A couple from Germany, traveling with their toddler daughter on their first trip to Japan, shared meals with two host families. Both families had young children, one in the Tokyo area and one in Saitama, and the visits included a tea ceremony, a baby yukata and a lot of toys.
The family joined through Borderless Visit (then called Nagomi Visit). Their story was first published in 2019, under the earlier name.
What to Know Before Bringing a Baby
Babies have fixed routines, so plan the visit around naps and feeding times. It can help to pick lunch or dinner based on when your baby is most settled. The meal usually takes 2 to 3 hours, plus up to 1 hour of travel. Children aged 0 to 4 are free.
Before the day, you may want to:
- Ask the host whether they have a high chair or a cushion for your baby.
- Bring your baby's own food, bottles, wipes and a change of clothes, since the host's home meal may not suit a baby.
- Ask whether there is a safe floor area for your baby to play on. Many Japanese homes have tatami mats and low tables, and shoes are taken off at the entrance.
- In hot weather, bring water and keep your baby cool and shaded while you travel.
Message the host early about your baby's food needs and allergies. Be specific about what your baby can eat and when they need to eat. A home kitchen cannot guarantee full protection from cross-contamination or hidden ingredients, so bring your baby's own food where needed.
So Many Offers, Only Two Choices
The guest found the idea on a travel website and was immediately thrilled. His wife feels the same way about traveling and meeting locals, so she did not need convincing.
Both were pleasantly surprised by how many answers they got to their request. The hardest part was choosing only two of them.
A Shy Toddler, Toys and the Moon From a Balcony
Their daughter was a bit shy at the time, so she did not really play with the hosts' children. Instead, she played with their toys, which the families gladly allowed, and stayed close to her parents.
She loved trying on the baby yukata (a light cotton kimono) that the second host family had ready for her. At the first home, she loved watching the moon from the balcony together with the hosts' daughter.
It was very hot during their trip, with temperatures of about 38°C, so their daughter ate only a little everywhere, including at the hosts' homes. Both parents enjoyed the food a lot.
"It was great - I couldn't have expected more."
— A guest
A Tea Ceremony the Whole Family Could Join
Having their daughter with them started conversations naturally, the guest says, because parents automatically talk about their kids. The first host family let her take part in the tea ceremony, which she enjoyed a lot.
The hosts' older child was proud to help, and the parents could tell their daughter wanted to do the same. With that family, they also took pictures of the children during the tea ceremony and made Japanese sweets and origami (paper folding) themselves.
Both meals were relaxing, because the family could get out of the heat and let their daughter play in safe surroundings. The parents have traveled widely, so they were not nervous, and the friendly welcome would have removed any nerves anyway.
One Lesson Learned: Choose Two Cities
The family had planned to share meals in every place they visited, but with limited time they settled on two. Looking back, the guest wishes they had chosen two different cities, because they missed out on two afternoons in Tokyo, where there was so much to see.
The second family was super friendly, and they were immediately on the same wavelength. If the family returns to Japan, they plan to do it again.
Parents of young children can find more in these tips for sharing a meal with young kids.
