Children friendly restaurants in Japan

Will be going to Japan in December (Osaka, Nara, Kyoto and Hokkaido) with 2 young children, 2 and 3 years old. Our previous experience in Tokyo was that due to the small shop space, some restaurants might not have children amenities like high chairs.

So this time round we decided to do more homework and have a list of places we can go. Would really appreciate as many suggestions as possible.

As a general rule, restaurants in department stores tend to be the most child-friendly, followed by restaurants in international hotels.

And, obviously, family restaurants.

As this is the first time we are traveling to these places, I am wondering if there are any family restaurants that worth trying out?

The only ones I know are national chains. Royal Host and Denny's are probably the best of the bunch in my opinion, and serve a good selection of Japanese as well as foreign dishes, many of them suited to children's palates.

or you can try the local family restaurant like

CoCo's (tied to Doraemon character)
http://menu.cocos-jpn.co.jp/index.html

or

Gusto (tied to Anpanman/Redbean Bun Man)
http://www.skylark.co.jp/gusto/menu/

ƒtƒ@ƒ~ƒŠ�[ƒŒƒXƒgƒ‰ƒ“ or ƒtƒ@ƒ~ƒŒƒX
means Family Restaurant

Thanks for the recommendations...

(20:59) are you posting that because you actually like Gusto, or for the cartoon connection? Because I always thought their food was awful.

Hi Umami Dearest,

would you have other recommendations?

Well Royal Host and Denny's are the only ones I really go to voluntarily, and I recommended them because they have Japanese dishes.

I am wondering if you have the addresses?

They're both big chains - just google "Royal Host Japan" and "Denny's Japan" and then use Google Translate and/or Google Maps....

okie okie .. thanks a lot!

Saizeriya should be ok.

Royal host in Namba,Osaka city

‚Q�|‚P�|‚Q Nanba, Osaka Chuo Ward, Osaka Prefecture 542-0076, Japan
+81 6-6214-7651

This one is along Midosuji which is the largest street/road and one way for cars in Osaka pref!! closest way out/exit of Namba station(subway/underground) would be No.25!!

Great! We are staying there

try following restaurant in Kyoto for lunch or dinner. Location is very convinient because of in Kyoto station. Many kids menu are available.

Italian & Spanish,Greek
Wansa-Kansa

http://r.gnavi.co.jp/k015430/lunch/

7F JR Kyoto Isetan Dept.

pinkitty,

The locals also typically look for what we call "ozashiki" which are tatami spaces where customers would sit on a cusion on a floor. These are typically Japanese cuisine, though.

You can ask for specific restaurants at tourist information centers and hotels. I found the Kyoto station tourist information center very helpful with lots of staff to answer your questions, although I'm Japanese.

You do not have to stick to those family restaurants too much. There are many indepandent restaurants where you can feel comfortable with your kids.

My recommendation is, when you check in your hotel, you ask them if there is any good places to go with your kids.

You can't keep going to all those boring fami-res places along your trip.

I can't guess what kind of places you went last time, but usually, most of the places welcome you with small kids. You should avoid business districts where business persons get together, like izakaya places. Yet you should try chain izakaya places like watami, shoya, and so on.

I've taken visiting small people to izakaya and they've enjoyed it. But I always go early before the crowds and smoke. Chain izakaya tend to have picture menus and a wide variety of food.

My previous trip to Tokyo, I wanted to go to some of those niche JapANESE restuarants but they usually don't have high chairs.