1. Japanese Culture
Japanese culture is completely different to what most children may be used to - different types of food, different ways of interacting with people, and a completely different history!
However, this culture is also so present in a lot of the western media we see and engage with, so there's something recognisable about everything you see when you visit Japan. This makes every day in Japan feel like an adventure, without ever feeling like you're on too unfamiliar ground!
For families wanting to experience some culture shock with a safety net, this is the holiday destination for you.
Here are some ideas on how you can experience a variety of Japanese culture:
- Discover traditional Japanese architecture, as well as its modern delights - visit the ancient castles, temples and shinto shrines of Kyoto and Nara, walk the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, and see the neon lights and skyline of Tokyo.
- Observe some of Japan's famous wildlife and natural wonders - visit the hot springs in Nagano to see snow monkeys bathing in the pools, and meet the friendly bowing deer of Nara Park. A visit to Japan also wouldn't be complete without observing the spectacular active volcano, Mount Fuji - you can see its snow-capped peak from around October to June.
- Cherry blossom festival - Japan is a great destination all-year-round (I went in October), but if you want the chance to experience the beautiful annual cherry blossom (sakura) in full bloom, visit Japan between late March to April - the ideal time to see the flowers is dependant on your destination, so do check when you're planning your family holiday.
- Immerse yourself in Japan's pop culture - Visit the Harajuku cosplay street in Tokyo, browse Japanese manga book stores, inspire your inner artist at the Ghibli Animation Studio, or if your family loves Disney, visit Tokyo Disney!
- Enjoy day-to-day Japanese experiences - When I told people I was visiting Japan, I was given a lot of travel advice surrounding day-to-day experiences – try the vending machines, visit the convenience stores, enjoy some street food, and try all the settings on the toilets (incidentally, the public spaces toilets are plentiful – and free!). On a Japan trip, the most everyday experiences turn into something new and fun.
- Take part in a traditional tea ceremony - experience the ancient ritualised Japanese practise of preparing and drinking green tea, typically held in a traditional tearoom with tatami floor.
For more hands-on experiences your family can enjoy in Japan, read on!
2. Hands-on Experiences and Family Friendly Museums
Sometimes it can be tricky to find that right balance between learning about a country’s history and culture and not wanting your holiday to be too dry. I can tell you now - there's nothing dry about exploring Japan!
Japan is full of fun, engaging, hands-on experiences. Rather than just learn about the traditions surrounding the classic kimono, why not wear one yourself and walk amongst the temples and shrines, and cherry blossoms?
You could also practice eating with chopsticks, or you could whittle and decorate your own! Eat delicious street food and sushi (perhaps with your new chopsticks!), or try your hand at making Japanese food yourself at a cookery class.
The museums and galleries follow the same hands-on trend. TeamLabs are really art galleries, but all the exhibits are interactive and engaging, encouraging visitors to play their way through the exhibits.
The Samurai & Ninja Museum in Kyoto passes around ancient samurai swords (not replicas!), invites you to try on armour, and pits you against each other in a shuriken throwing competition!
One of my favourite experiences was visiting a sumo show. This was sumo entertainment, a fun blend of traditional sumo and something more like WWE, where we learnt traditional moves and history, and jeered and cheered the wrestlers coming on to their own music. They even invite the audience to get up and have a go themselves.
3. Japanese Cuisine: Food for All Ages
At the risk of this article becoming one long advert for Japan’s convenience stores, they are a great places for families with a range of different eating requirements. There are hot food counters, sandwiches and salads which range from recognisable to something completely different.
Each store has a small area with microwaves and hot water so you can heat up any pre made meals or put water in the noodles; this quick and easy dinner option is honestly a godsend after a long day of sightseeing, when all you want to do is get some nutrients and go to bed. They are also a great place to stock up on weird and wonderful snacks to keep you going throughout the day.
In the cities, many department stores, malls and stations have great food courts, where you can get themed foods, western style food, sushi, or other local Japanese cuisine. This means everyone can pick what they want to eat and where to get their food from, and all come together to eat their food at a table. It saves a lot of arguments!
Japan really tries to make life for tourists as easy as possible, and most restaurants and cafes will have menus with clear pictures so it’s easy to see what you’ll get. Some even come with instructions on the best way to eat an unfamiliar dish!
It's important to make servers aware of any dietary requirements though, as menu items will not always list every ingredient – for example pork is a very common broth base, even in a dish which may otherwise look vegan or vegetarian.
This is easy to navigate though, and our guides will make sure food meets your dietary requirements; when you're eating on your own, you can take a card with your requirements written on in Japanese, so you can make sure the restaurant knows what you need.
4. Safe and Easy Travel
Japanese cities are remarkably safe for travellers, and I found no issues walking around in the evening as a woman on my own. I was relieved to find out that the cities were actually a lot easier to navigate than expected.
Here are some tips for navigating Japan:
- Pre-loaded travel cards - Holidays booked with Families Worldwide include a pre-loaded travel card, which works throughout Japan. These are very easy to use (similar to Oyster Cards in London), and can be topped at Family Marts and 7 Elevens. If you load too much on your card - don't worry! It can also be used at vending machines and some retailers.
- Get a data roaming package, eSIM or local SIM card - Having internet and a smart phone will make your life much easier, and use an app such as Google maps to help you navigate. I personally wasn’t expecting much from the app, but I was really pleasantly surprised! I was able to find very accurate train and bus information, including platforms, and even which carriages would be better to use. You can even download a Google map for offline use.
- Utilise the luggage network - There’s also a great network of luggage transfers in Japan. Rather than take your own luggage from city to city on the train and have to navigate the train stations with suitcases in tow, your hotel will happily send you luggage on to your next major destination, usually with options to arrive the same day. This service is especially great if you're using the Shinkansen bullet trains, as the bullet train has very limited storage facilities for baggage, and also makes it really easy to stop off on the way for a bit of sightseeing.
5. Family Friendly Accommodation
As a family holiday specialist, we're well aware of the age old problem of travelling as a family of four or five, all wanting to be in the same room, but to wanting to squash the children on to a little sofa bed. Japanese hotels are almost designed for this, with rooms frequently featuring four or more single proper beds, without having to fork out for a family suite.
Japanese hotels provide many amenities as standard – I started to wonder if I even needed to bother packing! All the usual toiletries, plus tooth brushes, hair brushes, hair ties… even pyjamas were available! Many hotels (including the Omo7 Osaka which features on our Japan: Ancient and Modern tour) provide yukatas, or robes, for you to wear around the hotel. It was very fun to see all the families in matching outfits!
Speaking of the Omo chain of hotels, we use two of these hotels on our group tour, and it was easy to see why. Both hotels feature a garden area, a happy hour with free drinks (alcoholic and non alcoholic) and excellent local maps which show you the best places to explore, eat and play.
The Omo7 in Osaka was a highlight, with its nightly light displays, free of charge Takoyaki and local beers, public bathhouse, and a sprawling garden filled with guests in their yukatas waving the bright lanterns provided by the hotel. All the hotels felt like an oasis in the middle of a busy city.
6. Affordability
While the upfront costs of your Japanese accommodation, guides, and intercity transport will be expensive, once you're in Japan you’ll find that even in the big cities, things are suprisingly affordable!
There's excellent food to be had for very reasonable prices, public transport is cheap, and souvenirs well priced.
You also don't need to budget for tipping – in Japan tipping is not traditional, and visitors even have stories of wait staff running after them to return the small change they left when rounding up their bill.
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Image credit: Bullet train image supplied from Shutterstock; all other images taken by Jenny Elliot.
As you can see, Japan offers so much as a holiday destination for families - and this is just the tip of the iceberg! If this blog has inspired you to visit Japan on your next family holiday, check out our Japan: Ancient & Modern and Highlights of Japan itineraries, or contact our friendly team for further information.
