Japan with a one yr old and a three yr old...Am I nuts?

[tracilicious]

We have been planning a trip to WDW with MIL for Feb, but my MIL recently cancelled. We decided it would be better for us to postpone until October, which also gives us more time to save. So we got to thinking of what else we could do with the money.

We've planned to go to Japan in about 4 years when the kids are older, but I got to thinking, who knows what could happen in that time. For just a bit more than we would spend on 8 days at AKL with dining, we can do a semi-budget trip to Japan.

Ds will be three and a half and dd will be fifteen mos. Maybe flying won't be that bad if we fly at night? We can go to Tokyo DL and Disneyseas for a few days. And to the Ghibli museum. What else? I'm thinking about the Imperial palace and of course some shopping. We eat a lot of asian food anyways, so the kids eating shouldn't be a problem. And I'm already learning the language.

Am I completely insane? What do you think?

 

[yyzgurl]

I would definitely think twice before travelling overseas with infants and toddlers. I travel to Asia 8-10 times a year for business and it is hard on an adult, nevermind a child who has no concept of time changes and jet lag.

It is a VERY long plane ride and since there is usually only one flight a day, you will not be able to choose what time you leave. Your children will probably have a difficult time adjusting to the 12 hour time change (depending on where you are from). We have a few friends who have gone overseas with their toddlers and it took them 1.5 weeks to get use to the time change. Luckily, they were going for the whole summer. It also took just as long for them to adjust when they returned.

That being said, Japan is beautiful and if you decide to go, you will have a wonderful time. And if you go, you should try to make a stop in HK to check out the new Disneyland!

Keep us posted!

 

[robinb]

I went to Japan with my DD when she was 14 months old. The Japanese people love small children! People would ask my DH if they could hold the baby and take pictures of themselves with her. Everyone from pre-teens to salarymen would wave and make faces at her. We all had a great time.

We felt very welcomed where ever we went. We spoke almost no Japanese and most people spoke almost no English. We stayed at a Ryokan in Hakone (outside of Tokyo) and no one spoke English. It was great and everyone was very, very nice. We were also stopped on the street by people who would just start talking to us to practice their English. We were always very patient and they were always nice.

We spent about 10 days in Japan, while Toyko Seas was still under constuction. We spent a couple days at DL-Tokyo (at the Hilton, on points) and then we went to Hakone. Hakone is a resort town which is a long day trip from Tokyo. Or, you can stay at a Ryokan like we did. Ours included the natural baths (so nice!) and both dinner and breakfast. We also spent a couple days in Kyoto.

We are planning a return trip for August 2007 for the World Science Fiction Convention in Tokyo. We'll do 3-4 days at DL-T and a night or two in Hakone. I think we will go north this time to Nagasaki. I know that we will fit in a baseball game this time. I love baseball and I am looking forward to seeing baseball Japanese style.

Gotta go now. I hope I helped!

 

[SylviaL]

Japan is a long way to travel for only a week. When I went to Taiwan many years ago, I went for 10 days and it took me a week to get back on Chicago time. Personally, I wouldn't take 2 young kids there because I wouldn't want to deal with the logistics--car seats, strollers, small cars, etc. Also, you'd probably have to pack a lot of diapers b/c they may not have a brand you like. When we take a family vacation, it pretty much has to revolve around the kids b/c we don't expect them to want to look at paintings or artifacts. I would think that your 15 month old probably has regular naps that you would have to work around. Also, I can't imagine having to eat out every meal for an entire week with my boys (2 & 4).

However, DS2 is a big Thomas fan and I would love to take him to the Thomas the Tank Engine theme park within the Fuji-Q Highland theme park. I have no idea where it is in Japan. The website is www.fuji-q.com.

Good luck on your decision.

 

[Brina]

I agree that this is a long way to fly for only a week's stay. The flight itself might not be too bad. As you say, you can book a flight that goes overnight, the problem is what it does to their sleep schedules while your are there and again when you get home.

I flew to China a year ago to adopt my dd. DH and I had about 3 days to get acclimated to the time zone before we received her. Which is a good thing. On the way home we were on a flight that left about 2 in the afternoon and arrived home about noon the next day. My dd was actually pretty good for most of the flight. She played and ate and played some more and then she slept. But, it took her a good two weeks to get on time zone here in the midwest. It was like a newborn - day and night were switched. It got better after the first week, but she was still getting up about 4 in the morning. I would hate to have put her on a plane and reversed the process at that point.

 

[Stitchy_Baby_626]

Personally i think it's silly taking children to Disneyland when they're really young and don't really know what's going on, i would rather wait. That's just my opinion though.

Donna
xxx

 

[twojo21]

i went to japan predisney & it was still a magical trip. ive also been to other parts of asia, china, korea, singapore, thailand, india, its simply beautiful & the people have always been friendly. but i personally wouldnt travel with an infant & toddler overseas, i think i would save that experience for when theyre older so they can appreciate the culture more & better handle the trip health wise with vaccinations, food pickiness, jet lag, etc.

 

[MandM-Mom]

If Japan is something you would like to do, what about making it just a couples trip, then returning someday when your children are older, and when they will truely enjoy it, not that any they would not enjoy disneyland now i am sure they would but would you with 2 small children suffering from jet lag.

 

[tricia]

Don't let everyone discourage you. I, DH and DS1 went to Japan when DS1 was only 6 mos old. The time change does not really affect the sleeping patterns of one that young mind you. We were there for 10 days, it only took DH and I a little while to adjust. And when we got home same thing. Home on Saturday, work on Monday.

We had a great time. The transportation in Japan is awesome, and easy to get around even if you do not speak the language. We stayed in Tokyo and the travelled to Nala and Kyoto.

 

[MamaLema]

I say GO FOR IT!

You never know what tomorrow brings. Maybe one day the kids will be older but you won't be able to go for different reasons.

 

[tracilicious]

Thanks for all the replies. I especially enjoyed the ones from posters who've been with babies.

The time difference does weigh heavily on our decision. I think with the baby (who's 3 mos now, but will be 15mos then) it won't matter so much. If she sleeps during the day it's no big deal. If she's awake at night then dh and I will take turns sleeping. I only sleep about five hours a night anyways. We can always take an afternoon nap. Ds, who will be three, doesn't sleep a ton anyways. I think he'll adjust in about the same time that we do.

A week is short, but the longer we stay the more expensive it is. With travel time included it will be about ten days. If we have the money we'll go longer, but probably not.

Our plan has always been to wait four or five years, but then I started thinking, will a four and six year old really be that much easier than a one and three year old? I dunno. Hopefully, we'll be able to return when they are older, but who knows what the future brings. They won't remember it, but they are still being exposed to new things, which makes their brains grow.

 

[estherhead]

My parents did little trips when I was a baby and we took our first big one (to Canada) when I was 4. I do remember it, but vaguely. My plan has been to wait till my youngest is 5 to do a big trip (we're planning London & Ireland) and do little stuff in America till then. But it has been hard on me to do cheap beach vacations and WDW for the last 5 years. My dh, on the other hand, has loved the relaxing. Now I'm only 1.5 years away. Can you do WDW cheaper? Rent a house and do a few days at the parks, that way Japan will still be close financially.

 

[mom2lilandem]

We're taking our dd's to Italy in May for 13 days. My oldest will be 3 and my youngest will be 21 months. I say go for it if it's something you guys want to do. I could never leave my kids for two weeks while DH and I did Europe.

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

I say go for it. I don't regret any traveling I did with my DS when he was less than one year old. He doens't remember anything but we have the photos and DH and I the memories. Kids adjust quickly and when you get back home just take it easy for the first few days adjusting them back to USA time.

You know your kids better than us - if you think they will have a great time go for it. I wish I was able to make a trip like that now.

Have fun and let us know what you decide.

 

[3disAddicts]

I agree with most. If you feel up to it,then go. We've been talking about taking our DS(4) to visit my family there next year. You will lose a day going because of the time change, and gain a day coming back, and yes, it is a very long flight. I've been twice this time of year and the only thing I hate is the flying weather always seems to be so rough. The transportation system was easy to figure out unless it's changed drastically since I was last there. If I remember correctly, it was color coded. Just avoid the subway system with little ones during rush hour unless you want to experience the sensation of feeling like a sardine, and I'm not exagerrating. I hope things have changed somewhat since I was last there, and if they haven't, then carry a lot of tissue with you. As I said, it's been a while since I've been there, but although the bathroom facilities are clean, for some odd reason there was no paper, and a lot of them did not have "western" facilities. Just an opening in the floor. Maybe someone who has been there recently can shed more light on the matter if things have changed. My brother got a bad case of bronchitis from the pollution, too. A combination of traffic and cigarette smoke. When we were there, they are not as conscientious as we are about smoking. It was everywhere. It's very easy to do day trips. Hiroshima and Kyoto are worth seeing if you have the time. We really enjoyed tours of some of the tea gardens(BEAUTIFUL) in Tokyo, and the view from the Tokyo tower. Mt. Fuji is a must see, although this time of year there is no snow on top. My brother just returned from a business trip and he was talking about how expensive things have become, including the food. We enjoyed just walking around the market places and watching the vendors and people shopping, especially in the fish markets. Even got a chance to see a couple of Sumo wrestlers out and about. Never got a chance to do Disney there, though. McDonalds and KFC tastes the same there as it does here. Just a few additions to the menu like curry and maybe teriyaki or something. Noodles are always a cheap and filling meal too, and they used to sell the little bento meal boxes in the train stations that were tasty and economical.

 

[robinb]

3DisAddicts is right ... the Bento Boxes sold at train stations are all very good. However, there was some social stricture against eating outside. AFAIK, the Japanese don't do picnics. The Bento boxes were meant for home or on the train. Of course, being rude, hungry Americans we ate ours in a park and got some stares.

BTW, here is a picture of a Japanese Toilet. It was in Disneyland and in the ladies room!

 

[tracilicious]

Yes, I'm not looking forward to those toilets! Thanks again for all the posts, even the ones advising not to go. There is definitely a lot to consider.

Bringing a lot with us wouldn't be a problem. We won't take carseats because I've heard that trying to get around by car in Tokyo is pointless anyways. It'll be all public transportation. I'll be happy to bring diapers because that is more space for souveniers on the way home.

Still trying to decide if the trip is more trouble than it's worth at this point. Dh and I really really want to see Japan (and, no, I could never leave the country without my babies. Besides, I don't have a babysitter I can use for evenings out much less a trip to Asia.), but the planning is quite complex. We're considering going someplace a bit more relaxing. New Zealand maybe?

To the poster who said that their vacations need to be kid centered, so do ours. A trip to Japan with little ones would be more of a young metropolitan Japanese cultural experience. A trip when they are older can be more about history and old culture and museums. People in Japan have kids, there must be things to do. I think the key for us is expectations. If we go, it will be with the expectation that we'll go slower and take naps and maybe not do everything we want to do. Just like doing WDW at this point, LOL.

As far as doing WDW cheaper and staying offsite, well that's just not worth it to me. We live in AZ and take budget trips to Disneyland all the time. If I'm going to travel that far then I want to get a lot out of the trip. Besides, I'm a bit tired of taking such sterile vacations. I LOVE disney, don't get me wrong, we've even done the cruise, but you just don't get a ton out of it other than fun. I want to see new places and experience different cultures. I will admit though that when we decided to go somewhere else besides WDW my first thought was that I wouldn't get to go to Japan in Epcot! LOL.