The Japanese are very fond of children, which makes traveling in Japan with kids a delight. All social reserve seems to be waived for children. Taking along some small and easy-to-carry gifts (such as colorful stickers) for your kids to give to other children is a great icebreaker.
While children may not like such foreign customs as eating raw fish, they will find many other Japanese customs to their taste. What child could resist taking baths en famille and actually getting to splash? If you go to a ryokan, chances are your kids will love wearing yukata (cotton kimono) and clattering around in geta (wooden sandals). Your children will be pampered and played with, and will receive presents and lots of attention.
As for the food, the transition from kid-favorite spaghetti to udon noodles is easy, and udon and soba shops are inexpensive and ubiquitous. In addition, most family-style restaurants, especially those in department stores, offer a special children's meal that often includes a small toy or souvenir. For those real emergencies, Western fast-food places such as McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken are everywhere in Tokyo.
Tourist spots in Japan almost always have a table or counter with a stamp and ink pad so that visitors can commemorate their trip; you might wish to give your children a small notebook so that they can collect imprints of every attraction they visit.
Children 6 to 11 years old are generally charged half-price for everything from temple admission to train tickets, while children under 6 are often admitted free. If your child under 6 sleeps with you, you generally won't even have to pay for him or her in most hotels and ryokan. However, it's always advisable to ask in advance.
Safety also makes Japan a good destination for families. Still, plan your itinerary with care. To avoid crowds, visit tourist sights on weekdays. Never travel on city transportation during rush hour or on trains during popular public holidays. And remember that with all the stairways and crowded sidewalks, strollers are less practical than baby backpacks. Many of Tokyo's major hotels provide babysitting services, although they are prohibitively expensive. Expect to fork over a minimum of ¥5,000 ($48) for 2 hours of babysitting.
You can find good family-oriented vacation advice on the Internet from Traveling Internationally with Your Kids (www.travelwithyourkids.com), a comprehensive site offering sound advice for long-distance and international travel with children.
