Japan with a Baby

While it's still fresh in our minds, we thought it would be good to share some of the "learns" we had while travelling around Japan with a 9 month old.

Given it was the first time we've travelled with a baby I spent a lot of time researching what was available, accepted practice and challenges we might face. So here are our top learns or tips:

Pram: Take a lightweight pram and a baby carrier. We read so many mixed opinions on to have one or not, especially in Kyoto. In the end we purchased a new compact pram (Babyzen Yoyo - now our "travel pram") that folded small enough to be carry on luggage for the flight, fit above us on trains, and when we did have to carry it (eg. temples, castles, customs) weight wasn't an issue. Some of the terrain we covered with it wasn't ideal and some train stations lifts are nowhere to be found so carrying is the only option; however for 80% of our time in Japan it was home for our baby.

Food: Bananas and Onigiri from 7-11 are the go to options. We brought a lot of food from home as research suggested it was hard to find baby food on Japan - and it is. Department stores may have a limited selection, some pharmacies as well but don't bank on your child liking them. Fruit is very expensive except for bananas from 7-11 (and other places). Onigiri are great for lunch but can make a mess. Restaurants in department stores probably can accomodate babies but beyond that it really is pot luck, many places just can't accommodate them.

Nappies: Japanese nappies are sensational. Like baby food, nappies can be hard to find. We brought a lot from home but by the end of our journey started running low. Our godsend was a children's clothing store in Himeji that had a baby store in the back half of the shop. The nappies are very similar to home but with a few little differences that made changing a wriggling 9 month old so much easier.

Changing: Train Stations and Department stores are the places to go. It could be difficult to find change facilities in some areas (around Higashiyama in Kyoto especially) but most train stations and department  stores have facilities. Look for disabled toilets if you can't find a baby change sign as most have changing facilities in them.

We did find it difficult at times and the unpredictable nature of a 9 month old does shape your day, but it was worth it.

Special mention to Julie and her website "Tokyo Urban Baby" that provided a lot of advice, and confidence, for us to do this trip.

Finally be prepared for you baby to be a "celebrity" in Japan - it was quite surreal the number of strangers that waved, spoke, touched and took photos of our baby.

Homeward Bound

Our Japan Journey has come to an end today. The whole day has been spent on a train, bus and plane getting from Tokyo Station to Melbourne Airport. It's been a journey better than anything we had imagined beforehand but it will be a while before we attempt this again.

All Over Tokyo

We decided to make the most of our last day in Tokyo and Japan by going to a few places we had missed on our previous visits. We visited Nippori, Tokyo Textile Town, but unfortunately today was also a public holiday in Japan so most places were closed. What was open was still very worthwhile. Nippori is also the only place in Tokyo you can see Mount Fuji from ground level, however the clouds once again obstructed our view.

Back on the train to the Tokyo World Trade Centre and a view from 42 levels up. Again we had never really been to this part of Tokyo do the view was quite different to our expectations. Especially the Tokyo Tower that dominates part of the skyline here.

Finally back to Tokyo station for more shopping, dinner and our hotel. I did sneak back out for one last bowl of ramen before we head off early tomorrow morning to the airport.

Nippori 

Tokyo World Trade Centre 

Tokyo Station

Osaka to Tokyo

Once again we boarded the shinkansen, this time back to Tokyo for the final few days of our Japan Journey. The 3 hour journey is a wonderful way to see rural and small town Japan; yet Mount Fuji once again eluded us behind clouds.

Returning to Tokyo, and to a place we had stayed our last visit to Japan, gave us a chance to visit familiar places for some last minute shopping. We also returned to Harajuku to collect some items we saw last week. The result was a lot less walking today but a much heavier suitcase heading home.

If anyone can tell us about this "egg" character we've seen everywhere in Japan this visit, please add a comment:

Himeji and Osaka at Night

What we thought would be an easy day of strolling ended up being a very long day out. Our journey took us to Himeji,  around an hour from Osaka, to visit its enormous castle and the Kokoen gardens. Both were wonderful, and the town itself has a certain charm. We ended up spending much of the day there before joining the peak hour commute back to Osaka. Not a great idea with an overtired 9 month old but an experience we wouldn't of had otherwise. 

After a feeding, bathing and changing pot stop at our hotel we ventured back out into more peak hour chaos to visit the Osaka lights in Dōtonbori and sampling some Takoyaki. Osaka really is such a different place once the sun goes down.

Back to Tokyo tomorrow for the last part of our Japan Journey before we fly home on Thursday.

Himeji Castle

Kokoen

Dōtonbori