Our Head of Marketing recently went on her third trip to Japan, but this time with her 10-month-old in tow. From navigating Tokyo train stations to finding the best family-friendly neighbourhoods, these are the tips she'd swear by for anyone planning the adventure.
Before leaving Australia, my biggest worry wasn't the flight. It was sleep.
My son only ever sleeps in his cot, so the thought of navigating Tokyo around naps felt overwhelming. The answer ended up being surprisingly simple: the carrier.
It became the difference between stressing about naps and simply letting them happen. While my son never sleeps in the pram at home, he happily drifted off against me as we explored the city.
By the end of the trip, I reached for it every single day.
Being hands-free through security makes everything easier, while keeping your baby close means you're not juggling passports, boarding passes and luggage.
Comfort is key. The Lucia Pant became my travel uniform, while the On The Go Crossbody held everything within easy reach — nappies, wipes, a dummy, water bottle and, most importantly, snacks. Keep your essentials close and everything else in the overhead locker.
Babies don't need as much entertaining as you'd think. Walk the aisles, give them something for their hands and let them take it all in.
Both, but I reached for the carrier far more.
Tokyo involves a lot of train stations and stairs. Switch on Accessibility in Google Maps to find station entrances with lifts, and add a Suica card to your phone before you arrive.
Mamapapamap is another app worth downloading to locate feeding rooms and change facilities.
My favourite area was Yoyogi Park — walkable to Shibuya, a short train to Shinjuku, but far calmer, with plenty of green space for morning coffees and park walks.
Most shops don't open until 11am, so mornings became coffee at Fuglen, dog spotting and letting my son burn some energy. Hatoya Matcha is worth the early start if you love matcha.
I also loved Shimokitazawa for its flatter streets, slower pace and neighbourhood feel.
Skip Shibuya or Shinjuku as a base — fantastic to visit, they are overwhelming to stay in with a little one. That said, All Day Place is a great option if you want Shibuya without the chaos.
Airbnbs win on space. A kitchen, laundry and separate bedrooms were a game changer once my son was asleep. We loved illi Stays — beautifully designed apartment hotels across Tokyo, all within walking distance of a station.
Hotels win on convenience. Luggage storage, reliable lifts and breakfast downstairs made early starts easier. Trunk Hotel near Yoyogi Park is an incredible option if you want to splurge.
One sleep hack: drape muslin cloths around the travel cot to create a darker sleep environment.
Convenience stores were our daily go-to — bananas, plain rice sushi and easy snacks. For pouches, rusks, nappies and wipes, head to pharmacies like Matsumoto Kiyoshi.
Department store food halls are another underrated option — plenty of choice and often calmer than restaurants. Not every restaurant has high chairs, but Genki Sushi in Shibuya is one I always recommend.
My biggest hack? Time lunch with your baby's carrier nap. My son slept peacefully while we enjoyed a bowl of ramen at Ichiran.
Focus on one or two neighbourhoods each day and one major activity. TeamLab, the fish market, the zoo and a picnic in Yoyogi Park were all great. Some of my favourite mornings were spent wandering Loft, browsing T-Site Books in Daikanyama or exploring PARCO while my son slept in the carrier.
One hundred times over.
Travelling with my son gave me something I didn't expect: confidence.
I came home feeling like a different mum. Not because the trip was perfect, but because it showed me I was capable of far more than I'd imagined.
