Travelling Japan with Young Children
What to Know Before You Go
Japan is one of the most family-friendly destinations we’ve ever travelled to. From priority airport lanes for families, to designated pram spaces and priority seating on public transport, travelling with young children is genuinely well supported.
You’ll also find:
Priority elevators in stations and shopping centres
Outstanding indoor play spaces
Abundant baby changing and nursing rooms
Restaurants that thoughtfully provide baskets of brand-new toys for children
That said, there are a few important cultural norms and practical considerations to be aware of when travelling Japan with little ones.
Curfews for Minors (Under 17)
Many prefectures in Japan have local ordinances that discourage minors from being out late at night — typically between 10:00pm or 11:00pm and 4:00am.
While these rules are rarely enforced, they can impact families in subtle ways. Occasionally, restaurants may decline to seat families with children late at night, even if they don’t clearly explain why.
Our advice:
If dining with kids, aim to eat earlier in the evening, which aligns well with local norms anyway.
Restaurants & Smoking Regulations
Children under 20 years old are not permitted to enter restaurants or venues that allow indoor smoking.
Although Japan’s smoking laws have become much stricter in recent years, some small establishments — particularly izakaya (pub-style eateries) — may still allow smoking and are legally exempt from the indoor smoking ban.
This is one of the most common reasons families are turned away from restaurants without explanation.
Baby Changing Facilities
Japan excels in this area.
You’ll find baby changing stations in:
Public toilets (often inside accessible stalls)
Train stations
Shopping centres
Department stores
Baby and family-focused retailers
Dedicated nappy disposal bins are extremely common. On the rare occasion one isn’t available, it’s considered polite to take used nappies with you — so carrying a few disposable nappy bags is a good idea.
Breastfeeding & Nursing Rooms
Breastfeeding in public is generally discouraged culturally, though not legally prohibited.
Japan places a strong emphasis on privacy, which is why nursing rooms are widespread and excellent. You’ll find them in:
Shopping centres
Train stations
Department stores
Some large transport hubs
These spaces are clean, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed for parents and babies.Many restaurant highchairs are designed for older kids (no buckle-up harness), so if your child requires a harnessed highchair at mealtimes, it may be worth traveling with a small portable highchair.
Highchairs & Restaurant Seating
Many restaurants do provide highchairs, but they are often designed for older children and may not include safety harnesses.
If your child requires a buckled highchair, we recommend bringing a small, portable travel highchair.
Cribs & Hotel Stays
Hotels in Japan rarely provide cots or cribs, even family-friendly properties.
If your child requires a crib for sleep, we recommend travelling with a portable crib to ensure comfort and consistency.
Baby Food & Supplies
Baby food is readily available, but not always where you’d expect.
You’ll typically find it in:
Pharmacies
Baby specialty stores
Large electronics department stores (such as BIC Camera or Yodobashi Camera)
Surprisingly, baby food is not commonly stocked in supermarkets, so plan ahead if you rely on specific items.
Taxis & Child Seats
Child car seats are not legally required in taxis in Japan. Children are generally expected to:
Sit independently, or
Sit on the lap of an adult
This can be confronting at first.
On our first trip, we used a baby carrier and threaded the seatbelt under the carrier, ensuring the seatbelt restrained the adult only, while the carrier secured our baby — preventing compression in the event of sudden braking.
On a later trip, we brought our own baby seat. Some drivers were hesitant to allow its use and required gentle explanation.
Alternative options:
Privately hired cars
Some pre-booked taxi services
These can often provide baby seats for an additional feePublic, outdoor play spaces, especially in cities, aren’t common, so if you need somewhere safe to let your little ones run wild, search for indoor play centers instead. They’re not free, but we’ve found some great ones in our travels. Little Planet in Odaiba, and Kids Garden in Solomachi, and Kodomo Miraikan in Kyoto are just a few that I would highly recommend. If you’re traveling with young kids, we’ll include playcenter recommendations in your itinerary where we can.
Playgrounds & Play Spaces
Outdoor public playgrounds — especially in major cities — are less common than in Australia.
Instead, Japan excels in indoor play centres, which are safe, clean, and thoughtfully designed. While they are usually paid entry, they’re excellent for letting kids burn off energy.
Highly recommended options include:
Little Planet (Odaiba)
Kids Garden (Tokyo Solamachi)
Kodomo Miraikan (Kyoto)
Asobono (Tokyo Dome City)
Tokyo Toy Museum (Shinjuku)
When travelling with young children, we include play centre recommendations in your itinerary wherever possible.
Strollers: Convenience vs Practicality
Japan involves a lot of walking, so a stroller often feels essential — but accessibility can be inconsistent.
Things to be aware of:
Some temples and shrines have stairs only
Smaller, privately owned stations may not have elevators
Finding elevator access in large stations can take time
Shops and restaurants are often small and may not accommodate strollers
In our travels, we’ve found a lightweight travel pram to be the best compromise. It’s easier to carry when stairs are unavoidable, and we’ve felt comfortable leaving it outside shops or restaurants when needed.
Helpful tip:
If a ticket gate doesn’t have a wide (wheelchair-accessible) gate, it’s often a sign that stairs only lie beyond.
Children’s Day (May 5)
If you happen to be travelling in Japan on May 5, you’ll experience Children’s Day (Kodomo no Hi) — a national holiday celebrating children’s happiness, individuality, and well-being.
You’ll see:
Colourful carp streamers (koinobori)
Special displays and events
A festive, family-focused atmosphere
It’s a lovely cultural moment to experience with kids.
