Japan With Kids: The Ultimate Family Travel Guide
Planning a family trip to Japan can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. After 4 trips in the last 3 years and more than 12 weeks exploring Japan as a family, we’ve created hundreds of guides to help UK families plan the perfect holiday.
WHERE ARE YOU IN YOUR JAPAN PLANNING?
Let’s skip to the good bits! We don’t want the excitement of planning your trip to Japan to be any harder than it needs to be.
Whether you’re still dreaming about Japan or you’ve already booked your flights, this guide will walk you through every stage of planning your family adventure. So tell us where you are in your Japan planning journey, and we’ll take you straight to the information you need:
WHY TRUST US?
WHY TRUST THAT MUM TRAVEL LIFE TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR JAPAN TRIP?
- Our advice is based on real budgets and real experience. If we write about it/ it’s because we’ve done it!
- We’ve spent more than 12 weeks in Japan
- We’ve taken 4 trips to Japan in the past 3 years (and we’re planning another extended 5 week trip for 2027!)
- We’re Disney and USJ specialists
- Our advice is from a real UK family perspective
Everything on this site is based on our own tried-and-tested experience. We don’t use AI summaries or copied itineraries. We put in the hard work, and make the mistakes, so you don’t have to!
PLAN YOUR JAPAN TRIP
Flights
The best time to book, the best airlines, and how to get to Japan without breaking the bank.
Hotels
We’ve put together a list of our favourite hotels across Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Okinawa.
Transport
From getting to the airport to getting around the country, here’s everything you need to know.
EXPLORE JAPAN
Planning to visit a single city or looking for in-depth city guides to help you deep dive into your trip planning? Start with our comprehensive Japanese city hubs:
Tokyo
Osaka
Kyoto
Nara
Okinawa
JAPAN FAMILY ITINERARIES
We travel extensively in Japan, and add new itineraries to the site after every visit. All of our itineraries have been tried-and-tested and are based on our real experience of what works (and what doesn’t work) when you’re travelling to Japan with kids:
Ultimate 5 Day Tokyo Itinerary For Families
3 Day Osaka Itinerary: Family Adventures
Ultimate 14 Day Japan Itinerary For First Timers
3 Perfect Days in Kyoto With Kids
The Ultimate 5 Day Okinawa Itinerary
One Day Nara Itinerary With Kids
JAPAN FOR FAMILIES
Visiting Japan with kids is very different to visiting Japan as an adult. You’ll spend more time in playgrounds than izakayas, and navigating the city with tired toddlers is not for the weak. But planned well it’s such a joyful experience, and worth every minute:
Japan Travel Tips With Kids
8 Reasons To Visit Japan With Kids
Best Japan Attractions You Can Book in Advance
30 Essential Things To Know Before You Visit Japan
THEME PARKS IN JAPAN
Japan may not be known for its theme parks, but if you’re visiting Japan with kids then you need to know that the country is home to some of the best theme parks in the world. And we’ve visited all of them! If you’re planning to explore Japan’s theme parks, check out our comprehensive guides below:
The Best Theme Parks in Japan
Everything you Need To Know About USJ
Is Yomiuriland Worth Visiting?
The Ultimate Guide to Sanrio Puroland
The Ultimate Guide to Tokyo Disneyland
Plan Tokyo Disney Sea
Japan Attractions and Tickets
Japan has some of the best family attractions in the world, but tickets often sell out, especially during school holidays.
Here are my most popular ticket guides, including prices, tips, and the best places to book:
Sanrio Puroland Tickets
Everything you need to know before visiting this Hello Kitty-themed park with kids.
Check availability & book on Klook Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea: Which Is Best For Kids?
Which park is best for families, ride tips, and how to save money. Book Disney tickets here Universal Studios Japan Tickets Explained
From Super Nintendo World to Harry Potter — what to expect with children. Buy USJ tickets on Klook Tokyo Observation Decks & Experiences
Shibuya Sky, teamLab, and other unforgettable experiences for families. Browse Tokyo experiences
POKEMON JAPAN
Why do most people visit Japan? Temples, shrines, and delicious ramen. Why do my kids visit Japan? Pokemon, Pokemon, and more Pokemon! Which is why we’re on a mission to explore every Pokemon attraction in Japan. And you can read about our experiences below:
Pokemon Room at the MIMARU Hotel
Visit The Pokemon Cafe in Tokyo
Beginners Guide to Pokemon Centers in Japan
Free Japan Pokmon Shopping Checklist
PokePark Kanto: A Unique Experience
Pokemon Tokyo Experiences and Attractions
Essential Japan Travel Tips For Families
WANT ME TO HELP PLAN YOUR ENTIRE TRIP?
If this is your first time visiting Japan with children, I’ve created a 45-page Japan Family Travel Guide that walks you through everything step-by-step, from planning and packing to transport, attractions and itineraries.
This is the guide I wish that we’d had when we were planning our first trip to Japan!
Designed for first-time family travellers Based on real trips, not theory Clear, practical and easy to follow
