Traveling with Baby in Japan

I remember travelling with baby was difficult with all the things you need to carry but looking at old photos, it was wonderful! If you are planning to bring your baby, Japan is a safe and beautiful country. I hope you enjoy your holiday.

Things you can buy in Japan

You can buy almost everything here. Baby milk, baby food, diapers, clothes, toys and etc. If you buy brand products, they are safe and reliable. It might be difficult to find stores in the beginning. If you are staying in central city, it might be difficult because big drug stores and supermarkets that carries baby items are usually located in the suburb.

Where can you buy baby items?

• Akachan Honpo（赤ちゃん本舗） Tokyo (akachan.jp), Osaka (akachan.jp)
• Babies R Us: Aqua City Odaiba, Ikebukuro Sunshine City, Kinshicho, Toyosu　Store Locator | Babies”R”Us Japan
• Nishimatsuya: you often find them in suburbs but in Tokyo, Nishimagome Station Store is relatively close to the central Tokyo.
• Mega Donki: Shibuya, Shinjuku
• Big drug stores: Ones in the centeral city tend to be small. Relatively big one in central location is Tsuruha Drug in Shibuya Center-gai/OK Ginza supermarket B1 floor.
• Big shopping mall in suburb（such as Aeon Mall, Ito Yokado, Apita etc）

Baby Milk

For baby milk, most famous and trusted brands are:

• Meiji Hohoemi
• Morinaga　Hagukumi
• Yukijirushi　Pure
• Beanstalk　Sukoyaka
• ICREO Balance Milk
• WAKODO　Hai hai

We have them in cans, small pack (stick type) and ready to feed milk in can or papaer container.

Baby Food

For baby food, famous brands are WAKODO, Kewpie, and Pigeon

Some are in bottle, plastic container which you can heat up in microwave, pouch type, freeze dry. Numbers on the box is suitable for X months. For example, 5 for 5 months old.

Stage 1 Purees:5-6 months（離乳食初期　5-6か月）
Very thin, smooth purees that are most often made with just one main single ingredient—of any food group such as fruits, vegetable, meat, dairy, whole grain, or other type of food.
smooth and easy to swallow

Stage 3 Purees: 9-10 months（離乳食後期　9-10カ月）
Thicker mashed foods with even more texture and usually includes multiple ingredients.

Completion：12-18 months（完了期　1歳～1歳半）　

Japanese baby food has lots of Japanese food such as rice, tofu and so on. Maybe your baby like Japanese food.　Also, they sell some freeze dry ingredients that are convenient. You might like to try it and take it back home.

Diapers

We have 2 types: Tape type （テープ型紙おむつ）and Pull-Up or Pants type （パンツ型紙おむつ）

• Tape type diapers: Sizes are usually； Newborn (up to 3 kg or 7 lbs), S (4-8kg or8-18 lbs) M (6-12 kg or 13-26lbs)  L (9-14 kg or 20-30lbs)  XL  (12-22 kg or 26-49lbs)
• Pull-up or Pants type diapers　S (4-8kg or8-18 lbs) M (6-12 kg or 13-26lbs)  L (9-14 kg or 20-30lbs)  XL  (12-22 kg or 26-49lbs),  XXL (13-25 kg or 29-55lbs)

If you can find big drug store or discount shops, they are cheaper. In the central city, it may be difficult to find them. In the suburb or residential area, you are likely to find them.

Baby Clothes

Large Uniqlos carry baby items as well.　Also, Nishimatsuya mentioned above is also affordable and popular.

If you prefer brand shops, head to Children section of Department Stores. There are all kinds of international high brands. Some Japanese brands are: Familiar（ファミリア）, Miki House（ミキハウス）,BeBe（ベベ）, Mezzo Piano（メゾピアノ）、Haruulal（ハルウラ） and PRISTINE（プリスティン）

Baby item related words and phrases

• My Baby is X months old　Xカ月の赤ちゃんです
• Do you have baby size? 赤ちゃん用サイズはありますか？
• Baby milk　赤ちゃん用ミルク
• Powder type milk　粉ミルク
• Ready to feed（liquid）baby milk　赤ちゃん用の液体ミルク
• Bottle　哺乳瓶
• Pacifier　おしゃぶり
• Baby has allergy　アレルギーがあります。
• Does the baby food contain ingredients that may cause allergies?　アレルギーを引き起こす可能性のある原材料は含まれていますか？
• Stage 1 baby food:5-6 months（離乳食初期　5-6か月）
• Stage 2 baby food: 7-8 months（離乳食中期　7-8か月）
• Stage 3 baby food: 9-10 months（離乳食後期　9-10カ月）
• Tape type diaper　テープ型紙おむつ
• Pull-Up or Pants type diaper 　パンツ型紙おむつ
• Baby wipe おしりふき
• Height is X cm 身長は X cmです
• Weight is X kg　体重は X kgです

I hope you have a wonderful time in Japan!