Travel in Japan

Katsuyama Port Beach is a quiet beach located a 1.5 hour drive from central Tokyo. It has a good stretch of sand, a dock for fishing, a few cement breakers, clean shower / restroom facilities, and on a clear day, a view of Mt. Fuji. We took a day trip to …

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 Changed June 15, 2018.    On June 15th, 2018 all Airbnb listing …

We spent a lovely, long weekend in Atami on the Izu Peninsula with family visiting from the U.S.  Atami is a traditional and popular hot springs resort one to two hours outside Tokyo (depending on your method of transportation). We stayed at the Atami Juraku Hotel, a 3-minute walk from the station …

Hitachi Seaside Park is a beautiful park about a 2 hour drive from central Tokyo. They have beautiful seasonal flowers, and a sports and amusement park. It can be enjoyed by all ages year round. Top Theme Parks in Japan The park is divided into 7 areas and each area …

Taking long-haul flights with kids is a challenge. Getting them to sleep comfortably on an overnight flight is a struggle. Welcome the Fly-Tot, a brilliant solution to help children stretch out and sleep comfortably on long haul flights. Here are our other recommended must haves for frequent fliers.  What is …

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 …

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. 100+ THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS IN TOKYO JOIN BEST LIVING JAPAN FOR A JAPANESE COOKING OR CRAFT CLASS – CLASS SCHEDULE HERE! …

You can’t visit Tokyo without a trip to Meiji Jingu, the most famous shrine in Japan. Here are some fun and interesting Meiji Jingu Trivia to inspire and challenge big and small minds alike.  To understand and associate with Japanese culture, you should definitely visit Meiji Jingu. Meiji Jingu was …

Karuizawa, Nagano is a beautiful mountain resort 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. Shopping is concentrated at the Karuizawa Prince Shopping …

If you are planning on Camping in Japan with your own camping gear check out our Family Camping List. If you`re planning on heading out empty handed check and let the camp grounds take care of everything for you check out our top 5 Campgrounds near Tokyo. We`ve got your glamping to pitching …

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 – …

Support Fukushima through Sightseeing! Although life has returned to normal for most people living in Fukushima, tourists are still avoiding the prefecture.  Radiation levels are no higher than any average city in the world, but ignorance still keeps many people from visiting and many sightseeing spots are barely surviving. For travelers who …

Top 39 Things You Will Miss About Japan. Some people love Japan and some people can’t wait to leave, but regardless of how you feel when you’re back in your home country (in our case America) I bet you will miss the following. Just FYI 39, can be read “sankyu” …

White Beach Hotel in Shimoda is less than a 2 hour Shinkansen train ride from Tokyo and is right across the street from beautiful Ohama beach (Kisami beach). The hotel is owned and run by Americans so everything is in English, it has super-friendly staff, is family-friendly and attracts a …

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 …

We highly recommend a visit to Yamanashi Fuefukigawa Fruits Park when in Yamanashi. The highest point of the park gives spectacular views of Mount Fuji on a clear day, a beautiful night view of the Kofu Basin, and has a number of activities for families throughout the park. WHAT TO …

Eating Nagashi Somen is a summer tradition in Japan, and it’s often seen at festivals or in restaurants. What is Somen (素麺)? Somen are very thin, white noodles made from wheat flour usually served cold and accompanied by tsuyu or a dipping sauce made from soysauce and dashi. What is Nagashi Somen …

Yamanashi Prefecture, home to Mount Fuji, is a beautiful area to camp and take in the fresh mountain air, soak in natural onsens, sip on the area wine and go fruit picking. We stayed in the Koshu area about an hour and a half drive from Tokyo (about an hour from Fujikawaguchiko) …

Summer in Japan is hot and humid, but it brings plenty of opportunity for kids to go out and enjoy themselves. Here are our top five ways to protect baby this summer from bugs, heat, UV and dehydration. While kids take advantage of school vacations and longer day light hours, …

Sayama Berry Land (Saitama-ken) (狭山ベリーランド) has one of the largest blueberry farms in the Tokyo area with over 50 types of berries and 2,000 bushes. The blueberry bushes are in covered mesh houses. Here are other great places to visit in Saitama with kids They have two parking areas; one …

Zushi Beach Water Park is holding their 4th annual beach water park opening an inflatable water park at the beach now until Sunday, September 1, 2019. 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 …

Zoorasia Japan is by far our favorite zoo outside Tokyo. It`s more like a walking safari than a zoo. It`s spacious and beautifully maintained with a variety of animals from around the world. For 800 yen per adult, 300 yen for middle & high school aged kids, 200 for elementary and …

On our first visit to Kodomo no Kuni (Children`s Land) we explored the various rides and numerous playgrounds. On our second visit we BBQ`d, went on a pony ride, fed the cows and sheep, and explored the zoo. This place is huge so multiple visit are highly recommended. Every season offers something different from outdoor pool …

If you have a toddler and are traveling soon, empower your toddler to be independent by pulling their travel bag, here are some tips on How to Pack a Toddler Travel Bag.  Our four year old started carrying her travel bag (carry-on) travel bags last year, and responsibly pulled it …

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 …