Traveling to Japan with Young Children

Many stations offer a stroller rental service, enabling parents to travel light without having to carry their own equipment across the country. This option also makes it possible to alternate with a baby carrier, which is more practical in busy areas.

Public transport is also family-friendly, with priority seating available for parents with young children.

In particular, strollers are allowed on trains, with a few adjustments: on local trains, it is recommended to use the wheelchair space, while on shinkansen (high-speed trains), strollers are not allowed; strollers must be folded for boarding.

Shopping as a family can quickly become a challenge when children are young. Fortunately, most public places have facilities to facilitate family outings.

• Breastfeeding rooms

Found in railway stations and shopping malls, these are designed to provide mothers with a quiet, private and comfortable space in which to breastfeed or change their babies. These areas are often equipped with armchairs, changing tables and sometimes even microwaves for warming bottles, enabling mothers to look after their babies in peace and quiet, away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds.

You can consult the list of these facilities free of charge on the Mamapapa map app (in Japanese), which lists useful information on services for families in Japan, such as playgrounds, children's toilets, breastfeeding rooms, and even family-friendly restaurants and stores!

• Play areas

Shopping centers offer safe play areas for children. These areas are often furnished with soft carpets and toys to allow little ones to exercise while parents take a break. Although supervision is still required, these areas are an excellent option for relaxing between visits!

• Public toilets

In Japan, public toilets are equipped with baby seats so that parents can safely seat their children while they use the toilet. There are also washbasins at toddler height and child-friendly toilets in both men's and women's toilets.

Recently, family toilets, accessible to all, have been added, offering solutions for parents of all genders. They can also be found on shinkansen trains.

Lodging together

When traveling in Japan with young children, the choice of accommodation may require some adjustment. Fortunately, there are economical solutions for all types of accommodation.

• Hotels

As with ryokan, children under 12 don't pay if they share a bed with their parents. Above this age, the adult rate applies.

However, there are facilities for sharing a room with a baby: safety gates and cribs for children under 1 year old are available free of charge on request when booking (subject to availability).

• What about our houses for rent?

Spread across the four corners of Japan, our rental homes are family-friendly. Don't hesitate to contact us for more information!

• Sanrio Puroland for Hello Kitty fans (Tokyo)
• Ghibli Museum (Tokyo) and Ghibli Park (Nagoya)
• Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disneysea
• Visit Pokémon Centers for lovers of the franchise
• Tokyo Toy Museum
• teamLab Borderless (Tokyo)
• Yoyogi Park (Tokyo)
• Toei Kyoto Studio Park (Kyoto)
• Universal Studio Japan (Osaka)
• Legoland (Nagoya)