February 2026Izu Peninsula: First Winter With A Baby Turning One
We still had some shared parental leave left before our little one turned one, and it felt like reason enough to go. The decision came together fairly spontaneously. A gentle, easy-going driving getaway, and Japan again, naturally. We'd done it before with a baby. We knew the rhythms fairly well by now.
There were some initial hesitations. February in Japan, whether it would be too cold for our little one. We picked the Izu Peninsula partly for that reason: one of the warmer coastal regions, sheltered from the harsher winter temperatures further north. We went with a simple plan and an open mind.
This trip, happening in the month of February, also felt like a quiet celebration. A year of parenthood. Our small village of grandparents, family, and friends who had carried us through it.
“A year in, and we’re still travelling and finding our way.”
Trip Snapshot
Route: Singapore → Tokyo | ANA
Departure:6:35 AM · 7h Flight
Time Difference: +1 hour
Arrival Airport: Tokyo Narita
Travel Type: 8 Nights City + Coastal Drive · Tokyo & Izu Peninsula
Travelling Party: 4 Adults + 1 Baby (Grandparents Throughout)
Baby: 11+ Months
Travelling There | Departing From Singapore
Getting to the Airport
We booked two separate ComfortDelGro cabs that morning — straightforward, no fuss. An early departure meant getting ready in the dark, but we've learned to lay everything out the night before.
At the Airport
At the airport, his feed timing was slightly off from the early departure. We adjusted on the go with an earlier feed before boarding, then worked backwards from there for the rest of the day. By the time we landed it had more or less sorted itself out.
In-Flight Experience (7h)
We used the bassinet this time — a longer flight, and we needed the break. Our little one had grown into his own on-flight rhythm by now: a feed, some settling, and then down for a stretch. We packed a grape in a food sucker as one of his in-flight snacks, which kept him happily occupied.
Formula only now — no more pumping on the go. That particular chapter had quietly closed, and the relief of simpler milk prep mid-flight was not lost on us.
Travelling There | After Arrival In Japan
We took the Airport Limousine Bus from the airport, which ferried us directly to our hotel after stopping at a few others along the same route. Buses depart every few hours. The waiting area is semi-sheltered, so layer baby up — the winter air hits immediately after landing.
Meals On The Go
This trip looked a little different from Fujisan on the food front. Breakfasts were simple — toast with egg or some fruit from the hotel spread, supplemented with cereal. We packed the day's lunch and dinner from the buffet as before: plain porridge mixed with sweet potato or root vegetables, fish, or tofu into a thermal flask. We supplemented as needed with Pigeon ready-to-eat packets. Baby was fully on formula by now, which simplified things considerably on the road.
We kept everything within reach in a dedicated baby travel bag and adjusted feeding times around the day's route and nap schedule. Stroller naps made longer stretches of city exploring far more manageable than we'd anticipated.
Conrad Tokyo
Location: Tokyo — Central, Views of the City & Bay
Stay Duration: 3 Nights
Travelling Party: 2 Adults, 1 Baby (+ Grandparents in separate rooms)
Vibe: Elevated city base, slow start to the trip
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Feeding & Changing
Set up around the lounge chair, side tables, and study desk — the usual system, adapted to the room's layout.
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Bathing & Cleaning
Bathed in the hotel bathtub. He could stand now, though the tub walls weren't designed for someone his height — we simply supported him throughout. Less about the setup, more about adapting on the spot, which by this trip had become second nature.
Core Memory
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Sleeping & Space
Exceptionally spacious. We adjusted the furniture into the most baby-friendly arrangement we could — reducing sharp corners, creating a clear crawling area, keeping the changing and milk prep stations within easy reach of each other. Our little one was happily mobile by this point, crawling everywhere and pulling himself up on anything he could reach. Supervision still very much needed, but the space made it easier.
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Beyond The Room
Waking up to snow-capped Tokyo was a postcard moment we hadn't quite prepared ourselves for. The hotel had quietly arranged a mini birthday cake and candles for our little one — a small, thoughtful gesture that became something more in the context of falling snow outside the window. We lit the candles, sang, and watched him look at the flame with the particular seriousness that babies reserve for things they find genuinely fascinating. A moment we didn't plan for, in a city wearing white.
It snowed on the only day we were outdoors in Tokyo — and it very rarely does. We were crossing a bridge when the first flakes came down, powdery and light, the kind you don't often see. Our little one looked up, then started moving in his own small way, arms out, face open to the sky. Snow is rare enough in Tokyo; catching it in this particular moment felt like something the trip had arranged just for us.
Good To Know
February in Tokyo is genuinely cold — factor in extra time each morning for layering, both for yourselves and for baby. More layers than you think you'll need, especially for outdoor stretches. One thing we missed: proper shoes for our little one. He wasn't walking yet, but shoes would have added an extra layer of warmth for his feet in the cold. Worth packing even at this age.
Our Usual City Rhythm
Department stores and malls — Takashimaya, Mitsui, Daimaru — are our baseline for city days. Lifts, baby changing rooms, food options, warmth. Everything in one place, and easy to navigate with a stroller. Tokyo generally accommodates families well once you know where to look.
Tokyo → Izu
What should have been a 2.5 to 3-hour drive became nearly 7, because of the snow. Road closures, detours, stretches of stopped traffic — the weather had its own plans. We had briefly considered the train, but with conditions affecting the entire area, the outcome would have been equally uncertain.
Our little one slept for most of the journey. No fussing, no crying. He just settled into the rhythm of the car in his own quiet way, as if he understood that this was just what the day looked like. We were more grateful for that than we could say.
Kamenoi Hotel Izukogen
We arrived at around 8:30pm, close to the hotel's closing time, and were shown straight to a late Kaiseki dinner. The service remained excellent despite the hour, though we moved at a slightly brisker pace than we might have liked. The food was delicious. We were too full by the end for the famous nighttime Dandan Noodles we'd been looking forward to — something to return for.
Location: Izu Kogen, Izu Peninsula
Stay Duration: 1 Night
Travelling Party: 2 Adults, 1 Baby (+ Grandparents in separate rooms)
Vibe: Traditional, scenic, arrived late
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Feeding & Changing
Coffee table for milk prep, bed for diapers and clothes change — the usual.
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Bathing & Cleaning
After the long day of driving, we gave our little one a warm wipe-down rather than a full bath. One of the two sinks was designated for washing bottles and utensils.
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Sleeping & Space
We joined the two single beds together and tucked a folded towel down the middle, where our little one co-slept with us.
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Beyond The Room
Waking up to snow-capped rooftops overlooking the ocean was a breathtaking start — the kind of view that makes a late arrival and a rushed dinner feel entirely worth it.
Around Izu Kogen
Before moving on, we explored a little of the area — Kadowaki Cape with its lighthouse and suspension bridge, and a stop at Ito Futo, which was closed due to the weather but still made for a striking sight from the outside. The snow changed everything — frustrating at times, quietly beautiful at others.
A Villa In Shimoda
We had initially been unsure about an Airbnb — no buffet meant settling our own meals, including our little one's. But once we found a suitable house with the right basics, we found ourselves genuinely looking forward to it. The liberty of a proper kitchen, simple cooking, local ingredients from the nearest AEON MaxValu — it was a welcome change from the rhythm of hotel stays. A different kind of slow.
Location: South Kisami, Shimoda
Stay Duration: 2 Nights
Property: Detached house with open-air hot spring bath
Travelling Party: 4 Adults, 1 Baby (+ Grandparents in separate rooms)
Vibe: Unhurried, home-like, our favourite kind of different
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Feeding & Changing
We cooked simply each morning — hard-boiled eggs and porridge with vegetables. The kitchen made it easy, and our little one was well set up for the day before we headed out.
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Bathing & Cleaning
The shower room was combined with the indoor onsen and quite dimly lit — not ideal for bathing a baby. We used the sink in the towel and toiletries room next door instead, which worked well now that he could stand and hold on. Same sink for bottle washing.
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Sleeping & Space
We combined the two single beds and tucked a towel down the middle, same as Kamenoi. The open-plan layout with wooden flooring was ideal for our little one to crawl around freely — with supervision, but without feeling like we were constantly redirecting him away from things.
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Beyond The Room
A private onsen — both indoors and outdoors — and a shallow water feature by the living room that gave the whole space a calming quality from the moment you walked in. The house was well-stocked and well-maintained, the host prompt and thorough. The instruction manual for the appliances was genuinely detailed. The one missing piece: no baby chair, so we improvised for mealtimes as we always do.
Around Shimoda
The Shimoda Ropeway was a highlight. A gentle five-minute ride with views over the town and ocean, warm enough in the sun that the cold barely registered. Completely doable with baby in a carrier. Perry Road was a quiet wander, old and atmospheric. Izu Shuzenji offered a temple and a small bamboo forest park nearby — unhurried, easy, the kind of stop that doesn't need justification.
The cherry blossoms at Kawazu were an unexpected gift. This part of Japan sees them first, and they were just flowering; enough for photographs that didn't feel forced. We watched the light change over the water as the afternoon turned into evening. One of those in-between moments that becomes the one you describe most when people ask about the trip.
Ginsuiso Inn Inatori
Location: Inatori, Izu Peninsula
Stay Duration: 1 Night
Travelling Party: 2 Adults, 1 Baby (+ Grandparents in separate rooms)
Vibe: Traditional inn, ocean views, theatrical Kaiseki
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Feeding & Changing
Set up at the room table and sofa. Our little one could hold his own bottle now and drink at an incline independently — a small but significant shift from earlier trips. Diapers and clothes changes on the sofa.
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Bathing & Cleaning
No bathtub here — we showered him standing, with us as support on either side. Double sink, one designated for bottles and utensils.
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Sleeping & Space
Twin beds for us; our little one slept on a floor mattress buffered with pillows on all sides. The room was generous in size — plenty of space for him to crawl and explore.
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Beyond The Room
The buffet dessert course was a delight, though nothing was quite suitable for our little one at that stage. We took turns entertaining him and let him work through his own snacks while we ate. The hotel lounge offered a vast, unobstructed ocean view from height — the kind of view you sit with for longer than you planned.
Core Memory
The Kaiseki dinner had a theatrical quality that our little one found completely captivating. One dish arrived under a glass dome; when it was lifted, a small curl of steam rose and drifted upward in the warm glow of the table light. He was enchanted by the spectacle before breaking into giggles and squeals of delight. His sense of curiosity was so infectious, it captured the hearts of the servers around us.
The Drive Back to Tokyo
The return drive offered something we hadn't seen on the way down — clear skies, and Mount Fuji in full view. The rest stops were as impressive as ever: clean, spacious, well-equipped for a baby, and in some cases fitted with digital screens showing the occupancy of each toilet cubicle in real time. The kind of detail that never stops being remarkable.
Mercure Tokyo Haneda Airport
A final stop to wind down, repack, and prepare for home. After some of the larger rooms and spaces on this trip, there was something quietly reassuring about a smaller, simpler room with everything within arm's reach and a simple setup.
The next morning, we took the 8am airport shuttle bus from the hotel — direct and straightforward.
Location: Tokyo Haneda — airport adjacent
Stay Duration: 1 Night
Travelling Party: 2 Adults, 1 Baby (+ Grandparents in separate rooms)
Vibe: No-frills, everything within reach, just what we needed
Reflections
We had chosen to split the Izu leg across several one-night stays rather than settling into one or two places for longer. Different Kaiseki menus, different views, different onsen. We wanted the variety of experience that only moving brings. It was more packing and unpacking than Fujisan, but we've learned to manage that better. We know what goes where. The bags practically pack themselves now.
The Airbnb was worth the initial hesitation. A kitchen, a private onsen, wooden floors for a baby to crawl across; it offered something the hotels didn't, and reminded us that the format of a trip can shape the experience as much as the destination itself.
February in Izu was quieter than we expected, with fewer crowds, warmer than Tokyo, the cherry blossoms just beginning.
Final Thoughts
This trip was, in many ways, a first and a last. The last trip before our little one turned one. The last with him still crawling, still in that particular stage of wide-eyed discovery. The first where we felt genuinely settled into what it means to travel as a family — less anxious, more present, quicker to adapt.
A year of parenthood, marked with snow and cherry blossoms, and a baby who giggled at rising steam.
We couldn't have planned it better if we'd tried.
Explore our full itinerary on Wanderlog
Note: The actual days panned out a little differently as we adjusted our pace along the way.