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Flying To Tokyo With Kids?
7 Must Haves For Japan With Kids: What To Pack?

Over the last decade, I have traveled to Tokyo With Kids so many times that I have finally come up with a system that works great to minimize crankiness and getting on each other’s nerves.

Every family-holiday has its rough moments. Getting off a 12-hour flight is never easy, even for adults.
That’s why I never leave home without my full-proof Tokyo vacation packing list which I am going to share with you.

On top of that, Tokyo has its own unique features that need pre-organizing and bringing some stuff from home.

Tokyo With Kids: What To Pack?

Get Kids Involved Planning The Family Vacation

Read the kids books about Tokyo, show them Photos, watch DVDs, then ask them which of Tokyo Attractions they’d like to see most. I guarantee you each one of them has already fantasized going by your stories about one of the things to do in Tokyo.
Don’t forget to mention the interactive science museum in Odaiba, Japanese Cosplay in Harajuku (suitabale for teens), Ghibli museum (for fans of Japanese animation) and Tokyo Disneyland of course.

Plane Time: The Must Haves

Don’t count on airline companies to supply entertainment for your kids. Some flights have an outstanding media system, some don’t. I like to take along their iPods, DVD players, coloring books and compact games.
Once you arrive, pack all the electronics away until the plane ride home.

Reading

Never underestimate how much kids can enjoy reading, either on the plane or on the road.
I've found that packing books from a series (or uploading to a Kindle) is one of the best ways to keep kids entertained.

Keep in mind that you will NOT find any books/magazines in English while traveling in Japan with kids.

Thats why I like to take Amazon Kindle because it can hold more than 1,500 books, so you no longer have to pick and choose which books fit into your suitcase.
You can also request your final travel documentation be sent to the Kindle 3G.

Arrival Time

Once you arrive in Tokyo you need to tune in with the local time. Try not to go to sleep immediately. Take the kids and start exploring Tokyo even if your flight arrives in the evening.
Tokyo is a very safe city at all hours and an evening walk through the glorious Ginza or Shibuya (think Times-Square, only 10 times more) will make them excited and eager for the next day.

Tokyo With Kids-Planning Your Days

Plan your itinerary around your kids. Cultural activities such as shrines and museums are better scheduled for the mornings. Tokyo has some exceptional interactive museums that the kids would love. Keep shopping to the minimum (all kids get bored by shopping).

Book Activities Before You Leave For Japan With Kids

Plan and book Tokyo Attractions for kids before you leave. You don’t want to spend your precious time standing in lines or booking things while you’re there. Let them experience different cultures and what they have to offer. How about a Sumo tournament? Or a ride on the Shinkansen Bullet train that speeds at 200 km per hour?

Shoes and socks

Since it's a Japanese custom to take off your shoes indoors, you might have to take off your shoes very often.
Make sure your kids wear shoes they can slip off and on easily, unless you want to spend most of your family travel time on your knees tying their shoe laces.

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