JapanIs an exciting and safe place to goTraveling with children, But if your child is still young,TokyowithKyotoWaiting for big cities is not always very friendly and convenient. Here are some tips to make your travel easier.
Notice
Japan has always been a hierarchical society, and everyone and everyone has their own place. Traditionally, children should stay at home with their mothers. It is very common for babies to stay at home for a few months after they are born, and strollers are a relatively rare sight on the streets of Japanese cities. If parents take their children out, they will make them vigilant: running around in trains or restaurants is unacceptable and will make them stare at you indifferently.
arrive
If you fly to Japan with a young child, it is worth spending some extra money for the baby on the plane. Japan Airlines (JAL) or All Nippon Airways (ANA), both airlines are very child-friendly. For example, in addition to the usual services (cradle, baby meal, etc.), Japan Airlines provides Child seat rental service: As long as you buy a seat for your child, they will install a luxurious child seat in it, which is completely free and will be pre-adjusted to your child's size. Both airlines provide a special family check-in counter in Tokyo.Narita AirportYou will be asked to check the stroller, and usually you will be cut off the security line. No matter which airline you fly, most Japanese airports including Tokyo Narita Airport and Haneda Airport have free children’s play areas (キッズコーナー), even suitable for babies.
Travel around
In short, "leave your giant stroller at home" because they can be a nightmare to cope. The city’s sidewalks are very busy, temples and shrine paths are almost always gravel, trains are crowded (this is not possible during peak hours), and elevators are slowly being modified everywhere, and there are many stations that require you to use stairs or take long detours , Use an elevator. You can check in advanceRakuraku Odekake's English serviceIf you get stuck accidentally, the station staff or passersby are happy to help if you ask.
On the contrary, the Japanese prefer 'Baby carrier, Usually suitable for children under two years old, and lightweight foldableUmbrella stroller, Suitable for passing through the normal ticket gate, you can pinch up and down the stairs with one hand. You may not need to drag a stroller at all, because many major attractions such as Ueno Zoo and Tokyo Disneyland even rent strollers for free or symbolically.
On trains and buses, children under the age of 6 can travel for free, but technically speaking, if adults are standing, they should not sit in their seats. (This rule is widely ignored.) For children under 12 at half price, you can get a special children's version of JR Suica smart card that can be used almost anywhere and automatically deduct the children's fare at the door.
Local railway
taxi
Sightseeing and activities
In Japan, children often get discounts when buying tickets at attractions. Depending on the age, the discount will vary accordingly. Japanese children are divided into three categories according to age:
- Toddler (Infant), under 6 years old, usually free of charge
- Children (Subsistence), generally 6-12 years old or 6-15 years old, usually half ticket, including elementary school students (Primary school student) And junior high school students (middle School student）
- High school students (College students), generally over 15 years old, usually full ticket
theme park
Tokyo Disney ResortYesJapanFamous children’s parks, but there are also many theme parks with Japanese animation as the theme:
- Anpanman (Anpanman）
- Doraemon (ドラえもん）
- HelloKitty (Hello キティー）
Museum
Shopping
diet
stay
healthy
service
Public toilets in Japan are free and ubiquitous. Larger train stations and tourist attractions almost always have a large toilet with a changing table, or at least a changing table for women. You may also come across a booth equipped with mysterious equipment, called a baby chair, which is basically a wall-mounted bracket with holes, which is very convenient for temporarily restraining curious young children while you are taking care of your own business. However, sometimes one thing that Japanese toilets don’t need is toilet paper, so bring a pack of tissues!
Breastfeeding in public places is acceptable, but most Japanese women use discreet packaging that hides everything. Department stores usually have a breastfeeding room or "rest room" that serves the same purpose, while larger ones such as Ginza and Shinjuku often have entire floors dedicated to children and parents. Almost all shopping centers and department stores have children’s play areas, usually changing rooms for babies and feeding rooms, and an area with cushions and children’s play areas. As in Japan, children (and adults) must take off their shoes before entering.
