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Travelling to Japan with 9 month old

9 replies

CarlaBarcelona · 27/03/2026 22:44

Hi all, looking for some advice (judgement free) from parents who have done it! My partner has a few months off at the same time as I'm on maternity leave with our first child. He is desperate for us and our baby to go on a big holiday while we can. Ideally he wants to go to Japan. Our baby would be 9 months at the time we'd most likely fly.

I recognise this once-in-a-lifetime mentality and ordinarily would be really up for it, but with a newborn baby right now I feel quite nervous. What if the baby gets sick? Or has an allergy while she's beginning to try new foods out there. Does anyone know if I can allergy test her before we go?

I know I sound OTT but I'm trying to balance the amazing opportunity with a little risk management that my partner isnt as bothered by as I am. Does anyone have advice on how to best prepare for a trip like this with such a small baby?

Thanks x

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
QuantumPanic · 27/03/2026 22:59

Get comprehensive travel insurance and stop going to playgroups a couple of months before you're due to fly. Months 8+ have been a never ending carousel of illness for us. I think there have only been about two weeks in the last five months where I've not had some kind of horrible lurgy.

ThreenagerMum · 27/03/2026 23:05

I wish we had done a big trip when my eldest was a baby! If Japan feels daunting is there somewhere else that you feel more comfortable going to?

On the allergy side, you can’t do allergy testing beforehand (or if you do it is unlikely to be a reputable one) as they will be so young still. But you can definitely have introduced the main allergens by then! If going to Japan then soy, fish, shellfish and sesame will be quite important I guess.

Girrafffees87832 · 28/03/2026 01:37

I've been to Japan (pre-baby) and I've done three 13 hour flights with my now toddler (at 5 months, 12 months and 18 months) to see family. Japan is super safe, easy to travel around, very developed. Flights will tiring but totally fine.

If anything, 9 months is your last chance to take an adventurous trip. I find ages 1-3 are very tricky for travel.

What I will say is - keep expectations low. You won't be seeing loads, you'll be exhausted. All the cities are huge and you spend a lot of time just going from A to B. And babies that age love an early bedtime so you won't be having dinners out a lot.

Also, hotel rooms in Japan are tiny. So so tiny. So keep that in mind.

Edit: in terms of food, they had everything you find in London, I wouldn't worry.

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lxn889121 · 28/03/2026 02:22

Japan is great - but personally I wouldn't want to go with a 9 month old.

I mean, you can.. and Japan is so convenient and easy/safe that it won't be a problem. But you certainly won't be getting as much out of the trip as you would be without a 9 month or (or with an older child). And the 9 month old will get basically nothing from it... (Also really check the time of year, I wouldn't want to be taking a baby there in either the summer or winter. Very cold and very hot, depending on where you go)

When I went to Japan, it was amazing, but it was a trip full of moving. Trains, hikes, visiting, changing cities etc. I'm not saying you have to, but its a small and very well connected country that works well for "traveller" style of trips, where you hop between hotels and cities. Rather than "stay in one place for a week or two" holidays.

Could you do all of that with a baby? again yes, but would it be a worse trip? I'd say so.. nappies, breast feeding, prams, naps etc. all while trying to visit places, on and off trains, different hotels etc.

Personally I would wait. Which is actually what I'm doing. My family and I live very close to Japan, so it is only a couple of hours flight for us, and I've told my son that I'll take him when he is old enough to actually enjoy it fully. Enjoy the travelling, Enjoy all the unique Japanese culture/food/entertainment etc. He is 5 now, and just at the point where I think he would get a lot from the trip, and that it would actually be really fun to do with him, because I know how excited he will be to see all the pokemon, video game characters, anime characters. He is fine eating ramen, sushi, and other Japanese food, good at travelling with us, fine walking around temples/castles etc.

So personally, if at all possible, I would save your Japan trip until your child is older, and do something much more easy this year, that is more suitable for a baby. You'll end up having a much better time in Japan if you do.

Witchyvibes · 28/03/2026 02:37

Outside of summer, I’d say go for it! Especially recommend babywearing and bringing a stroller, and even though you can get all the usual baby meds there, bring your own so you’re not panicking if your baby gets fever or sick in the night (not uncommon after a long flight). Most supermarkets and drugstores will have nappies, crème, and baby snacks. At 10 months you should be able to sightsee while your baby sleeps, and there’s always nice places to stop for breaks. While people can be quite intolerant of bigger kids being loud or wriggly, generally people are lovely to those with babies

PoppySeedBagelRedux · 28/03/2026 02:58

I’m in Japan at the moment and have seen quite a lot of western couples with young babies. Travel light because a lot of stations, even big one, don’t have escalators or lifts.

OtterMummy2024 · 28/03/2026 06:10

I went to the US with my baby at 10 months, it was awesome - we even took the baby hiking in the desert! We were away for 2.5 weeks in the end and could have stayed longer. It's much easier to travel with them when they sleep more of the day. Do it!

curious79 · 28/03/2026 06:15

I would leap at this. Japan is super hygienic and the food is lovely so your baby will be safe and can do something like baby led weaning (ie avoid ridiculous baby porridges and just it then eat adult food). BLW will be the real liberation for you

Caspianberg · 28/03/2026 06:21

It’s fine.

A few tips. Use the luggage shipping options It’s around £10-20 each time depending on location and bag size. But means you can ship one large case with luggage and space to bring back stuff, and just take a day rucksack each for travelling in between.

Stay in each location at least 3 nights. Any less and it’s stressful.

Fly into Tokyo and back from Osaka if possible. Save doing the return journey back on train

Some hotels and companies have option to pre order essentials and have delivered. Ie nappies. Stay places with cot included

Sling and travel size pram. Baby can be worn at busy stations or areas with stairs. Pram folded and carried. The stokke yoyo we travelled a lot with. It’s cabin luggage size

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