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| Walking the cedar lined avenue towards upper Togakushi Shrine, Nagano Prefecture. Image: Dave Lock |
Our love thing amongst Nippon began ix years agone when my husband, Dave, as well as I spent a calendar month honeymooning inward Tokyo as well as snowboarding the mountains of Hakuba. We returned for a similar length trip amongst our daughter, Milla, when she was 20 months old, dividing our fourth dimension betwixt Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kochi [Shikoku Island] as well as Nozawa Onsen. Earlier inward 2016 nosotros returned from our tertiary trip, this fourth dimension travelling amongst our 2 children, Milla [now aged 7] as well as Ari [3].
I've received a issue queries nigh these trips as well as taking kids to Japan, thence thought I'd part the places as well as highlights of our recent adventures, equally good equally some of the tips we've picked upwards travelling amongst younger kids inward the country! This post service covers our primary destinations on this yesteryear trip - Tokyo, snowfall areas Nozawa Onsen as well as Myoko Kogen, as well as Gankoyama Treehouse Village - as well as concludes amongst our move tips. Please note: this is a longer weblog thence if you're non interested inward all the destinations simply skip ahead! Please experience gratis to contribute to the conversation or sing out amongst questions inward the comments department below!
|| W east H east Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 R T J Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 P Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 north ||
We chose Nippon equally our honeymoon goal given our love of snowboarding as well as stories shared yesteryear Japanese friends as well as Australian mates who lived as well as worked inward the country. Our 3 trips cause got all occurred mid-winter to [temporarily!] satisfy our snowfall cravings, as well as equally the opening painting of this weblog attests, this has proven to endure a beautiful fourth dimension of twelvemonth to travel. Generally the atmospheric condition off-mountain is crisp amongst clear skies, amongst most of the rainfall inward places similar Tokyo occurring amongst the humid summertime season. The correct wearable is essential for wintertime travel, enabling you lot as well as the draw solid unit of measurement to take inward the sites as well as relish Japan's coolest flavour inward comfort [think: character materials as well as layering including thermals as well as jackets, gloves, as well as beanies]!
Our trips cause got all comprised an intoxicating dose of mega-city life, followed yesteryear lots of snowfall as well as nature-based adventures. Nippon has never disappointed us equally travellers: the province as well as civilization is a fascinating - contrasting as well as yet complementary - blend of tradition as well as the ultra-modern, witnessed across many aspects of daily life. This epic brusque film, 'In Japan', by Vincent Urban, Alex Schiller as well as Alex Tank exquisitely captures the contrast as well as beauty of Japan. Ahh, accept me dorsum already!
Nippon is also an slow province to move in: 'the Japanese' are courteous, conscientious, helpful as well as friendly [yes you lot tin acquire yesteryear amongst basic Japanese as well as manus gestures!]; its clean; to a greater extent than oft than non rattling safe; as well as super efficient! While travelling amongst children is certainly dissimilar than travelling sans kids, our travels cause got proven to endure a unique cultural experience as well as influence on our 2 immature explorers, as well as cause got also opened upwards some wonderful conversations as well as experiences.
F I R due south T S T O P || T O K Y O
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| Tokyo's Shibuyu intersection yesteryear night |
On our trip amongst toddler-edition Milla, nosotros learnt the importance of identifying places as well as factoring inward fourth dimension for piddling ones to stretch their legs as well as run wild, peculiarly when staying inward the megacities! With this inward mind, for Nippon Round 3 nosotros identified a issue of Tokyo's gratis as well as unique playspaces as well as planned our 5 twenty-four lx minutes menses metropolis rest about visiting a few of these. On the hitting list: Nishi Rokugo Koen [Tire Park] as well as Yume Park, a free-play opportunity playground [you tin depository fiscal establishment check out my Pinterest board for to a greater extent than ideas on Japan's quirky as well as cool playspaces].
As shops opened upwards as well as unopen afterward than Australia, we'd to a greater extent than oft than non construction our days to caput out to a playground inward the morning, cause got some relaxation fourth dimension dorsum inward our story inward the afternoon, as well as and thence caput dorsum out 1 time again inward the eve for a meal. We stayed inward an story through airbnb as well as this location panned out good given it was a brusque prepare ride to Tokyo's must-see Shibuya district as well as also on the local draw to depository fiscal establishment check out the aforementioned playgrounds.
Highlights of this Tokyo rest included:
NISHI ROKUGO KOEN [TIRE PARK] || Tire Park is a retro playground comprising to a greater extent than than 3000 tyres! Giant dinosaurs as well as robots constructed of tyres furnish for an eye-widening entry to the playground; tyres of all sizes allow for a unique loose parts play experience; as well as a cement slide that tin accommodate 20 children across the width catered for many dissimilar ages as well as levels of opportunity seekers. We enjoyed a relaxing as well as gratis morning time of play nether bluish wintertime skies at this park, along amongst many other families.
SHIBUYU || This Tokyo shopping district makes for a jaw-dropping goal at whatever fourth dimension but nosotros peculiarly enjoyed our dark fourth dimension adventures inward the area, absorbing the billboards, neon signs as well as volume of people moving seamlessly through the world's most famous four-way intersection.
HARAJUKU || Harajuku is renowned for its shopping, Tokyo youth culture, as well as people watching [its hither you'll detect the teenage cosplay - costume play gang - assembled on the weekends]. We leisurely strolled from Shibuya to Harijuku, revelling inward the grittier streets earlier hitting the primary stretch where nosotros couldn't assistance but gawk at the incomprehensible opulence of the high terminate fashion houses. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 see to the multi-storied toy store, Kiddy Land, was a massive highlight for the kids, as well as a hear blowing experience for all of us [Dave as well as I tried non to panic inward the intensely crowded store - which fifty-fifty included a whole degree dedicated to Hello Kitty as well as her kawaii *cute* pals!]. Cue nature, as well as Asahi!
YOYOGI KOEN [PARK], HARAJUKU ) || Yoyogi comprises over 50 hectares of tall wooded wood as well as replenished us amongst a much needed nature prepare after our Kiddy Land experience as well as a few days of megacity life! You tin follow walking trails that band the Park, see the Meiji Shrine, throw downwards a blanket for a picnic, or depository fiscal establishment check out the attain of cool as well as eclectic happenings including music as well as martial arts practices, Canis familiaris watching [outfits galore!], burn downwards eating as well as more!
SNOW GEAR || If you're inward the marketplace for snowfall as well as outdoor gear - clothing, footwear, equipment, accessories, you lot holler it - Ochanomizu is your one-stop goal inward Tokyo. Thanks to our mate Bazz, we've discovered this stretch of high-rises ready to cater, as well as potentially overwhelm, all your needs as well as snowfall fuelled desires. Given we'd endure spending a few weeks inward the snow, nosotros bought the kids their ski outfits as well as mucilage / snowfall boots for walking about the snowfall villages as well as I indulged inward a pair of Sorel boots [which proved to endure a valuable investment for our snowfall missions to follow]!
Highlights of this Tokyo rest included:
NISHI ROKUGO KOEN [TIRE PARK] || Tire Park is a retro playground comprising to a greater extent than than 3000 tyres! Giant dinosaurs as well as robots constructed of tyres furnish for an eye-widening entry to the playground; tyres of all sizes allow for a unique loose parts play experience; as well as a cement slide that tin accommodate 20 children across the width catered for many dissimilar ages as well as levels of opportunity seekers. We enjoyed a relaxing as well as gratis morning time of play nether bluish wintertime skies at this park, along amongst many other families.
SHIBUYU || This Tokyo shopping district makes for a jaw-dropping goal at whatever fourth dimension but nosotros peculiarly enjoyed our dark fourth dimension adventures inward the area, absorbing the billboards, neon signs as well as volume of people moving seamlessly through the world's most famous four-way intersection.
HARAJUKU || Harajuku is renowned for its shopping, Tokyo youth culture, as well as people watching [its hither you'll detect the teenage cosplay - costume play gang - assembled on the weekends]. We leisurely strolled from Shibuya to Harijuku, revelling inward the grittier streets earlier hitting the primary stretch where nosotros couldn't assistance but gawk at the incomprehensible opulence of the high terminate fashion houses. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 see to the multi-storied toy store, Kiddy Land, was a massive highlight for the kids, as well as a hear blowing experience for all of us [Dave as well as I tried non to panic inward the intensely crowded store - which fifty-fifty included a whole degree dedicated to Hello Kitty as well as her kawaii *cute* pals!]. Cue nature, as well as Asahi!
YOYOGI KOEN [PARK], HARAJUKU ) || Yoyogi comprises over 50 hectares of tall wooded wood as well as replenished us amongst a much needed nature prepare after our Kiddy Land experience as well as a few days of megacity life! You tin follow walking trails that band the Park, see the Meiji Shrine, throw downwards a blanket for a picnic, or depository fiscal establishment check out the attain of cool as well as eclectic happenings including music as well as martial arts practices, Canis familiaris watching [outfits galore!], burn downwards eating as well as more!
SNOW GEAR || If you're inward the marketplace for snowfall as well as outdoor gear - clothing, footwear, equipment, accessories, you lot holler it - Ochanomizu is your one-stop goal inward Tokyo. Thanks to our mate Bazz, we've discovered this stretch of high-rises ready to cater, as well as potentially overwhelm, all your needs as well as snowfall fuelled desires. Given we'd endure spending a few weeks inward the snow, nosotros bought the kids their ski outfits as well as mucilage / snowfall boots for walking about the snowfall villages as well as I indulged inward a pair of Sorel boots [which proved to endure a valuable investment for our snowfall missions to follow]!
The points inward a higher house are simply the tip of what you lot tin explore as well as uncovering inward Tokyo. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 see to Ghibli Museum is on the hitting listing for adjacent fourth dimension as well as previously we've: stayed inward Shinjuku; risen early on to explore as well as dine inward the Tsukiji Fish Market; taken inward panoramic metropolis views from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Offices; as well as fifty-fifty hung out inward a pet store trying to encompass the multifariousness of hand-bag sized dogs breeds as well as attain of canine outfits for sale?!
N O Z O due west Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 || O north due south east north
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| Walking / hitchin' the 2km wood trail to snowfall monkey park, Nagano Prefecture |
To the snow! From Tokyo nosotros travelled yesteryear Shinkansen [bullet train] to Nozawa Onsen, a snowfall hamlet yesteryear wintertime / farming hamlet yesteryear summertime inward the Nagano Prefecture. We've been to Nozawa on each of our trips amongst highlights including the quaint hamlet setting as well as architecture, abundant onsen [hot springs], as well as the town's famous annual burn downwards festival on Jan 15. For our latest trip, nosotros arrived for New Years Eve as well as stayed for half-dozen nights, catching upwards as well as staying amongst friends from Commonwealth of Australia [a draw solid unit of measurement also amongst a vii twelvemonth quondam daughter].
SNOW || For us, this Nozawa see was nigh introducing the kids to the snowfall for the showtime fourth dimension - watching them discover, marvel, as well as play amongst snow; learning the basics of skiing; enjoying the mountains; as well as sampling a gustation of ski guild life. To acquire the kids started on the slopes, we booked several English-speaking ski lessons through our accommodation, Lodge Nagano, as well as made the most of a few kid-free hours to hitting upwards the steeper terrain. We definitely had some testing times early on inward this calendar week trying to innovate basic concepts of snowfall security to the kids when nosotros showtime arrived, as well as getting ready inward the mornings! Things did settle however, as well as nosotros cause got some incredible memories, my favourites beingness seeing the kids acquire to ski, as well as beingness able to ride downwards the mount equally a draw solid unit of measurement as well as amongst friends. THE BEST!!
FOOD || Nozawa has many delightful traditional family-run restaurants to experience as well as nosotros enjoyed a issue of evenings about sunken tables amongst the kids as well as our friends. You'll also come upwards across pocket-size street stalls selling steamed buns filled amongst an assortment of savoury as well as sweetness mixes - a warm as well as fulfilling snack apres ski or whilst strolling the village.
ONSEN || As the holler implies, Nozawa Onsen is renowned for its hot springs - xiii inward fact - located throughout the village! I'd actually encourage you lot to give onsen bathing a endeavor equally it is such a unique experience, relaxing inward the hot baths, soothing sore muscles, as well as warming yourself to the meat - leaving the onsen inward to a snowfall covered mount surroundings is pure magic! You tin acquire nigh onsen etiquette here, or hash out amongst your accommodation hosts.
SNOW MONKEYS || Jigokundani Snow Monkey Park is a worthy twenty-four lx minutes menses trip, amongst or without kids! Our 2 were tired after their initial few days of skiing thence nosotros ventured off-mountain for a day, signing upwards for the snow monkey tour offered through Nozawa Holidays. The Park is run of the Joshinetsu Kogen National Park as well as is covered inward snowfall for about a tertiary of the year. The resident monkey troop comprises roughly 200 Japanese macaques that alive inward the wood as well as about the hot springs. It is quite the sight to view them reclining inward their onsen against a snowfall covered mount backdrop as well as getting upwards to all kinds of, er, monkey business!
FIRE FESTIVAL || The Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival is held on xv Jan every year. According to Nozawa Onsen Guide the Festival is staged yesteryear 2 groups of men, aged 42 as well as 25 (the so-called unlucky years), to celebrate the nascency of a family’s showtime child, to dispel evil spirits as well as also to pray for happy marriage. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 “fire-setting battle” occurs inward the eve which culminates with an offensive team setting burn downwards to the shrine amongst blazing torches as well as the offering of torches to the deity. Families as well as spectators gather to sentinel the Festival which tin oft run for several hours. There's enough of sake equally run of the festivities thence peradventure don't innovation to do much on the 16th, or conversely hitting the slopes fresh as well as early on to relish a quieter mountainside!
M Y O K O || K O G east N
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| Kids inward ski schoolhouse = a few hours snowboarding amongst friends! [Myoko] |
From Nozawa nosotros made our means into the neighbouring Niiagata Prefecture for 10 days of snowfall inward Myoko Kogen, 1 of the oldest established ski areas inward the world. The ski expanse comprises ix resorts connected yesteryear a shuttle service [there are also numerous other mount resorts nearby] . We'd arranged to view upwards amongst 2 sets of friends inward the Akakura Ski Resort area: a brace honeymooning as well as a Japanese-Australian draw solid unit of measurement of four. Highlights of this run of the trip for us:
ACCOMODATION || One of the things that made this run of the trip thence memorable was our rest at Pension Bunk, a charming family-run Pension located within walking distance to Akakura. Thankfully our Japanese friend discovered as well as booked this house for both our families, as well as nosotros were treated to the warmest, family-friendly, service yesteryear our hosts SaSa as well as Etsiko. The accommodation was picturesque as well as welcoming, laid inward a placidity expanse over looking a wild natural space, consummate amongst squirrels running upwards the trees inward the morning! The kids were good catered for amongst toasted marshmallows, bill of fare games as well as other informal amusement yesteryear the eve fire, but the biggest property for our 2 families was the snow-covered lawn expanse which saw hours upon hours of snowfall play: snowball fights, tobogganing, cave construction as well as snowfall angels aplenty!
POW || The Myoko ski expanse boasts an average seasonal snowfall autumn of xiii metres, thick beech as well as aspen forests, as well as on-piste as well as guided dorsum province experiences. Children are good catered for inward the expanse amongst children's snowfall parks available, runs to cater for all ages as well as abilities, options for childcare, as well as English linguistic communication speaking ski as well as snowboard lessons inward a resort that silent retains a rattling Japanese feel. Note: Myoko's runs are busy amongst weekend Tokyo crowds, but you'll endure inward absolute riding sky mid-week!
POW || The Myoko ski expanse boasts an average seasonal snowfall autumn of xiii metres, thick beech as well as aspen forests, as well as on-piste as well as guided dorsum province experiences. Children are good catered for inward the expanse amongst children's snowfall parks available, runs to cater for all ages as well as abilities, options for childcare, as well as English linguistic communication speaking ski as well as snowboard lessons inward a resort that silent retains a rattling Japanese feel. Note: Myoko's runs are busy amongst weekend Tokyo crowds, but you'll endure inward absolute riding sky mid-week!
COFFEE || We've struggled to detect skilful strong java inward Nippon thence in that location was much joy upon discovering the sweetness nectar available in the Myoko Snowsports store cafe! Caffeine addicts rejoice!
|| G Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 north K O Y Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 K Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 T R east E H O U due south east V I L L Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 G east ||
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| The treehouse nosotros called domicile for a weekend, Gankoyama Treehouse Village |
I cause got a slight obsession amongst treehouses as well as wanted to view if we'd endure able to depository fiscal establishment check out the piece of job of Japan's legendary treehouse maker, Takashi Kobayashi . You tin experience some of his piece of job inward this incredibly moving cinematic masterpiece, Through the Lens amongst Rob Machado - Taka's Treehouse, which sees Rob follow Takashi for a calendar week equally he completes a treehouse constructed for the children of the Tsunami stricken Sendai part of Japan. Its must view viewing [and peradventure grab the kleeenex equally good if you're anything similar me].
Whilst conducting my enquiry I came across here in my weblog [originally featured yesteryear Nature Play SA]. Our fourth dimension inward the hamlet as well as amongst Master Gankoyama was a remarkable experience that the kids silent hash out regularly as well as I'm thence glad nosotros could jibe this element inward to our trip!
O U R T O P T I P due south || T R Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 V east L L I north G due west K I D due south I north J Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 P Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 N
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Their showtime snowfall experience together, Nagano Prefecture |
So a few top tips from our travels!
LUGGAGE || Travelling amongst luggage, kids as well as a pram through Tokyo as well as the Japanese prepare systems tin endure a challenge. Consider how much you lot actually demand to pack as well as how it volition all endure transported. We express our gear to 1 large draw solid unit of measurement bag, 1 backpack per person, our snowboard handbag as well as a light-weight pram. It's also improve to avoid travelling during peak times such equally the draw organization rush as well as Japanese holidays if you lot can.
COURIER SERVICE || Fortunately in that location are fantastic luggage as well as courier services inward Nippon as well as our showtime halt after clearing aerodrome customs is to locate the 'black cat' courier service ['black cat' spotting ended upwards beingness a game nosotros played throughout Nippon equally you'll view signs as well as society vehicles throughout your travels!]. Luggage tin endure sent ahead to a goal thence nosotros arranged for our snowboards to endure sent via dark truthful cat to our ski lodge, enabling us to move to a greater extent than lightly into as well as out of Tokyo. We also used this service towards the terminate of the trip to send the bulk of our luggage direct to the airport, enabling us to accept a pocket-size draw solid unit of measurement handbag as well as pram to the treehouse.
BE FLEXIBLE || Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 flexible approach to move helps. Allow fourth dimension to acquire betwixt places as well as avoid over scheduling amongst kids. You may also cause got to adjust your expectations on what you lot tin jibe inward to whatever given day, peculiarly if the kids are struggling after a sleepless flying or cause got spent lots of fourth dimension strapped inward a pram / getting about on world transport. Locate the parks as well as playgrounds inward the areas you're visiting as well as brand the most of these.
CHECK HOLIDAYS || The Japanese tend to cause got specific times for holidays, such equally the calendar week of Christmas / New Years, Golden Week as well as world holidays. It's worth checking if your trip volition coincide amongst whatever of these dates as well as cistron this into your plans / expectations equally in that location volition endure to a greater extent than people travelling as well as visiting telephone commutation sites as well as places. From experience, nosotros recommend avoiding travelling through Tokyo station as well as using the Shinkansen on New Years Eve!
INVOLVE AND ENGAGE || Involve the kids inward the trip inward ways that are appropriate for their age. For older kids its skilful to engage as well as involve them inward aspects such equally figuring out how to acquire to sure places as well as ordering food. We found directing Milla's unloose energy into considering our prepare road on the subway maps, buying prepare as well as fare adjustment tickets, locating elevate signs as well as thence on gave her some responsibilities as well as independence, as well as also helped to avoid our most energetic kid repeatedly colliding amongst innocent subway users...!
SNOW || Our experience has been that skiing / snowboarding inward Nippon is improve value as well as affords far greater flexibility than Australian ski resorts, non to cite the character as well as abundance of the snowfall autumn inward Japan. Kids half-dozen years as well as nether ski gratis inward many resorts [one inward the Myoko expanse fifty-fifty offers gratis skiing for nether 17s] as well as our adult tickets were purchased anywhere betwixt 1/5 - 1/2 of the toll of the equivalent ticket inward Commonwealth of Australia [NB. this is also dependent area to commutation rates]. We would also sometimes divide a elevate ticket betwixt Dave as well as I - where 1 of us would ride inward the morning time as well as the other accept the afternoon session - if the kids were tired or nosotros felt similar a quieter day.
SNOW || Our experience has been that skiing / snowboarding inward Nippon is improve value as well as affords far greater flexibility than Australian ski resorts, non to cite the character as well as abundance of the snowfall autumn inward Japan. Kids half-dozen years as well as nether ski gratis inward many resorts [one inward the Myoko expanse fifty-fifty offers gratis skiing for nether 17s] as well as our adult tickets were purchased anywhere betwixt 1/5 - 1/2 of the toll of the equivalent ticket inward Commonwealth of Australia [NB. this is also dependent area to commutation rates]. We would also sometimes divide a elevate ticket betwixt Dave as well as I - where 1 of us would ride inward the morning time as well as the other accept the afternoon session - if the kids were tired or nosotros felt similar a quieter day.
FOOD || s o o o m u c h g o o d f o o d! Food is basically an fine art shape inward Nippon as well as dissimilar regions also cause got their ain culinary specialties, amongst an abundant choice of things for adults as well as children to try. Our 2 demolished sushi, sashimi, gyoza [dumplings], edamame [soy beans], ramen [noodle soup], Tonkatsu [aka Japanese schnitty], as well as greenish tea as well as sesame ice-creams. Some nutrient experiences to also endeavor amongst kids are: cooking Japanese savoury pancakes - Okonomiyaki - on your ain hot plate table, as well as hitting upwards a sushi prepare where you lot tin house an monastic enjoin from your table's smart cover as well as thence sentinel nutrient as well as beverages become far on a miniature bullet train!
CONVINI [aka convenience store] || Our kids loved the sushi triangles available at the 7-11s as well as other convenience stores. The tuna as well as japanese mayonnaise filled ones were a hit, providing a cheap, relatively salubrious snack to cause got on manus throughout our daytime adventures. Ridiculously sweetness hot coffee-in-a-can is also available for warming upwards hands as well as brains inward the morning, addition biiru [beer] for when the occasion calls!
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| Snow play exterior our Pension, Myoko Kogen |
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