Bellabird

Hi
I'm flying over to Japan to meet up with my husband in February. I have a 7 mo baby and a 4 yo girl. I haven't had any time to research the trip and have to book quickly.

I was wondering if anyone could suggest:

- an easy itinerary given the age of the kids
- any hotel suggestions - from what I can see the rooms are really small and don't suit families
- I'm guessing we could do Tokyo and maybe one other city (Kyoto?) so suggestions around that would be nice too.

Our budget is limited (hotel up to maybe $250 / nt, maybe a touch more if we have to).

Thanks in advance for any assistance

Bellabird

Bellabird

Hmmm .... no ideas, therefore I've either offended somehow unintentionally or I am quite mad to consider this trip ...

hawaiiantraveler

How long will you be there? It will still be very cold at that time.

You might want to try an apartment but length of stay would dictate that

http://www.oakwood.com/serviced-apar.../prop4870.html

I like the Comfort Inn chain for that price

http://tiny.cc/HZAbz

Try this site for hotel options

http://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/

Let me know how long you will be there and your interests and maybe we can suggest an itinerary for you

Aloha!

hawaiiantraveler

Oh I just reread your title of 7 days in Japan

You could spend 3 nights in Tokyo and 4 nights in Kyoto.

See here for things to do in both cities

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2158.html

lcuy

We traveled to Japan a lot when our two girls were little. It is so easy compared to other countries! I would recommend "Japanese Style rooms" in your hotels. Many western looking hotels will have both western and japan-style rooms. This will get you a big room with tatami floors, and futon beds. Normally, the staff will come in each evening and set up the beds, but with your little ones, you can ask to leave one bed out for napping. Your 4 yr old will love sleeping on the floor with mommy and daddy. We always found this to be the most comfortable and economical way to travel when our girls were small.

It may be quite cold in February, so two cities will be plenty. Tokyo and Kyoto or even Tokyo and Yokohama. One thing about Japan is that there is so much to see that you don't have to plan a lot for kids. Every block will have a temple, the parks have lovely play areas for kids, and even the most mundane department store is full of incredible things for a 4 yr old to look at.

A few tips: Don't take a big stroller. Spaces are tight, and you go up and down stairs a LOT in Japan. A very light stroller works better, a snuggli or other type chest carrier is even better. Not to mention, carrying them will keep both of you warm!

The Japanese love kids, and there are lots of clean baby changing bathrooms, play areas in dept stores, and you will get plenty of attention. The drinking water is clean, and restaurants are good about providing special foods. We actually found convenience stores and bakeries a good place to get breakfast with kids. Yoghurt, fresh fruit, and french pastry was comfort food to my kids at that age, and much cheaper to buy it the night before and have it in your room. No hunger melt downs while getting ready to go out either.

Here are some recommendations for kid's activities and books:

http://www.travelforkids.com/Funtodo/Japan/tokyo.htm

http://www.tokyoessentials.com/kids.html

A great book you might buy is 'Tokyo for Free' by Susan Pompian

dreaming

Are you flying in and out of Narita?

I've in a similar boat to you. I'm going in February with DH and kids, but my kids are 8 & 11 older. I haven't been with kids, so I can only offer ideas, not recommendations...

There are several hotels that offer triples (you can search on Expedia for rooms for 3 and you'll see the triples - which I think would work for you with a baby cot. Look at the Hotel New Otani Triple). There are a handful that offer quads. You might look at the Sutton Place Hotel Junior Suite. There's also House Ikebukuro and Hotel Edoya and Shibuya Excel Tokyo, Grand Prince Akasaka with quads. Again, I haven't stayed in them. Also, check the Somerset serviced residences... www.somerset.com

If you're planning on Disneyland, some of the hotels near Disney offer rooms that will sleep more than two... The Hilton is reasonably priced.

For Kyoto, you might look at the Rihga Royal. I think the Holiday Inn has a room with two doubles. We're renting a place through Homeaway for the nights we're in Kyoto.

This website lists some things to do with kids in Toyko http://www.tokyoessentials.com/kids.html

Bellabird

Oh, I didn't realise I had such wonderful replies ... I gave up too soon. A huge thanks to you all for your wonderful suggestions. I had to book stuff anyway earlier and now have to live with it, so if anyone can critique this, it would be appreciated. The hotels are booked and paid for, so they can't change.

Feb 10: Arrive Tokyo late. Am thinking of a private taxi with two sleepy, grumpy little ones and luggage. Recommendations appreciated.

Feb 11: Recovery day. Maybe wander around the immediate neighbourhood.

Feb 12: Do something in Tokyo with small kids. Ummm..... have a guide lined up but am a bit unsure of what to do. The zoo, park, museum area. Or something else (Puroland? daugher is 4).

Feb 13: Ginza area / Imperial Palace. Not sure why wrt Ginza, but someone told me to go there.

Feb 14 (Sunday): I've heard that Harajuku is the place to go. But my guide is suggesting we do Puroland over this. Is this madness? What would you guys suggest.

Feb 15: Tokyo Disney ... one of them.

Feb 16: Travel to Kyoto

Feb 17 - 20: Something around Kyoto. Will meet up with husband who wants to do day trip to Hiroshima (should I send him with the 4 yo and stay local - what do you think?)

We fly out of Osaka on the 20th and will take the train from Kyoto to Osaka that day. The flight is in the evening.

I would appreciate any suggestions you can make on the above. The two hotels I have are the Hilton Tokyo Bay and the Hyatt in Kyoto.

I am especially confused about what would be the best transport option given where we are staying in Tokyo. Would JR pass be kind of useless in the city, should I look at another option. I want it to be easy as it's only me and the kids. Thanks so much for your help thus far!

dreaming

Hi Bella -

I have to caveat my comments again by saying that I haven't gone with the kids yet so I can't tell you that something was great or not... I just in the process of doing the same research you're doing. We'll be in Japan in the same time range you're there.

In regards to the taxi, if you search on this forum you'll find lots of comments about taking the airport bus to your hotel, especially if you have kids/luggage. Taxis are noted as being quite expensive and the Hilton Tokyo Bay website says the bus takes about 90 minutes.

Have you thought about the Kite Museum, the Drum Museum or the National Science Museum? There's also the Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Hall http://www.fukushihoken.metro.tokyo....ish/index.html

Puroland looks like it would be a winner with a 4 year old daughter, but I'm not sure that I'd want to try it on a Sunday. Maybe if you did it on the 11th - your rest day - it might be some incentive to keep everyone awake?

There's also the Ghibli Museum to consider http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/ I believe you'd need to buy tickets in advance for this.

There's a book - Kids Trips in Tokyo - unfortunately a little old - published in 98, but you can see some pages here http://books.google.com/books?id=Hjy...age&q=&f=false and see if the book might help with some ideas.

You'd need to add up your travel to see if it's worthwhile to get a JR Pass, but my guess is that it's not as you just have the one way Tokyo to Kyoto as a big trip on the itinerary. Have a look at the Suica card http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_002.html for traveling around the Tokyo area...

Good luck!

Bellabird

Thanks Kitamura for your suggestion. Special thanks to Dreaming - good to know there's others like me out there! I have very cold feet on Puroland and think that I might save this as a 'wet weather option'. She should get enough theme park exposure at Disneyland.

Another thing I've been told is to leave the pram at home when touring the city. I have an ergo baby carrier for the baby, but am dreading the thought of lugging this around all day ... does anyone have thoughts or experience on this?