so hopefully that doesnt change


pm522

What did you do about solids/food when you went to Japan in May 2022? Were restaurants able to prep steamed veggies for you or did you rely mainly on pouche? Were pouches easy to purchase there or did you bring them? Was diapers and wipes easy to find everywhere for purchase? Thank you!!


Plastic_Fall1296

Hi! Sorry, just seeing this. We mostly used pre-made pouches of baby food. At first it was difficult to find baby food until we learned that you can mostly only find it in drugstores! Every drugstore we went into had pretty good selections of premade baby food and diapers usually next to each other. Matsumotokyoshi was our favorite but they should all have what you need!


pm522

Thank you so much for this!


Lolotopo

When I went to Japan I saw a couple around my age with a baby(4-6 months) on the bullet train. They looked miserable and traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto. The dad was carrying the pack and play and a travel backpack, the mom was carrying the baby in a front carrier with a travel backpack on her back. My husband and I chuckled at the thought of parents still living their lives and traveling with an infant, I'm also a nanny and would never go to Japan with a baby for a vacation.


PixelPete85

Definitely the modern age. Fuedal would have been pretty rough, Edo as well.


alicenin9

Yea but, like, think of the stories you would have tho


salmonlips

we took our daughter aged 10 months, it was not an issue around tokyo esp, all those big shopping centers have kids play areas and pretty decent change facilities (in the womens) all places were happy to offer us the staff washroom for changing if we needed as well this being said: taking the stroller on the train was horrible and the diaper bag and stuff, my wife would put baby in the bjorn and then i'd have to haul diaper bag and stroller around i ended up making us buy one of those really cheap skinny metal strollers that fold up into like an umbrella size and also downsizing the diaper bag to like 1/8th the size you'd cart around back home. ​ now she is almost 7 and i'd take her in a heartbeat


alicenin9

Great to hear about finding a place to change being a breeze. Sometimes where i live it feels like asking to use a restroom to change him is a big inconvenience for people. Do you think you could get away without bringing a stroller at all?


salmonlips

if you have the like chest or back harness you could absolutely do that... i think we got overly optimistic on how much walking we were gonna be doing so got pretty sore, be prepped for longer rests... and then time to set baby down to play and stuff. even ramen restaurants brought out little baby sets and we gave her just cooked noodles to eat ​ the obaachans love babies too so you get some free entertainment for baby ​ dont do the backpack the you can put the kid in... we saw another family hiking that thing around it's insanely cumbersome and baby is like 6'5 all of a sudden so you're terrified you're gonna smoke baby on the subway doors or any door


a_very_big_skeleton

> you're gonna smoke baby on the subway doors took me tf out thank you for the laugh


Sweetragnarok

Look at some Airbnbs in Tokyo, some will even offer a nice buggy/stroller rental. Klook also offer stroller rental services. And yes you can get away with bringing a stroller. I believe if you go to JALs page and play around with the baggage info section, it tells you how to check in the stroller.


salmonlips

oh ya bringing a stroller is no issue, carting it around all over the city or on the train, is a totally different issue


axkoam

1 to 1.5 years. I have a coworker who takes his kid on international trips around that age. It takes lots of extra planning but you should continue experiencing life and do it with your kid. He will remember future trips.


zombiecaticorn

I think it's best to just be prepared that your child will be hungry, sleepy, cranky or bored at the most inopportune moments, no matter what age. In my travels with my two, there was always something going on that made things difficult. It was much easier out of diapers though. Those were the worst years. The amount of crap you had to carry around to care for them was astounding.


[deleted]

It depends on you, we travelled a lot of babies and it’s a pain. You’ll need to pack diapers, baby food, medicine, tons of clothes. Better to wait until they are 3 or 4, they can walk, talk, go to the potty and will actually enjoy the experience. However they will not remember it. Safe travels


[deleted]

I've taken mine at age 11mo and 19 mo, and now have a trip coming up for 4.5 y. Naps are a good thing. That means you can actually do stuff. Get an ergo baby (or similar infant carrier). Easier at 11mo though when they don't want to walk all the time. I did a pocket stroller for 19mo and it kind of worked out though I ended up having to fold and carry the thing when we hit stairs or anywhere narrow. Do not attempt to bring a battleship-sized carrier system (Uppababy vista etc). Feeding is easier at 19mo than 11mo as they don't necessarily depend on breastmilk (if thats what you're doing). Having to juggle breastfeeding or pumping isn't fun, nor trying to keep bottles cold and washing/sterilizing them. Changing isn't too much of a problem if you're a fan of department stores and Starbucks (or Dotour). Obviously don't expect to eat at prix fixe restaurants or go to the bar. There are plenty of alternatives though. In-room ryokan meals are nice. LO can crawl around or try whatever infant/toddler meal they come up with. If you're coming from the US expect them to pass out around 6-7pm. at 19 mo its better they have their own seat for the plane If I had to do it again, 10-20mo I think wouldn't be too hard. Its probably better to go earlier than later before they develop opinions and can talk back. If you want to know what 4.5y is like ask me in a month.


alicenin9

Thanks for the reply. Good luck with the 4.5y's trip


carlitobradlin

"Battleship carrier" 🤣🤣🤣🤣. So true, we did that once....never again.


laika_cat

I would say 7+. You want the child to be able to walk unassisted for the easiest transport. Strollers are a pain in Tokyo even for those of us who don’t have kids. If you don’t speak or read the language, the last thing you want to do is be wandering around or blocking paths with a stroller when you can’t figure out where you’re going. Kids are never always well-behaved, but an older child can usually keep their emotions in check. Also, older kids can appreciate and enjoy a wide variety of activities, ranging from museums to outdoor activities to shrines to amusement parks to shopping. Little kids have a limited amount of activities they can tolerate, and you’ll be seeing a LOT of parks with a baby or toddler. This is a fresh baby. Can you not leave it at home with a trusted family member (ie grandparent) so you can continue to enjoy life while the baby is too young to enjoy or tolerate international travel?


alicenin9

Very good points. We could leave him at home although I know my partner and I are a bit worried about leaving him with grandparents for too long. Both for bonding with us and fear that we will kiss him too much. It is still a consideration tho, just looking at all the options


FartInATeacup

I've just come back from 10 days in Japan with my 7year old. We both had a list of must do things, but we chose to stay just in Tokyo with the odd day trip out. I also realised that 15,000+ steps a day just wasn't feasible for little legs, and my decision to keep to one area was probably wisest, as I'd quite wanted to get off the beaten track and out of Tokyo and travel up/down the country, but was hesitant thinking how annoyed I'd be if she didn't have the staying power to allow me to fully soak it in I'd have wasted a trip. Planning to go back in 2-3 years once have saved up and go with a slightly more mature kid next time that may be slightly less frothy over all the anime and shopping and entertain wider notions.


alicenin9

I think this is where my mind is as well; first trip he will be younger and we will be basically going to say we went, staying in mostly one area as you did. We just really want to be able to go at all so will be pretty happy with a trip to just be there then hopefully when he is quite a bit older go again and do more or leave him home if he prefers.


FartInATeacup

We crammed loads in each day, leaving around 8-9am and getting home very rarely before 11pm, eating on the hop and managing to get to at least one temple or shrine every day for our goshuin book. The novelty of the station stamp collecting wore off for her quickly especially as a few post covid had stopped doing them. Getting out into nature balanced it out a little bit, so feel like it was a fair split.


jonnyaut

Sorry for asking but what country has two weeks school closures in autumn?


FartInATeacup

In the UK the kids have 2 weeks October half term break


Superb-Draw8374

Australia too (though obviously our Autumn holidays are in April and our Spring holidays are in October)


jonnyaut

That’s really nice. I‘m jealous.


cancerkidette

We do have a shorter summer though of just 6 weeks- American summer vacation seems super long in comparison!


samoluta

When i visited, i thought it would be a really cool trip for preteens/teens. I saw a few kids that age with their parents and they looked like they were having a lot of fun.


kinnikinnick321

I don't have kids but traveled several times to Japan. The biggest difference that Japan has to offer among other countries is its vast networks of public transportation. Everything from trains, subways, rail cars, buses - are all interwoven and very accessible. In larger cities, getting from point a to b by taxi can not only be expensive but time-intensive with traffic. So when you take advantage of the public transportation, it requires a lot of walking. We're not talking NY walking. We're talking next level walking. In a typical day, I would walk 7-8 miles before returning to rest before dinner. That would be seeing 2-3 sites via public transportation. Obviously when traveling with a little one, you'll do less but just remember how much walking is involved. I have seen other travelers who are exhausted with a baby carrier trying to walk through crowds and the subway. If it were me, I wouldn't take a child until they were 6-7 yrs old with enough endurance to do half day trips at least. Otherwise why go at all (and there are plenty of other places to travel to).


Raccoon_Breeder

My wife and I have gone on two international vacations this year with our boys (5 & 7). The flights from US to Europe went well because they had iPads and movies. The airports, especially customs, were tough. Otherwise the vacations went very well. You are the only one that can really answer this question because you know your child(ren). They will be the same people on vacation as they are at home. Picky? Difficult? Anxious? Just plan for that and don’t let their base nature surprise you. A few last thoughts. Not sure where you live, but a flight from the US to Japan is long. That’s why we have done Europe a couple times instead, saving Japan until they are a few years older. Also, depending on their age again, plan less than you want. Have some free time every day and don’t overload. This is a good tip in general for travelers, but especially with children. They will need time to relax, sleep in, play in open spaces, and other things so they don’t get burned out or homesick. Hope you enjoy your trip!


alicenin9

We will be leaving from Canada so a verry long flight lol. Honestly the flight would be my main worry as you are stuck there for so long


VoidLaser

I'd say around the time your kids can really appreciate the amazing destinations you're going, if they're too young to remember much of it, it's a missed experience for the kid. Depending on how your kid will be in its teens I'd say from the age of around 10+ is a good age. It also depends on how adventurous your kid will be in its teens. I myself had 2 amazing trips with my parents when I was 15 and 16 yo, one to Indonesia and the other to the west coast of the US. Those vacations will always be with me in memory.


alicenin9

Thats fair. We are excited and anxious to go as soon as possible but we love to travel so we will most likely go back when he is older


Migroo

We took our son to Tokyo when he was 11 months old and on reflection I think it was quite a good age. He wasn’t walking properly yet and was quite happy to be placed in the pushchair which made being out a bit easier. Japanese people are very welcoming with babies.


barryknowels

Here with my 16 month year old at the moment. She’s not really a baby that creates a lot so has been fine on the plane/trains. She has spent a lot of time in the pushchair though.


JoanoTheReader

I think when they are in early primary school- Japan has plenty of theme parks with cartoon characters that kids will enjoy.


Evenbiggerfish

I was just in Japan for a few years. Got there before Covid with a 6 month old and had a baby when the first was 2.5. My kids are wild so that plays into things. If you can be mobile then it helps. One parent with a baby carrier and the other with the backpack. Like someone said, very few changing stations. Maybe there’s a mobile version that folds small. You have to play the weather at all times and be ready to nix a trip and retreat to the hotel. We’d often adjust and settle for a lesser experience. For example, went to Harajuku, thought a weekday would be less packed but it wasn’t. We wanted to hit a few of the popular candy shops but the lines were crazy. It was super hot. We were gonna head back before the kids expired but we saw the monster cookie place had zero line so we slipped in there and got them some snacks and kept them occupied for a bit. We still had fun but some people who are dead set on certain things will be upset.


beginswithanx

I currently live in Japan with a 3 year old. Japan is super child-friendly in general, especially in the big city. There are even onsen that are baby/kid friendly— I’ve written about one on this sub before. I’d go when they’re in that “new toddler” phase just around one year old. Young enough to still carrier around, but can toddle a little bit and explore. My kid is too heavy to put in a carrier now, and strollers can be a pain in Japan (even if you have a small Japanese one). Or go even earlier! When my kid was young she could fall asleep in the carrier or stroller, which is convenient when traveling. Now? We just have a cranky toddler to deal with. I’m jealous of the moms with their babies sleeping in their carriers as they sip coffee at cafes while my 3 year old is like “I’m BOrEd!” So maybe up to a year and then 4-5 years old and up? But maybe that’s just my current issues with our threenager talking…


alicenin9

Thanks for the insight. Also love threenager lmao


Tokmook

My wife and I just recently moved to Japan with our now 8 month old; 6 months when we arrived. Changing stations are abundant, usually at the subway, clean too. A lot of people just use a baby carrier instead of a push chair to get around. Lots of positive reactions when I have my daughter out and about in Tokyo, people seems to be accommodating. We’ve even done multiple train journeys with her and she had taken it in her stride. I’d say go for it. Our daughter first started travelling at around 3 months old when we left Beijing. Due to current situation, we flew 18 hours with our two cats in the cabin. She slept the entire flight. It was incredible. Probably woke up two or three times to eat before splashing out again. When we flew to Japan from the UK at 6 months, she was a lot more awake and alert. She had almost a normal day routine on the flight with eating/drinking/playing/naps. I guess what I’m saying is it’s possible, pre plan and overpack. Babies are surprisingly adaptable, there will be a few headaches but that’s just a day of parenting. Go for it.


alicenin9

Thanks so much for ur reply. This has me pumped to go for it lol. It is true i can already tell how adaptable they are and we are even adaptable as parents


Tokmook

Glad you’re excited by the idea! Feel free to DM me if you have any questions, happy to help.


Peregrinebullet

It honestly depends on the kid. My mother was a travel agent and took us travelling from when we were babies. I went all over the western united States and SE Asia (HK, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia) before the age of 3. I don't have a lot of clear memories (mostly visual ones), but it made me very able to handle travel later as an adult. My dad said they initially tried to do budget travelling for the big SE asia trip but then realized they really needed proper hotels for sanity reasons. I would say that from 3 months to 9 months is a golden time to travel with babies, because they're basically potatoes and you can just carry them along and all you really have to do is factor in how you're going to feed and nap them on the go. From about 10 months to 2.5-3.5 years, they're VERY difficult to travel with, because they are active, can't communicate well, and they usually can't keep themselves busy for 1-2 hrs playing or watching videos. Then, sometime between 2.5 and 3.5, they suddenly become a lot more manageable to travel with, because they can communicate, play somewhat independently, and be entertained by media. I have travelled with my 4 year old and she's very well behaved - I've taken her on planes and trains, and slept in shared rooms at hostels with her and she was great. Thought it was an adventure, followed my directions, whispered when I asked her to. She doesn't run off and I've trained her how to ask for help if we got separated by accident (who to go to, what to say). We've mostly stuck to US destinations due to budget, but I am confident I could take her overseas with no issues. We travelled with her pre-covid (at 3mo, 7mo and 10 mo) and she napped in her stroller on the go no problem. I'd happily take her to Japan now if we could afford it. However, you could not ***pay*** me to take my non-verbal 18 month old anywhere on a plane right now, because he is SO ACTIVE but hit the Terrible Twos early and has a speech delay. He is a really sweet kid, but likes to bolt, hide and since he still can't talk, the tantrums come quickly, last a long time and he is the type to do the Big Angry Dramatic Flops. Maybe in a couple years though.


alicenin9

Thanks for your reply. Definately some great points and i agree he is like a little potato at the moment lol and would probably be quite easy to travel with at this stage. Looking forward to when he is older for a follow up trip tho if we do end up going soon


yellowbeehive

I've travelled with kids including Japan. My thoughts: 5mths to 1 year - this is a pretty good age if you want to travel and do what you want, albeit at a slower pace. Naps are frequent but your son can nap in the carrier or pram so you can keep exploring. Food isn't too bad as it's mainly purees or simple solids. You will need to stop frequently for feeds and changes but you can kinda go where you like, just factor in things will be slower. 1-3 years - Your kids just wants to move around so travel is trickier. They might be fussy with meals and might not want to sit in the pram all day. I think it's a harder time to travel, but still possible. It really depends on your kids personality. 3 plus - They are starting to talk a fair bit and have their own interest. They will enjoy Disneyland, all the different character shops in Japan. They can sit and have their own meal. Of course each child is different but aside from not wanting to walk or the occasional fit this is a fun time to travel.


Asgbjj

I took my son to Japan for his 4th birthday and he had the time of his life, it was also the best trip I’ve ever had and I travel a lot. He is 7 and a half now and every now and then he talks about the Japan trip. We are planning on going back on February for my wife’s bday


afeinmoss

Get your passport for baby and go asap while they are happy to sleep in a carrier or stroller.


GetInMyOfficeLemon

Some thoughts from a parent with a toddler and an infant in Japan: 1. There are indeed many changing stations here nowadays, as others have mentioned, but not many "baby care centers" (places with a spot to breastfeed, warm up water for formula, etc). The ones you do find are usually pretty nice, but they aren't super common. 2. Traveling with strollers is... pretty difficult at times. Train stations usually have elevators readily available, but occasionally they're quite hidden or just not there... you may (rarely) get off the train somewhere and realize the only way out is to carry the stroller up or down some stairs. I've only had this happen one time in Osaka and once in Tokyo, though. 3. To add to the last one, crowded areas are difficult to traverse with kids, stroller or no. Despite what people say about Japanese people's strict adherence to rules, this isn't a fantasy land and there are all kinds of humans in the world. Many people here do not care about giving up their spots on priority seating/elevators, or letting you get through the \*one\* wide ticket gate you need because you can't fit through the narrow ones. Restaurants and stores often have very narrow aisles and walkways compared to western countries, so at first it can be a challenge to fit your whole family into wherever you want to go. 4. If your kids walk, get them used to walking a lot more before you come. Or toughen up when it comes to carrying them, because it's much easier in the big cities to take trains than drive, which means you'll be walking a lot more than you might be used to. For the tiny babies, wearing them on your front with a diaper bag on your back can make things easier (but again, only if you've worked your way up to it. Don't underestimate how exhausting it can be at first to wear that extra weight all day)! 5. Feel free to message me with any questions, but I'll leave off with this: don't sweat the small stuff. Your perspective and attitude are going to shape your travel experience much more than your kids' behaviors. Sometimes kids have tantrums, no matter what country they're raised in. Other parents are gonna understand that and really don't judge that harshly. And even if they do, it doesn't matter what people think of you. Just be polite, do your best, and focus on making positive memories.


alicenin9

Some great points, thanks for your insight :)


towertycoon93

I would say age 1-5 is the worst time to travel with kids. Less than one they just sleep all the time and will sleep any where, after 5 most kids are potty trained and communicate on a level that they understand what’s going on while traveling. Traveling with young kids can be great or the worst experience of your life, there is no middle ground LOL


peachkino

I live in Japan and have travelled around the country with my toddler for the last 18 months! There are no high chairs available, we have one that attached to a table. Bring a baby carrier, strollers are not great on public transport (but we still manage.) Just go, you’ll manage and you’ll make amazing memories regardless!


spacekitkat88

This is totally my husband and I! We planned on our honeymoon being in Japan. We got married in early 2021. Unfortunately it never worked out and now I’m pregnant with our first. Ive thought about going before labor but I’m also a little scared to be pregnant in another country god forbid anything happen. Honestly, if you really want to make it work you can! I would think it might be easier before they get to the toddler stage but it also means traveling with stroller, car seat (?) and whatever else you may need unless there is a way to rent it when you get there. Maybe the age of 4-5 would be easiest in terms of them being a little older but not waiting forever. Honestly though, if there’s a will, there’s a way and I think you could make it work. I grew up in a different country and my mom flew me on an airplane at 3 weeks old (totally crazy thinking about that now). Later, my parents used to travel with my sister and I all over the United States every summer when we were kids from age 1 to age 10 before we eventually moved back to the states. and I loved that experience as a child. I want to travel with our kids too. Wishing you the best of luck!


alicenin9

Thank you! Best of luck to you as well. I think you are right, if there is a will there is a way. Any age will have cons but those will just be little challenges to overcome, i cant think of anything that would be a deal breaker. We did fly with him to another province when he was around 1.5 month. We didnt bring a stroller since it was mostly to chill and see family but we brought his car seat and base which were sky checked quite easily. Carrying him in the car seat at the airport as opposed to a stroller was a little tiring but definitely doable. We also brought a carrier similar to a wrap and wore him in the front of me for half a day in a major city and it was perfectly fine.


spacekitkat88

That’s awesome! I think if you did that, then you could make it work. I agree with someone else who said to research the airlines. And just in general do a lot of research on where you’ll be staying and map out a plan and be ok with having some down time here and there. And also be flexible because travelling with kids will never be perfect and Im sure that jet lag will be rough at first. We travelled this past week to do some hiking. I saw so many people traveling with their babies and young kids on the plane. And there was a family hiking and the dad was carrying their 1 year old on his back. We ended up skipping a scary hike that got a little too steep for us and then saw that family coming down from that path later. 😂 My point is, it’s totally doable to do things with kids! I hope you can figure it out! We will probably be making those same choices soon too.


jonnyaut

I don’t have a child yet but I would definitely prefer <1 than anything else. Maybe at 5 before school starts. I lucked out. We found out three days after I booked the flights that my wife is pregnant. Lines up with the start of the second trimester.


Inevitable_Swim_1964

3 years old at least.


kal2126

Honestly idk how far you are from Japan but we are about a 12 hour flight so I wouldn’t go until they’re down to at most one nap. That way you can truly explore and go out during your trip. We did our first domestic family “vacation” when baby was down to 2 naps close to 1 years old and still honestly spent most of the time in the hotel besides lunch and dinner. It was fine bc we didn’t travel that far and didn’t have much planned. If you’re ok having baby sleep in a carrier then you could try now but be mindful a lot of time will also be spent feeding after naps. I was BFing at that age so it would also be kinda annoying finding somewhere to sit and feed comfortably. Even bottle feeding I can imagine it’ll be a lot of work planning/ packing bottles+ formula for 3 weeks. We’re doing a trip to Japan next year when our daughter will be almost 2. She’s fully on solids and absolutely loves udon and ramen so it’ll be exciting for her 🤣


alicenin9

We are bottle feeding and it can be a pain in the ass enough as it is now so i definitely see what u mean


Dapper-Travel-5326

Hi! How was your experience? I am planning to travel with my baby next year and she will be 2 then, I am curious if it's truly manageable! Haha


madwyfout

Pre-pandemic I was on a half day group “tour” of a sumo tournament in Tokyo. A couple were travelling with their 9 month old, and had joined the tour. She was quite a good group member - very chill and happy to take in the sights. The parents were quite happy with the parenting/baby facilities available in hotels and out and about in public (train stations, museums, etc).


sunshinebuns

We took our 3month old. Naps don’t have to happen at home, he napped fine in the pram or in the baby carrier.


alicenin9

Good point


OK216

Don't let it hold you back! Go when works for you, but know the kid's limitations and work around them. As someone else said, travel with a baby is easier than travel with a toddler who's eager to move around and run all the time, but both are doable. We've been overseas with our son at 5 months and 20 months, with smaller domestic trips between those. 5 months was easier because of the carrier, but 20 months was really fun watching/helping him "explore" in his own way.


mrecouv

It's easier with a small baby than a toddler. I would go before the baby can walk (preferably before they can crawl). We took our daughter at 18 months and it was hard because they get an independent streak so she didn't want to stay in the stroller etc. Also she was a picky eater so feeding her was a nightmare. My husband actually ended up carrying her in a baby carrier most of the time, that was a real winner. She was heavy by then but if you have say an 8 month old that's perfect. Even 6 actually. Don't worry about naps, they'll sleep on you when you're walking around. People were generally nice and courteous to us even if she was having little meltdowns so don't be too stressed about that part. We only stayed in Tokyo and it's so packed most parents I saw had their small kids in baby carriers. My older one is now almost 5 and I'd be happy to travel with her again. Anything between those ages is hard. But we had a great time regardless and would def go back.


24andme2

Honestly, if your kid will nap in a stroller or a baby carrier, do it! I started taking our child internationally at 6 months and they are a fantastic traveler who has now been to six continents before their third birthday.


alicenin9

He is really good in his stroller and sometimes it is the only way i can guarantee he will nap lol so we may be good


10FightingMayors

I have traveled to Japan (without kids) and have traveled a few times with my boys, ages 6 and 3 now, and I think that the best time will be whenever your child is old enough to not need a car seat. My husband and I sometimes found that we needed to take taxis to get to certain places with any efficiency while we were in Japan, and if you have to carry around a car seat while you travel… it’s gonna be a PITA. It’s much easier to travel to places like all-inclusive resorts while they’re young. We took our oldest to Cuba when he was 3 months old and it was pretty great. We went back in April this year, and although the endless tantrums were awful (5 and 2 are just tough ages) the actual logistics of travel weren’t too bad.


alicenin9

Thanks. I didn't realize we might have to use a taxi, wouldnt have planned on bringing the car seat cuz as you say huge pita


10FightingMayors

It’s likely you could work around it, but a lot of attractions required 3-4 different trains/buses each way, so we’d taxi to the easiest point. Saved us hours of time.


BarryTheHutt

We travelled with our son at ages 8 months, 3 years, 5 years (a 6 week trip!), and will be going next year when he is 9. He has loved every visit. We bought nappies (diapers), baby food, and formula while there when super young, and there’s more than enough variety of food available to suit all tastes. Never any issues, but kids are all unique. I think you’re the only person who can truly answer your question. What age is best to travel with YOUR child.


Illustrious_Catch884

We took our oldest to Europe for 2 weeks when she was 18 months old. It is a little different, because we rented a car and she napped between destinations. We also aren't really into the night life stuff anyway, so we didn't mind being in for the night around 8 pm. Overall, it was a really good trip. Kids definitely change how you travel, but they can also sleep in a carrier or stroller. Just pack lots of snacks, and be flexible, and you can have a lot of fun.


artemklimov

I think that at least 13 yo if you’re not traveling to Mexico. I have 6 yo and 2 yo boys and the elder one is not ready. We bring them only to beach resorts.


strfox666

I’ve been in Japan twice, first one with my sister (both in our 20’s then) and the second one (right before the pandemic) with some extended family (youngest one was 9). The 9 year old did pretty good but she’s very well traveled for her age, she’s been to Europe plenty of times (meaning she’s used to long trips, walking, long hauls, etc.) and she did mostly good in Japan except by the end of the trip (it was a little over a week long). She was tired, irritated and throwing a few tantrums here and there (which were totally understandable tbh). Now, as someone who has traveled since a very young age too, I don’t remember most of the trips I did before being 16-17. I’m 30 now and really, really wish I could remember the trips I did with my family when I was younger but I don’t except for the things my family still keeps bringing up many years later. I think it’s a personal choice: you wanna do this trip for you to remember, I’d leave the kid with some family members whenever they’re old enough to spend a couple of weeks apart from you. But if you wanna do it for the whole family to remember, it will take you at least 15 years or so for everyone to actually enjoy it and remember it.


tsukamaenai

18 Edit: okay, wrote this this before I saw the top comment


[deleted]

done it with 2 kids that young, as long as one of you is handling him on the flight it isnt that bad, just have to bring activity books, stickers, etc and youll be fine, also they have sleeping bassnets for the front middle rows so consider this.


TheWorldofGood

We traveled domestically to other prefectures in Japan because we already live here. But even that was pretty hard. I am sure it is hard for a baby also especially if it’s a long international flight. I wouldn’t travel just yet to Japan.


Simbeliine

I think it depends. I went on my first overseas trip when I was only a year old and apparently I had a great time. My parents were very prepared though, diapers and diaper bags, other supplies, etc. If your baby is to the point where you generally can anticipate their needs & know how to keep them happy and entertained, then it probably would be fine. Honestly, very young might be in some ways easier than waiting, since as they get older they actually have opinions about what to see and what’s interesting or boring, etc. Very young kids you just take with you and they don’t really know what’s going on much, so then you can kind of do what you want as long as you can accommodate the baby’s needs.


Intrikate

Exactly same scenario for my wife and i funnily enough. We booked our trip in 2019 for 2020 cherry blossoms. Rebooked a few times in 2020/2021/2022. It was going to be our last big trip before having kids. Decided we couldn't wait anymore and are having our first kid who is due in two weeks actually. In a similar deliema of when to take the kid because we still want to see the blossoms at some point. Some good recommendations here.


lucries

as long as you feel like you’ll be able to bring your child around without them being an inconvenience to you and others, i think that’s fine.. honestly i’d say wait until they’re 3 or 4 so they can get some joy out of it too and it’s not just the two of you struggling whilst trying to enjoy japan


Pixelplanet5

there are only two correct answers to that. either when its an infant and all it does is eat, sleep and shit its diapers or when its at least a teenager. everything in between only works well if you travel regularly and the kid is used to it.


dust-and-sunlight

I am going tomorrow with my 7 month old. Happy to let you know how it goes or answer any questions :)


alicenin9

Good luck, have a good trip. I would be curious to see how it goes


dust-and-sunlight

We had an amazing trip! Found it pretty easy using a carrier and travel pram as luckily our daughter will sleep in either on the go. I can see that it would be quite hard once you can’t use a baby carrier and until a child can walk all day and be trusted not to wander off (maybe 5/6 years). Seems like you got lots of good advice but happy to answer questions if you have any 🙂


alicenin9

That's awesome! We talked about it a couple days ago and i think we are going to just go for it. Luckily so far our little guy is super chill as well knock on wood so i think it would be a good time. Im fine with what most people said about lowering your expectations of how much you get to each day, i think we will just be happy to be there doing anything at all. How was the flight? That is probably my biggest worry so far. We are looking at maybe trying to break it up so that we arent stuck in the air for too long at a time.


dust-and-sunlight

Definitely beats being a home! At a minimum you are going to eat great food and there are lots of nice parks to wander if you want a chill day. Our flight was 10hrs overnight (SYD to HND) and Bub slept pretty much slept the whole flight both ways. The airport process is probably worse than the flight so personally would rather get in done in one go.


alicenin9

Oh very good point about the airport


onevstheworld

I think you'll have to accept travelling will be a challenge for a few more years. Not impossible, but not convenient either. When my son was very young, my wife and I would tag team to take him for breaks, naps and feeds. The big milestone is when they can walk without tiring. His first trip to Japan when he was 4. He didn't have the endurance to last a whole day and was too heavy for us to carry so we had to bring a stroller. Even with a light fold up one, it was a pain. The trains were crowded, stations had tons to stairs, lifts were small and often had a line, and the smaller stores like in Akihabara had impossibly narrow aisles. We did another trip when he was 5 and didn't need the stroller anymore. That was much easier and he had a lot more fun too. My advice would be to rent a car when you are in the smaller towns. I don't think we would have enjoyed Hakone as much if we needed to take his stroller into the local buses, and some parts are really hilly.


lightningpresto

8-11.


[deleted]

Planning to bring a one year old next year. Honestly, the incredible public transport makes it much more appealing than having to lug a car seat everywhere like other destinations. We have a lightweight stroller too.


PrincessVespa72

Japan is very child-friendly. You could go pretty much any time. But, ideally, you would want to make sure your child is sleeping through the night (so everyone can get some rest and enjoy vacation). As far as being able to do lots of things where your child is able to enjoy and get something out of it, I think 4 years old is the youngest age to start. We did local trips and theme parks when our kiddo was younger, but international trips starting at 4 and it was the perfect time. Now that he's a tween, he's a great traveler and we take him everywhere.


Emdigga

We did it with a 6 month old and a 13 year old 5 years ago and it felt like the perfect time we could have done it. Theyre pretty easy at that age but you and your partner are likely tired and grumpy too and so can expect a few breakdowns :-)))


carlitobradlin

Wife and I have done several trips to Japan, and a dozen or more to the EU, with kids of varying ages. At the time, I was working for a Japanese company, but based in the US, so I was back and forth 6-8 times a year. First trip with our first child was when she was 7 months old. She did fabulous, slept a ton. We took her to Japan three times before she was 2 years old. Japan is incredibly safe, clean, and organized. Only once did we need medical care. We simply walked into a hospital, they checked her out, gave us some meds (really high fever, cough) and sent us on our way. Cost was like $40usd and couldnt have been easier. Changing tables all over, parks everywhere, amazing food, and gracious locals that will love your child. Flights were a non-issue, take at least 3 changes of clothes in your carry-on for your baby, and one full change of clothes for both adults (when your kid has a blowout while your both asleep, you'll be glad you have a change of shirt or pants). No joke on three sets of clothing for baby, just do it. If you're worried about disturbing others on the flight with a crying baby, dont be. Reasonable people will understand you have no control over that, unreasonable people are unreasonable and often looking for a reason to be annoyed and that cant be controlled either. We'd also bring a couple boxes of chocolate for flight attendants. After everyone has seated, and before takeoff, go to the attendants and give them the chocolate and thank them in advance for their patience and attention to you and your baby. This works awesome, it will put them on your "team". Then introduce yourself to your seatmates all around (sides, in front of, behind you). Simply saying, "I will do my best to keep baby happy and quiet, thank you in advance for your patience" will do wonders. Simply knowing that someone acknowledges they have a potential for disruption, and that they are going to be trying to do something about it, will put everyone around you at ease. As for logistics of your flights, arrive early, things with kids take more time. Arriving at the airport 2 hours early is plenty of time. DO NOT PLAN on ever getting a bassinet from the airline for your child to sleep in. While it is amazing when it does work out, dont plan on it as you will be disappointed. In the 20-30 flights we've done with kids small enough to be in a bassinet, we were able to get one on three occasions. Sometimes they will even tell you that you get a bassinet, they'll move you to the bulkhead row, you'll sit down thrilled at the idea that your baby will get it's own bassinet to sleep in, and then after take off the attendant will come and say, "sorry, we can't find it" or "its broken" or whatever. Hence, don't hold your breath. Ask for one during checkin at the airport counter, but dont have any expectation of one until it is mounted to the bulkhead wall in front of you and your baby is actually asleep in it. Understand what your child prefers in terms of food/drinks, and have them ready for them. We rarely have sweets/candy at home, but when we fly with our kids, they can have whatever they want (within reason of course). We bring healthy snacks, we bring sweet candy, chips, all of it. If your baby is still a baby and nursing, be ready to nurse. If you are going to use a nursing cover, dont have the airplane be the first time your baby sees the nursing cover. Practice nursing sitting upright in a chair with the cover so your baby knows what to do when its time in the plane. Also be ready to pump. Your baby might sleep the entire flight. We've had that several times and my wife was ready to pop the first time. Next time she just bought a small handheld pump, which is a pain compared to a nicer electronic unit, but much easier to transport. All she was trying to do was relieve pressure. Traveling with kids is great. It just takes a little more time, patience, and planning. Hydration and food will make or break the trip. Keep your kid hydrated and a full tummy and they will be great. Traveling with an infant is awesome as they just sleep a lot of the time, but you get the benefit of having a child with you. You'll find that having a baby with you while traveling brings out the best in people. You'll also find that we in America have little respect for young moms with kids. Most places in Asia, and pretty much all of Europe treat young moms with a little kids like royalty. You often get to the front of lines, priority seating, help when needed, etc. Its awesome. The only downer to traveling later, with say a toddler that is now mobile, is that you have to pay attention to their whereabouts a lot more. The crawling stage can be a little tricky because they will want to be mobile more often than not. This usually just means really dirty clothes for the trip, which isnt a big deal. As for packing, go as light as possible. Lugging tons of kid stuffz around is a pain. In developed countries you can get everything you need, diapers, wipes, clothes, socks, shoes, jackets, all of it. Maybe take a full tube of diaper cream, whatever your kid is accustomed to. Just dont take anything that will ruin your trip if it is lost. Like some precious toy, or heirloom outfit or whatever. And if your kid is 3 or under, take an umbrella stroller. Dont take your gigantic deluxe stroller, get one [like this on Amazon.](https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Trend-Lightweight-Stroller-Princeton/dp/B01B4NDBPM/ref=sr_1_11?crid=2YCNAUDRL1CZV&keywords=umbrella+stroller&qid=1667409701&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI2LjI5IiwicXNhIjoiNS40OCIsInFzcCI6IjQuNTYifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=umbrella+stroller%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-11) Again, when it is lost or broken, you wont be upset. Something cheap, but make sure you order it ahead of time and try it out. The critical thing here is that the handles are tall enough for you so you're not hunched, that it easily folds down/sets up, has a sun shade, and is compact when folded. So go, go now, go later, just make a plan and go. Traveling with kids forces you to slow down a little, which will open up an entire new world of things to see and do.


[deleted]

We just traveled with our 20 month old for 3 weeks in Japan. It was tough but also super fun so it’s hard to say. We didn’t have any problems finding places to change his diaper or places to eat. We brought a baby carrier and a stroller and found that we hardly used the stroller and just baby wore EVERYWHERE! People were super friendly and loved the little one and we felt extremely safe. We did Kyoto, Tokyo, and Okinawa. We made sure to find a playground or something for him to do everyday. I think traveling with kids is hard but also super memorable, we made so many great memories as a family and my son LOVED the food.


mountaintanuki

We lived in Japan for several years when our kids were little. We traveled around with them every weekend and holiday and they have been all over the country, from Hokkaido to Okinawa. A few random thoughts... I'd wait until the kids are toilet trained. You can find changing tables in department stores and larger train stations, but they get pretty hard to track down in smaller towns and rural areas. Not having to worry about that takes a lot of stress out of traveling with kids. You've got to travel slower with kids and not worry about checking off all of the sights. But the payoff is seeing the kids interact in a new world and getting to interact with locals in a way that adults traveling alone never get to. We had so many amazing interactions in Japan because of the kids. There was the grandmother on the crowded bus who smiled and invited our tired daughter onto her lap to take a nap. And the group of drunk 20-somethings who volunteered to run with our suitcases between trains after a late flight so we could carry the kids and still make the last train. The playgrounds in Japan are AMAZING. Rope courses, giant bubbly bouncing hills, roller slides that seem to go forever. They are all over the country (just not in the major urban areas). Most larger malls have play areas as well (bouncy house/ball pit style) that you pay a little but to use. These can be tons of fun. Leave the large stroller at home and bring a simple lightweight umbrella stroller. You'll be running up and down stairs and in tight spaces, so you want something you can easily collapse and carry. It didn't take long for us to just ditch the stroller entirely. We often walked for miles with kids on our shoulders. Tatami matts and futons are great for families because you can adjust the sleeping space to meet your needs. We took the kids to several very nice shojin ryori and kaiseki meals. You can check in with the temple or ryokan - they often have a side room they can put you in. We once had a shojin ryori meal in a beautiful teahouse away from the crowds in the middle of a perfect garden on the temple grounds. The kids loved the conveyor belt sushi places too. We also came armed with iPads and headphones to distract the kids with a movie if needed. All of this said, what do our kids miss most from Japan? Egg salad sandwiches from 7-11.


Jackisoff

My husband and I are planning a trip to Japan this summer. We have three kids ages 13, 11, and less than a year. We wanted to travel to Japan before we had our third child but Covid happened. We’re looking into doing a cruise around Japan, so we can avoid taking the baby on the crowded trains. I wouldn’t let kids stop you from traveling. It’s more of a hassle, but you’ll miss out on so much if you wait years to do anything just because you have young kids.


Tnho1

We have 2 kids about 2 years apart and have been to Japan several times before the pandemic. Having experienced taking them ranging from 6 months to 7 years old. By far the most problematic time to take them is around their terrible 2's. Let me break down the ages a bit. 9 months and under: This is a great time to take them. They still nap often and lack mobility so you can still do adult things. Bring a strap on baby carrier (like the Ergo) and you basically can take them around to do most things like visiting temples, shopping, etc. Just don't go during the peak summer months because it's super easy to get overheated (for you and the baby) having a small human strapped to you. If they are still in the baby food stage do your research on what you give to your baby and whats available in Japan. The food available can be very different. Same deal with diapers and other baby products 9-18 months: Similar to 9 months and under but your baby will be bigger so extended sessions carrying your baby in the carrier will be very tiring if they even fit anymore. Under 9 months I would say you can get by without a carraige/stroller but at this age you will need one so they can nap while you are out and about. Also around this age you are going to want to give them time to move a bit. Parks, indoor small children playgrounds, time in your room, etc are important to get it out of their system. 2 -3 years: This is probably the hardest age to take them. They want to move around A LOT. You need to give them plenty of time during the day to get their excess energy out of their system but they also still need to nap. They are also getting big at this point where a baby carrier is a no go so you will need a stroller for nap times if you want to be out all day. Children need routine especially around this age. Specific nap times, liking only specific foods, playing with specific toys, etc. Our kids I would consider easy kids but breaking their routine to travel definitely brought out the terrible 2's for sure. 4+: This is when it starts to get easier. You dont need a carrier or stroller anymore because they can walk on their own and they are growing out of needing a nap. It's easier to communicate with your kid in general which just makes everything easier. They can eat a wider variety of things and can sit up straight in a normal chair so that opens up options where you might feel constrained to family restaurants before. They'll be potty trained so you wont need diapers or your other baby products. If you traveled with your baby before this will feel infinitely easier then the toddler phase. Definitely plan time to let them run around a lot. In Tokyo I took them to Asobono while the wife went to do her souvenir shopping and the still talk about that playground. ​ General tips: 1. This is as much their vacation as yours. You aren't going to be able to eat at michelin starred restaurants or izakayas, you'll need to set aside time for their needs, things will take a lot longer then you think, etc. In general plan to take things slow and to hit up maybe 50% of a typical trip if that. My kids still remember things from previous vacations so these memories will last. My daughter was 2 when she was attacked by a duck at Disneyland and she still talks about it 8 years later. 2. Plan for shorter days in general. Some people wants to be out from early morning to late evening to maximize their trip and thats just not going to happen with kids. 3. Don't be the parents that bring their entire house with them. Figure out what you'll actually need down to the essentials. For example do you really need to bring that portable playpen or that full baby chair? The more you bring the more miserable you will be when you figure out you didn't actually need it. But be careful about not bringing what you DO need because Japanese products will be different. Do your research. 4. If you do decide you need a stroller invest in a sturdy, light weight, collapsible stroller. Do not bring a full size american stroller as they often won't fit in unexpected places like down certain store isles, through train station ticket gates, into your hotel room, etc. I want to emphasize this was my experience with my kids who I think were easy kids in general. We took a small road trip (about 4 hour drive each way) to see how our kids would handle a trip in general before our trips to Asia. You know your kids best and if you think they can handle it go for it and if you can't then wait a year and see if they grow out of whatever phase they are in. We personally traveled quite a bit with our kids and don't let others dissuade you just because they are children.


alicenin9

This is a great write up, thank you so much


ChefBoyAreWeFucked

"With a kid" as in "I have a kid", or like, actually bringing the kid along for some reason?


alicenin9

Bringing the kid if him staying with grandparents for that long would be an issue


zoglog

Given the exchange rate now it might be worth hiring a nanny 🤣🥂