November 2025Fujisan: First Japan Trip With A Baby
Japan felt like a levelled-up holiday. A longer flight, colder weather, a road trip, and a baby who was now nine months old, on solids, with more needs, and more opinions. On paper it sounded manageable. In practice, the pre-trip prep alone required a kind of mental gymnastics we hadn't quite anticipated. Unlike travelling on your own, where a forgotten item is a minor inconvenience, travelling with a baby means every gap in planning has consequences. But Japan is a place we keep coming back to, and we weren't ready to stop.
So we adapted, accepted the challenge, and went.
Trip Snapshot
Route: Singapore → Tokyo | Singapore Airlines
Departure: 2:05 PM · 7h 35min Flight
Time Difference: +1 hour
Arrival Airport: Tokyo Haneda
Travel Type: 10N City + Road Trip (Tokyo + Fujisan region)
Travelling Party: 4 Adults + 1 Baby (Grandparents throughout)
Baby: 9 Months
“Preparation didn’t remove the feelings of uncertainty, but it made things feel manageable.”
Travelling There | Departing From Singapore
Getting To The Airport
We pre-booked a ComfortDelGro Sienta to fit four adults and our larger luggage — a step up from shorter trips like Phuket. In hindsight, two separate taxis would have worked just as well given how readily available cabs are in Singapore.
Our little one travelled on our laps for this flight. We hadn't brought his capsule car seat this time as he was older now and able to sit up independently.
At The Airport
We did a final diaper check before boarding and checked in our stroller at the gate.
In-Flight Experience (7.5h)
We fed our little one during take-off, which helped keep him calm and eased the transition into the flight.
Formula was prepared on board by mixing room-temperature water, hot water, and powder in the cabin. It was slightly chaotic having to juggle this alongside settling in, coordinating the bassinet setup, and securing the infant seatbelt with the cabin crew, but manageable once we found our rhythm.
I adjusted my pumping schedule to once during the flight and used a wearable pump throughout, which made things considerably easier.
After the take-off feed, our little one managed to take his afternoon nap. We brought his pillow along, which helped him settle more easily. With a bassinet seat, we were able to place him down once he was in a deep sleep and take short breaks to eat and rest in shifts.
Travelling There | After Arrival In Japan
Immigration Matters
For Japan, pre-arrival procedures (QR codes, declarations, etc.) are worth completing in advance to ensure a smoother immigration process on arrival. While there are clear on-ground guides to assist, having everything ready beforehand helps avoid unnecessary delays at the counter.
If you are planning to cook for your baby, be aware that certain food items (including fruits, rice, etc.) are restricted. These are generally discouraged at entry points and may require inspection. Even first-time travellers who are allowed through may still face time-consuming baggage checks.
The only item we brought in was ikan bilis powder.
After clearing immigration, we took our hotel’s airport shuttle bus (free, departing every 1–2 hours with a ~20-minute journey) to Mercure Tokyo Haneda Airport hotel, where we spent the night settling in over a simple combini dinner.
The next morning, we picked up our rental car next door at Toyota, and that was when the trip properly began.
Mercure Tokyo Haneda Airport
Location: Tokyo Haneda — airport adjacent
Stay Duration: 1 Night
Travelling Party: 2 Adults, 1 Baby (+ Grandparents in separate rooms)
Vibe: Functional, airport-adjacent, the calm before the trip begins
Leaving Tokyo, the pace gradually shifted. The dense cityscape gave way to open highways, quieter towns, and eventually views of nature as we made our way towards Fujisan.
The drive took about three hours, but we went at our own pace. There were plenty of stopping points along the way. Convenience stores for quick meals and coffee, and well-equipped rest stops that made travelling with a baby much more manageable (diaper changes, refilling hot water, etc.). These pauses broke up the journey nicely and gave everyone a chance to reset.
We also made a few scenic stops along the way, turning the drive itself into part of the experience rather than just transit.
By the time we arrived at our first main hotel in the evening, it felt like we had eased fully into the rhythm of the trip.
“Feeding on the road was simpler than expected with a bit of planning.”
Meals On The Go
We alternated between formula feeds and simple solids — rice cereal — during the drive, keeping everything within reach in a dedicated baby travel bag. We adjusted feeding times slightly around the day's route and nap schedule, while car seat naps made the longer stretches far more manageable than we'd anticipated.
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Baby’s breakfasts were simple — brown rice cereal we brought along.
We also made use of hotel buffet breakfasts wherever we could, packing plain porridge, steamed fish, and soft vegetables into a thermal flask for the day's meals. We'd brought a slow cooker with ambitions to cook porridge from scratch, but between the prep, the packed days, and the washing up, the buffet turned out to be the smarter call.
Fujisan Onsen Hotel Kaneyamaen
Location: Fuji Five Lakes (Yamanashi)
Stay Duration: 2 Nights
Room Type: Seseragi Comfort Western Room (Mt. Fuji View)
Travelling Party: 2 Adults, 1 Baby (+ Grandparents At Times)
Vibe: Scenic & quiet, yet within reach of family-friendly activities
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Sleeping & Space
A baby bed was provided, though we found it a little shallow for our little one at this stage. We adjusted the space and used the bay window area when needed. The room was generally big and spacious. It still felt like a cosy living space, not overly cluttered with baby things. He was able to sit up and roll around by now, so we could place him safely in a spot while getting organised and keeping an eye on him.
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Feeding & Cleaning
We used the bay window as a clothes and diaper changing spot, while the side table worked well for milk prep.
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Bath & Baby Care
A baby bathtub was provided — something we don't often come across, and a thoughtful touch for travelling with a baby. The sink was spacious for washing bottles and pump parts. A mini toiletries bag was also provided for our little one, including a toothbrush, small towels, and a pair of toddler room slippers. He was still too young for them, but it was a nice touch all the same.
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Beyond The Room
Nightly drum performances and bingo sessions with small prizes added a fun, unexpected touch beyond a typical onsen stay.
The hotel is surrounded by beautiful landscaping, and the autumn colours were at their peak — warm hues that made for some of the best photos of the trip.
One moment stood out above the rest. Our little one had taken a small tumble that morning, which left a faint bump on his head. As we were loading up the car to head out for the day, one of the reception staff came running out after us across the car park. She had noticed the bump, gone back inside, and returned with a cooling patch already prepared, along with the rest of the unused packet for us to keep. We hadn't asked. She hadn't hesitated. It was the kind of quiet, instinctive care that's hard to put into words, and even harder to forget.
Hotel Indigo Karuizawa
Location: Karuizawa
Stay Duration: 2 Nights
Room Type: 1 King Standard Garden View
Travelling Party: 2 Adults, 1 Baby (+ Grandparents At Times)
Vibe: A Slow, Quiet, Onsen Stay
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Sleeping & Space
We'd requested a cot but let it go once we realised how much space it took up in an already compact room. Our little one ended up sleeping between us — he was still waking frequently, and it was simply easier than getting up each time. We've made our peace with co-sleeping on the road.
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Feeding & Changing
The lounging sofa, side table, and study desk with kettle formed a natural feeding and changing area — everything within reach of each other. The weather was so cold that freshly expressed milk could be kept on the balcony overnight (temperatures dropped to around minus two degrees), which turned out to be far colder than the mini fridge and made storage surprisingly simple.
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Bathing & Cleaning
One sink, but with generous counter space and good depth, which was sufficient for washing bottles, pump parts, and everything else we needed. Our little one was bathed in the bathtub, which worked well at this stage.
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Beyond The Room
A very clean, modern onsen that offered a genuinely calming experience. We managed to squeeze in a quick dip on our last night, while the grandparents watched our little one for twenty minutes. Small windows of time, well spent.
Good To Know
What might be a downside for some: the hotel walkways are covered but entirely outdoors and exposed to the elements. Moving between the different lobby, room and onsen buildings means stepping out each time. The temperature difference can be quite stark in autumn with the wind, if you're not accustomed to such weather.
We managed a few things around Karuizawa before the city called us back. Shiraito Falls, a gentle forest walk; Old Karuizawa Ginza Street lined with cute character-themed shops and a short stop at the Stone Church. We had a quick lunch stop at Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza which was unhurried, easy, just enough.
Hyatt Regency Tokyo
Location: Central, Well-Connected
Stay Duration: 4 Nights
Room Type: Deluxe King Room With Park View
Travelling Party: 2 Adults (+ Extended Family), 1 Baby
Vibe: City Re-entry, Family Reunion
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Sleeping & Space
We co-slept again here for the same reasons as Karuizawa — space, and a little one who was still waking through the night. By this point it had simply become part of the rhythm.
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Bathing & Cleaning
A compact bathroom, but sufficient for a quick rinse and washing bottles in the sink. Nothing remarkable, everything we needed.
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Feeding & Changing
We changed diapers on the bed — the lounging seats at the front of the room were solid wood. Milk was prepared near the kettle area, same as always.
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Beyond The Room
Ending the trip in Tokyo brought its own kind of energy — busier, more familiar, and this time, unexpectedly full. Our brother happened to be in the city for a work trip, and what might have been a straightforward city leg became a small, unplanned family reunion. A reminder that some of the best parts of any trip are the ones you didn't plan for.
Core Memory
Our little one managed to stand on his own, the night we got home. We'd been watching him practice all trip — pulling himself up, testing his balance, letting go for just a moment before sitting back down. Japan, it seems, was where he found his confidence. home was where he finally used it.
Good To Know
The hotel is well-connected by public transport — about a 9-minute walk to the nearest train station for easy city access. A complimentary shuttle service also runs between the hotel's main entrance and Shinjuku Station, departing approximately every 30 minutes from 9:00am to 9:00pm daily. A return service from Shinjuku Station is available too — check with reception for exact timings during your stay.
For airport transfers, an airport limousine service runs to and from the airport, taking approximately 80 minutes. Worth checking with reception for departure times when you arrive as it simplifies the logistics considerably, especially if you're leaving with more bags than you came with.
The Journey Home
The return flight was on Singapore Airlines Premium Economy. More spacious, with noticeably more legroom. With a curious baby who wanted to touch, grab, and investigate everything within reach, that extra space made a meaningful difference. Worth considering for longer haul flights with a little one who's found his independence.
Reflections
Japan with a baby is genuinely manageable, but it asks more of you than Japan without one. The prep is more involved, the margin for error is smaller, and the days are shaped around someone else's schedule entirely. What surprised us was how well the country accommodates it. Rest stops with hot water and changing facilities, convenience stores at every turn, people who make space without being asked. Japan meets you more than halfway.
The road trip format worked particularly well with a little one. Car seat naps replaced the naps we would have lost in transit, and the flexibility of driving meant we could stop when we needed to without negotiating with anyone else's timetable. We'd do it again without hesitation.
Final Thoughts
This trip was the culmination of months of preparation that started long before we left home — understanding our little one's rhythms, his cues, his limits. Being in a different environment meant adapting rather than abandoning what we knew.
There were harder moments: feeds that couldn't happen on time, naps cut short by a transfer from car seat to stroller, days that ran longer than planned. We made up for what we could — earlier bedtimes, smaller and more frequent feeds, learning to read his cues before the crankiness set in.
More than anything, we were grateful for an easy baby, patient enough to put up with us finding our way.
Explore our full itinerary on Wanderlog
Note: The actual days panned out a little differently as we adjusted our pace along the way.