Travel guide for toddler friendly restaurants in Japan

Eating at toddler friendly restaurants in Japan is not as easy as popping into a tiny restaurant down an ancient alley. It will take a bit of planning, but you can still have delicious meals on your Japan vacation with toddlers! 

The cuisine is one of the best experiences of Japan, so do a little research beforehand to include restaurant ideas in your itinerary! 

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Toddler friendly restaurants in Japan

You will find many restaurants in Japan are cramped, with seating for only 5 patrons (or so) on barstools only. Unfortunately, these hole-in-the-wall restaurants are not exactly toddler friendly, and definitely won’t have space for your stroller.

But do not despair! With a little planning, you will be able to find toddler friendly restaurants in Japan. You’ll want to plan out family friendly restaurants ahead of time, so you know where to go. You won’t be able to stumble upon restaurants that are toddler friendly in Japan unless you know what to look for and have come prepared. 

Where to find toddler friendly restaurants in Japan

Mall food courts

Food courts in malls and large shopping centers will become your best friend for meals. They have lots of options, large tables with plenty of seating, and almost always have high chairs. 

Plus, these facilities have nursing and changing rooms that are so well thought out, you’ll wish you could take them back home. 

Stand alone restaurants

For stand-alone restaurants, check out Smiley-Mom for a list of restaurants with high chairs and other baby amenities. This website allows you to filter by accommodation type, so you can find exactly what you’re looking for. 

💡 Pro tip: The Smiley-Mom website is only in Japanese, so use your browser to translate. 

Family focused restaurant chains in Japan

There are a few restaurants in Japan that are specifically geared towards families and all offer international fare. I don’t necessarily recommend these restaurants, since I personally think authentic Japanese food should be your focus.

However, sometimes we need a little comfort food from home, or even just a break from the same cuisine everyday. Or sometimes, we have a picky toddler and they just need something familiar. 

The most common toddler friendly restaurants you’ll find in Japan are Saizeriya (Italian), Gusto (Western), Bamiyan (Chinese), and Joyfull (burgers and steaks). 

Dining in Japan

Smoking in restaurants

Unfortunately for your toddler’s little lungs, you will still find smoking sections in many restaurants in Japan, especially in smaller towns. You can find 100% non-smoking restaurants around, you will just need to research ahead of time. 

Paying in Restaurants in Japan

Pricing is very different at dinner than at lunch, sometimes more than double. If you’re on a budget, try to make lunch your biggest meal of the day. Sometimes lunch naturally becomes the biggest meal with jetlag messing up our hunger signals. 

Make sure you bring cash. Cash is still king in Japan, and many smaller restaurants don’t take credit cards. 

You will pay for most meals at the cashier counter, not at the table, although high end restaurants will bring the check to your table. 

Tipping in Japan

Tipping in Japan is not only uncommon, it can be considered rude. Restaurant workers are paid a fair wage for their job, and good service is just part of the package. 

💡 Pro tip: Upscale restaurants may serve otoshi – a complimentary appetizer that lets you know there will be a service charge for your meal, which is included in your ticket. 

Etiquette

General dining etiquette in Japan 

Don’t be surprised if you hear people slurping their noodles. Slurping is considered the proper way to eat noodles in a brothy dish, like ramen. However, don’t feel obligated to slurp if you’re not comfortable with it!

Order at least 1 meal per big kid or adult, and 1 side dish per toddler at your table, then share. Even with the best intentions, splitting a single meal and taking up multiple seats is frowned upon. 

Try to avoid eating “on the go” in Japan, as this is typically considered poor etiquette. 

💡 Pro tip: Thankfully, this etiquette rule doesn’t apply to babies and small children in strollers, because my toddler is ALWAYS hungry. 

It’s uncommon to ask for substitutions or omissions in your meals. A chef curated all the components of a dish, so it’s expected that you eat it as prepared. 

You may be offered a wet towel in restaurants to wipe your hands (not your face) before your meal. This is called oshibori. 

Restaurant etiquette with toddlers

Clean up after your toddler as they eat. Japanese culture is clean and tidy, and it’s not the restaurant waitsaff’s responsibility to clean up after you. If you’re at a restaurant that offers high chairs, then you can wait until the meal is finished, but it is still your responsibility to clean up after your toddler. 

Japanese culture is also quiet, so bring entertainment for your toddler to prevent hangry meltdowns. An upset toddler can feel extra embarrassing when everyone else is so quiet. (This is a great tip for anywhere, whether you’re traveling in Japan or dining in your hometown.)

💡Pro tip: Restaurant menus will mostly be in Japanese. Have your Google Translate app ready! 

Dietary Restrictions

Allergies

Dietary restrictions, including food allergies, can be a challenge in Japan. You should learn to say “I’m allergic to X,” but know that you may still need to explain further.

 Legal Nomads offers a Gluten Free Card that you can show at restaurants. You can also print off your own to carry with you if you have a different restriction, or prefer to save the money. 

Gluten can be difficult to avoid, as most soy sauce is brewed with wheat. You will need to be diligent in your research and restaurant planning if even small amounts of gluten are intolerable for your vacation. 

Vegetarian and Vegan

Big cities, especially Tokyo and Osaka, will have vegetarian and vegan restaurants. If you are going to smaller destinations, you should call ahead to make sure the restaurant or ryokan will be able to accommodate your dietary restrictions. 

For example, broths made from fish or pork are very common (even in vegetable ramen), so to ensure they have the ingredients for a veggie broth prior to your arrival, call ahead. You can also expect to pay a bit more for this specialized attention. 

Like with allergies, you may need to explain a bit further. Veganism isn’t very common, therefore isn’t something people will typically be educated about. Restaurants may also assume that vegetarians eat fish and seafood. 

Many vegan and vegetarian travelers use HappyCow to find restaurants catering to their dietary restrictions. 

💡 Pro tip: eating at Buddhist temples (anywhere in Asia!) is perfect for vegetarians and vegans, since Buddhist monks are strictly vegetarian. 

Wrapping it up

There are plenty of options when looking for toddler friendly restaurants in Japan. Do a little bit of research before your trip so you’ve got options near your activities – future you will thank you.

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