A family trip to Japan might be a source of precious memories for many families, but planning for a family trip to Japan with small children can mean a lot of careful preparation (if you want to enjoy the trip instead of stressing out). When you’ve got little kids, it’s not just clothes! You need to think about diapers, meal times with milk and baby bottles, and all the other daily necesities.

That said, bringing everything you need from home can be difficult, especially for a longer trip. So the Japankuru team visited the popular Japanese baby store Akachan Honpo to scope out what’s available, and now we’ve put together a quick shopping guide. Check out all the mom and baby items that are easier for new parents to buy in Japan, so you can travel light and focus on enjoying your family vacation, as well as some items we think you’ll want to bring home for your little ones or your loved ones back home!

_{^{*All photographs taken with special permission from Akachan Honpo.}}

A Travel Prep List for Traveling Japan with Children

Mom & Baby Products From “meiji”

When traveling with small children, paying special attention to meals and nutrition often becomes a priority for parents. As children grow, their nutritional needs grow with them, no matter where your family adventures may take you!

When it comes to baby brands in Japan, “meiji” (sometimes stylized in all lower case) is a major household name, with a reputation built on more than 100 years of research focused on children and mothers. So we picked out a few meiji products that work for kids in different stages, and even new moms, to help with nutrition even during your trip (and maybe beyond).

Meiji Hohoemi

^{_{Meiji Hohoemi (left) / Meiji Hohoemi RakuRaku Cubes (right)}}

For families with infants, anywhere from newborn to 1-year-old, Meiji Hohoemi is a common formula recommendation. It’s one of the brand’s most popular products, carefully developed based on the results of breast milk research, and designed to aim for a nutritional balance close to real breast milk. It’s actually the only product of its kind in Japan that contains the probiotic bifidobacteria.

Even when using formula, carrying a tin of the powder around all the time (and preparing milk on the go!) can be pretty inconvenient. You have to measure out the powder, and try your best not to make a mess with any spills. Meiji Hohoemi Raku Raku Cube conveniently does away with many of those issues. It comes in compressed cubes, pre-portioned into individual servings, so you can just throw them in with some hot water to dissolve, and your bottle is all ready in no time. The little cubes are easy enough to carry around while traveling, too.

Meiji Step

Once children grow and enter the toddler stage at around 1 to 3 years old, every day is full of new discoveries as they run around, explore, and develop brand-new interests. Of course, with all that going on, it’s absolutely vital that parents stay on top of managing the nutrition needed to support a toddler’s growth.

Meiji Step is often recommended for children aged 1 to 3, with a formula that helps supplement iron, calcium, and other vitamins that tend to be lacking during early childhood. It also contains DHA and fructooligosaccharides, and it’s actually the only brand that contains both bifidobacteria and zinc to support a growing body.

In addition to the powder variety, Meiji Step also comes in cubes, called Meiji Step RakuRaku Cubes. The cubes have all the same nutrition as the powder, but the shape is much simpler to measure out. Just toss in the right number of cubes, pour in hot water (70°C/158°F or hotter), and lightly shake. The convenience, so easy to prepare when you’re traveling or just out and about, makes it a real help for busy parents.

Meiji Miraful Jelly

When it comes to kids, meal times and nutritional goals may not always go according to plan, and children can get picky when presented with new food in an unfamiliar environment. At times like these, the toddler nutrition support drink Meiji Miraful Jelly can be a reassuring backup plan.

Researched and developed to support the growth of children aged 1 to 6, Meiji Miraful offers four nutrients important for growing bodies: iron, zinc, calcium, and vitamin D. There are a few different product options, but the drinkable jelly comes in two flavors, yogurt and apple yogurt, which kids will happily sip away at while supplementing their own daily nutrition.

The jelly comes in drink pouches, easy for kids to hold onto and drink by themselves, and convenient even when out and about. Even mid-way through your busy sightseeing schedule in Japan, these make it a little easier to get ahead of your kids’ nutritional management. The compact, shelft-stable pouches are easy to pack up in your suitcase, too, making them a fun souvenir for kids back home—especially now that the packaging features Doraemon, Japan’s favorite robot cat!

Meiji Mom’s Tablet

It’s one thing to keep a close eye on your children’s health, but sometimes parents get overlooked. Although the name “Meiji” brings up images of milk and formula, and the brand has watched over the growth of babies for more than 100 years, Meiji also points out that a mother’s health contributes to a baby’s growth. That’s why they now offer the supplement they call “Meiji Mom’s Tablet.”

Meiji Mom’s Tablet is a chewable nutritional supplement, one that you can snack on without any water, and yogurt-flavored for taste. The little resealable bags are easy to throw in your bag, so even when you’re out and about, you can still get the same 400 μg of folic acid, eight vitamins, and three minerals, iron and calcium included. That 400 μg of folic acid is actually the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s recommended intake for those planning pregnancy or in the early stages, so the supplement is versatile—often used as a prenatal, or when breastfeeding.

Even when you’re busy enjoying time with the kids, or your time in Japan, this tasty supplement is one way to help you meet your nutritional goals—during your travels and during your busy days back home!

Japanese Baby Bottles

Baby bottles are essential at meal time—it’s no surprise that parents are picky about both the formula and the bottle it goes inside! When you’re traveling and using baby bottles on the go, it becomes especially evident if your choices were practical or not.

Japan has a wide variety of baby bottle options, and one popular brand is Pigeon. Pigeon baby bottles are heavily researched, developed to bring the shape of the nipple closer to real breastfeeding, so babies can drink naturally and comfortably. They come in a wide range of sizes and types for a broad spectrum of babies, even newborns.

The bottles made by Dr. Betta are also popular choices in Japan. Each one is handmade by a Japanese glass artisan, who lends the bottles their distinct curved shape, uniquely designed to recreate natural posture and feeding angles. Even when drinking from a bottle, baby’s experience is more comfortable—closer to drinking milk straight from the breast.

Diapers and Baby Wipes

Another essential, Japanese diapers are actually known for their softness, absorbency, and breathability, and come in a wide range of sizes and types.

The most popular brands in Japan include a mix of local manufacturers and international names: Moony, Merries, Pampers. Both adhesive tape diapers and pull-ups are available in a variety of sizes, making it easy enough to find the right kinds for your little ones.

While you’re there, don’t forget baby wipes, which are helpful not only during diaper changes, but also for wiping hands before and after meals, or cleaning up small messes during the day. Japanese baby wipes are particularly gentle on the skin, and many products use 99% water—no fragrances or alcohol—so you don’t have to worry about your baby’s delicate skin.

Toys and Picture Books

Once you have the basics covered, toys and picture books can also be lifesavers during a trip to Japan, especially on long train trips or when waiting in line at popular restaurants. Even when all the grown-ups are having a blast in Japan, little ones might not be so entertained, so having a toy or small picture book on hand can help children have fun too.

▶︎ Japan has all kinds of toys and picture books for children, but if you plan to carry them around and use them on-the-go, we recommend choosing quiet toys or picture books. You’ll be less likely to disturb other passengers while on the move, so you can use them wherever you go.

Baby Strollers

Strollers are especially useful on days when you’re planning a lot of walking, or a whole day outdoors, but whatever stroller you have back home, it might not be the most convenient option for bringing to Japan. If you’re planning to buy a new one, purchasing one in Japan might be a pretty good deal.

Some of the more popular stroller brands in Japan are Combi, Aprica, Pigeon, Cybex, and Joie. You’ll find that the selection includes lightweight models that are easy to pick up, compact fold-up models, and others that are especially focused on comfort, making it easy enough to find a model that fits your travel style (and your child).

Where Can You Buy Baby Products in Japan?

If you got this far, you’re probably starting to put together your own shopping list for Japan. So where should you go if you want to buy products for babies and new parents during your trip to Japan?

Many locals will tell you to check out Akachan Honpo, a popular baby and children’s store known for its impressive selection. The store has everything from maternity products to childcare essentials needed throughout childhood, including formula, bottles, diapers, clothes, toys, among other useful supplies.

To put together this list, the Japankuru team visited Akachan Honpo Wira Oi, located along the well-traveled train line between Haneda Airport and Hamamatsucho Station. It’s a convenient spot on your way into our out of Japan—especially useful if you want to buy necessities before heading to your hotel, or pick up items you’ve run out of during your trip.

Big and bright, with products clearly organized by category, the store is easy enough to navigate, even if it’s your first time in Japan. It’s well-stocked, too, with plenty of baby formula and nutritional supplements, other baby and kids’ products, and even maternity wear and nursing goods.

You can get everything you need in one place, and the store offers tax-free shopping, too. With the yen still weak, international shoppers have never had it better, even before the tax is removed from the total.

Akachan Honpo Wira Oi Store
Wira Oi 3F, 1-6-22 Katsushima, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 10:00 – 21:00
Access: 5 min on foot from Oi Keibajo-mae Station (Tokyo Monorail)
Official Shop Page (jp)

Nearby Recommendations: What to See After You Shop

The Akachan Honpo Wira Oi location is easily accessible from Haneda Airport, but it’s close to a few fun sightseeing spots as well. When you’re done shopping, make the most of your trip and take a look!

Our first recommendation is Oi Racecourse, which is located across from the Wira Oi shopping mall. It hosts horse races year-round, but most travelers visit in winter, when it’s home to Tokyo Mega Illumination—one of Tokyo’s most popular outdoor “illumination” events full of sparkling holiday lights. Affectionately known as “Mega Illumi” in Japan, visitors can roam the vast racecourse to see it enveloped in fantastic light shows, and even meet a few racehorses and ponies. It’s a great spot for the whole family!

*Please check the official website for the 2026 event dates.

If you venture a little further from the mall, you’ll also find Shinagawa Aquarium. The aquarium is home to a variety of marine life, and is full of fun architecture, including a beloved underwater tunnel. It’s a great place for families with young children to relax and have fun, so we recommend adding it to the schedule after shopping at Akachan Honpo, to recharge everyone’s batteries!

Stop by Akachan Honpo on Your Next Trip to Japan

Traveling in Japan with little kids might require more preparation than other trips, but with shops like Akachan Honpo where you can buy all the baby products you need all in one place, the whole thing feels like much less of an ordeal. With everything you need on hand, you can focus on enjoying your trip and your precious family time instead! So next time you visit Japan, stop by, and take a minute to browse these items for young families. With these family travel essentials out of the way, parents and kids alike will have an even better time exploring Japan!

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