Why Visit Japan? 8 Reasons To Visit Japan With Kids
Japan is one of the most fascinating destinations in the world (and our favourite travel destination), but I get so many emails and messages from parents wondering if it’s a good fit for their family. If you’re wondering whether visiting Japan is right for you, my answer is almost always a resounding yes!
From vibrant cityscapes (that i’ll never get bored of) to colourful temples, and cutting-edge entertainment that no kid will be able to resist, Japan offers something for every member of the family. Don’t believe me? Still wondering why visit Japan? Here are my top 8 reasons why visiting Japan with kids should be at the top of your travel list for 2026!
Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!
Planning Your First Family Trip to Japan?
Make it stress-free, affordable, and unforgettable with my 40-page Japan Family Travel eBook.
🚅 Includes sample itineraries, budgeting tips, kid-friendly activities, and packing checklists.
👉 Grab Your Copy Here
Safe, Clean, and Family-Friendly Cities
One of the first things you notice when you arrive in Japan (for most people, that means Tokyo) is just how clean the streets are. And how safe you feel! I’ll never forget how amazed, and a little confused, I felt the first time I saw kids as young as 5 navigating the Metro by themselves as they travelled to school. But in Japan, it makes sense! You really feel that everyone has an eye on those kids, and feels a collective responsibility to make sure they get to and from school safely.
This is a country that children can explore without worry. Public transport is efficient and pretty easy to navigate (with the exception of finding the right entrance to Shibuya station, of course) and all of the public facilities are family-friendly and well thought out for kids too. I’ve never been anywhere where I felt less stress about looking after my boys: and that meant I could just relax and enjoy the travel experience.
Klook.comUnique Experiences For Everyone
This is the big one! Some people mistakenly think Japan is nothing but shrines and skyscrapers. But actually it’s a true wonderland full of family-friendly experiences. Even everyday activities can feel like an exciting, futuristic adventure.
Some of the activities kids of all ages will love include:
- Visiting epic (and unique) theme parks like Universal Studios Japan or Sanrio Puroland
- Riding the famous Shinkansen bullet train. It makes getting around an adventure in its own right!
- Exploring interactive museums. No shhh-ing and ‘quiet please’ here! TeamLab Planets is an art gallery and a playground all rolled into one, and if you’re in Tokyo, you really shouldn’t miss it.
Surprisingly Good Value For Families
Many people assume Japan is expensive, but in reality it offers excellent value for families on the ground. Of course, flights and accommodation from the UK don’t always come cheap (but you can shop around for deals). But we’re always pleasantly surprised by how little we spend when we arrive. From affordable and delicious meals at family-friendly restaurants or street food stalls to reasonably priced public transport and even theme park tickets, you can have a trip to Japan without breaking the bank.
And you won’t feel like you’re sacrificing anything either! Choosing breakfast from the konbini each morning is something the boys reference often and remember fondly. They don’t even know that we were doing it to save money! We’ve found that Japan proves that incredible travel experiences don’t have to have massive price tags.
Incredible Food For Little (And Big) Taste Buds
On our first trip to Japan, my biggest fear was what the boys were going to eat. All of the food is so different to what they’re family with: and I’m not going to lie, for the first couple of days, the boys did lean towards to comfort zone of McDonalds. But they soon got over it and tried new things: and this is why!
Japanese cuisine is both delicious and approachable for kids. Bento boxes separate out each dish, so little ones can pick and choose the bits they like or don’t like. Ramen, sushi rolls, and okonomiyaki are also all fun and kid-friendly to eat. My boys don’t like a lot of fish, but even in Sushiro they embraced new thing, ordering tuna and salmon (safe dishes for them) as well as burger sushi dishes (something new, but designed for kids) and omlette. Then they had their fill of cute crepes, cakes, and candy floss…honestly, they ended up eating more in Japan than they’ve ever eaten before!
Beyond restaurants, I do recommend that you let your kids have fun with the food in Japan. Street market, takoyaki stalls, and unique food experiences (like sushi-making classes) will all make eating in Japan feel like such a fun and memorable experience.
A Culture That Celebrates Children
I have read other reviews that found their children weren’t made to feel welcome in Japan. I won’t invalidate this, because everyone’s experiences are different and valid. But I will say we’ve never had that experience: for us, Japan feels like a culture that celebrates children.
Many public spaces have nice touches like child-sized seating, colouring, and if you’re in a family-friendly restaurant, you’ll find themed and kid-sized meals readily available too. People took the time to talk to the boys, smiling and asking simple questions: I think that it helped that the boys tried to communicate in their very basic Japanese too.
Exciting Themed Cafes and Experiences
My boys would never forgive me if I wrote about things that kids love in Japan without mentioning the themed cafes! Visiting the Pokemon Cafe was an absolute highlight for them. There are other character cafes you can choose if Pokemon doesn’t interest your kids: think Kirby, Hello Kitty, and Totoro, amongst others. These are often pop-ups, which mean they change regularly.
If you head to Harajuku, you’ll also find an abundance of animal cafes. I’m no expert on the safety of these (I know animal welfare is a big concern, so wouldn’t want to send you to a particular cafe and find the animals weren’t well cared for). But in terms of our personal experiences, we have visited the Mi-Pig micro-pig cafe, and we have also visited the farm in the UK where these pigs are reared: We found this a good experience. We then visited the Otter Cafe and I wouldn’t recommend this: again, I’m not an expert, but we didn’t think the animals had enough space. Other cafes are owl-themed, cat and dog-themed, and there are so many more options too.
But if you’re looking for quirky dining experiences, cafe experiences, and to experience Japanese pop-culture from the comfort of a restaurant chair then this is a great reason why visit Japanwith your kids!
Kid-centric Shopping Experiences
My boys hate shopping. In fact I have to take deep breaths and steel myself before taking them into the city every time they inevitably grow out of their shoes or trousers. But shopping in Japan is a whole other experience: the mall doesn’t look so bad when there’s a Pokemon Store or a One Piece shop!
We spend more time shopping in Japan than we ever have anywhere else in the world. And toy stores like Kiddy Land are attractions in their own right. Shopping for unique souvenirs, toys, and snacks made for by far some of our best and most memorable family shopping experiences.
Seasonal Celebrations
Finally, another thing we really love about Japan as a family is the commitment to seasonal celebrations. When the cherry blossoms appear on the trees, this isn’t just a sign of the changing of the seasons. It’s a reason to celebrate with picnics under trees and eat seasonal sweets and snacks. The same thing happens with the fireworks and festivals in the summer, or the fall foliage season in autumn.
It means that no matter when you visit, there’s always something unique and distinct to celebrate in Japan.
Klook.comFinal Thoughts
So why visit Japan with kids? I hope I’ve shown that this is a pretty remarkable destination that offers something for everyone. There are so many reasons why we visit Japan, and we will keep going back again and again. Japan offers safety, culture, fun and convenience. It’s unique and unforgettable.
It doesn’t matter whether you want to explore futuristic cities, ancient temples, or just laugh and scream in some of the world’s best theme parks, Japan is a destination that offers it all. The whole family can discover something new here, and they can do it together!
Planning Your First Family Trip to Japan?
Make it stress-free, affordable, and unforgettable with my 40-page Japan Family Travel eBook.
🚅 Includes sample itineraries, budgeting tips, kid-friendly activities, and packing checklists.
👉 Grab Your Copy Here
Ready to start planning your trip to Japan? Start here:
🗼 Check out my ultimate 14 day Japan itinerary for first time travelers
🍜 Ultimate 5-Days Tokyo Itinerary for Families: Full Guide For Travelling With Kids
🎴 18 Essential Things You Need To Do Before You Visit Japan
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Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support!
