Traveling to Tokyo with Toddlers: Tips and Itinerary

We took our 2.5-year-old son Sterling and our 12-month-old daughter Scout (crawler) to Tokyo last month. I was nervous about traveling with young kids. So many people said it wasn’t worth it with babies, but it was. Haters can hate, but it was incredible. Full itinerary below - I hope it sparks inspiration for your own adventure!

🗒️  Tips for Traveling to Tokyo with Toddlers

✈️ Flights
We booked a day flight with bassinet seats on the way over. Scout slept for 3 hours out of the 10-hour flight. We tried to stick to our usual routine for food and sleep but didn’t expect them to sleep. Any sleep was a bonus. On the way back, we booked night flights and missed out on bassinet seats. We cut laps of the airport for a few hours—they both slept the entire 10-hour flight home (Scout in my arms).

🚶‍♀️ Pram and Carrier
A travel-sized pram like the Yoyo is perfect. Rotate with a carrier (we used an Artipoppe) for flexibility with both kids. You can carry the Yoyo downstairs in stations (it’s a pain, but we just accepted it would take an extra 10 mins to get in and out of any station). We used a padded muff (we used this one) so you can get the baby out when indoors and they aren’t overdressed. This way, you can pack less bulky clothing, and the muff can be checked through as a free baby item.

🍱 Snacks
Convenience stores have boiled eggs, onigiri, and baby crackers. It’s not what I’d usually feed the kids, but it worked fine for a short trip.

📣 Smooshi
I’ll take this opportunity for a little self-promo 😝 I’ve recently launched Smooshi, a travel-sized baby food purée maker that made our trip to Tokyo so much easier. You just smoosh little pieces of food through the sieve and pop it back in your bag. It's so much fun when your baby can experience new foods and flavours with you. I just launched it on Kickstarter - you can check it out here - I’d love your support!

😴 Naps
We did late afternoon ‘rests’ in the hotel room. All other naps were on the go.

🧺 Laundry
We chose accommodation with a washer-dryer combo to pack light and keep the kids’ clothes fresh. If you can, it makes traveling light much easier.

🍱 Dinners
We did takeout in the hotel room because they were really tired. Sterling loved using his training chopsticks (we bought these before the trip and they were better than others we've tried).

🍱 Packing ideas

• For the 3 days in Tokyo we had a 1 x 90L rolling bag (4 wheels so Sterling could ride on top of the bag if needed). We also went skiing after this so we forwarded our ski bags at the airport upon arrival using Yamato Transport. Highly recommend packing bags for each stage of your trip and forwarding (just make sure you have all critical items with you in case of delays). 
• Baby Zen Yoyo Pram and rain cover 
• A backpack for each of us but one was filled with pram cover and muff and checked through as a free baby item. 
• Handbag/nappy bag that fits in the Yoyo pram basket. 
  
• Silicone snack pots for fruit and boiled eggs for the kids. 
• Training chopsticks for Sterling. 
• Small drink bottles for the kids and one for us. 
• Pop fidget toys for 12m old (this was great on the plane for distraction)
  
• Crayons, sketchbook and stickers for 2.5yr old 
• Inkredibles Bluey Magic Ink Pictures 
• Squishy slime toy
• Long coats get wet when you're crouching down to the pram/to your toddler - I ditched my long coat for a short coat after day 1. 

📅 Two Days In Tokyo Itinerary with Toddlers

Day 1: Travel and Arrival in Tokyo

🚕 Airport Transfers
We booked (and paid for 🙄) a taxi from the airport with two car seats via Zen Car, but they only arrived with one. Holding babies is common in Tokyo, so we went with the flow.

🏨 Accommodation: Section L Shimbashi West
Why it’s perfect:

• Hybrid board floors (ideal for crawlers)
• Spotless rooms
• Two queen beds
• Washer-dryer combo for light packing and clean clothes
• Kitchen with basic utensils and a dining table for breakfast and dinner
• Bath and Japanese-style shower room. There's also a hotel gym and sauna downstairs!

🛍️ Nearby Supplies
Family Mart and a drug store just a 1-minute walk away had small packs of Merries pull-up nappies that fit both kids.

🍳 Breakfast/Coffee 

• We did yoghurt, fruit, boiled eggs and quinoa/oat pouches from home for the kids before we left the hotel. 
• Peace Coffee Roasters Nishi Shimbashi
• Maruichi Bagel

Day 2: Meiji Shrine and Tokyo Tower

⛩️ Activity: Meiji Shrine and Takeshita Street
We took the train from the hotel to Meiji Shrine. 
Tip: Pack snacks before heading into the shrine area.
Highlight: Bought a votive tablet for Scout’s first birthday and wrote her a birthday wish—a special moment for our fam. We got her strawberries on a stick as a ‘birthday cake’ on Takeshita Street.

🍴 Lunch: Chaosunbamboo
We walked down Takeshita Street into Omotesando. Chao Sun Bamboo is not Japanese cuisine but has outdoor seating and a relaxed vibe. Kid-friendly option – we got chicken rice to share with Scout. We used the Smooshi to purée the chicken, which was so easy and we loved that she could try some fresh new flavours with us.

🚸 Activity: We walked down to the Shibuya Scramble to have a look and hopped back on the train to the hotel for a rest.

🗼 Activity: Tokyo Tower
We walked here from the hotel and did the VIP experience to the highest deck (and you can do this with a pram). Sterling walked there and back from the hotel, and Scout slept in the pram. I am so scared of heights and I FREAKED out but forced myself to do it for the mems.

Day 3: Sensoji Shrine and teamLab Borderless

⛩️ Activity: Sensoji Shrine
Arrived early by train (about 8:30 am) – a calm and magical time to go.
Highlight: You can buy incense (they say it’s for healing). We burnt one as an offering and took in the moment. We also brought a few home (extra healing).

☕ Snacks/Coffee: Fuglen Asakusa
We sat outside with the pram - really nice vibe inside too. We treated ourselves to a waffle with brown cheese ice cream – do it! 

🎭 Activity: teamLab Borderless
We got a taxi here from Asakusa - no car seats. 
Tip: Pre-book tickets—kids loved the immersive experience. Pack a carrier, and you can store the pram for free.

🍴 Lunch: RISE & WIN Brewing Co
We walked here from teamLab. Accommodating for prams - Sterling slept in the pram and Scout in the carrier. We shared roast chicken, rice, and miso and saved from for the kids —toddler-approved. I smooshed some for Scout with the Smooshi. 

🚅 Day 4: The Shinkansen Adventure

🚕 Transport
Taxi from hotel → Tokyo Station → Hakodate (4 hours).

🍱 Snacks
Ekiben (train station bento) for Sterling and us. Yogurt and fruit for Scout from Lawson.

🚼 Nappy Changes
Bathrooms on the train are baby-friendly.

🎒 Tip
Pack crayons, paper, stickers, figurines, or fidget spinners etc.

Side Note: Scout screamed almost the whole way because we didn’t time it with her naps well. Rookie error, but everyone was super nice about it. A young man even played with her at the end.

🌏 This trip was filled with unforgettable memories. If you’re considering Tokyo with toddlers, go for it—adventure awaits! Let me know if you’d like tips for traveling in Hokkaido!