Kyoto, Japan became my dream destination after watching the "Shogun" series (can't wait for season 2), a blend of historical drama, political intrigue, and Japanese culture. I could feel living the experiences of Blakthorne and Maiko in feudal Japan. Then I rewatched Memories of Geisha after years, and it felt like Japan was calling me.
So, a few months later, here we were spending 11 days exploring Japan with our two kids (2 years and 5 years at the time), and let me tell you—it was an unforgettable experience. While our trip was amazing, there were definitely moments I wished I had known more about what “every other tourist” was talking about. Let me share the real, nitty-gritty truth about traveling to Japan with kids, including tips and insights you won’t find in the typical travel guides.
By the way, before our visit, I made my older daughter watch House of Ninjas to make her excited about their trip, and she was so intrigued by the Samurai culture and their swift movements. I was proud!
Hi, I am Dimple, mom of two small girls (2 yr and 5 yr at the time), and write all things related to travel with kids- guides, itineraries, tips, and hacks so you don’t have to. This post is dedicated to the real, nitty-gritty truth about traveling to Japan with kids, including tips and insights you won’t find in the typical travel guides.
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Rumors About Japan That Are Actually True
When you read about traveling to Japan with kids, you’ll come across lots of advice and warnings from trip reports, and you'll think that your experience would definitely be different. Well no! After experiencing it myself, I can confirm that most of these rumors are true—and you should definitely know them ahead of time to prepare your trip accordingly.
So, take my advice and take notes.
The Food is amazing everywhere!
What do I even say about the food? From tiny street vendors to high-end restaurants, food will always taste good no matter the size or location of the place, or the price of the menu. We had different flavored ice creams (matcha, sakura, strawberry, raspberry), custard pancakes, yakisoba, beef skewers, sushi, ramen... and almost everything that we wanted to try, and they were all superbly appealing to our palates. kid you not, my daughter couldn't stop eating their beef skewers :)
Travel Restaurant Recommendation: Although you would find delicious food everywhere, I would highly recommend Panel Cafe in Gion, Kyoto for its souffle cafe and delicious burgers.
My kids loved Custard pancake, yakisoba, beef skewers, string potatoes, Icecreams (of course), edamame, chicken karaage, mochi (especially berry infused mochi), sugar-coated strawberry
They weren’t a fan of anything matcha, given its an acquired taste obvious. However, they gulped down a full match ice cream one day by themselves. I was a proud mom.
Trust me when I say that you won’t have to worry about finding good food, no matter where you are—your kids might even develop a newfound love for certain dishes.
You will walk a lot
There is no easy way to say it, but your legs will beg you to stop by midday. We averaged 20,000-26,000 steps a day. Although that's normal steps when you are out traveling, it's the number of endless stairs in Japan that make you want non-stop breaks.
Walking in Japan is part of sightseeing. They will be walking through and around the destination. For context, one day we spent 30 minutes in Shinjuku train station trying to get out. Their stations are massive! We all need a little rest. A little sit. A little snack – and sometimes we also need to keep moving, especially on a vacation.
Travel Tip: Carry a stroller even for your older kids (upto 7 years old), yes! Japan can make your capable walker cry for help. Definitely, carry a lightweight stroller that can be folded with ease. We used the Contours Itsy stroller and I can't stop singing enough praises for it. See my full review on this stroller that I found by accident.
Travel Tip: Get Epsom salts from home to soak your legs in them after a long tiring day and lie down in peace to relax those crying muscles. This was something that helped the kids a lot. We even borrowed leg massagers from our hotel.
Rain Means Rain
Japanese weather predictions are impressively accurate. If it says rain at 3:00 PM, trust me, it’ll rain at 3:00 PM. So keep the umbrellas handy that day.
Travel Tip: You don’t need to pack umbrellas from home though, as most hotels will provide them, and let’s be honest—there’s something charming about using those transparent Japanese umbrellas and feeling like a local.
Everything opens late in Tokyo
If you’re an early riser or your kids wake up at the crack of dawn (thanks to jet lag), beware: Tokyo is a city that sleeps in, something i wasn't prepared for.
Travel Tip: Most restaurants and shops won’t open before 11 AM, so stock your hotel fridge with breakfast essentials. We learned this the hard way after scrambling to find food for our hungry kids in the mornings. We used to buy bread, jam, pretzels, etc to feed them in the morning before anything opened up.
Kyoto is way better than Tokyo.
Yes yes yes! I cannot stress this enough. Everyone told us to spend more time in Kyoto, and I wish we had listened! While Tokyo is the modern Japan, Kyoto is its soul. Kyoto was Japan's capital in the Edo period.
Travel Tip: Kyoto has a charm that Tokyo simply can’t match, especially when traveling with kids. Keep max 2-3 days to Tokyo and use the rest to explore Kyoto and the surrounding areas.
7/11 will be your best friend
When traveling with kids, early morning breakfast and on-the-go snacks are a must. With most restaurants in Tokyo opening around 11 am, 7-Eleven will be your best friend. It is a great budget-friendly option to purchase baked bread, jams, chips, etc.
No eating while walking
This is more of an unspoken rule that's more implicitly followed than mentioned. If you are purchasing any food items from a street vendor, it is considered to be rude to walk and eat. Even if you buy an ice cream and feed the kids in the stroller, you are expected to stop, park, and enjoy the food. Coming from the US, where the habit of walking and eating is second nature, this took some adjustment
It forced us to slow down, take breaks, and really savor the moment while having our food in one spot—something that is much-needed while traveling with little ones.
No Trash cans anywhere
Many may already know, but there are no trash bins ANYWHERE in Japan with the exceptions of very few. Imagine, how much trash you’ll be collecting throughout the day when traveling with kids- ice cream cone wrappers, tissue papers, disposable juice cups, skewer sticks, straws, and what not.
Our bags were mostly filled with trash that we would empty out after reaching our hotels. So, make sure you are carrying extra bags every single day.
Rumors About Japan That Are NOT True
Some rumors that people suggested were def not true and needed to have a personal experience. I would recommend reading blog post 10 travel mistakes i made in Japan with kids
Carry a Hand Towel Everywhere
I read everywhere that you should carry a hand towel, but in our experience, hand dryers were available in most bathrooms.
Instead, the bigger issue was the lack of soap in some public restrooms. So, instead, carry a travel paper soap with you.
Spend a Minimum of 5 Days in Tokyo
Err, No! Five days in Tokyo is overkill if you’re traveling with kids. While the city is fascinating, two days in Tokyo is more than enough (3 if you are planning Tokyo's Disney Land). If you have limited time like myself, spend more time exploring outside the city like Mount Fuji, Matsumoto, Nagano, Kyushu, Hokkaido etc. —Japan has so much more to offer beyond Tokyo’s busy streets.
Chase Sakura bloom dates to see the blossoms
Don’t go chasing the sakura, you might get disappointed. The cherry blossoms are fleeting—one day they’re blooming, and the next, they’re gone.
We planned our trip around the Sakura season (late March to early April) to witness Japan’s iconic cherry blossoms in full bloom. However, timing it perfectly can be challenging. Many visitors who arrived just before us were left disappointed as colder-than-expected weather delayed the blossoms. Fortunately, we lucked out with warmer weather, allowing us to catch the blooms. Even then, the sakura didn’t bloom all at once. One day you might spot them in Ueno Park, the next during a casual walk, and then, seemingly overnight, they burst into full bloom—only to be gone the very next day. Just like that, puff!
The Reality of traveling to Japan with kids
Walking & exhausting days
It is a lot of walking with kids. There were times when our 2-year-old had to be carried in a carrier for hours, and our 5-year-old, even with a stroller, got tired quickly. It was too much for us and the kids. I would have wanted a more relaxed time instead of rushing through the day, going from one station to another, trying to fit everything in.
Kid-Friendly dining options
Smoking is allowed in most restaurants, that made it difficult to find kid-friendly places to eat. Dinner time often felt like a race against the clock with two hungry kids in tow.
Travel Tip: Start looking for restaurants before kids' hunger time. There were days, when we were searching for places, and found one almost at the last closing hour.
Navigating the train stations
Tokyo’s train stations are a labyrinth. No seriously. They are massive! We spent way too much time figuring out which exit to take, just to minimize walking. One time we spent 30 minutes at Shinjuku station just to figure out the right exit. With kids, this can be frustrating and tiresome.
Travel Tip: When in doubt, always ask the locals. Everyone is so kind there. In so many occasions locals helped us figuring the right train lines or exit.
Early start in Tokyo vs Kyoto
You don’t need to wake up early in Tokyo as most restaurants don’t even open until 9/930 am. However, for Kyoto, you would need to start your day earlier as most of the tourist spots get way too touristy mid-day (lol!). Places like Arashiyama, and Fushimi Inari are best to experience early morning.
Top Experiences with Kids
The country's blend of tradition and modernity offers varied experiences that cater to all ages. There are specific experiences that I felt are a MUST with kids and something that promises to leave lasting impressions.
Samurai experience
If you want your kids to learn about Japanese history, especially the culture of Ninjas and Samurai, consider taking them for a Samurai experience. We took our kids for a Samurai Ninja experience in Kyoto, and it turned out to be one of the best experiences we've had so far. It gives kids the opportunity to go back in time and learn about the ancient warriors of Japan
Karaoke box
There are Karaoke boxes almost everywhere in Japan especially Tokyo. Shinjuku and Shibuya areas are filled with them. We fortunately found one in Shinjuku that allowed the kids. We booked the box for an hour and let me tell you the time just flew by! It was such a private singing session with the family. Kids will love the lively atmosphere and the chance to showcase their singing talents.
We chose Rainbow Karaoke which has a built-in play area
Nara deer park
Nara Deer Park is a picturesque location where kids can interact with hundreds of friendly deer roaming freely in the park. They can feed the deer special crackers called "shika senbei," take photos with them, and enjoy the serene natural surroundings. Kids will love the up-close encounters with these gentle creatures.
Kimono rental
Kimono rental in Japan allows kids to dress up in traditional Japanese attire and experience the rich cultural heritage of the country. They can choose from a variety of colorful kimonos, get styled with hair accessories, and stroll around iconic Japanese landmarks for a memorable photoshoot. My kids loved the elegance and beauty of wearing a kimono.
We chose Maikoya in Kyoto for both tea ceremony and kimono rentals. Highly recommend!
What to pack for kids
Comfortable shoes
No matter the season, I highly recommend packing two pairs of comfortable shoes for your kids! One pair should be waterproof, as rain can surprise you at any time, and the other should be a breathable, everyday shoe to give their feet a break.
Make sure the shoes are easy to slip on and off—avoid laces, as you’ll often need to remove them when entering restaurants or shrines. Velcro or slip-on styles work best for the frequent on-and-off routine.
2. Water bottles
Given there are no trash cans in Japan, you will be better off carrying your own refillable water bottles from home. You can easily refill them before leaving your hotel or through a water dispenser (which is almost everywhere)
You can use Mizu app to find the nearest water station in Tokyo.
3. A white notepad
My daughter wanted a stamp book, but they were pricey (about 20$) at tourist spots. Save yourself some money and bring one from home. Your kids will want to stamp everything :)
4. A compact kight weight stroller
Consider three factors when choosing a travel stroller for your Japan trip with kids (baby, toddler, or even preschooler): Portability, lightweight design, and versatility. You will be folding the stroller frequently, will end up carrying the stroller up and down the stairs A LOT, will need to wheel it in compact spaces like trains, hotels, and taxis. So ensure, you carry a light weight foldable stroller than can accomodate bigger kids as well. Trust me, they will use it.
I highly recommend the Contours Itsy compact stroller for Japan, which is what we used. I would also recommend, Summer Infant 3D lite umbrella stroller for vertical folds.
5. Sturdy baby carrier with back support
While most baby carriers are sturdy and offer multiple carrying positions, I highly recommend choosing one with proper back support. After all the walking and stair climbing you'll be doing, your back will thank you for the extra support!
My favorite has been hands down Lillebaby Baby Carrier I have been using this for the past 5 years with both of my kids. I have hiked mountains, and volcanos, and climbed 100s of stairs in Thailand temples- all while wearing the kids (front or back). They come with lumbar support that makes it more comfortable to wear kids for longer periods.
6. Extra polybags
With no trash bins ANYWHERE in Japan, you’ll be collecting a lot of trash throughout the day, especially when traveling with kids- ice cream cone wrappers, tissue papers, disposable juice cups, skewer sticks, straws, and what not. So, make sure you are carrying extra bags every single day in your regular backpack to empty it out later at the end of the day/
Japan with kids is an incredible experience, filled with magical moments, delicious food, and unforgettable adventures. But be prepared for the reality of walking long distances, navigating complicated massive train stations, and adjusting to the country’s different pace. If you plan ahead and stay flexible, It can be an amazing family destination that you’ll cherish for years to come.
What has been the weirdest rumor you've heard about Japan? Drop your comments, I would love to hear from you.
HAPPY TRAVELLING!!!
Great insights about Japan trip, for sure Tokyo was overkill for weeks for us