We just took our kids who are a few years younger than 8 and 11 and it was really easy getting around. Since they couldn't carry their own bags we booked a transfer from Narita through Klook which worked out great but was a bit more expensive than taking the train. Then you just get the Suica card on your phones in Tokyo to pay for all your fares, although you would need separate passes for the kids if they don't have phones yet.
We stayed just south of Ginza, close to the Conrad hotel. Easy access to the whole city between the Shimbashi and Shiodome stations. Google maps worked flawlessly for the Tokyo train system, down to which line and platform would get you there quickest. The hardest part of the train system was finding the lines themselves in a place like Tokyo station. We ordered a pocket wifi to our hotel once we landed and it worked pretty well the whole time and we just turned on roaming if we were stuck or had to.
I'd recommend finding where your interests lie since Tokyo is so massive and staying close to there. We chose near Ginza so that we could shop, but also had easy access to Odaiba, TeamLabs, Tokyo Tower, Pokemon Centers, etc.
I was worried before going on the trip since we still needed a pop up stroller for our youngest but honestly, getting around Tokyo was super easy and we just didn't go to really tiny restaurants since the stroller would have been a pain.
The Following User Says Thank You to RandyHolt For This Useful Post:
Would love an update on this when you get back! My kids are 8/10 right now and I'm pushing hard for Tokyo as our next big trip, but my wife is uncertain.
Apart from me always wanting to go, I figured Tokyo/Japan would be a great place to take kids this age. It's different but not too different, and seems like a good intro to opening their eyes to the rest of the world in a country that's known to be safe and organized. Plus who doesn't love Japanese food and pop culture.
Bigtime went to Tokyo as well not that long ago as I recall, and he has kids that are not that far off from ours as well (although a couple years older I think). So hopefully the chimes in too with some thoughts.
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Table 5 For This Useful Post:
Apart from me always wanting to go, I figured Tokyo/Japan would be a great place to take kids this age. It's different but not too different, and seems like a good intro to opening their eyes to the rest of the world in a country that's known to be safe and organized. Plus who doesn't love Japanese food and pop culture.
Bigtime went to Tokyo as well not that long ago as I recall, and he has kids that are not that far off from ours as well (although a couple years older I think). So hopefully the chimes in too with some thoughts.
Yup, we were there last year in early May. Kids were 13 and 10 at the time. We booked an AirBnb in Shinjuku near the Shin-Okubo station on the Yamanote line, made it very easy to get around. Google maps was on lock all over Japan, made navigating super easy, just make sure to get a backup charger for your phones as you will definitely be draining the battery while there. Also opted to buy some sim cards for Japan instead of the pocket wifi, maybe $20 or so and easily worth it.
We'd spend a day exploring around Shinjuku, a day in Shibuya and Harajuku, and we made a trip over by the Tokyo Skytree to take in a Capybara cafe for my youngest, it was pretty cool. Really a lot of walking around discovering places, and eating non-stop along the way!
Day trip from Tokyo could be to Kamakura to the south, once a capital of Japan. Super busy with people coming down to the seaside there, and is apparently also famous for their trains along the ocean being featured in some anime shows.
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Bigtime For This Useful Post:
Thanks, really appreciate the insight. I'm just getting going on research, but it always helps to start with good intel on getting around, as I find that can make a big difference. We definitely don't mind walking, and are looking forward to travelling by metro...but with a 8 and 11 year old, Im trying to keep things efficient.
Are any of these "favourite places" specifics you can recommend?
I am sure you'll find tons of channels on youtube but we have found these to be useful without the annoying algorithm BS:
When I was on sabbatical ages ago, I stayed at the Metropolitan in the Ikebukuro area. Many hotel options though. Great place for food especially with the underground Tobu and Seibu. You can blast through here any time you are hungry and it's amazing as it gets later to closing and they fire sell fresh food.
If you're up for gaming and Otaku in Akihabara there are a bunch of hotels right by the station. It's pretty much where we go now with our personal interests. It's basically a yearly trip. The massive Yodobashi Camera is right there with food and shopping.
Also as a baseline for comparison shopping, there are APA hotels all around Tokyo. They're a standard hotel you can compare against price wise. Their owner is a bit crazy/problematic though.
The Following User Says Thank You to chemgear For This Useful Post:
Really a lot of walking around discovering places, and eating non-stop along the way!
This is the way. Heck, even the 7-11/Family Mart/Lawson has good food. It's so fresh and they are so meticulous about it, their "best before dates" are usually the next day and may even be marked to the hour.
This is the way. Heck, even the 7-11/Family Mart/Lawson has good food. It's so fresh and they are so meticulous about it, their "best before dates" are usually the next day and may even be marked to the hour.
Oh yes, those places are just the best. Every night we'd grab food there for breakfast the following morning (and a couple of beers for myself).
The Following User Says Thank You to Bigtime For This Useful Post:
There are still tuna focused restaurants around the city but this place was amazing. The show was great and mind blowing that you could get something this fresh. Unfortunately, they have since closed down but would be a great find if another place does this.
Fun activity, just get lost inside Shinjuku station. It has something like 200 entrances/exits and is just insane to be in. Busiest train station in the world.
Forgot to mention that some rare things you'll have to plan ahead for. If you want to visit/sit down at a Pokemon Cafe you need to hit this up.
They open up reservations one month ahead of time at 6pm Tokyo time. So 3 am Calgary time. It literally comes and goes within a second or two. It's not easy but possible. Sometimes people will cancel as well so feel free to keep refreshing if you care for the experience (likely for your kids or if you are a fan).
Fun activity, just get lost inside Shinjuku station. It has something like 200 entrances/exits and is just insane to be in. Busiest train station in the world.
I always felt like we were in peoples’ way navigating the stations. I mean, we definitely were, but that feeling was heightened in Japan.
The Following User Says Thank You to Wormius For This Useful Post:
I always felt like we were in peoples’ way navigating the stations. I mean, we definitely were, but that feeling was heightened in Japan.
I totally understand that feeling. We started our trip in Seoul, and while the stations were busy we managed well. Then we fly over to Osaka, and when we got off the train from Kansai to Shin-Osaka the difference was staggering. That station was MOVING, people were not rushing but I can only describe it as moving with a purpose we didn't quite feel in Seoul. Took some getting used to but after a couple of days I felt like we were holding our own and not really impeding anyone.
You need to think opposite too. Car and people traffic is on the left. Riding an escalator in the stations means standing on the left, walking on the right unlike here. For my friend’s wedding he was constantly yelling at his dad to stand on the left as he’d start on the right blocking traffic.
Oh, Moneyguy, his wife got back to me about tours (delay because she just got to Japan) and said try Sunrise Tours or Hato Bus.
__________________
The Following User Says Thank You to FurnaceFace For This Useful Post:
You need to think opposite too. Car and people traffic is on the left. Riding an escalator in the stations means standing on the left, walking on the right unlike here. For my friend’s wedding he was constantly yelling at his dad to stand on the left as he’d start on the right blocking traffic.
Oh, Moneyguy, his wife got back to me about tours (delay because she just got to Japan) and said try Sunrise Tours or Hato Bus.
Just need to be careful. People stand the left in Tokyo to stay out of the way. But you stand on the right in Osaka, Kyoto and Nara (for the deer). It's not a global standard across Japan.
Last edited by chemgear; 07-04-2024 at 09:06 AM.
The Following User Says Thank You to chemgear For This Useful Post:
I totally understand that feeling. We started our trip in Seoul, and while the stations were busy we managed well. Then we fly over to Osaka, and when we got off the train from Kansai to Shin-Osaka the difference was staggering. That station was MOVING, people were not rushing but I can only describe it as moving with a purpose we didn't quite feel in Seoul. Took some getting used to but after a couple of days I felt like we were holding our own and not really impeding anyone.
The people in Japan were so nice and polite though too. We took our kids at 10 and 8 as well. Best family trip so far , not even close. In a busy station we were getting our bearings, not lost but also figuring it out. Twice complete strangers during that time stopped and offered to help us.
The great part of Japan is it is definitely foreign, but very safe to travel in, so clean, and so many different experiences from ultra modern to ancient rituals. And those things exist in some cases side by side.
We also have a very picky eater in the family but he did quite well. The convenience stores were great to fill him uo and a couple of meals where we were grilling our own food were a lot of fun. The kid ate a lot of chicken karage on that trip that’s for sure.
Fun activity, just get lost inside Shinjuku station. It has something like 200 entrances/exits and is just insane to be in. Busiest train station in the world.
I want to see this station, if it’s near where we’ll be on our trip. I like these things.
The people in Japan were so nice and polite though too. We took our kids at 10 and 8 as well. Best family trip so far , not even close. In a busy station we were getting our bearings, not lost but also figuring it out. Twice complete strangers during that time stopped and offered to help us.
The great part of Japan is it is definitely foreign, but very safe to travel in, so clean, and so many different experiences from ultra modern to ancient rituals. And those things exist in some cases side by side.
We also have a very picky eater in the family but he did quite well. The convenience stores were great to fill him uo and a couple of meals where we were grilling our own food were a lot of fun. The kid ate a lot of chicken karage on that trip that’s for sure.
Yeah, spend two weeks there and come back there will be culture shocks both ways. People are gross here and don't give a #### about anything but themselves. The streets are clean even though there are no garbage bins anywhere at all.
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to chemgear For This Useful Post:
