Travel

I remember our return from the US last year and wow did I have Jet Lag Kids. All four kids were on different schedules which of course took a huge toll on me. The kitchen was working overtime as each one awoke in search of food. The jet lag crazies …

January to late March is a great time for a family trip for strawberry picking in the Tokyo area. Here is our updated 2018-2019 list of top strawberry picking gardens you can enjoy in the Tokyo area on a half-day or one-day trip. We have chosen four gardens; two in …

Here are our Top Recommended 2018-2019 Ski / Snowboard Day Trips from Tokyo. Great for families, offers lessons for kids and easily accessible. We will be adding more in the coming weeks. Do you have one to add? Please let us know in the comments section below. * Please check each …

Looking for a great day trip this time of year? Head to Nagatoro river rafting and grape picking in Saitama!  If you are looking for a fun one day get away to enjoy the crisp air and beautiful mountain and river scenery do visit Nagatoro River and surrounding area of …

Zushi Beach Water Park is holding their 3rd annual beach water park opening an inflatable water park at the beach now until Sunday, September 2, 2018. Zushi, close to Enoshima Islands and Caves (25 min by car), is a great day trip from Tokyo. It is the closest natural beach to Tokyo, …

Traveling as a family is expensive, so I highly recommend taking advantage of some of the Tokyo Free Walking Tours listed below. If you are a family of seven like ours, it would cost us 5,000 – 8,000 per person or $350 – 500 USD for a tour. Even though …

If you are looking for a great day or weekend trip from Tokyo, I highly recommend Minami Boso (the southern area of Chiba) and the Kamogawa Sea World. Kamogawa Sea World is a 1.5-2 hour trip from central Tokyo where you can enjoy the sea breeze, beach and learn about …

If you are heading to the beach in Japan, here is our Family Beach Bag Packing List.  This list will differ slightly depending on the age of your kids, but I have four kids 19-6, and we still pack the same stuff. Most beaches in Japan have convenience stores and …

Space Athletic Tondemi just opened (July 12, 2018) their second location in Heiwajima, Tokyo. This is following the huge success of Space Athletic in Makuhari Chiba (トンデミ). Space Atheletic is a great indoor activity center to spend 90 mins bouncing, climbing and running. The Tondemi in Heiwajima is 2X as …

Fuji Safari Park is a lovely place to see and experience animals from around the world living freely. Fuji Safari Park offers visitors 4 options to experience their safari park 1) Self-drive option where visitors can progress through the park in their own car at their own pace, 2) Jungle Bus …

If you or someone you know is planning to travel to or within Japan over the next year and is planning to use Airbnb or other short-term rental platforms you need to know about the Japan Airbnb Rule Change June 15, 2018.    On June 15th, 2018 all Airbnb listing …

May and June are the most popular months of the year to go clam digging「潮干狩りshiohigari 」in Japan. It took about one hour for each member to dig about 2 Kilos of Asari clams (Japanese littleneck clams). Check out the four recommended clam digging recommendations below. Note: Clam digging is very …

On a sunny day escape central Tokyo and head for the huge Showa Kinen Park 昭和記念公園.  Showa Memorial Park is approximately a 50-70 min trip from central Tokyo via car or train. Biking, hiking, climbing nets, bouncing on huge white soft blobs and hiding from dragons can keep the little ones …

Enjoy Ginza With Kids At The Very Hungry Caterpillar Cafe I write many guides here on Best Living Japan, but what you may not know about me is that I have a serious sweet tooth. My daughter is now one year old and loves cruising Tokyo with me, so I’m …

NOTICE: Tuna Auction viewings will end on September 15th, 2018. The outer market will remain in business however the inner market will close to tourists after September 29th, 2018. Tsukiji Fish Marke t(築地市場, Tsukiji Shijō) is the largest wholesale fish market where about $20M worth of fish, seafood and vegetables change hands daily. It …

Lake Biwa and Nagahama Japan with Kids. If you missed the cherry blossoms in Tokyo we recommend visiting Lake Biwa and the Nagahama Castle in Shiga Prefecture. Next week from April 9 – 17, 2018 the area will hold the Nagahama Hikiyama Festival. “The “Nagahama Hikiyama Festival” is a festival …

Gifu Castle, originally named Inabayama Castle, was rebuilt in 1956 and in 2011 was designated a National Historical Site. Located on top of Kinka Mountain the castle contains a historical museum and observation deck with lovely views of Gifu city and neighboring Nagoya. There are two ways to get to there; …

If you are a museum and attraction lover, we highly recommend you invest in the Tokyo Grutto Pass 2018 – also great to buy if you have visitors and you plan to hit many attractions in a short time. Available from April 1, 2018 and for 2200 yen, you can buy a …

Karuizawa, Nagano is our favorite mountain resort getaway. Best part? It`s only a 1 hr Shinkansen ride from Tokyo. Step off the train, take in the gorgeous mountain views, and enjoy the numerous activities Karuizawa has to offer from outdoor sports, onsens, shopping, play areas, food and more. *** The …

Niseko has numerous evening foodie options, but Niseko Breakfast & Coffee spots are a bit trickier. Luckily over the past few years, there are have been some new entrants, so families no longer have to survive on convenience store options.  Here are our top recommend early morning breakfast options in Hirafu, …

If you are skiing in Nagano-ken this winter, spend half a day visiting the Jigokudani Monkey Park (地獄谷野猿公苑). I took the kids there and we all had a great time seeing the monkeys and hiking into the valley. It is about 25-30K from Nozawa-onsen or Shigakogen ski areas making it an …

Amazing World Kohoku is an indoor play center for kids ages 0 to 12 years. Amazing world branches house plasma cars, inflatable castles, climbing equipment, slides, educational toys like the Trix Track, Wammy and building blocks. They have large drawing walls, kitchen town, crafts, baby room and nursing area, and rest areas for …

If you want to take a 1-2 hour hike while adventuring to find Buddhas, Arafat, and views of Tokyo Bay and Mt. Fuji I recommend Nokogiryama, Chiba (Mt. Sawtooth). I have very mixed opinions of Nokogiriyama, Chiba since I felt that although it was interesting to see the sights, I …

Jiyugaoka is a lovely area filled with boutiques, restaurants and cafes. If visiting the area with kids we recommend these restaurants and play areas to visit between shopping breaks. Open from 8:00 Lupicia Tea Shop is a great spot to start the morning with a delicious cup of tea and …

If you have 3-5 days to spend in Tokyo, we highly recommend this one-day itinerary for Tokyo One Day with Kids – Shibuya, Harajuku, Omotesando, and Aoyama areas. The Shibuya, Harajuku, Omotesando and Aoyama area is a great place to see the modern, hip fashion and entertainment side of Tokyo …