{"id":45141,"date":"2019-01-12T11:32:00","date_gmt":"2019-01-12T00:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/?p=45141"},"modified":"2026-01-15T11:20:55","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T00:20:55","slug":"why-japan-should-be-your-next-family-holiday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/why-japan-should-be-your-next-family-holiday\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Japan Should Be Your Next Family Holiday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From bullet trains to sushi-making classes, Japan transforms family holidays into unforgettable journeys where culture, cuisine and adventure collide.<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s\u00a0a destination where vending machines dispense hot ramen,\u00a0lightning-fast bullet trains\u00a0make cross-country\u00a0travel\u00a0a breeze and world-class theme parks\u00a0rub shoulders with\u00a0snow-capped mountains.\u00a0Japan\u00a0has\u00a0enough\u00a0variety to\u00a0keep every family member engaged<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 but\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0also surprisingly\u00a0family-friendly, with spotless facilities\u00a0and fascinating history\u00a0at every turn.\u00a0From the snow monkeys of Nagano to Ghibli theme parks, here\u2019s why Japan should be your next family holiday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

It’s\u00a0easy (and\u00a0fun) to\u00a0get\u00a0around<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Japan’s public transport system is legendary, and for good reason.\u00a0It’s\u00a0efficient,\u00a0punctual\u00a0and easy to use\u00a0(even if you\u00a0don’t\u00a0speak Japanese;\u00a0many signs\u00a0are\u00a0in English). The\u00a0Shinkansen bullet trains\u00a0are themselves\u00a0an attraction for children and adults alike,\u00a0whisking\u00a0travellers\u00a0between cities at speeds up to 320 km\/h; convenient baggage holding areas on each train mean\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0plenty of space to store\u00a0several kids\u2019\u00a0worth of\u00a0luggage.\u00a0Trains run like clockwork, stations are impeccably clean\u00a0and\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0an awesome feeling to\u00a0glide\u00a0across the country in such comfort and style,\u00a0and\u00a0on\u00a0a clear day,\u00a0kids will be thrilled to see Mt. Fuji in the distance\u00a0when travelling between Tokyo and Kyoto.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even better for families: children under six travel for free (while seated on an adult’s lap), while kids up to 11 pay half price. Reserve tickets in advance at any major station to skip the queues and secure your seats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s designed for family travel  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Japan\u00a0does more than just accommodate\u00a0families\u00a0\u2013\u00a0the country’s whole infrastructure is designed around them.\u00a0Major train stations\u00a0feature\u00a0dedicated nursing rooms with hot water dispensers for formula\u00a0and\u00a0private feeding\u00a0areas. Department stores like Takashimaya<\/a>\u00a0(Shinjuku and Nihonbashi)\u00a0and Isetan<\/a>\u00a0(Shinjuku, Tachikawa and\u00a0Kichijoji)\u00a0offer baby rooms with weighing scales,\u00a0microwaves\u00a0and\u00a0rentable\u00a0strollers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Restaurants\u00a0often\u00a0offer\u00a0child-sized chopsticks,\u00a0while family restaurants like Gusto<\/a> and\u00a0Saizeriya<\/a>\u00a0offer illustrated kids\u2019 menus with\u00a0international\u00a0and Japanese options.\u00a0Local\u00a0konbini\u00a0<\/em>(convenience stores)\u00a0like 7-Eleven stock baby food\u00a0and other essentials, so midnight emergencies are easily solved. Vending machines dispensing everything from hot corn soup to small toys appear every few blocks, turning ordinary walks into treasure hunts for curious kids.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can explore theme parks from Disneyland to Universal Studios <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tokyo Disneyland and\u00a0Tokyo\u00a0DisneySea<\/a>\u00a0attract millions of\u00a0visitors annually,\u00a0with\u00a0DisneySea\u00a0\u2013 exclusive\u00a0to Japan\u00a0\u2013 offering nautical-themed lands and attractions you\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0find anywhere else, including Journey to the\u00a0Center\u00a0of the Earth<\/em> and the Mediterranean Harbor\u2019s spectacular shows.\u00a0Universal Studios Japan<\/a> in Osaka\u00a0is home to\u00a0Super Nintendo World,\u00a0where kids can\u00a0collect coins via interactive wristbands, race in Mario\u00a0Kart:\u00a0Koopa\u2019s\u00a0Challenge<\/em> using AR technology and meet life-sized\u00a0Yoshis\u00a0and Toads.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond these giants,\u00a0Fuji-Q Highland<\/a> near Mount Fuji holds multiple Guinness World Records for its roller coasters, including\u00a0Takabisha\u00a0<\/em>with its 121-degree freefall drop;\u00a0Sanrio\u00a0Puroland<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0outer\u00a0Tokyo immerses Hello Kitty fans in musical parades and character meet-and-greets. Seasonal attractions run year-round: spring brings cherry blossom festivals at parks like\u00a0Kawasaki\u2019s\u00a0Yomiuri\u00a0Land<\/a>,\u00a0and winter\u00a0transforms venues like\u00a0Mie Prefecture\u2019s\u00a0Nabana\u00a0no Sato<\/a> into LED-lit wonderlands with millions of twinkling lights.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a wonderland for young anime fans <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Ghibli Museum<\/a> in\u00a0Mitaka\u00a0(western Tokyo) requires advance booking (tickets sell out months ahead; check the museum\u2019s website for details on how to book), but rewards planning with exclusive short films, productions of\u00a0Hayao\u00a0Miyazaki’s animation studios and\u00a0a rooftop garden featuring a five-metre Robot Soldier from Castle in the Sky.<\/em> Arrive early as entry is timed and non-transferable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a more laidback outing,\u00a0Pok\u00e9mon\u00a0Center\u00a0Mega Tokyo in Ikebukuro<\/a> spans two floors of exclusive merchandise including regional variant plushies, limited-edition card packs and build-your-own Pok\u00e9ball stations where kids\u00a0can\u00a0customise their catches. In Akihabara, stores like Animate and\u00a0Mandarake\u00a0stock manga,\u00a0figurines\u00a0and character goods across eight floors, while themed cafes let families\u00a0reserve\u00a0character dining experiences\u00a0\u2013\u00a0book\u00a0ahead for popular spots like the Kirby Cafe or Capcom Cafe\u00a0for\u00a0meals\u00a0inspired by beloved\u00a0video game characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s steeped in ancient history <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Kyoto’s Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and Fushimi Inari’s 10,000 red torii gates make for incredible family photos, but lesser-known temples are also packed with exciting sights, like Sanjusangendo\u2019s 1,001 hand-carved wooden statues. For an immersive experience, travellers can rent kimonos from shops near Kiyomizu-dera Temple, with child sizes and simpler yukata options available for easier wear.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Japan’s twelve original castles, allows visitors to explore its maze-like defensive architecture; children will love the warrior pathways and hidden gates designed to confuse invaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s skiing and snowboarding like nowhere else <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The country\u2019s legendary \u2018Ja-pow\u2019 (\u2019Japan powder\u2019, perfect snow formed when Siberian winds cross the Sea of Japan) creates feather-light conditions in resorts like Niseko. Niseko United connects four resorts (Grand Hirafu, Hanazono, Niseko Village and Annupuri) on a single lift pass, offering a large area of skiable terrain with dedicated kids’ areas featuring magic carpets and gentle gradients. English-speaking instructors are standard here, and ski schools like NISS offer half-day group lessons for children (with lunch included). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hakuba Valley hosted events during the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics and provides 10 interconnected resorts; families often base themselves in Hakuba Echoland for its family-run lodges and direct access to beginner slopes. Most resorts also feature onsen <\/em>(hot springs), with many boasting private family baths that can be booked hourly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Its museums are perfect for children<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Miraikan<\/a>\u00a0(more formerly known as The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation) in Tokyo’s Odaiba district\u00a0showcases\u00a0cutting-edge\u00a0science and technology, with interactive exhibits that let kids explore how data moves around the world. The museum often features robot demonstrations and immersive planetarium shows\u00a0(check museum schedule for more details).\u00a0Tokyo’s Samurai Ninja Museum<\/a>\u00a0is also a great pick,\u00a0offering\u00a0armour try-ons and sword-holding photo ops, with English-speaking guides explaining\u00a0bushido\u00a0<\/em>(samurai moral code)\u00a0and battlefield tactics.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In\u00a0Tokyo\u2019s northeast, Ueno Park\u00a0offers\u00a0six major museums,\u00a0whose\u00a0focus\u00a0ranges\u00a0from\u00a0cutting-edge\u00a0science to\u00a0the arts.\u00a0The National Museum of Nature and Science<\/a>\u00a0makes\u00a0for a great pick,\u00a0with\u00a0a full-sized blue whale model and dinosaur skeletons scattered throguhout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the best museums\u00a0are a little further out.\u00a0Yokohama\u2019s\u00a0offbeat\u00a0Cup Noodles Museum<\/a> (approximately a\u00a060-minute train ride from Tokyo) lets children design custom cup artwork and select from various soup bases and ingredient combinations at its “My CUPNOODLES Factory”;\u00a0Saitama\u2019s\u00a0Railway\u00a0Museum<\/a>\u00a0(also approximately a 60-minute train journey)\u00a0displays real trains,\u00a0including vintage steam locomotives, plus simulators where budding engineers\u00a0can\u00a0practice driving Shinkansen bullet trains.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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