Tokyo With a Baby: Important Tips and Advice for Your Trip

Traveling with small children, and especially babies, can be challenging, not only for parents but also for the little explorers. Therefore, good preparation is key when traveling far away. But contrary to what you might think, Japan is the perfect destination if you want to travel with your baby or toddler. In this article, learn how to enjoy Tokyo with a baby, where to find essential supplies for your little ones, and learn the most important terms and apps that make parenting in Tokyo easier.

Is Tokyo Kid-friendly?

Although Tokyo Prefecture, with its over nine million inhabitants, is a megalopolis that never sleeps, Japan’s capital is surprisingly child-friendly. Be it the entertainment and dining options, the public transportation, or the people themselves. This applies not only to Japan’s capital, but to the entire country. As the new mother of a four-month-old daughter, I’ve pretty much found this to be true.

It all starts at Japan’s airports, where you’ll receive preferential treatment as a heavily pregnant woman or with a baby. This starts at check-in, where airline employees will often guide you past the queues, and continues at the security check. At Haneda Airport, for example, there’s a priority security check not only for physically impaired people, but also for pregnant women and people with babies or small children.

Using public transportation and exploring Tokyo with a baby and stroller is also child’s play thanks to the numerous, fully functional elevators. Should you encounter any problems, the railway staff will be happy to help. Tokyo not only offers a barrier-free transportation system for parents and children, but also an impressive infrastructure of nursing and baby changing rooms — some of them in unusual locations.

Tokyo’s Network of Nursing and Baby Changing Rooms

Something I never took seriously before, but now, as a mother, truly appreciate, is Tokyo’s network of nursing and changing rooms. I’d venture to say that nowhere else in the world can you breastfeed or change your baby as comfortably as here in Japan.

So-called “nursery rooms” or “baby rooms,” marked with a baby and bottle symbol, can be found in train stations, department stores, public buildings, and sometimes even office buildings. In addition to the obligatory changing tables, these also offer separate cabins and rooms where you can feed or breastfeed your baby. Those who want to prepare a bottle for their child will sometimes find kettles or even vending machines selling powdered milk, diapers, and wet wipes in addition to regular drinks.

Thanks to the symbols on the information boards in shopping centers or public buildings, you’ll quickly know which floor has the nearest nursery. However, if there’s only a baby symbol on the board, for example, then it’s a changing room only, not a breastfeeding room. The Mamamap app (iOS/Android) can be a lifesaver for both your nerves and your hungry baby. It lets you find the nearest changing and/or breastfeeding rooms based on your region or ward. Breastfeeding rooms are marked with a turquoise location in the app, and changing rooms with a blue location.

Tokyo’s Stroller-friendly Public Transport

As already mentioned, using public transport with a stroller is easy in Tokyo. This is not only due to the numerous elevators that allow you and your child to reach the various floors in the stations and onto the platforms, but also to the designated stroller parking spaces on the trains themselves. These markings, which indicate which carriages have wheelchair and stroller parking spaces, are not available on all lines, but some, such as the Oedo Line, already have these spaces marked on the floor next to the tracks.

And speaking of strollers — you don’t necessarily have to travel with your own. You can rent one at various locations in Tokyo through Babycal (ベビカル). The average price is 1,500 yen for twelve hours, but prices may vary depending on the location. To use the service, all you have to do is register with Babycal, and then you can search for available strollers in your location. Specify the dates you need the stroller, and you’ll receive a QR code that you can use to rent the stroller. Some shopping centers also offer free stroller rentals; just ask at the information desk at the respective mall.

Diapers, Milk and More: Here you will Find What you are Looking for

Essential for traveling with babies and toddlers is, of course, a supply of diapers, formula, and baby food. Of course, it’s possible to pack everything in your suitcase, but why travel with more luggage when you can get everything in Japan?

In principle, you can get diapers, powdered milk, and baby food at any supermarket or drugstore, but the selection can be quite limited. My recommendation would be to visit specialized baby and toddler stores like Akachan Honpo and Nishimatsuya.

You’ll also find some very practical products here, such as Meiji’s Hohoemi raku raku milk. This ready-to-use milk can be fed at room temperature and simply needs to be poured into a bottle or used with the included nipple. It’s a practical solution if you’re not breastfeeding your child and need something quickly. We personally have several bottles of this ready-to-use milk stored in our emergency backpacks in case of an earthquake evacuation.

What can you do in Tokyo With a Baby?

Of course, even the littlest ones want to be entertained on a trip, and babies are no exception. In addition to the typical attractions like aquariums or a visit to the zoo, there are also a number of indoor playgrounds that might be suitable for little explorers.

For example, in the Solamachi shopping center at Tokyo Skytree, you’ll find the two indoor playgrounds Kids Garden and Baby Garden on the fifth floor. While the former is designed for toddlers and children ages 0 to 12, the Baby Garden is for children ages 0 to 2. Babies up to six months old have free admission to both indoor playgrounds. Further information and admission prices, including for adults, can be found on the official website.

Tokyo With a Baby: How to Communicate

Finally, here are a few terms and phrases that can make traveling with a baby in Tokyo easier. The most important words to remember include:

• ベビー・チェア (bebii chea, “high chair/baby chair”)
• ベビー・ルーム (bebii ruumu, “baby room”)
• ベビーカー (bebii kaa, “stroller”)
• ベビー・フード (bebii fudo, “baby food”)
• おむつ (omutsu, “diaper”)
• 粉ミルク (kona miruku, “milk powder”)

With these terms you can also form the most important sentences and questions:

• ベビー・チェアがありますか？ Bebii chea ga arimasuka? Is there a high chair?
• ベビー・ルーム はどこですか？ Bebii ruumu wa doko desuka? Where is the baby room?
• 粉ミルク用のお湯はありますか？ Kona miruku-yo no oyu wa arimasuka? Is there hot water for powder milk?

So you see that exploring a metropolis like Tokyo with a baby or toddler is easier than you might think. Thanks to the numerous breastfeeding and changing rooms, strollers for rent, and practical apps, your trip will be a breeze. Now pack your bags and grab your little explorers!