Considering a trip to Japan with kids? Here’s an insider guide you need to know about traveling with kids in Japan. With some advanced planning, you would have a rewarding time as Japan is an exciting and safe country to visit with your little ones.

*The images in this post are Nami and Mr. JOC’s kids while they were in Japan, and not mine.
Traveling with small children to a foreign country can be intimidating. Luckily, Japan is a destination that is easy and safe to explore with kids—thanks to the well-thought-out infrastructure and kids-friendly amenities. As an American-Japanese living in Japan, I have experienced firsthand what it is like to get around and explore my own home country with my 3-year-old daughter by my side.
Moving about with children poses challenges and the unexpected can happen, but if you keep an open mind, I promise you would have an enjoyable and rewarding trip. While the pace may be a little slower, you will chance upon some hidden gems and interesting discoveries along the way!
Here’s my guide to help you plan your family trip so you would have a wonderful time in this unique and culturally rich country.

Table of contents
Getting Around
Public Transit
Japan has one of the best public transit systems in the world. Not only is it efficient, affordable, and clean, it’s the best way to experience life in Japan.
However, there are a few tips to keep in mind when navigating the Japanese public transit system.
- Avoid traveling during rush hour (usually between the hours of 7-9 AM and 5-7 PM) whenever possible. It can be super crowded and uncomfortable if you and your child are not accustomed to squeezing between strangers.
- While strollers can be a convenient way to travel, they may not always be the best mode of choice, especially on crowded trains and buses. Carrying your child in a sling or letting them walk may be more compact for you and your fellow riders.
- Not all train stations are equipped with elevators. You may be able to find a good Samaritan or train station staff willing to help carry your stroller up or down the stairs, but there are many stations without them. An easy way to avoid this is to check the route to your destination via Google Maps. Search for “wheelchair accessibility” (as in elevators).

- You can board the bus with a stroller but may be asked to fold it if it is crowded or there are already stroller-carrying passengers.
- Children and mothers can sit on the priority seats, but make sure they don’t climb or behave rowdily. Most times, if an adult is already sitting there, they may give up their seat for you.
- For most train lines, up to two children under six can ride the train for free if accompanied by an adult passenger. Children six years old or above or a third child under six must pay the child fee. Children between six and twelve years old pay the child fare, and anyone twelve years older must pay the adult fare (check the train website or ask the train staff for help if unsure).
- Generally speaking, eating and drinking on the train is frowned upon (long-distance trains like the shinkansen are allowed). If you must, make sure there are no spills or accidents and clean up after yourself.

Car Rental and Driving Regulations
Renting a car may make sense if you plan to venture out of the city to explore rural Japan.
As for car seats, you can rent them at the car rental service, make sure to inquire in advance as they may not always have them in stock. You could also bring a car seat, although you should check beforehand if it’s compatible with Japanese vehicles. Some older car models may not have the ISOFIX base.

According to the Japanese Road Traffic Act, children under six years old must be seated in a car seat or booster seat. The only exemption is when riding a taxi, where the child should be seated on an adult’s lap or a sling strapped to the front. While you won’t be fined if caught, you will receive a stern warning.

In addition, all passengers in the car, including rear seat passengers, must wear a seat belt. For safety reasons, don’t forget to buckle up!
Read more about the JOC family’s experience with Driving in Japan.
Hotels and Accommodations
Most major hotels have baby beds and bed guards for rent. Check the website or contact the hotel before reserving.
If you’re worried about bed rollers, another way to avoid nighttime accidents is by staying at a ryokan (Japanese inn), which would entail sleeping on futons spread out on the floor! This might be a special experience, especially if your child isn’t accustomed to sleeping together with the family.

If staying at an Airbnb, you may be able to find a place where baby beds are provided. Ask your host for safe sleeping options.
Dining Out with Kids
Many family-friendly dining options exist, and some restaurants are happy to accommodate young diners with kiddie cutlery and chairs. Plus, your child may want to try Okosama lunch (お子様ランチ, kiddie meals), which is also easier on your wallet!

There are lots of well-researched content written by travelers and locals regarding dining out with babies and children. But to give you an idea, some options include:
- Restaurants in department stores, shopping malls, train stations, and hotels
- Food halls in shopping malls and department stores
- Famiresu (ファミレス, family-friendly chain restaurants) such as Denny’s, Saizeriya, Bamiyan, and Yume-an (and plenty more local chains outside of Tokyo)
- Other chain restaurants such as Tonkatsu Maisen, Ootoya, Ningyocho Imahan, Yoshinoya, Gyukaku
- Conveyor belt sushi restaurants (回転寿司)
- Picnic with bento boxes picked up from the nearby supermarket, department store, or even the convenience store!
Regarding fine dining, such as Michelin-starred restaurants, bringing small children is most likely impossible. While the restaurant website may not explicitly state a no-child rule, it is generally accepted as such. You could contact the restaurant on their policy, but don’t be surprised if they cannot accommodate your little diners, no matter how behaved they may be.

Diaper Changing Tables, Nursing Rooms, and Toilets
Diaper-changing tables are located nearby the restrooms at department stores, train stations, shopping malls, major hotels, and some family-friendly restaurants. Many also have family bathrooms if you need more space. While most places have trash cans for dirty diapers, some places may not and explicitly ask you not to trash them on the premises.

Regarding nursing in Japan, it’s acceptable to nurse in public but highly recommended to cover up with a nursing cape or something similar. If you feel uncomfortable, you can also look for a nursing room, with signs explicitly excluding males. Some nursing rooms have hot water dispensers for making formula and most can be locked from the inside for privacy. They tend to be clean and safe.
I recommend downloading the app mama papa map (English available), which shows you the nearest diaper-changing tables and nursing rooms. It may come in handy when you’re outside and need a quick diaper change or nursing. (Android or iOS).
Some department stores may have child-friendly toilets and toilet seats for children.
Buying More Kids’ Stuff
Ran out of your stock of diapers or baby wipes? Need more socks or an extra layer? Not to worry, you can also stock up on the essentials without bringing extras that won’t rack up the bills.
Baby Gear
You can buy most baby stuff, such as diapers, baby wipes, baby food and snacks, and more, at the following:
- Akachanhonpo アカチャンホンポ (store link in Japanese only)
- The store for all things baby, toddlers, and little kiddies
- Also has clothing, toys, books, strollers, shoes, maternity and nursing-friendly clothing
- Many also have diaper-changing stations and nursing rooms
- Over 100 stores across Japan
- Babies “R” Us/Toys “R” Us (store link in Japanese only)
- Mostly the same stuff as Akachanhonpo
- Over 160 stores across Japan

- Drug stores and supermarkets
- Limited selection than the stores listed above, but you can buy the essentials such as diapers, baby wipes, baby food and snacks, soap and lotion, formula, and baby bottles
Buying Kids Clothing
The Japanese size chart goes by centimeters based on the child’s height. Hence, a size 90 is for roughly ages 1.5-2 years.
Some clothing stores for babies and children include:
- Uniqlo (store link in Japanese only)
- Baby and children’s clothing only available at malls and big stores
- Muji (store link in Japanese only)
- Baby and children’s clothing only available at malls and big stores
- Nishimatsuya (store link in Japanese only)
- An affordable box store clothing store for all ages
- Baby Gap/Gap (store link in Japanese only)
- Department stores and malls (tend to be on the pricy side compared to Uniqlo or Muji)

Hospitals and Emergencies
In the case where your child gets injured or sick and needs medical attention, here are some tips:
- Always have cash with you, as not all hospitals and clinics accept credit cards
- Not all doctors and medical staff can speak English, but some major hospitals can
- If you’re having language difficulty or facing other complications, you may be able to get help from your home country’s embassy
- You may want to keep the address and phone number of your home country’s embassy, especially during a natural disaster or crisis

Parks And Recreational Spaces
Parks are a great way to interact with local children and decompress for both children and adults. Plus, you might find quaint parks tucked in residential areas! Some have sandpits, gated areas for tiny toddlers, amusement parks, and community spaces. Feel free to picnic on the park grounds (unless there are signs explicitly saying not to).
Here’s just a sample of the many child-friendly parks in Tokyo.
To explore nature in the heart of Tokyo
- Institute for Nature Study (Shirokanedai)
- Arisugawa Park (Hiroo)
- Rinshinomori Park (Fudomae)
For big spaces to run around
- Ueno Park (Ueno)
- Shinjuku Gyoen (Shinjuku)
- Yoyogi Park (Yoyogi)
- Inokashira Park (Kichijoji)
- Komazawa Olympic Park (Komazawa)
For fun slides and playgrounds
- Sakurazaka Park AKA robot park (Roppongi)
- Shinjuku Chuo Park (Shinjuku)
- Wanpaku Tengoku -Japanese only (Sumida)
If amusement parks are on your travel plans, you’re in luck! The JOC family has taken their children to many of the famous parks when their kids were small.
Read more about the JOC family’s trip to KidZania Osaka, Tokyo Dome City, Huis Ten Bosch Japan, Universal Studios Japan, and Tokyo DisneySea.

Best season to travel to Japan
The best season to travel to Japan may not be the best time to travel with children. I recommend skipping the spring and summer months.
The peak season for the cherry blossoms (March to April) can get quite crowded, especially in tourist areas.

Avoid the hot and humid summer season (July to September), which is also typhoon season. In recent years, typhoons have become stronger, and their impact more serious. Flooding and landslides have become more frequent, especially in rural areas. Even major cities like Tokyo and Osaka have experienced flash floods during typhoon season. You don’t want to be stuck in your hotel room or an evacuation center during a vacation!

The best season (in my opinion) is the off-peak season, from October to February. The climate is pretty mild and dry, with very little rain. If you come between October to November, you may be able to catch the autumn foliage! January and February are the coldest months of the year, which may turn you off, but if you’re lucky, you might see snow in Tokyo.
Final Thoughts on Traveling Japan with Kids
There is plenty to do and see in Japan, but my best advice is not to be overly ambitious and overly plan. Remember that kids travel and fare better when they are not feeling rushed and tired. Take a slower pace and focus on easy exploration. That will reduce any unnecessary stress and tantrums. Kids absorb a new culture very quickly from a young age. When you travel with these goals in mind, you and your family will have a more enjoyable time. What I personally appreciate most is that I get to see a whole different side of Japan through my child’s eyes. I hope this guide has been helpful.

Do you have any tips or lessons learned from traveling to Japan with babies or small children? Please feel free to leave us any questions/comments in the box below!
Such a great article! Thank you! We would like to visit Japan with our 4 year old. We have been to Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto ourselves during our honeymoon and would like to go to Osaka again (mainly because of the food ;-)). Do you have any ideas about a more rural or resort-like destination we could easily reach from Osaka for a 2-3 night stay?
I have this idea of a stay at a Onsen town where we can walk around in our Kimonos, visit the Onsens (with our 4 year old!) and eat sushi all day. But Im not sure if its too warm for that End of May? And I cant seem to find a kids friendly hotel in those onsen villages… or any other idea what we could visit?
Anyways, thank you for your inputs!
Marie
Hi Marie! Thank you for reading 🙂
If you’re looking for an onsen town out of Osaka, Nami wrote about her family trip to Arima Onsen (it’s from 2016 though). That’s one of the famous onsen resorts in the Kansai area.
No, visiting an onsen in May won’t be warm; the Japanese go to onsen year round! Btw, the traditional attire you would wear at an onsen is a Yukata, not a kimono. Yukata is made of cotton and is worn at onsen resorts, in the summertime and worn as pajamas (in the old days). It’s also much lighter than kimono, which is traditionally made of silk. Good luck with the search!
I am wondering if you would be able to speak to what it is like to travel in Japan as a person with special needs. My step-daughter uses a wheelchair for getting around. This means we need elevators instead of stairs, extra space on public transportation and at restaurants. It also means we need wheelchair accessible hotel rooms. How common are these in modern Japan? (I have not been to Japan in over six years and at the time I was not a step dad. I remember thinking Japan was far more accessible than the US when I lived there, but I also was not looking out for accessibility back then.)
Hi OsakaBill, Thank you for taking the time to read Kayoko’s post. We apologize for our delayed response.
I would like to share a personal experience with you regarding traveling with a wheelchair in Japan. During our visit in 2022, my daughter sustained an injury and had to use a wheelchair for a period of time. We were pleasantly surprised by the amount of assistance available on public transportation, and we were able to fully enjoy our trip without any issues.
In cases where there are only stairs, there is usually a call button on the side of the staircase. By pushing this button and requesting assistance, a station worker will arrive shortly to set up an electric lift for those in need. The same assistance is available for boarding buses and trains, with extra boards provided for easy access.
If you are planning to stay in a hotel or Ryokan which is an older building, we recommend contacting them in advance to arrange for any necessary accommodations.
We hope that this information proves helpful to you.🤗
A huge thing to be aware of is that it can be VERY difficult to find children’s medications in Japan. My then 4-year-old spiked a fever and we could not find Tylenol (bufferin) and if I recall correctly, all the drug stores only had ibuprofen in pill form with some sort of additive that was not safe for kids.
Now I always bring a small bottle of children’s Tylenol or Motrin when traveling overseas, just in case!
Hello Surin, We apologize for the delay in getting back to you.
Thank you for reading Kayoko’s post and sharing your experience in Japan. Bringing familiar medications from your home country is an excellent suggestion for any trip. It’s reassuring to have just-in-case medications on hand while traveling since each country has different standards. Personally, I usually pack Neosporin, as well as cold and allergy medications. Thank you for sharing your tip!🙂
Do any kaiseki restaurants accommodate children ages 8 and 10?
Hi Joyce, I don’t think there’s a specific age limit, but you may want to check in with the restaurant beforehand if they allow children. Also, Kaiseki meals are elaborate 2-3 hour courses, so it also depends on whether your children can enjoy the meal for that long.
This is great, we’re planning a trip back to Japan for the first time with our 3-year old. Would love to know if there are any regions outside of Tokyo (either Kanto or Kansai) that make particularly good places to explore for a few days since as you say we will want to slow things down when travelling with kids!
Hi Brent, I would definitely consider checking out the JOC family’s trip around Japan! While she doesn’t specifically go into details about kid-friendliness, she has been taking her children since they were young (maybe not 3 years old though). Good luck planning your family trip!