Japan - General Travel Tips

1) Due to the language barrier, it was hard for me to identify products I was familiar with, so I was glad to have brought it all along. We did jar food for ten days which I wasn't kicked about but since Karam was only 9 months old, I didn't want to experiment with anything even as basic as rice because I wasn't sure about the ingredients such as fish stock they was going into it. (We are not vegetarian, I am just a little paranoid about seafood when traveling). For the food alone, I would rather stay in a service apartment than a hotel.

2) Shopping for kids is great, with many American and European brands although beware: Japan is very expensive.

3) For short distances, I would take a taxi. There are no laws regarding car seats and it's much more convenient than taking the train, especially at rush hour.

4)Narita airport is a good two hours from the city. You can take the train if your destination is on or close to a train line, or you can take a bus, which often takes longer due to traffic. Plan accordingly, especially on your return. And, as always, pack many snacks.

5) The Japanese are insanely polite and very fond of children. If you are stuck, gesture madly and ask for help - someone is sure to give you a hand!

Sayonara!

Other posts in the Tokyo series:

Tokyo, Japan - Karaoke is baby-friendly!

Tokyo, Japan - Tokyo's Best Shopping for and with Baby

Tokyo, Japan - New York Grill: All High, No Chair

Tokyo, Japan - Cerulean Hotel: Pretty Good!

Tokyo, Japan - Karaoke is baby-friendly!

Check it out!




Photo taken at the massive Karaoke hall in Shibuya. You can't miss it. It is seven floors high and says "KARAOKE" in neon lights down the side of the building.

Other posts in the Tokyo series:

Japan - General Travel Tips

Tokyo, Japan - Tokyo's Best Shopping for and with Baby

Tokyo, Japan - New York Grill: All High, No Chair

Tokyo, Japan - Cerulean Hotel: Pretty Good!

Tokyo, Japan - Tokyo's Best Shopping for and with Baby

Like most places in Tokyo, Roppongi Hills is a bit of a maze, but once you locate a map (thankfully, there are many in English), you will find real treasures in terms of shopping for your baby. In keeping with the Japanese obsession with the French, the mall is filled with quaint french styles for nurseries, and funky toys and wearables!



Harajuku is one of Tokyo's most fun shopping neighborhoods and the best news is that its train station is totally baby-friendly (can't say the same about Shibuya and this note DOES NOT apply to rush hour during which all sane human beings should be safely ensconced in their hotel or nearest karaoke bar!). The pavements on the main street are wide and even the side streets are walkable with prams. As all over Tokyo, however, meals will be a problem so best to pack your own or stock up on Only Organics jars, as I did!

Other posts in the Tokyo series:

Japan - General Travel Tips

Tokyo, Japan - Karaoke is baby-friendly!

Tokyo, Japan - New York Grill: All High, No Chair

Tokyo, Japan - Cerulean Hotel: Pretty Good!

Tokyo, Japan - New York Grill: All High, No Chair

Located in the swanky Park Hyatt in Shinjuku, the New York Grill restaurant is best known for its appearance in Lost in Translation and for its spectacular view of Tokyo. However, given that brunch is USD 100/person, I was a bit disappointed that they were unable to provide me with a high chair. There were other babies around, but none looked very welcome, although the Japanese are way too polite to say anything directly. I would say, give this one a miss if you're traveling with bubby. You could do dinner, but the food isn't good enough to waste a precious baby-sitter night on and you can't even see the view in the dark.

Other posts in the Tokyo series:

Japan - General Travel Tips

Tokyo, Japan - Karaoke is baby-friendly!

Tokyo, Japan - Tokyo's Best Shopping for and with Baby

Tokyo, Japan - Cerulean Hotel: Pretty Good!

Tokyo, Japan - Cerulean Hotel: Pretty Good!

As we were tagging along on my husband's business trip, we stayed at the Cerulean Hotel in Shibuya which is primarily a business hotel. That being said, they gave us a solid wood crib with beautiful sheets, so typical of the Japanese need for perfection. Room service was a nightmare as I was unable to communicate that I wanted plain rice, and was fortunate to have brought my Only Organics jars with me. That being said, if you are lucky enough to find an English-speaking staff member as I did on my penultimate day(!!), things can get much easier (try the concierge or reception, as they usually interface with tourists the most). The other plus is that there is a convenience store (Seven Eleven) in the hotel itself, which means that milk and other necessities are always accessible. Finally, Shibuya is ridiculously centrally located, so can walk to many stores and side streets, and to the Shibuya station which connects to most places (but is a bit rough with a pram -baby bjorn for this one!). There is a walkway from the upper lobby that enables you to cross the crazy busy road and make your way to the station.

Other posts in the Tokyo series:

Japan - General Travel Tips

Tokyo, Japan - Karaoke is baby-friendly!

Tokyo, Japan - Tokyo's Best Shopping for and with Baby

Tokyo, Japan - New York Grill: All High, No Chair