Toddler in Tokyo?
 

I'm considering going to Tokyo with my toddler in November, and had a few questions after reading through the traveling with children discussions in this folder. My partner is visiting Meiji University for a week or so (Ikuta campus), and we're thinking of tagging along.

Our son's a pretty good traveler and we're experienced dealing with his jetlag, but the Japanese environment is, well, understandably foreign to me. I'm wondering what the public infrastructure is like for spending the day out and about with a not-quite-potty-trained boy. Are public restrooms plentiful as in the U.S. or harder to find? What sort of facilities can one expect for changing clothes/diapers/washing hands?

Are there public parks or playgrounds for a toddler to climb around and get some exercise? Or would those be a rarity?

Are there different expectations about how children behaving in public (noise levels, eating customs, etc.) that would be good to be more sensitive of?

I'm perhaps optimistically not worried about food or getting around. He's an omnivorous eater and we've been navigating non-stroller-accessible Old Europe for a couple of years now so I'm undaunted by such challenges. But I honestly don't know all that I don't know, so if others have tips for making the day to day travel easier, I'd appreciate it.

Ikuta is a long way from "downtown". You could take the train into Tokyo (but don't even think of riding trains in rush hour with a stroller).

Fold down changing tables are fairly common in public restrooms in department stores, stations etc. You should expect to carry your own supplies of EVERYTHING. (That's right. Don't expect toilet paper, hot water, or hand towels to be available). Some restroom facilities are 21st century and some are straight out of the middle-ages. You get a "nose" for the good ones fairly quickly...

Tokyo toilets:
http://www.travelwithyourkids.com/de.../tokyo-toilets

Sites like these have some valuable information:
http://www.tokyowithkids.com/
http://www.tokyoessentials.com/kids.html
http://www.travelwithyourkids.com/de...ps-for-parents

In terms of expectations, I think a young toddler can get away without any knowledge of Japanese ettiquette. You will be expected to remove his shoes in "shoes off" areas etc.

Thanks, jib71--I really appreciate the links and the heads-up on the toilet supplies situation. I'm guessing we'd probably stay somewhere a bit central and let papa take the train in to work during the days, unless Ikuta is an interesting area. I'm mostly happy wandering about rather than doing traditionally touristy things, though I'm sure there are a few things I'll decide I don't want to miss. Grocery stores and markets, parks, and the like usually keep my son happy. And me.

jib71's links should already have reassured you.

As a woman I've seen a lot of infrastructure in place to make things easier that may not be there for dads. The examples I'm thinking about are options in the "good" public toilets for nappy changing as well as the child harnesses/restrained seats in toilet cublicles that allow mama to do her business in peace while toddler remains in view (a lot of Tokyo department stores have this sort of welcome feature, there's generally a diagram outside of the cubicles to indicate which are the mother-child toilets).

As jib71 has mentioned, take supplies everywhere - as well as the toilet paper/tissues for the rudimentary facilities, take some portable soap (you can't count on hot water but there'll always be running cold water as a minimum). Women's public facilities are always clean, men's... not so much (the only time I walked out of a public restroom in disgust in Tokyo was at a unisex facility, and I've only smelled some of the men's washrooms, enough of a clue that things aren't so good for the guys - my husband has assured me that they can be pretty vile)

I've been to Tokyo in a wheelchair (although mine was more like an adult stroller), I've been there pregnant. I'm very much looking forward to taking what will be my own toddler to Tokyo. I've never been to any other major city more suited to visiting with a small child.

If you want to stay "somewhere a bit central and let papa take the train in to work", the place that immediately comes to mind is Shinjuku. That's really in a major urban center, plenty of convenient hotels at all points on the price spectrum and it's the starting point for the Odakyu train to Ikuta.

Another option would be to stay somewhere near Yoyogi Uehara - just a short distance out of central Tokyo, but significantly less hectic than Shinjuku and conveniently close to Yoyogi park, and some nice shops etc.. Unfortunately, I can't think of any hotels near there and I don't know if there are short-term rentals. It's possible that someone on this board knows of a possible place to stay around there.

You could also stay near any station on the Chiyoda line that runs through central Tokyo, since the Chiyoda line connects nicely with the Odakyu line at Yoyogi Uehara.

Many men's toilets also have those.

acregal is acreguy? :eek:

I'm both! (well, not a gal).

You mean that you're "ac regal" instead of "acre gal"?

We just took our toddler to Tokyo in May for the second time. She loved it (in fact she had been begging to go back for an entire year). We stayed in Shinjuku. Here are some things that she enjoyed:

• We purchased the video Big Bird goes to Tokyo and loaded it on our ipod video before the trip. It was a big hit and we saw many of the sites from the movie when were in Japan. The Park that big bird goes to when he gets lost is in Shinjuku about two blocks from the hilton. Our daughter enjoyed seeing it, but there were a lot of homeless- so not the kind of place I would just let her run around.
• We went to the Kiddyland toy store- you can find directions on line. It was a hit.
• We went to Sanrio Puroland. An AWESOME day trip with a toddler. Everything is suited to kids their age. Go on a school day, not a weekend.
• We took a daytrip to Fuji and Hakone and returned on the bullet train- also a big hit. There is a lot of sitting on a bus, so plan ahead with activities.
• Took a morning tour of Tokyo. Typical Japanese tour- on the bus, then off for a short time then on again. Perfect for a toddler's short attention plan
• We stayed in Narita for one nignt on each end of the trip and took the shuttle from the Hilton to the Mall. The mall has an indoor playground which was fun, but there is a department store with a huge indoor supervised play area (costs about $5 for 1/2 hour) which she absolutely loved. She STILL talks about it.
• We didn't hit Disneyland on this trip because we already had a full schedule, however, be aware that entrance is actually substantially cheaper in Japan than in the U.S. Toddlers are Free : )
• It is much easier to get around Tokyo for non Japanese speakers than it used to be. There is a lot of signage in English now and the train stations usually have people who will help you. The Japanese also are very friendly and enjoy children. I recommend that you always carry a card with the phone number and address for your hotel in Japanese, so you can show it to someone if you get lost.

Strollers work pretty well in Tokyo, but there are still train stations where we were not able to find ANY elevators. So, bring something that you can carry along with holding the toddlers hand.

We did the trip in diapers one time and just potty trained the other. I was able to find appropriate facilities each time. My daughter will eat pretty much anything, so we didn't have any problems. McDonalds are all over the place in a pinch.

Holy %^&*. How did I manage to miss that one? Looks way better than Lost In Translation:
http://www.toughpigs.com/journalchinavsjapan2.htm

The park in Shinjuku is called "Shinjuku Central Park" in English. There is a significant homeless population in the vicinity but in all my walks through the area, including a great many late at night, not one of them has ever bothered me or anyone around me.

It should be said, though, that Richard goes to some lengths to stay out of trouble when walking through the park at night.

I found that one courtesy of joejones' blog. It was in the comments related to that Telegraph article where the writer went to the 'other' Japan where there is no English signage at Tokyo Station.

FWIW - Sanrio Purioland is relatively close to the Meiji University Ikuta campus.

From Ikuta, it's a 25 minute trip. (Change at Shin Yurigaoka for a train to Odakyu Tama Center). So the OP and her child could accompany papa to his work, spend a morning with Kitty chan, then meet for lunch or something.