July 17, 2024 | written by KATHRYN ROMEYN
As an American travel writer living with my family in Bali, Indonesia, all of Asia essentially acts as our backyard.
We explore it eagerly and often. For our first trip as a newly minted family of four, we ventured to Japan with our kids, ages 3 years and then 4 months old. The adventure coincided with Mother’s Day, which felt like kismet as I first visited the country with my own mom over the same holiday five years ago.
Back then, I experienced Japan as an exquisite place where even the most mundane task was elevated to an art form, and I discovered extraordinary joy and beauty in slowing down—something having kids has further emphasized.
I assumed that Japan would be a friendly destination for little ones, and even when proven right, I was surprised at just how universally sweet and lovely everyone was to them. Kawaii was probably the word we heard most from Japanese folks everywhere—taxi drivers, servers, school kids, elderly passersby—in reference to my girls. It means “cute,” and it’s not only commentary, it’s essentially a Japanese movement. There are even food tours based around cute food—something many youngsters would love. Here are my tips on how to get the most fun, cuteness, and deliciousness out of traveling to Japan with your kids.
