Japan can be a breeze to explore with the kids, especially when you know what to look out for and factor into your trip planning. Wonder how to go about your first family trip to Japan? We ask parents who have visited to share their top tips.
Japan easily tops the list of family-friendly destinations for us in Singapore. There are lots of direct flights to popular Japanese cities, food is amazing (sushi – yums!), beautiful sakura and autumn foliage, rich in history, and let’s not forget the many theme parks.
So if you’re thinking of bringing the family to Japan for the first time ever, we’ve got some useful tips for you right here. Read on for family travel tips (including recos on accommodation) shared by our HoneyKids community parents who have visited the Land of the Rising Sun with their kids, who enjoyed every moment of it.
Japan with kids: Useful tips for families visiting for the first time
1. Find baby care rooms and kids’ restrooms with the Mamamap app
Parents of little ones, this is for you. Baby care rooms are a godsend when bub needs a change or feed; and I love kids’ restrooms for their child-friendly sizes. But these things aren’t the easiest to come by, especially when you really need access to one. The Mamamap app comes in handy for times like this, even allowing you to search according to facilities, like nursing pillows and diaper availability.
Shared by: E-lyn, visited Japan three times with her daughter
2. Use a baby carrier, or rent a stroller at your destination.
There aren’t many lifts at train stations in Japan, so travelling around with a stroller can be a little challenging. I prefer to use baby carriers if we have to take the train or when we do intercity travelling. Alternatively, you can rent a stroller at your destination so you can travel light; some even allow you to rent for just an hour.
Shared by: Andrina, visited Japan twice with her son
Extra tip: Keep an eye out for family-centric hotels, which often provide kids equipment rental services. For example, Apartment Hotel Mimaru offers baby cot and highchair rentals, and it also offers paid stroller rentals from a trusted provider.
3. Got teens? Let them plan a little.
With teens, it’s a good idea to give them a bit of independence when visiting Japan. My boys loved checking out restaurant reviews to pick restaurants and street food they wanted to try. We also included cultural highlights like shrines, temples, and even a sumo wrestling match – as requested. Last but not least, we let the boys enjoy some time to themselves with takeaway or hotel meals with a movie, while we parents head out to a local wine bar for a quick date night.
Shared by: Angela, visited Japan five times with her sons.
4. Book everything early, including meals.
Main attractions like the Tokyo Tower, teamLab, and Universal Studios Japan can sell out very quickly. The same applies to popular restaurants. Book your tickets, timeslots, and restaurant reservations as early as you can so the kids don’t need to wait too long. Chances are, there’ll still be a queue – but it’ll be worth it!
Shared by: Amanda, visited Japan thrice with her children
5. Hotels with family rooms and connecting rooms are the way to go
We prefer to go for apartment style hotels, or hotels that are designed for families. Hotel rooms can be quite small, and one room isn’t going to fit a family of four or five comfortably. So look up ‘apartment hotel’ and ‘family room’ when choosing accommodation. These rooms are usually larger, with enough beds for everyone in our family. If there aren’t family rooms, you can also request for two connecting rooms to make it one large room.
Our top picks are usually family hotels, as you can expect the staff to understand families’ needs better, seeing that they’re catered to families and have hosted many guests with children.
Shared by: Catherine, visited Japan four times with her children
Extra tip: In some cases, family rooms aren’t just spacious units with beds for four or more, they come with themed decorations and even toys for kids, just like Apartment Hotel Mimaru’s popular Pokémon Rooms!
6. Always carry some plastic bags for soiled diapers
Some may not know this but you can’t throw soiled diapers in just any rubbish bin in Japan. There are designated bins for this, but they can be hard to find sometimes. You can easily find leak-proof, odour-blocking plastic bags at any drugstore too.
Shared by: Hana, Japanese parent living in Singapore
7. Consider using the luggage delivery service
The luggage delivery service in Japan is super efficient and worth every dime. As we tend to visit a few cities during our trips, we pack a small overnight bag and have our bigger luggage bags delivered to our next hotel. This way, you don’t need to worry about hauling huge bags around with the kids and strollers. We’d usually get our bags the next day, but once we were lucky enough to have it delivered on the same day!
Shared by: Mark, visited Japan thrice with his nephew and niece
Extra tip: Luggage delivery services are quite common in Japan, and your hotel’s reception will most likely be able to assist you. Some hotels, like Apartment Hotel Mimaru, offer luggage delivery to your next accommodation or to-and-from airport; while others may engage a third party delivery service. Even if the hotel doesn’t have such arrangements, the staff will still be able to direct you to a luggage drop-off point, which can be at convenience stores or a service counter.
Ready to plan your Japan family trip? Travel light and easy with Apartment Hotel Mimaru (we’ve got a promo code for you too)
The key to a happy trip is finding the right accommodation, especially when you’re travelling with kids. Our little ones’ comfort takes priority, and that doesn’t just mean having clean, comfortable beds. We’re talking comfort in the form of being able to prepare familiar meals when they need it, having space to play and regulate emotions, as well as getting to F&B spots, stores, and public transport within reach. This is where Apartment Hotel Mimaru stands out, and it’s no wonder it’s popular among families.
Apartment Hotel Mimaru is designed with families in mind, featuring spacious rooms that can accommodate four to 10 family members comfortably. But that’s not all, each room comes with the comfort of home, such as a kitchenette, children’s essentials like highchairs and cutleries, self-service laundry facilities, and even toys that you can rent for the kids. What’s more, all 27 hotel branches of this successful modern apartment hotel chain are conveniently located near train stations in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.
And if you need more convincing, just take a look at its themed family rooms! We especially love the Pokémon Rooms, and we’re sure your littlest ones will love the kids’ board game room where they get lots of toys and even a bed slide. Fun times ahead, and you don’t even need to leave the room!
Check out Apartment Hotel Mimaru’s offerings and locations on its website. And don’t forget to apply this exclusive promo code in your booking to snag some discounts.
Bonus: Quote “mimaru_honey” to enjoy 5% off your Apartment Hotel Mimaru booking. Valid for reservations made from 19 February to 19 April 2026, for stays between 19 February to 19 November 2026. Applicable for reservations of up to 27 nights.
This discount is not valid for Apartment Hotel Mimaru’s Pokémon Rooms. Discounts other than the Mimaru Member Program do not apply.
This post is in partnership with Apartment Hotel Mimaru.
