Tucked into Mount Rokko in Kobe, Arima Onsen is one of Japan’s oldest and most famous onsen towns.  So it may be no surprise that Arima Onsen is one of my favorite places to visit in Kansai. It’s accessible enough for a day trip from Osaka or Kobe, not too crowded, and the food and onsen are fantastic. I think it’s a great place to bring kids as well!  In this article, I’ll share my experiences going on a family trip to Arima Onsen, specifically with a young child. Hopefully, this will help others when planning their visit to this historic location. There’s a map at the end of the ar ..read more

Last year, my family of three visited Kumado Kodo and Kushimoto in Wakayama Prefecture so I thought I would write about our experience.  Kumano Kodo, a World Heritage Site, is a famous and over 1000-year-old pilgrimage path across the Kii Peninsula in Japan. Monks spent days traveling this path in the past while visiting various temples. However, since we had a four-year-old child, we decided that we wouldn’t do the full hike and instead just visited Nachi Falls and the temples by car. (I recommend renting a car if possible but there is bus access as well.) In this article, I’ll shar ..read more

Wondering what to do with your kids when it’s pouring rain outside? How about when it’s so hot that you need to be somewhere cool inside? I’ve been there, which is why I’ve created this article on things to do with kids when it’s raining or hot in Osaka. I’ll be adding to this list when I find more places, so keep an eye out for it!  Universal Studios Japan Okay, you might be thinking I’m nuts for recommending this but hear me out. The kids’ area, specifically Universal Wonderland, has two indoor spaces and playgrounds, making it great for when it’s raining or hot out. My daughter can ea ..read more

Rainy day in Kyoto getting you and your family down? Or are you looking for an air-conditioned place to escape the sweltering heat? Well, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I’ll share some ideas on where to take kids when it’s pouring outside and if they’re like my daughter, they will be bound to have fun!  Explore Kyoto Station I love Kyoto Station, there are so many shops and restaurants to explore. ISETAN, a department store in the station, alone has eleven floors! The station itself is also beautiful.   Some notable places in the station include Ramen Street o ..read more

If you’re looking to visit a little town in Japan with kids that seems like it was frozen in time, I recommend visiting Kurashiki in Okayama Prefecture. I’ve been to Kurashiki many times and always love how laid back the town is yet how much there is to see and do. In this article, I’ll share my experience taking my four-year-old daughter there on a day trip so that those of you who are interested in visiting with kids know what to expect. An Overview of Kurashiki in Okayama Kurashiki is a town that’s located about an hour east of Hiroshima Prefecture by train, making it perfect for a day tri ..read more

A lot of things are intimidating when it comes to living in another country, such as having a child, and building a house is one of them. We finished building our house in June last year, so I thought I would share what the process was like for those who are interested. Note that everyone has different experiences, especially depending on how you choose to build your house, for instance, whether you go with a large housing developer or a local architect or contractor. I go into detail about choosing who to build your house in my article on buying land to build a house in Japan so make sure to ..read more

If you’re traveling to Tokyo with kids, you might be wondering what hotels are best for your family.  In this article, I’ll be sharing my top picks for hotels in and around Tokyo that I believe would be a hit with kids. These hotels are also in areas near popular tourist destinations and are within walking distance to the train station. Note that bed-sharing is common practice in Japan so it’s important to check how many beds the room offers when making your reservation. I’ve also made sure to include whether the hotel offers amenities for children or rental cribs. If you’re unsure about ..read more

Looking for information on where to see cherry blossoms (sakura) in Kyoto with kids from a local? Then you’ve come to the right place. I’ve been chasing cherry blossoms in Kyoto since I moved to Kansai and I dare say that the blossoms here are spectacular. Best of all, I’ve found some spots that aren’t too crowded depending on when and where you go. I could keep this all a secret but if I can help make another family’s day, then it’s worth spilling the beans. Note that this article shares some lesser-known spots as well as more common ones. I’m sharing spots that my family has enjoyed but of c ..read more

Japan is a beautiful country to visit and travel throughout the year. Well, usually. For the best experience, it’s important to keep Japan’s national holidays, school holidays, and seasons (as well as weather) in mind. In this article, I’ll be sharing my experience as a 10+ year resident on when to travel in Japan with kids, what to keep in mind, and what to pack. Personally, I feel that the best time to visit depends on what you’re looking for and planning to do. For instance, if you want to see cherry blossoms, then spring is best while fall has beautiful autumn foliage. For those who like s ..read more

If you’re expecting a new addition to your family in Japan, you might be wondering what kind of pregnancy products to get to help ease the work that goes into growing a human! This is why I’m sharing the best pregnancy products for 2024 as voted by mothers and mothers-to-be in Japan. These results are based on a poll by Tamahiyo, a Japanese company that publishes information for new parents and releases a yearly ranking of the best products for expectant parents.  Some of the categories were things that I hadn’t used nor considered, so I hope this is helpful for those of you who are expec ..read more