This spring, I returned to Japan with my oldest son as an encore to our fantastic trip we took when he was about to turn 10. We brought my middle son with us and my mom – for a full-blown, multigenerational vacation to Japan!
So, our group of four consisted of:
- Me (mamma)
- My 8-year-old son
- My 11-year-old son
- My 76-year-old mom
We spent 11 days traveling in Japan and had an incredible time seeing the country through the eyes of kids, adults, and a grandmother! We visited Tokyo and the Lake Kawaguchi area, spending our time eating, visiting theme parks, going on walking tours, trying out video arcades, looking for our favorite characters, attempting to speak Japanese, and marveling in the beauty of Japan.
Our multi-generational trip to Japan was smooth and stress free. Making it that way did take some extra prep work (as a trip to Japan does for any age of traveler). Here are some grandparent travel tips from our family to yours, using our recent Japan trip as a point of reference.
Tip: Keep in mind that all families are different. What worked for us may not work for you, and vice versa.
Before You Travel to Japan
Make Sure Passports are Up to Date
At the time of writing, your passport just needs to be valid for the length of your trip to Japan. My mom travels internationally so she keeps an eye on her passport expiration date, but if the grandparents in your group don’t, make sure you confirm the passport doesn’t expire while you’re in Japan.
Good To Know: Japan offers visa exemptions to over 70 countries. Check the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs website to confirm yours is one of them. If not, along with having a valid passport, you’ll also need to apply for a visa.
Find Out What He/She Wants to See and Do
When I asked my mom what she wanted to see and do in Japan, her response was “I’ll be happy doing whatever the boys want to do,” and I know she meant that. Still, I prodded and learned she wanted to see he cherry blossoms, gardens, and go on a food tour. We’d already planned on the food tour, but I made sure we incorporated the other two into our itinerary.
Your grandparent also may not have any specific things to see or do, but you can come up with a few things based on his or her interests. For example, tea drinkers will enjoy a tea ceremony or match tasting. Passionate cooks will be thrilled with a cooking lesson or a food tour. Yankees fan? Go to a Tokyo Baseball game! Cyclist? Take a bike tour in the city or the countryside.
Set Up Technology
We debated whether or not to get my mom an international phone plan, an ESIM, or pocket Wi-Fi. Her mobile phone company’s international plan was pricey, her phone was too old to accept an ESIM, and we were kind of ‘meh’ on pocket Wi-Fi. She was sure she would be with us, and if not, she said she’d be in the hotel with Wi-Fi. So, we ended up getting an ESIM for my phone, but not for her. It worked out well and I’d do the same thing next time, but I’ll probably get an ESIM for my oldest son so I can let him be a little more independent.
ESIMs – Easy to set up, but your phone needs to be able to take an ESIM. If your grandparent has an older phone, this will be a problem.
International Mobile Plans – Check with your carrier. Some are pricey, some are actually a great deal. Make sure your carrier knows when to turn it on/off.
Pocket Wi-Fi – Has its fans, but I’m not interested in having to pick up and drop it off. The nice thing is everyone in your group can use it (but you can also use your ESIM phone as a hotspot – my son used mine).
Read my thoughts on Airalo vs. Ubigi for a Japan ESIM
Get Your QR Code
Instead of filling out paper forms on arrival, you can get a QR code and move much more quickly through immigration.
You’ll need to create an account on the Visit Japan Website (VJW) and fill in each of your traveling group’s personal info (passport details, take a photo, etc).
If your grandparent is not traveling with you, make a separate account. I made my mom’s account and filled all of the info in for her (she sent me a photo). I took a screenshot of the QR code and sent it to her, so all she had to do was pull up the photo of the QR code on her phone – easy. I also sent her the login details for her VJW account, just in case she needed to access it.
Make a Packing Plan
For a full list, take a look at my Grandparents’ Packing List for Japan.
Some grandparent-specific packing items I want to highlight:
- Over-the-counter medication – You can get medicine in Japan, but due to the language barrier, it may be easier to bring what your grandparent is used to taking. You’ll need to research what medicine and what quantities are allowed in Japan (see link in next section). And I recommend making a list of medications he/she takes along with the generic name, just in case you need to buy it in Japan.
- Extra glasses – My mom brought extra glasses and had her favorite readers. If you lose or damage your glasses in Japan, you can also order a pair while you’re there! See my Guide to Buying Glasses in Tokyo in One Day.
- Bring a small suitcase with wheels – Hotel rooms are small, you’ll encounter stairs (especially in metro stations), and you won’t be able to carry luggage for your grandparent – remember, you’ve also got your stuff and that of your kids! My mom was able to pack for 11 days in a small carry-on suitcase and she even had extra space (for a few souvenirs!).
Get Permission to Bring Medication & Medical Devices into Japan
My mom is diabetic, and her back-up syringes needed to be declared and approved for entry by the Japanese government.
If your grandparent needs to bring medication or medical devices into Japan, check the Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare website for the most up-to-date info on what’s allowed and how to apply for permission to bring certain medication into Japan.
My mom had to create an account (I did this for her), submit an application, and wait about a day for the confirmation letter. We printed the form and she kept it with her passport. She was not asked to show it on arrival, but I’m glad we had the proper documentation.
Tip: On a medical note, I also like to know where the closest hospital is. I didn’t worry about this in places like Tokyo, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’ll be spending time in more remote places or smaller villages.
Be Strategic with Accommodations
A few tips for accommodations in Japan with grandparents:
- Have your first hotel be in a calm neighborhood (for example, stay in Ueno in Tokyo instead of Shibuya). You can always stay in a more lively area later on in your trip. It’s great to have a gentle intro to Japan.
- Make sure your hotel has somewhere to sit besides the bed. Japanese hotels are small, and your grandparent will appreciate having a seat to use instead of having to sit on the bed when you’re in the room. Having a little table in the room is also nice for snacks, hotel meals, and playing games.
- Book accommodations with a reception. Your grandparent (and you) will appreciate being able to call reception to get help.
- Don’t move hotels too often. Unpacking and repacking is tedious, especially with a group.
- Think about getting a separate room or accommodation with multiple rooms. We didn’t do this on our trip because my mom really wanted to share all of the moments with the boys.
Read about
Where to Stay in Tokyo with Kids
Staying in a Ryokan in Kyoto
Discuss How You’ll Get Around
My mom loves walking, so she was happy to move around cities on foot, but we also utilized the metro, the train, the bus, and taxis during our time in Japan.
Talk to the grandparent(s) in your group to make sure you’re on the same page. A 30-minute walk between sites may mean nothing to you, but it could be ‘the worst thing ever’ to a grandparent (or your kids!) on a hot Kyoto afternoon.
Tip: Sometimes money spent on transport is money well spent. Sure, we could’ve saved $40 or so by taking the metro from our hotel in Shibuya to Haneda airport at the end of our trip. But, not having to brave the crowds with all of our luggage (we had two duffels in addition to our carry-on bags) in the metro was worth the cost. And, we would’ve felt rude on the metro with our bags during commuter hour.
Learn a Few Phrases
I didn’t teach my mom any Japanese, but I wish we’d studied a few basics like:
- Please – kudasai / onegaishimasu
- Thank you – arigato gozaimasu
- Excuse me – sumimasen
You can even learn on the go with Google Translate (point your camera, take a photo, or even talk into your phone).
Download Some Basic Apps for Japan
There are a ton of apps you can use while traveling in Japan. Pick a few to download to your grandparent’s smartphone. If possible, do it before arriving. If you’re not traveling together, you can download a few on your first night at the hotel.
These worked well for us:
- Google Maps – download your chosen maps to your phone so you can use them without data
- Google Translate
- Stamp Quest – fun for grandparents to look for stamp locations with kids!
- ESIM App – my mom didn’t use an ESIM, but I used Airalo this trip
- Suica/Pasmo – you can use an app for transport (I had this on my phone, but my mom preferred using the physical Suica card)
- Disneyland Tokyo
Pre-Book Priority Activities
If there are certain activities on your must-do list, find out if you need to book them in advance. I’ve found that many things we want to do in Japan require advance booking and sometimes it’s so competitive you need to set your alarm and book the second the ticket sales open up.
I won’t post when ticket sales open up (because it can change), but if you’re interested in any of the below, research tickets as soon as you know your dates for Japan:
- Sporting events – soccer, baseball, sumo
- Tours – cycling tours, food tours
- Pokémon sites – cafés,
- Disneyland Tokyo and DisneySea
- USJ (Universal Studios Japan)
- Museums – TeamLab Planets and Borderless, Ghibli Museum, Nintendo Museum, Nissan Heritage Museum
- Other – ninja restaurant, tea ceremonies, viewpoints (especially at sunset)
Traveling to Japan
Coordinate Your Arrival Plans
You may be traveling as a group from your home country, but if your family’s grandparents live in another state or country, you’ll need to coordinate your arrival in Japan.
My boys and I were arriving from a different country than my mom was, and at a different time. We arrived at Haneda Airport in Toyko in the morning and my mom arrived at Haneda in the evening. We met my mom at the airport because I knew she would be tired and would appreciate seeing us at the airport.
If your group doesn’t arrive together, other options include:
- Hiring a private driver
- Having your grandparent take a taxi from the airport (official taxis in Japan have green license plates with white letters; normal cars and imposter taxis have white license plates with green letters)
- Having your grandparent take the bus (Tokyo has the Airport Limousine bus which we’ve taken and works well if your hotel is near one of the stops)
- Having your (adventurous) grandparent take the metro (look up routes on Google Maps; make sure he/she knows how to purchase tickets)
Once You’re in Japan
Use Paper Maps and Physical Guidebooks Sometimes
Yes, I know we’re living in the 2020’s but who doesn’t still love paper? I know I do, and my mom was happy to not have to always rely on technology.
We used paper maps for DisneySea, which we printed at the UPS Store in the US before traveling to Japan.
We didn’t bring a physical guidebook, but there are plenty available online to choose from. You could also have your grandparent bring a Japan-focused book to read. Some ideas: Shinto, Japanese history, Japanese phrase books, or novels about Japan.
Have Your Grandma or Grandpa Bring Entertainment
You’ll have some downtime in Japan – whether it’s dedicated rest time or free time in the evening at the hotel or on a train ride. Make sure everyone in the group brings something for entertainment.
My mom brought her Kindle and a Sudoko book. You may want to bring a tablet, a physical book (novel, phrasebook, non-fiction), binoculars, or travel games like playing cards.
Tip: Make sure you’ve downloaded books on Kindles, movies on iPads, etc before you get to Japan so you don’t have to worry about it while you’re traveling.
Keep a Stock of Grandparent-Approved Snacks
You’ve probably made sure you have a few go-to snacks packed for your kids. Make sure your grandparent brings a few things he or she enjoys eating.
My mom is diabetic so she brought some food and snacks that she knows work well for her. We didn’t want to get in a situation where we were rushed and stressed in a 7-11 trying to translate ingredients to find something for her. She did try plenty of Japanese snacks though!
Reference Your Shopping List
You could also call this your ‘souvenir’ list. I don’t normally make a big deal of souvenir lists when we’re traveling, but I really love Japanese products, and enjoy exploring shops in Japan.
My mom and I talked about what she would want to bring home and we settled on nail clippers and a kitchen knife. In the end, she got the nail clippers but not the knife (she decided her current kitchen knife does a super job).
You can take a look at some of my Japan souvenir posts for ideas:
You may want to check out
Souvenirs from Japan – What We Brought Back
Japan Souvenirs – Regrets & Favorites, 1 Year Later
Build in Rest Time
Having time to rest and recover is important for all ages, but especially grandparents who likely aren’t used to the ‘go-go-go’ schedules of families with kids (even if they used to be when they were raising little ones!).
We made sure to build in time for my mom to relax on her own at the hotel, and she was really happy to have the quiet time to herself to kick her feet up, read a book, take a nap, etc.
You could also arrange for your grandparent to relax at a café, at one of Japan’s beautiful gardens, or doing a relaxing activity on his or her own (like a tea tasting).
Tip: Make sure you have a way to communicate when you’re apart! My mom and I kept in touch using WhatsApp. I had an ESIM for data and she used Wi-Fi at the hotels.
Go Over the Plan for the Next Day Each Evening
My mom found it helpful to talk about the next day so she could plan mentally and physically (what to wear, what to carry in her bag).
You could also print out an itinerary or write basics on a calendar (what I did).
After Your Trip to Japan
Make a Photo Book
While this could be a digital photo book, I’m planning on creating a printed photo book for my mom. I’ve given my parents physical photo books of other vacations we’ve taken together and they’ve always been well-received. Grandparents can share them with friends, with the grandchildren, or just flip through them on their own and remember your amazing family trip to Japan!
I hope this helps you plan a fun, smooth, and low-stress multi-generational trip to Japan. Enjoy your time with your family!
What I’d Do Differently:
Looking back on our trip to Japan with my mom, I wish we’d had more time in the kitchen district (Kappabashi St.) of Tokyo. She loved looking at all of the kitchen supply shops and as it was our last day, we didn’t have enough time to wander like she wanted to.
I also would’ve spent a little more time in nature. Our trip was very Tokyo-focused because it had plenty of activities and sites for my boys, but we were all missing the outdoors a bit.
I wish we’d taken a cooking class, as my mom really enjoys cooking and I think she would’ve used some Japanese recipes at home. We did go on a food tour, which she really enjoyed.
I also regret not staying in a Ryokan with her. I know she would have enjoyed the experience.
I guess she’ll just need to go back to Japan with us!
Looking for more on travel to Japan? Check out
9 Reasons to Visit Japan with Kids
Packing List for 10 Days in Japan with a 9-Year-Old
10 Days in Japan with a 10-Year-Old – Our Itinerary
Souvenirs from Japan – What We Brought Back
Japan Souvenirs – Regrets & Favorites (1 Year Later)
Things to Do in Tokyo with a 10-Year-Old
Visiting Japan with Grandparents
Where to Stay in Tokyo with Kids – Areas & Hotels
How to Get Glasses in Tokyo – In One Day
Going to a Tokyo Baseball Game with Kids
A Day at Universal Studios Japan – Our Experience
Tokyo Disneysea with Kids – Quick Tips
Staying in a Ryokan in Kyoto
Airalo vs Ubigi for Japan ESIM
