Going in less than a week to Japan and scared...

[TinyTear]

First long haul holiday in ages (probably 15 years (pre-kids) and I am scared
Been exhaustively planning since we booked it in April and probably researching way before if I am being honest.

Kids are 13 and 10 and also super excited.

It will be Japan, with 3 cities in the itinerary and I have a good list of stuff to do, but not too full and tiring that we will be rushing from place to place without appreciating things...

But what if? what if? what if?
what if things go wrong? what f we get covid on the flight (might take masks)? what if kid 1 gets sick as she tends to get car sick and sea sick and plane sick even short haul...

What if we can't find foods she will eat? what if we get bad stomachs? what if the heat is too much?

Please talk me down!

I have researched and researched , i will buy cooling wipes and UV umbrellas and Pocari Sweat and so on...

• please reassure me?

If you have been before - give me hints and tips - even if just for me to say "yes I know that, I read that, I am prepared!!"

Thanks!

My carer was here yesterday OP he says to try to get to the Book off super bazar.

https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/shopping/book-off-super-bazaar-chiba-makuhari

Oh and he brought me a fabulous kitchen knife, Damascus steel and the sharpest thing I have ever owned. I can ask him the name of the shop if it is something you want to buy. The owner speaks good English.

Thanks. Not in the market for knives but might try new prescription glasses

We took our 4 kids to Japan 10 years ago.

One did get sick but the insurance company gave us the details for an excellent English speaking doctor.

One kid decided she didn’t like most of the food but ate lots of subway sandwiches.

1 of the kids has ASD, 3 have ADHD.

It was still amazing and all the kids favourite place we have ever been.

Even if there are problems you can still have a great time.

Take the kids in one of the 100Yen shops (or whatever inflation has changed it to)

They were 105 ¥ when I was last there but that might have crept up a bit 😊 Great to pick up essentials and surprisingly useful/kawaii souvenirs, though.

Definitely try to check out the wondrous Tokyu Hands for just about everything you could possibly want.

I'm sure you'll be fine, OP. Japan is exceptionally safe, hygiene is very good, restaurants and cafés are extremely clean (and people clear up after themselves). It will be hot, probably very hot, but almost everywhere indoors will have aircon so you’ll be able to keep cool.

Foodwise, it’s possible to get just about every type of cuisine should you have any problem eating Japanese food (although the ubiquitous ramen, available on almost literally every corner, is cheap, delicious and freshly-cooked). Burger places are also everywhere. Italian food is incredibly popular so pasta (effectively another form of noodle) is widespread too. You won’t have any problem finding a wide range of food in big cities.

I am you six months onwards. Going in March with 8&12 year olds, both SEN. Used to travel pre DC & worry about how well cope. DD is a VERY picky eater so that'll be fun!

I do feel anxious. I gave myself a mini migraine for a few days after booking flights! Imanage by reminding myself that we just go & what happens, will happen. We have insurance.

We go prepared & roll with it. Every time I have travelled I've forgotten the anxiety when getting there.

Oh my gosh @TinyTear not the point of your post, but please come back and tell me all about it. I've mentally committed to taking the kids (9 and 11) to Japan for a holiday of a lifetime. I am right at the beginning of the planning - at the "where do I start" stage

Have an absolutely brilliant holiday!

I've just come back! It's SOOOO hot at the moment - but you can buy little fans everywhere, and the air conditioning is good.
Food is amazing; super safe atmosphere; it's incredibly affordable - you'll have an amazing time. Be sure to book TeamLabs in Tokyo; I reckon that was a real highlight for me, along with Nishiki market in Kyoto.
Have the best time OP!

Happy holidays OP! What a great destination. Hopefully once you’re packed and on your way there it will all start to feel really exciting.

Thanks all. I will come back and update...

Not sure if this will work or backfire buy yesterday we woke at 6am, today at 5am and we will wake one hour earlier each day until 2am so we can adapt to Japan time

I can give you a directions tip - if you can’t find something using google maps look up or down - sometimes it will be underground or on an upper floor of a building.

The kids may enjoy the cup noodle museum (the noodle making workshop is good fun) and hiring kimono/yukata (they dress you).. It used to be that if you wore kimono in Kyoto you could get into certain sites for free. Not sure if that’s still a thing.

if your kids are not proficient with chopsticks take those training ones or a travel cutlery set as forks aren’t available everywhere.

Download the google translate app with the japanese pack and you can use it offline. The photo feature will let you read menus etc.

If you did need medical care in Tokyo there is an English speaking drop in clinic at St Luke’s. hospital.luke.ac.jp/eng/for-patients/primary-care/index.html

Are you getting a wife device?

We got ours at the airport (ordered on advance) and was very hsbdy -cheaper than using roaming.

And we got a suicara card at the airport too, used for all the travel we did -stock 10,000 yen on for use all over Japan. One per person (can also do on iPhones but I was worried about phones dying)

Haha WiFi!

I went for 5 weeks and LOVED it. It was amazing and I want to go back. Advice:

If you're going to learn one Japanese phrase learn "I don't understand japanese" (nihongo wa Wakarimasen) and they will mime and help you out. In my experience older people were more likely to speak English as a legacy of the world war occupations.

Pack everything in at least a suitcase less than what you are allowed so you can bring lots of stuff back!

Jet lag will be much worse on way there so make sure getting to first stay is sorted so you have to do minimal thinking.

Lots of people were at hiroshima with even small children. Tbh, the small children were absolutely mesmerised by myself and DH rather than looking at the exhibit (DH in particular is very very pale).

Stay one night in a proper onsen/ryokan for the experience. We stayed in a few and there was an awesome one we stayed in and the onsen was on the roof outside with a view of mount fuji.

The 7/11 are amazing for lunch/snacks. They do cheap meals they heat up for you like katsu, bbq beef, rice balls with fillings like chicken teriyaki.

I'm autistic and I bloody loved Japan and intend to return. 😊

I have been living in Japan for 11 years. It’s extremely hot right now - not the best season to visit honestly but you’re still going to enjoy it. Japan has a lot to offer.

Seconding the person who mentioned visiting one of the team lab locations - they are lovely (see attached photo). I'd also have a look if I could book afternoon tea at Haute couture cafe in Naka-meguro or Omotesando, they have really pretty flower installations, the whole interior is bursting with flowers

For fussy eaters: when we went there were loads of fast-food-type places where you order at a vending machine outside, then get a ticket and sit inside, and someone comes out from the back after a couple of minutes and gives you your meal on a tray. They were everywhere in Osaka and Kyoto anyway, I can’t remember whether Tokyo had them too.

It felt like absolute sacrilege the first time we used one, but they were so damn convenient and it meant we were getting a very nice katsu pork or whatever for less than a tenner, so it quickly became our go-to. Might be very useful if the kids start getting nervous about eating.

You are way over-prepared compared to most people who holiday in Japan, you know that, right? Don't let your nerves undermine your ability to enjoy the holiday. Something will go wrong of course, it always does. You can find a solution when that happens, have faith in yourself.

I would expect it to be hot, pack clothes for hot weather. Is one bit of preparation, don't take your coats.

Shifting your sleep pattern back is not a bad idea if you are able to go to sleep early enough that you’re still getting enough sleep. If you’re just getting progressively more sleep deprived, then it might be counterproductive.

The most important thing is that when you arrive, if it’s daytime then you need to get out in natural daylight and stay awake until a normal bedtime. However tired you are when you get there, do not sleep in the daytime. We made that mistake on our first trip and it totally screwed our sleep schedules for the whole holiday. I’ve since been to East Asia a few times since and have never suffered badly with jet lag on another trip as I now always stick strictly to the get outdoors and stay awake strategy on the first day.

Japan is ridiculously clean, you definitely will not have stomach users to worry about. It's such a pleasure to be there, so easy. Everything works. People are respectful. You will have the best time!

We actually had no problems with the shift in time zones - I was expecting awfulness due to a previous trip to Indonesia.

I'm struggling a little bit now I'm back though!

I've been back 2 days now and am really envious that you're going! I really want to go back as soon as I can.

We spent a few days at the beach at the end - my children loved that too. It was a surfy beach so they did lots of bodyboarding. I generally always put beach time in for my children and it always goes well. We went to the Izu peninsula which is easy to get to from Yokohama or Tokyo.

No illnesses at all - no tummy bugs, covid, bites or sun stroke. We were very lucky . It is an exceptionally clean country.

apps.apple.com/gb/app/safety-tips/id858357174

This app is worth downloading gives weather warnings, helpful phrases, neares hospitals etc also this one is good for travel.

apps.apple.com/gb/app/japan-travel-route-map-guide/id686373726

I just got back it was hot but lots of AC, it is busy but so organised & a really fantastic place full of kind people and wonderful experiences. There is a cool burger place in Kyoto we found after needing a break from Japanese food - has chicken burgers too -

upit.jp/

On one of the Japanese holiday threads we found on here there is a good blog that helped & we read it while there.

Maps on iPhone or Google maps literally give you the platform and train to take and the train/underground is so easy.

Take comfy shoes we walked a lot and explored everywhere.

There are so many food choices, not expensive to eat well -

7-11s everywhere and sell everything.

If you can add a traditional ryokan stay it is worth it - we also went to see snow monkeys which was amazing.

I also would not worry about getting too tired before you go by getting up early, the excitement will give you the energy. Like someone said if it is daytime when land try and just keep going until the Japan night time.

There is some weather coming in tomorrow, so just keep an eye on things but that first app will help.

Enjoy it all!

You have had really good advice so far.

Download Papago app- translation app, very useful.
NERV - early warning app for weather.
Make use of the jet lag if you get up early - shrines and temples open early and you can visit these places with no crowd.
Drink plenty of fluids as it's very very hot. Make sure you plan things inside during mid day.

You will have fun, don't worry .

I agree with Hiroshima. I think everyone should go to the museum/park but it's a place where grown adults cry.
The magnitude will likely go over many children's heads, but they might be distressed by seeing adults and loved ones cry.
It is an experience that will live with me forever and I am grateful for the opportunity.

They are all over Tokyo and a very authentic way to eat.
Although us Westerners take SO LONG compared to Japanese salary men. They are in and out in just over five minutes - we took about 20 odd. But the owners largely don't mind unless you are hogging space during super busy times.
Tokyo-ites are VERY FAST.