Taking a 2 y.o. to Japan

Old Jul 15th, 2006, 07:26 PM
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Taking a 2 y.o. to Japan

Any suggestions about what gear to take when I travel with my 2 1/2-year-old daughter to Japan? She's too big for a Baby Bjorn, but I'm too small (5'3") to carry her in a backpack. Also, I've heard that Tokyo is not very stroller-friendly. Subway stations have many stairs, shrines and temples have cobblestones, etc. My child is active and likes to walk, but she'll likely be tired from jet-lag.
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Old Jul 15th, 2006, 07:48 PM
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Try re-posting on the Asia board, although you may get some gear advice here.

Tokyo is not particularly stroller-friendly but, I think, primarily because of the density. Narrow sidewalks, incredibly crowded subways, etc. If the "ny" in your name means New York, you may think you know crowded subways. Believe me, you don't. Everyone is very polite, but the crowding pushing is disconcerting (if not a bit scary) to the average American. The good news, however, is that pickpocketing is extremely, extremely rare.

Yes, there are cobblestones in places and the access concepts embodied in the Americans with Disabilities Acts are not in evidence in Japan. But, hey, the Japanese have kids too, and somehow they get around. Perhaps someone on the Asia board can tell you what they saw/did with regard to toddlers in Japan.
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Old Jul 16th, 2006, 07:27 PM
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My sibling used to take their children (when they were little) to Tokyo often, they always carried foldable strollers, and travelled around without too much problem. It would be easier if you don't take tubes or trains around rush hour, it could be extremely crowdy. Sometiems they found taking bus more convenient, but took much more time.

Perhpas it would be advisable to take a child harness (?) with you, as the child could be easily distrcted and wandered off in the crowd while sightseeing, it had happened to my nephews and niece few times.
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Old Jul 17th, 2006, 03:03 AM
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I've travelled to Japan with my daughter when she was about 2yo also. Didn't use Bjorn, we were there in July and summer was too hot and humid. Just used a lightweight buggy--best if you can fold it easily. Found Tokyo subway system to be quite family friendly. Main stations now started having lifts to the platform. Not much different from either London or NY subway systems, in my view. Though we did avoid using rush hours (7-9:30am, 5-7:30 pm). We also avoided big crowded areas like Shibuya or Shinjuku, but had lovely strolls around Omoto Sando and Aoyama.
We did get ignored by taxi drivers several times--dunno if it's because of the buggy or because we were gaijin.
Just be aware that it takes longer for the young children to get over the jet lag--we were there for one week, and it took my daughter 2.5 days to get adjusted (then another 2 days after we came back home to re-adjusted).
Oh, BTW you will get stared a lot if you use a harness--I was told local people think it's appropriate only for the pets (then again, I saw a CAT on a leash tehre.) At least I felt safe letting my kid wander around, knowing pretty much everything is clean!
Our hotel had a babysitting service, but you need to ask for someone who is bilingual. There is also a creche in Roppongi--either Ark Hills or Ark Tower we used as a last resort one afternoon. One drawback was we didn't find that many playground or parks in central tokyo. Don't know where the local toddlers play...
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Old Jul 17th, 2006, 03:32 AM
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There aren't too many issues travelling to Tokyo with a toddler (I have a 2.5 year-old grandson so I know and been there many times).
Japanese themselves use strollers a lot (stick-type), but be prepared to fold it up going up and down stairs (a lot in stations, though some new lines have escalators, like subway Oedo line). I'd avoid travelling during the very busy times, but it gets bearable from 9 am. What you need to look out for when using a stroller (or walking with a young child) is pavements, where they exist, are also used (legally) by cyclists and there are many obstacles such as shop signs, bins, merchandise and parked bikes. And though traffic, while heavy, is orderly, keep an eye out for taxis (which move fast and have automatic rear doors) and manic bikers.
There is a severe shortage of land in Tokyo so playgrounds are a premium, but small ones do exist in residential areas, usually off the main streets. Cobblestones are least of your worries, and it's quite safe to let your child walk about within temple and shrine grounds.
If you are going in the summer, make sure your child is well protected from sun and heat (wear a hat and sun block) and keep the fluid level up - there are vending machines at every street corner selling bottled mineral water for 120 yen.
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