Tokyo is a fantastic place to live and visit with kiddies! I actually have so many reasons why that I’m now taking now a “note to self” to write a post on that very topic.
So….I definitely haven’t written this article to say the opposite, but it is different to how you have probably headed out on adventures with small children in other countries around the world.
There are a few little hints that I think are worth taking on board to make sure that a day out is fun for the kiddies and the adults ( a balance that is really important to me and my sanity.)
Going out in any country with kids requires more preparation than pre-kiddie life and I love stealing other peoples little hints. Please send me yours anytime. We have straws for drinks, spare clothes, nappies etc, tissues, water bottle and all that stuff. That seems to keep us sorted and ready for most of the day.
But , in terms of Japan-specific preparation: Here are the easy ways to go about ensuring your day is more difficult than it needs to be and how to make sure that you do the exact opposite:
1. Forgetting to plan ahead
I’ve met people who have travelled extensively around the world with children but struggled in Japan because they didn’t understand the importance of research.
Japan is convenient and Japan is safe. But it isn’t guarranteed that you will be able to communicate with every single person you meet. So “winging it” and wandering down cool alleyways and hoping to come across a park or a change table or a kid-friendly restaurant is much trickier than you may be used to.
Trust me. I sometimes still decide to ‘take a walk on the wildside’ with my kiddies and it’s almost always a fail.
So….when I’m heading out to a certain area I’d, first of all, recommend finding a lunch option ahead of time. (Actually, it’s even better to have two potential lunch options at the ready – preferably on either side of the area you are visiting so that you have options no matter where anyone suddenly has a hunger meltdown.)
In the areas of Tokyo I have covered now in my suggestions for kids posts I have tried to include as many options as I have found worked for us and shared accordingly. I’m adding to the lists all the time. (See here for these posts. )
If I do decide to just try out a new lunch spot without a recommendation (with kids, I mean), the best bet for us are the top two floors of department stores that are almost always full of casual, non-smoking restaurants with lots of different kinds of food.
Or…the basement floor of most major department stores have a giant food hall where you can just buy a little of everything. They are truly amazing. You’ll want to have a bite from every deli counter.
Then, I usually ( I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old) will plan to do three to four things in that area in that one day and start with those that I’m most excited about first. (In case we have to suddenly abort mission … we at least go one cool thing done.) Usually we get through three of the four and that’s a majorly successful day. Bad days we have to “call it” after two… and sometimes one – because…. um., well… toddlers.
I’ll also try and have a couple of baby change rooms planned ahead – or at least their rough location in my brain. When in doubt, I look for the big department stores – they seem to have the cleanest and most spacious options.
I usually pack a couple of snacks but because convenience stores are so amazing in Japan it is way easier than most places to grab kids and easy, healthy and reasonably priced snack. Convenience stores are 24 hours and have options like salads, cheese sticks, bakery items, rice balls, whole pieces of fruit and even hard boiled eggs. Here is my post on Japanese convenience stores and vending machines.
Then I also try and find a couple of parks or at least places to wriggle little legs.
I am totally the mum who will take her kiddies through the museums and winding alleyways but I know (as we all do) that there needs to be a spot for a wriggle before or afterwards to make the day more fun and pleasant for everyone.
So I usually map out a couple of wriggle spots for a bit of a “pay off” for my kiddies for keeping fingers to themselves and chilling out a bit more when it’s time to do some of the not necessarily ‘made-just-for-kids’ activities.
An example of this is in my Odaiba with Kids post here where I’ve put a “when you need a wriggle” section towards the bottom of the article.
To give you an idea of how my brain works is to see my hand-drawn picture here with food options, change table options and activities. This is also how my other suggested itineraries are written out as well ( pictures to match coming for other areas soon.) But for now, this is my map for the area around Meiji Shrine and even more information here. The baby heads are the change table spots.
For more info on this map see here or for other tips like this for other areas see here!
2. Don’t have internet
This is most definitely not because of anything related to safety concerns or in regards to being in touch with others.
I believe you need internet more here because all the cool places are around little corners and down funky lanes.
Give google maps a big cuddle because that will mean you won’t miss out on the really cool stuff that is not necessarily right next to the station’s main exit.
The picture below is from my Tokyo Disneyland with Kids post here.
3. Assume that everything will be open first thing in the morning
No-one believes me about this point until they get to Tokyo.
I’m not exaggerating.
This city is alive and kicking way into the night. But the mornings are slow and quite.
As a Mum, this is probably my least favourite part of being in Tokyo. I mean…even some of the parks don’t open early.
I have made a list though… of places that ARE open before 10am so you may want to take a look if your kids are particularly early risers or you just want to eat breakfast out as a family.
See here for my Tokyo Before 10AM post.
4. Take the wrong stroller
You can take any stroller you like (I know, everyone gets really attached to the stroller that works with their kiddies’ nap time etc) because, it is likely you’ll be doing a lot of walking in Tokyo, but if your stroller doesn’t fold and isn’t light – it will actually get in the way of what you can see and do in Tokyo.
For example: lots of stairs. There are lots in many of the older subway stations, temples and Japanese gardens.
When I’m out with my two I need the stroller to be light enough that I can hook the handle onto my arm and still have hands free to help two children down the stairs.
I write more about this in my post on Packing for Tokyo with Kids here.
With a gigantic clunky stroller you are also limiting where you can eat as most of the yummy little local eateries just don’t have the space to accommodate a little mini-“stroller bus.”
5. Forget to pack plastic bags
Japan doesn’t have rubbish bins out in public spaces (sometimes not even right next to the vending machines) and people take their own rubbish home with them and then recycle accordingly.
To avoid having to shove half-empty juice boxes and apple cores into your bags or pockets, plastic (or any other rubbish bags) are a must.
6. Wear the wrong shoes
This is more-so for kiddies’ shoes but also handy for grown-ups too. Some restaurants and almost all play areas require shoes off so don’t go for tricky buckles or laces (and wear your hole-free socks).
Also, keep in mind that it is rude to go from being barefoot outdoors to an area indoors that is designed for no shoes.
This picture below is from my Shibuya with Kids post here.
7. Not working out where is accessible on foot
This is another reason why I think good old google maps is fantastic.
The Tokyo train system is like no other. But jumping in and out of the subway stations can make everyone much more tired than they need to be. If you do some planning ahead, you’ll often find that it is only an extra 10-15 minutes on foot instead of riding the train for just a stop or two.
You’ll see more of the city that way too and it’s much less disruptive if it’s your babies’ nap time.
Here is an example of how long it can take to walk between some Tokyo areas.
If you’ve found this post helpful, I think you might also be interested in my post on the things that I have found to be tricky with kids in Tokyo and how I overcame these hurdles. (Post is here. )
