Japan Kids Insider

Flying with a baby or a small child in tow means extra gear, extra timing pressure, and extra tired little bodies. Staying somewhere convenient before or after your flight can take a lot of that stress out of travel day. I've put together a list of hotels for your Osaka trip that go one step further than just being convenient. Each one carries an official "Welcome Baby" certification, meaning it's been specifically evaluated for how well it supports families with babies and young children. Osaka works a little differently than Tokyo when it comes to airports. Kansai International Airport (KIX) handles almost all the international flights, Itami Airport (ITM) is mainly domestic, and Kobe Airport (UKB) is a smaller domestic option on the Kobe side — so depending on your route, you might land at any of the three. Rather than hotels squeezed right up against a single terminal, the certified options here are better described as convenient home bases for exploring ...

Flying with a baby or a small child in tow means extra gear, extra timing pressure, and extra tired little bodies. Staying somewhere close to Haneda Airport before or after your flight can take a lot of that stress out of travel day. I've put together a list of hotels near Haneda that go one step further than just being "close." Each one carries an official "Welcome Baby" certification, meaning it's been specifically evaluated for how well it supports families with babies and young children. What Does "Welcome Baby" Certification Actually Mean? The “Welcome Baby” certification is an official Japanese program operated by MIKI HOUSE Child & Family Research Institute , part of the well-known Japanese baby and children’s clothing brand MIKI HOUSE . Since March 2008, the organization has certified accommodation and other facilities that meet its standards. To receive the certification, a property must meet at least 70 of 100 criteria. The ...

Whether you're planning a trip to Japan with your kids, or you're a foreign family already living here — welcome. You're exactly who I started this blog for. A Little About Me I'm a Tokyo-born mom, living in Tokyo with my husband and our two preschoolers — the four of us. But I haven't always been a "stay in Tokyo" kind of person — before kids, I lived and worked abroad in Europe and in Asia, and I've traveled to 23 countries along the way. I know what it's like to be the confused foreigner squinting at a menu, or googling "how do I even do this here" way too often. Closer to home, I've also visited 31 of Japan's 47 prefectures. That mix of experience changed how I see my own country. I know Japan as a local — the shortcuts, the unspoken rules, the parts that don't show up in guidebooks. But I also remember what it's like to be the outsider figuring out a new culture, especially with kids along for the ride. Why This Blog...