Japan

7 Places to Visit in Japan with Kids On Your Trip

The following is a guest post by Gadsventure.

We first travelled to Japan when we were fresh faced young backpackers, newly-weds with the whole world at our feet. My husband and I arrived full of anticipation and wonder about this exciting destination and it did not disappoint! Fast forward 12 years and our pace of travel has changed somewhat with four kids in tow!

After that first trip, Japan had always held a special place in our hearts and we waited for an opportunity to take our family back. We knew that it would be a hugely different trip compared to the days where we were carefree, but we were also sure that we would be able to find so many cool places to visit in Japan with kids.

The culture, the food, the atmosphere, the high safety rating, the friendly people, the ease of travel, the beautiful scenery, and the contrast of ancient tradition with futuristic technology makes Japan one of our absolute favourites for family travel.

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Shibuya Crossing – The Masses Are Amazing!

My favorite spot in all of Tokyo is not one that you would normally think of.  No, it is not a large shrine like at the Nikko Temple or one of the dozen of multistory electronic shopping centers; although the Sony store is quite amazing in its own right.  While it is considered a tourist attraction, the place is also practical for tens of thousands of people every day.  That is the world famous Shibuya scramble crossing, one of the world’s largest cross walks.

The district of Shibuya is one of Tokyo’s more famous regions, with the popular Meiji Shrine nearby as well as neon signs in just about every place imaginable.  With one of the busiest subway lines in Japan, the mass entrance and exit of people produce the biggest crossing I have ever, and probably will ever see.  Estimates for how many people cross during each exchange is disputed, but I would not be surprised if it broke 1,000 every crossing (~500/minute average).

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Going on a Sake Tasting Tour Around Saijo, Japan

Living the Dream loving SaijoThe favorite alcoholic beverage in Japan is most definitely the iconic drink known as sake. Fermented rice in pristine mountain water make up this drink of choice which can range in price of up to $100+ per bottle for the finest choices. The city of Saijo, 35 minutes by JR outside of Hiroshima, is said to produce the finest sake in all of Japan and boasts an impressive 10 breweries! Even more stunning is the fact that 8 of them are within a 45 minute walking path of each other starting and ending at the railway station and offer free tastings for visitors. So in an effort to find my favorite sake and put my liver to the test, I visited Saijo for a mass sake consumption marathon.

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Floating Torii Gate Day Trip at Mount Misen on Miyajima

For most travelers, Hiroshima can be divided up into two main sites.  Inside the town itself, the major destination is Peace Park, the restored site of the first nuclear bomb explosion during warfare, now dedicated to world peace and the abolishing of nuclear weapons. 

The bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945, exploding at an altitude of about 1800 feet which virtually destroyed the city in an instant.  The most notable feature within the park is the skeletal remains of a large building that survived the initial impact a few hundred feet away from ground zero. 

The park itself is beautiful (and entirely wifi free), however the history behind it and corresponding museum puts a somber mood on the entire area. The second site requires a quick day trip outside of Hiroshima city to Miyajima island, and brings about a much higher spirit.

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