Travel

Hakone is a perfect location for a 36-hour romantic escape from Tokyo. Hubby and I had the luxury of leaving our four kids at home and running away for part of the weekend. If you are looking for a quick getaway for fresh air, onsens, great food, lovely accommodations and …

A beautiful autumn day so Baby and I headed out west to Tama Zoo. If you love animals and walking in the outdoors, you will love the Tama Zoo. Tama Zoo is huge at 129 acres (52H) which is about four times Ueno Zoo size. If you were to see …

Escape the city with these Top Recommended Family Friendly Day Trips from Tokyo. Do you have a day trip to recommend? Leave in the comments section below. 1. Little Edo Kawagoe –  30 minutes by train from Ikebukuro. The people of Kawagoe have preserved their city for all to experience the …

With August upon us and the start of school approaching we`re scrambling to scratch more off our Tokyo Summer Activities and Events List. We had so much fun revisiting all our favorite Playground Parks, Cooling off at the Local Swimming Pools and the FREE Attractions. There`s so much more to …

Try traveling on the Tokyo Water Bus (水上バス, Suijō Basu) for a fun and relaxing method of Tokyo travel.  If you are traveling to Odaiba, locations on the Bay in Minato-ku, or up the Sumida River to Asakusa, I recommend you try a Tokyo Water Bus especially between April – …

Late June to early September is blueberry picking season in Japan – so here are our recommended Tokyo Area Blueberry Picking Locations 2017.   We have chosen six gardens for great half-day or one-day trips; two in Chiba-ken, two in Saitama-ken and two in Kanagawa-ken. Many of these gardens run through September, …

Enjoy our Family Tokyo Bucket List! Our experiences as two moms (with six kids between us),  travel and lifestyle bloggers, and Airbnb hosts we are constantly asked for our “must dos and sees” in Tokyo for new families and short-term visitors. We have widdled down our over 500 activities and locations …

Summer in Japan is hot and humid, but it brings plenty of opportunity for kids to go out and enjoy themselves. While kids take advantage of school vacations and longer day light hours, we must also be vigilant in keeping them safe from insects, intense heat, harmful UV rays and …

Sanrio Puroland is an adorable indoor amusement park for Sanrio character fans, young children and adults who are kids at heart. You are surrounded by cute food and attractions, and dynamic, well-produced shows. We visited on a Friday and spent half a day exploring the various floor and attractions. Our …

Thomas Land is one of our favorite theme parks for young kids on our list of TOP Theme Parks in Japan. Thomas Land, in Yamanashi, Japan, is the world’s first Thomas & Friends Theme Park. Located a 1.5 hour drive from central Tokyo, and within the Fuji-Q Highland Theme Park, it`s a great …

This time of year many international families are planning their home country returns or next country moves so thought I would share 10 Sayonara Tips for moving with kids. Moving can be very stressful for parents and kids as they leave their homes, friends and daily routines. I overheard a …

One hour from central Tokyo you can ride the waves, smell the sea air and explore the Enoshima island and caves (江の島). A great day trip which can be combined with a trip to the Enoshima Aquarium. If you leave Tokyo early in the morning, you may be able to …

Impress and educate your kids with some Shinkansen Bullet Train Trivia on your family trip. The Shinkansen train system was invented over 50 years ago, but the technology, efficiency, and cleanliness continue to awe residents and travelers. Here are our top trivia tips which have been kid tested to prove …

The Tsukiji Fish Market (築地市場, Tsukiji Shijō) is no longer relocating to Toyosu – for the time being – so experience the live tuna auction and read our best tips. Tsukiji Fish Market is the largest wholesale fish market where about $20M worth of fish, seafood and vegetables change hands daily. It has an inner market where …

If you are a museum and attraction lover, we highly recommend you invest in the Tokyo Grutto Pass 2017 – also great to buy if you have visitors and you plan to hit many attractions in a short time. Available from April 1, 2017 and for 2000 yen, you can buy …

Monday is typically the day that many attractions are closed in Japan, so to help you out we have created this Open Monday Tokyo list. Note: If Monday is a Japanese National Holiday most attractions usually closed on Monday are open, and closure takes place on the following Tuesday. We …

Iijima Flower Garden is a quaint farm centrally located in Kanagawa. They offer 30 minute all-you-can-eat strawberries that are pesticide-free. Picking is at ground or planter levels. They also offer 13 other types of fruits and vegetable picking over the year. Strawberries (Jan-May), Cabbage (Dec-May), Daikon (Nov-April), Carrots & Turnips (Nov-Mar), Sweet Potatoes …

Guam is a small island in Micronesia in the Western Pacific with breath-taking sceneries, exotic beaches, numerous activities and duty-free shopping. A short 3.5 hour flight from Tokyo Narita Airport Guam makes an ideal 3-day weekend trip with the family. Here are our Top Things to do in Guam with …

Katre Bistro is a must try if visiting Guam. Located in the heart of Hagatna, Guam this unassuming bistro serves delicious mediterranean cuisine with asian flare that is beautifully presented. Chef and owner Roxs Cailao is a veteran chef who has served as the executive chef at the Sheraton and Renaissance Hotels and …

If you`re looking for a family-friendly 3-day retreat with blue seas and waterpark visit Onward Beach Resort in Guam. A short 3.5 hour flight from Narita Airport the Onward Beach Resort offers a great deal on their resort package. It includes free access to their popular Waterpark and Marine Club, beach, hotel pool, …

If you are planning a family ski vacation to Niseko, Hokkaido, register your children early to attend one of the top Niseko Kids Ski Schools. I was told there are over 30 ski schools in Niseko, however, after some personal research and visiting Niseko we are recommending three English language …

Niseko is a great family ski resort in Hokkaido Japan, but all parents need a break so check out these top Niseko Childcare Babysitter Services. This list of four services is updated for the winter season 2016/2017. Niseko Childcare BabySitter Services – Winter 2016/2017 #1. Snow Babies Niseko – Snow …

If you are looking for a quick, carefree weekend trip to enjoy white beaches and blue seas visit Club Med Ishigaki, Okinawa. Only a three-hour flight from Tokyo, Club Med Kabira Beach Ishigaki Okinawa (石垣島カビラクラブメッド) offers an all-inclusive vacation package that`s great for families. The package includes buffet-style breakfast, lunch …

From late December to late March is a great time for a family trip for strawberry picking in the Tokyo area. Here is our updated 2017 list of top strawberry picking gardens you can enjoy in the Tokyo area on a half-day or one-day trip. I have chosen six gardens; …

GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort is one of the most convenient snow resorts to visit with little ones outside Tokyo. It`s a 75-min shinkansen ride (Max-Tanigawa or the Tanigawa) from Tokyo station and the train drops you off right inside the base of the GALA Yuzawa Resort making it ultra convenient if traveling with small …