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Updated 7 November 2026. These tips come from our first family trip to Japan, when Javi was 15 months old. We have updated the planning advice below, while keeping the memories and photos from that trip.

16 Tips for Travel in Japan with Kids

Our family trip to Japan was Javi’s first trip overseas at 15 months old and we were excited for our first trip to another country as a family of three.  We had the whole trip planned out day by day as we wanted to see as much as we could during our two week visit.  Considering this was our first trip to Japan I would say we did a lot of things very well.  However, we also made quite a few mistakes that we would do over if we had our time again.  Here are 16 tips for travel in Japan with kids if you ever decide to visit the land of the rising sun.

1. Japan Rail Pass

A Japan Rail Pass worked well for our original itinerary, but it is not automatically the cheapest choice. Compare the journeys you will actually take with the official pass prices, and check eligibility and which services are included. At this review, a seven-day adult Ordinary pass is ¥50,000. Individual tickets or regional passes may suit a shorter itinerary better. Our updated Japan Rail Pass article explains the comparison. Purchase and collection steps depend on the sales channel; an Exchange Order is not the only purchasing route.

2. Bring Nappies

If you read our article, 5 Tips for Travelling with Babies & Toddlers to Help Keep Your Sanity, you would already know about the drama we encountered when we realised we were out of nappies in Osaka.   Our advice.  Bring plenty of nappies with you and quickly find out where you can get more if you know you will run out.

3. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observatories offer free views from the 45th floor. We loved the evening view on our visit. Check the official visitor information for opening days and any short-notice closures. The nearest station is Tochomae on the Toei Oedo Line; Shinjuku is another option with a longer walk. Tokyo Tower and TOKYO SKYTREE are different paid attractions, so compare their current ticket options rather than the old prices from our trip.

4. Baby Carrier

This is nothing new from us.  We always recommend travelling with a baby carrier no matter where you go.  Yes you can take a stroller to Japan, but just remember train stations and streets can get very crowded.  You’ll also want to visit the many amazing temples that won’t allow you to wheel that stroller around inside.  I couldn’t imagine cramming into a train during peak hour or walking down Takeshita Street with a pram.  If you are heading to Kyoto you’ll most likely visit Fushimi Inari Taisha  There is no way you’re getting that stroller up all those steps through the thousands of vermillion coloured torii gates, and you don’t want to have to bear the weight of your little one in your arms the whole way up.  Bring a baby carrier!

5. It’s Vegetable

It’s Vegetable was a favourite vegan restaurant on our original Tokyo trip, and the owner was wonderfully welcoming to Javi. The old note promising a December 2017 reopening is no longer useful. We have not confirmed a current operating address or booking option, so treat this as a memory rather than a restaurant recommendation for your itinerary. Check recent listings and confirm directly before travelling to any restaurant.

6. Mt. Fuji in the morning

The Pagodas in Japan are definitely a unique architectural design, and most people would agree that Mt Fuji is Japan’s most iconic attraction.  You can combine the two with an amazing photo at the Chureito Pagoda located in the Arakura Sengen Shrine in Fujiyoshida.  The problem is that Mt Fuji is often hidden by the clouds.  We stayed near Lake Kawaguchi and only managed to get a peak at Mt Fuji early one morning and then again for maybe 5 minutes during morning tea the same day.

Open Trip.com to search for accommodation in Japan. The link opens the Trip.com homepage, where you can enter your destination and dates.

The following day we went to the Chureito Pagoda hoping to capture a photo of the Pagoda with Mt Fuji in the background.  Unfortunately for us we slept in and by the time we walked up the hundreds of steps to the Pagoda, it was closer to midday and all we could see were clouds.  We managed to get a photo with the Chureito Pagoda, but we’ll just have to use our imagination for what lies behind those clouds.

To get to the Arakura Sengen Shrine and the Chureito Pagoda make your way to the Shimo-Yoshida Station along the Fujikyu Railway Line.  Follow the signs for about a 10-15 minute walk.

7. Sumo

Sumo is the iconic sport of Japan, and there is no better place than Tokyo to see the best Sumo wrestlers compete.  In a way we timed our holiday perfectly, as during our stay was the sumo tournament held at Ryogoku Kokugikan.  Unfortunately our plan to see this event didn’t go to plan.  The lesson we learned?  Get your tickets in advance!  Do not do as we did and think you’ll be able to get your tickets when you show up at the stadium.   We did read that tickets should be purchased in advance or on the morning of the event.   But still, we thought we’d just try to buy them in the afternoon.  We did this because the best sumo wrestlers were scheduled to compete in the afternoon but we didn’t want to make two trips to the stadium.  After getting off at the wrong station and a 30 minute walk, we were disappointed to find that it was a sell out.  It was also our last day in Tokyo so we missed out!

8. Shibuya Pedestrian Scramble

This is one sight you will never see anywhere else in the world.  Every few minutes the traffic lights change and hundreds of people scurry across this intersection.  When we first got to Shibuya we had an excellent view looking down on the intersection from inside Shibuya Station.  From a distance it looked like complete madness!  We ventured down to street level and really didn’t have anywhere we wanted to go in particular.  We just wanted to walk across this pedestrian scramble.  We managed to find a spot right on the curb before we got the green light and when the lights changed we quickly made our way across.   We managed to weave our way through the maze of people unscathed and found the whole experience quite exciting!  We did it a couple more times just for fun 🙂

To get to Shibuya Pedestrian Scramble get off the train at Shibuya station.  Take the Hachiko Exit (Exit #8).  You can’t miss it!

9. Ueno Zoo

Normally we aren’t really advocates for zoos.  We prefer to seen animals in the wild where they belong.  But there is no doubt zoos can be great places to educate your children about the animal kingdom and Ueno Zoo is one zoo we’re willing to recommend.   They have a wide variety of animals and from what we saw, they are very well cared for.  Their enclosures are bigger and cleaner than many of the other zoos we’ve visited around the world.

Ueno Zoo is located within Ueno Park which is right next to JR Ueno Station.  Take the Park Exit from the station.

10. Shibu Onsen

Shibu Onsen near Yamanouchi was one of our most memorable stops. We enjoyed its narrow streets, traditional buildings and hot-spring atmosphere. The official bath guidance explains that access to all nine public baths is for guests staying in participating local accommodation; day visitors have a more limited option. Ask your accommodation about access, bathing etiquette and whether children are permitted. The water can be extremely hot, and our experience taking Javi does not establish that it is suitable for every child. We no longer present claims about medical benefits as established fact. The Jigokudani Monkey Park is another attraction to investigate when planning a stay in the area.

11. Fushimi Inari Taisha

You might not know it by name, but you will no doubt recognise the vermillion coloured torii gates of Fushimi Inari Taisha.

This is one of the most important shrines in Japan dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice.  It is incredible how many torii gates there are here and it almost seems as thought they are endless as you take the 2-3 hour hike to the summit of the mountain and back.  If you decide to take on Mount Inari, be prepared to walk up a lots of stairs as it is an exhausting trip to the highest point.  Particularly when you are carrying a little one.

Fushimi Inari Taisha is located just outside JR Inari Station in Kyoto.

12. Kids Plaza Osaka

Kids Plaza Osaka has to be the coolest kids museum we’ve ever been to.  With a wide range of activities for all ages there is no doubt your kids will find something that grabs their interests.  After all, there is nothing better than learning through play.

To get to Kids Plaza Osaka get off at the Ogimachi station on the Sakaisuji subway line (exit #2), or it’s about a 3 minute walk from JR’s Temma station.

13. Day Trip to Hiroshima

Hiroshima is well known for one of the saddest moments in history, when the United States dropped an atomic bomb over the city.  In an instant the city was transformed and the lives of the people of this city would be changed forever.  Even though this event happened over 70 years ago in 1945, as you explore the city learning about the history and the stories of those who survived, everything still seems so raw and relevant today.  The remains of the Genbaku Dome, also know as the A-Bomb Dome, reaffirms these emotions as visitors stare at it’s bare structure in pure amazement that it still stands.   What is more astonishing is that it was located almost directly underneath where the atomic bomb was detonated.

It is possible to visit Hiroshima in one day.  We did it by taking the bullet train from Kyoto early in the morning and returning in the evening.  It was a long day for us all, particularly Javi.  But he managed to get plenty of naps in the baby carrier during the day and handled all the travel very well.  We’re happy to recommend Hiroshima as a day trip, but if we ever go back we’d probably try to stay for at least few days.  Hiroshima has so much more to see that we just didn’t have time for in one day

Oh!  One more must do’s in Hiroshima is to have some okonomiyaki from Nagata-ya.  It’s just a short walk from the A-Bomb Dome and Motoyasu Bridge.  You won’t be disappointed!

14. Get some anime

We absolutely love the amazing anime we had drawn for us during our trip.  These are no doubt the best mementos we took from our trip to Japan.  One night in Osaka we met with a local artist who quickly drew us as anime characters. The whole process only took about 20 minutes.

The following morning we thought this would make a really cool gift as well.  It was Elisa’s father’s birthday in a few weeks and we thought some anime of himself with Javi would make the perfect gift.   We couldn’t use the same artist we met the night before, so we had a different artist draw a photo of Javi with his Nono.  As soon as we collected it we couldn’t get the smile off our face.  The facial features that are emphasised are done cleverly, but not too exaggerated.  We loved it, and so did Nono!

15. Japan Post ATM’s

Japan Post Bank ATMs accepted our Australian debit card during our trip. The bank’s international ATM guide lists supported card networks, withdrawal limits, hours and possible ATM fees. Your own bank may also charge fees, so there is no single cheapest option for everyone. Check your card’s terms and use the bank’s current ATM information rather than relying on the old app link from this article.

16. Just try it

While in Japan we came across many things we’d never seen before.  Japanese culture seems to be well ahead of us here in the west.  If you see something interesting and you are not sure if you should try it, I say go for it!  Get out of your comfort zone and create those memories.

I hope you enjoyed reading our 16 tips for visiting Japan with kids.  If you found any of these tips helpful please come back and let us know in the comments.  Also, I’m sure there are many things we missed.  After all we only spent two weeks in Japan.  Let us know in the comments your tips for travel in Japan with kids.

David
The World n Us