What will I feed my kids in Japan!
I’ve seen so many questions online from parents, wondering what on earth their kids will eat in Japan! This post is for you! Fussy or not, food can be very different when we travel and we want to make sure our kids don’t get hangry when traveling (for all our sakes!). Hopefully this will give you some ideas of what your kids might like.
On our first trip our kids were 2, 5 and 7yo. They were not adventurous eaters, particularly the 2yo, so we were a little worried about how they’d survive the trip! It would either make or break them (and us)!! Now as teenagers and young adults, they love Japanese food and when we plan our trips it’s all about the food! Here’s what we found worked when the kids were less adventurous.
Konbini or convenience store food
In Japan Convenience stores or Konbini as they are known locally, can be found everywhere. Even better, you will find so many family friendly foods that are inexpensive and a great way to feed hungry kids without breaking the budget. Our youngest survived on thick white bread from the Konbini and a tube of Vegemite we brought from home!
Check out this blog for all our great ideas of foods your family will enjoy.
Family restaurants
There are a number of family friendly restaurants across Japan. Saizeriya is one very popular chain. You will find a lot of local families at these restaurants and a relaxed atmosphere.
The meals are inexpensive and they have family friendly meals for kids and a lot of familiar foods. Check out the menus below, ¥400 for a pizza and ¥200 for all you can drink soft drink and yes that says ¥100 for a glass of wine.
Another popular chain is Cafe Gusto. Again lots of families, family friendly foods and it’s inexpensive. Cafe Gusto meals are delivered by a super cute robot!
Sushi Train
Sushi is the most iconic Japanese dish and can be found throughout the world. However, in Japan the sushi is made to perfection! Even the inexpensive sushi in the 7/11, Lawson and FamilyMart stores in Japan is fresh and an awesome budget meal.
However, to have the full sushi experience we highly recommend a sushi train restaurant! In these restaurants, you will find the conveyor belt with plates of Sushi, but the best part is ordering the sushi you want via a tablet at the table (usually with English available). Your order is then brought to your table freshly made by ‘bullet train’. The kids love the whole experience of ordering what they want, taking it from the train, sending the train back to the kitchen, eating and then ordering some more.
One of the most popular sushi train chains is Kura which you will see throughout Japan. They are very family friendly, although there is often a wait for your table. Head to the restaurant and find the checking in screen then enter the number of people in your party on the screen. You will be given a number and approx wait time. Make sure you are around when your number is called. The screen will tell you which table you are seated at, just head in and sit at your designated table.
Order your sushi from the tablet at the table (choose the English menu) and it will come straight to your table. You can order sushi, drinks and even Kura Icecream! Kura has a cool plate return chute and as you add your plates you win points for a game and you might even win a prize!
Themed cafes
The food at themed cafes is not always about the taste its more about the experience and the fun. For the kids, that’s the most important part! And who can resist an Evee cake or Kirby burger?
Just be aware that some of the animal cafes you will see advertised such as cat cafe, owl cafe or hedgehog cafes are not cafes as such and there is usually no food served. Sometimes, you will need to purchase a drink but it is not a cafe to eat a meal. Instead it is a chance to sit with the animals, sometimes interact and sometimes feed them with specific food provided by the cafe.
Japan has a number of foods that the family will be familiar with…
Hamburg – of course you can get hamburgers in Japan but a hamburg or hamburg steak or hambagu is essentially the meat paddy from a hamburger or like a giant rissole, often served with gravy and vegetables.
Karaage chicken – just looks and tastes like fried chicken, usually boneless so its like a big chicken nugget.
Omurice – fried rice with egg omelette, although it’s a bit more like scrambled egg rolled into an omelette and served with tomato sauce.
Kushiage or Kusikatsu – fried food on a stick, meats, eggs, vegetables, sometimes a bit of a lucky dip.
Cup Noodles – The original 2 minute noodles!
Yakitori – chicken skewers. Although be careful it can be all different parts of the chicken including skin or heart or feet. Go for momo (thigh) or tsukune (chicken mince, like a chicken meatball).
Katsu – pork (sometimes chicken) crumbed and served like a big chicken schnitzel. This is often served with piles of finely shredded cabbage which is eaten raw and rice and katsu sauce. Or as a Katsu sandwich – yum!
Bakeries – you can find these anywhere in Japan and they serve up the most amazing, and cute sweet and savory Pastries.
Fruit – this can be expensive and a bit hard to find, however, supermarkets will always have fruit, pre cut or in small take home packages. We often found bananas and apples in the konbini.
Street food – crepes, chocolate bananas, sweet potato chips, noodles, rainbow cheese, ice cream!
Depachika
Under department stores you will find underground food halls called depachika. Here you will find counter after counter of individual stalls selling pre prepared meals and treats to take home for lunch or dinner. They will all be packed up for you and items that need to be kept cold are packed with ice for your convenience!
We give the kids some Yen, they go and find what they want and we meet back at the entrance with our goodies before heading home.
Food Court
Food halls or food courts are always a great way to get hot meals from different vendors and In Japan its no different.
What you might find different is the way to save your table. In Japan you will find tables with a phone or a bag on the table, looking like its lost property or someone left it behind just waiting to be stolen – but no – this is the way to reserve your table while you go and order your food. It makes me nervous but Japan is so safe that nothing is stolen and its perfectly acceptable to save tables this way! It also means that if there is something on the table, an umbrella perhaps – it’s taken, find another table.
Of course there are some of the worldwide popular food chains like McD and KFC. Particularly if you travel around Christmas time you will see lots of advertising for KFC thanks to some clever marketing by KFC a few years back. These suggestions might not be for you and not the sort of foods you came to Japan for, BUT, we pick our battles!
Etiquette
Remember in Japan its usually considered rude to walk and eat. Meals and snacks are a time to sit and enjoy the food and company. So build this into your schedule – you will soon come to appreciate the chance to sit and enjoy a meal and have a break in between all the walking and touring you are doing in Japan!
