Hints and tips for travelling with teenagers in Japan

Getting them up in the morning!

Japan really suits a teenagers lifestyle, everything opens late and stays open late so win-win!

Feeding them

We have three teenage boys, I’m not sure about you, but our boys eat a lot!! A bargain sushi train might be really reasonable but by the time our boys are done it still costs a fortune.

So how can you fill the bottomless stomachs of teenagers? Convenience stores are a life saver! Our top convenience store foods include 2 min noodles, sushi from ¥100 and fresh sandwiches from ¥200!

Look for Ramen restaurants, Japanese curry or chanko nabe the food of Sumo Wrestlers and teenagers!

Engaging them

For teenagers, travelling with your parents can be a bit of a drag! I must admit that our boys love Japan so this hasn’t been an issue …yet. We do choose activities that we know they’d enjoy and get them involved in the planning and I’m sure that helps.

Ideas to get them involved

Put them in charge of the ¥.
- Japan works on a cash society, so you need to plan the cash you need each day. If you have a teen that appreciates numbers, they will be able to calculate the exchange rate, days expenses and can pay for purchases as you go. Involving them in budgeting gives great life skills! Parenting – nailed it!
Put them in charge of directions.
- We use google maps a lot in Japan to work out how to get from one place to another. Teenagers love using electronics so they will love being in charge of directing everyone, especially if they have a Garmin or Apple watch and can put the directions on their watch. Super cool! Bonus is that hubby and I just relax and follow the boys around and then, when you get lost – and you will – we just laugh and chalk it up as teenage experience.
Involve them in the planning.
- Before we travel to Japan we create a list of what everyone wants to do, experience, eat or see. The boys are given the task of researching some of the things they are interested in. This makes it even more exciting for them when we go. We also find allocating them a day is a great way to involve them. They plan a day for the family with activities they are interested in and the foods they want to try (with a bit of guidance and no pressure for it to be perfect).
Learn a few Japanese characters and phrases before hand.
- At first it’s very confronting being somewhere where you cannot read anything. Especially for a teenager that is usually in control and invincible! It’s interesting to see how excited they are when they recognise characters and pick up a few words as they try to make sense of the world around them. Try a Hiragana app like this one. Japanese shop keepers, staff and commuters are generally impressed when the boys use their Japanese phases and this builds their confidence.

Shopping

For the fashion conscious make sure you include shopping time. There are amazing shops in Japan, massive stores for well known brands, and massive department stores.

Having three boys, we don’t spend a huge amount of time in retail therapy, unless we are talking about shoes, then that is something different altogether!

Clothes and shoes in Japan can be a lot cheaper. You will also note that many of the prices have the cost with tax and without tax. Some stores if you show your passport you will be charged the tax free price, making it cheaper again, so always take your passport with you.

Japan is famous for electronics and it might save you some ¥ to purchase in Japan. Be aware that the electrical plugs will be different so you will need an adaptor.

Burn off some energy

As you plan your days and activities make sure you include time for teenagers to burn off some energy. Japan, particularly Tokyo is a place of rules – be quiet on the trains, stand on the correct side of the escalator…

After walking quietly and respectfully through a castle or temple, they need an opportunity to let loose so find a park nearby for a run or a bike ride to let off steam!

Give them some independence

You might find this hard in a foreign country. However Japan is extremely safe. Set your teen up with WhatsApp or Line on their phone before you leave home (it must be set up in your home country, believe me I tried). Then when you arrive in Japan, set them up with a portable wifi (some Air bnb accommodation includes use of this while staying with them) or purchase a Japanese sim card. The sims are data only and this will allow them to use WhatsApp or Line to call or message your phone.

Then send them off to the local convenience store to get some snacks and while they are at it, a sukura latte for you – thanks!