TOKYO WITH A TODDLER
Is a great idea! When planning my second Babymoon it took me a while to figure out where we should travel to. Somewhere tropical like Phuket sounded awesome, but I’m terrified of Zika (when pregnant)! Then Tokyo crossed my mind, it’s an Asian country that’s different from any other place we’ve been to, there’s the futuristic and tall buildings, as well as the ancient shrines and temples..So we went with it! Shortly after booking the trip it dawned on me that we were going to take a 9 to 11 hour flight across the globe with a rambunctious toddler!..Would he like the food?..Will we manage with a stroller on all those subways?
After doing a bit of research I learned that all of those things were valid concerns, but actually not big concerns. Here are my tips for traveling to Tokyo, Japan with a toddler.
The Flight: I prefer direct flights (no matter how long they are) because I’d like to arrive to my destination as soon as possible. However, flights with 1-4 hour layovers are not a bad idea because it allows you and your toddler to stretch and walk around the airport. Layovers also give you the opportunity to eat something much better than airplane food. Some airports (like the one in Narita, Japan) even have small play areas for children. Side note: A layover longer than 4 hours might require booking a hotel or just too much down time which can lead to an exhausting journey to your final destination. I’d stick with 2-3 hrs.
If you’re like me and prefer to fly direct then come extra prepared! Airplane food sucks and toddlers can already be picky eaters so bring as much of your own as you can. I packed things like uncrustables (those little premade pb&js), graham crackers, and vegetable and fruit pouches. Basically pack your child’s favorite foods. It also helps to arrive at the airport a little early so that you have the opportunity to buy hot food at one of the many restaurants and cafes before boarding your flight, heck grab a cocktail too if you can, that should help!
In addition to packing lots of snacks for a long flight, I also find that toys are of course an absolute must! Packing 2-3 of your toddlers favorite toys should help keep them occupied, but the cherry on the pie is surprising them with an additional brand new toy. This should hopefully get them excited because it’s something they haven’t seen before. When selecting toys I opted for small ones that fit easily in my backpack or diaper bag. And to be considerate of my fellow flight passengers I chose toys that weren’t too annoying. Obnoxiously loud toys will not only drive you crazy, but it’s not really fair to others. If you can adjust the toy to a low volume then that’s awesome!
In addition to toys, I also brought my sons iPad and made sure episodes to his favorite show were already uploaded and saved to his camera roll so that we wouldn’t have to rely on airplane WiFi to access things like YouTube. Downloading educational game apps is also a great idea and does not require WiFi.
Although toys and snacks are great ways to keep your little one busy, that still might not be enough for them, and they might want to get up and explore. Let them! Hendrix would occasionally crawl up and down the airplane aisles, dragging his toy cars across the floor. I would also walk up and down the aisles with him so he could become familiar with his surroundings and he loved it. When it was time to go potty we made a “thing” of it. I would get him excited about trips to the bathroom and let him play a little with the water when it was time to wash his hands. Happy toddler, better flight!
Oh and before I forget, book an aisle seat! With all of the getting up it is not fair to sit in the middle or window seat and constantly disturb a passenger with an aisle seat. Having an aisle seat also allowed me to let Hendrix play in the aisle without having to get up myself. Airplane staff are usually very kind and understanding as it is such a long flight. The flight attendants even offered us extra food and snacks and provided Hendrix with an inflatable toy airplane. So moral of the story, get comfortable and make the best of it. My husband and I tried not to restrict Hendrix too much because being confined to a long flight is already a restriction in itself. With all of that being said, Hendrix did an excellent job on our flight to and from Tokyo!
Next tip: You will need a stroller. You won’t need a car seat. I suggest only bringing a car seat if you need transportation like an Uber to and from the airport while you’re in your own country (I’m from the U.S./Los Angeles). But once you’re in Tokyo you won’t need it. We primarily used the subway system for transportation while we were there. However there were two shuttle rides and 3 taxi rides that we took with Hendrix in our lap. Use your own discretion with this. In Tokyo it is legal to ride in the car without a car seat and it worked for us. We have done this in Costa Rica and Cabo as well. However, if you are uncomfortable with your child in your lap then you might need a car seat in Tokyo for things like getting from the airport to your hotel, etc. As for a stroller, you definitely need one. We like to use our lightweight travel stroller by 3D Lite, I’ve provided the link below. I love the 3D Lite stroller because it only weighs 10 pounds and it is very easy to fold up and tuck away, there’s also ample storage space under the child seat. I would not recommend bringing a large stroller. Tokyo has narrow spaces, small restaurants, and crowded subways..its a recipe for disaster with a large stroller. Oftentimes there were only stairs and no elevators, so we had to carry our stroller up and down stairs, the lighter it is the better.
The Food:
When one thinks of Tokyo they think of sushi, and there’s plenty of that, but there’s also plenty of “child friendly” foods as well. Of course you have your McDonalds and things like that wherever you go, but even at a lot of the traditional Japanese restaurants there was usually fried chicken, french fries, and noodles. In fact we found most of the restaurants to be very child friendly, the waiter provided cute children’s plates, utensils, etc. Udon is a pretty child friendly option if there aren’t traditional “kid friendly” things to choose from. And how much fun would it be to eat nothing but American food while overseas? Exposing Hendrix to some new foods was a lot of fun!
Random Fun "Fact": The Italian food in Tokyo is amazing! Like seriously some of the best I’ve had. The shrimp pesto pasta and spaghetti in Shinigawa Tokyo will forever be engraved in my memory, so good!
Moving on! Here are a couple of additional and quick tips.
- Bring a weather shield for your stroller in case it rains.
- Be prepared to walk (a lot). If you aren't up for it, don't go to Tokyo.
- Consider booking a hotel/resort with really cool kid friendly amenities like an arcade, swimming pool, etc.
- Create an itinerary but don't make a fuss over everything not going smoothly, that is the beauty of exploring a new place. You might end up on the wrong subway and that's ok, just enjoy the awesome adventure with your little one.
Great Things to do in Tokyo that your child will enjoy.
- The Robot Restaurant. A crazy, futuristic, robot themed restaurant. They really put on a show with music, costumes, and role play. If Anthony Bourdain recommends it, you go. Make a reservation ahead of time.
- Want to step outside of Tokyo for a day trip? Check out Kamakura. It's only about an hour and a half away via subway. You are stepping out of the hustle and bustle of modern Tokyo and stepping into a town rich in history and covered in temples and shrines like the "Great Buddha".
- Disneyland Tokyo is of course an excellent option. You and your family can spend a day at the happiest place on Earth! I recommend purchasing your tickets a day or three in advance. Tickets are available for purchase at one of the many Disney stores in Tokyo. If you do not purchase your tickets in advance be prepared to stand in a very long line to get them at the theme park, you also run the risk of the theme park selling out.
Link to 3D Lite Stroller:
If you are preparing for a trip with your little one, have questions or additional advice, please comment below. XO
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