Tackling Japan with kids takes some planning and ingenuity to get it right. Given the language and cultural barriers, using an experienced travel planner or joining a family-friendly tour can be helpful, but isn’t entirely necessary. Pick out a few regions in Japan that you’re keen to explore and mix in a combination of cultural sites and nature to balance your trip. Here’s a bite-sized sample of where to start.
Tokyo
Start your family vacation in Japan with a stopover in Tokyo and explore the endless street-lined pop culture with games, candy, toys and karaoke. Stay at the Gracery Shinjuku with a monstrously sized Godzilla statue and head over to take in educational fun at Kidzania. Kids get introduced to real life with jobs to earn KidZos coins to be spent in stores at Kidzania or deposited in the bank. For a break, stroll through Yoho Park where the Meiji Shrine was built to honor Emperor Meiji in 1920.
Kyoto
Kyoto is a favorite among family travelers for its cleanliness and safety, easy public transportation and a decidedly slower pace than Tokyo. The Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum is a hit for kids with a penchant for locomotives where you can climb and explore indoor play areas. Afterwards, pay a stop to the nearby Nijo Castle where Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu reigned. Let your kids get crazy and jump on the floors and watch them delight in the chirping alarm system that alerted the Shogun to intruders.
© Raul Garcia Herrera | Dreamstime.com
Okinawa
Beach-loving families flock to Okinawa for its laid-back vibe and plentitude of beaches. More than 130 recognized beaches grace Okinawa’s main island, each with their own flavor and charm. For small children, Zampa Beach features a large coral reef with calm waves that make it perfect for small kids and water-lovers alike. To introduce kids to the culture and art in Okinawa, sign them up for a coral painting activity at Nasha Shuri with the use of real corals. There are plenty of kid-friendly programs to choose from that embrace the handicraft and time-honored artistic traditions in Okinawa.
Central Honshū
Japan’s heartland of Central Honshū invites outdoorsy families to ski, hike and explore the Japan Alps that rise alongside the border of Gifu and Nagano Prefecture and roll alongside coastal Japan. Old fishing villages abound with the chance to try fresh fish and local treats before heading to Matsumoto to see a “hirajiro,” or a castle built on plains instead of a hill or mountain.
Taking your kids to Japan can absolutely be done, but needs a little advance planning and the right mindset. Slow down, enjoy the finer side of this magical country, and indulge in some green spots along the way.
Read This Next
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations / North America
May 2, 20245 Montana National Park Vacations to Experience This Summer
Home to some of the country’s most beautiful national parks, Montana beckons family travelers this summer with some thrilling and fun adventures and experiences. Whether it’s taking an RV to Yellowstone and Glacier National Park or embarking on adventures in Big Sky, here’s five national park vacations to consider in Montana this summer.
Sponsored Content
Travel Tips to Help Protect Your Health and Your Trip
Five Tips to Help Minimize Potential Travel Problems
Slideshow
May 2, 20246 European Castles for Family Travel
It’s time to start dreaming of your next family trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through these European castles with us.
Destinations
May 2, 20245 Beachfront Resorts for Summer Vacation
Plan summer family travel to one of these beachfront resorts around the world.
Sponsored Content
United Airlines Celebrates its First Class of United Aviate Graduates
As the only major U.S. airline to own a flight school, United Airlines already hit a major milestone, and now the carrier celebrates another important — and historic — step as the inaugural class of United Aviate Academy pilots graduates, leading the next generation of aviators. The 51 students in the graduating class were majority, at 80 percent, women and people of color — another stride toward United’s goal of training 5,000 new pilots by 2030 with half women or POC.
Destinations / North America
May 1, 2024Music Jams Await the Whole Family in Cajun Country, Louisiana
It’s always time for music in Louisiana’s Cajun Country and, in May, the place to be for family travelers is St. Landry’s Parish. Celebrate Mothers’ Day in Opelousas at Tucka James Music Fest, May 10–11, where 16 artists perform over two days. Friday is Country Takeover and Saturday stars the King of Swing, Tucka James.
ShareThis