Prince Hotels with Kids: Choosing by Beach, Snow, Onsen or City
This site uses affiliate links; we may earn a commission on bookings.
Prince Hotels has plenty of familiar names, from Karuizawa and Oiso to Shinagawa and Naeba, and many families can't decide which one to book with kids. Kids Stay lists a large number of Prince Hotels & Resorts properties. Within the same chain, the experience is completely different: beach resorts built around their pools, snow hotels with direct slope access, onsen (hot spring) hotels with private baths, and city hotels with an aquarium. We've organized them so you can narrow your first choice to two or three hotels based on the purpose of your trip and your child's age.
hotelOur pick
A 340-room resort where every room faces the ocean, certified as a Welcome Baby hotel (a Japanese baby-friendly accreditation). Co-sleeping is free for children under 6, and cribs, in-house strollers, baby bathtubs and more can be borrowed free of charge.
menu_bookContentsexpand_more
- Choosing a Prince Hotel with kids: beach, snow, onsen, or city
- Karuizawa Prince Hotel: West, East, or Asama?
- Beach resorts (Oiso, Shimoda, Kamakura, Okinawa Ginowan) depend on summer pools and the rest of the year
- Ski-in and onsen Prince Hotels: choose by snow play and baths for kids in diapers
- Tokyo Prince Hotels: choose by aquarium, pools, or access to Maihama
- Child rates, co-sleeping, and baby gear rentals vary by hotel
- Summary
- Frequently asked questions
Choosing a Prince Hotel with kids: beach, snow, onsen, or city
When choosing a Prince Hotel with kids, sorting first by trip purpose into four types cuts down the guesswork. Few services are shared across the chain, and both whether there's a pool and the rules for bathing children in diapers differ from hotel to hotel. The shortcut is to pick a type first, then choose the one hotel within it that suits your child's age.
The four types at a glance
| Type | Representative hotels | Best ages | Free co-sleeping (guide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beach | Oiso, Shimoda, Kamakura, Okinawa Ginowan | Age 2 through elementary school (Ginowan from age 0) | Oiso up to age 5, Kamakura and Ginowan under 6 |
| Snow | Naeba, Shiga Kogen, Manza, Shizukuishi, Karuizawa East | Age 4 through elementary school | Naeba allows co-sleeping for ages 0 to 5 (preschoolers only), Shiga Kogen for ages 5 and under; Manza and East are free under 6; Shizukuishi allows co-sleeping for ages 0 to 6 |
| Onsen | Dogo, Oiso, Atagawa | From age 0 (using private baths; at Dogo and Atagawa, check whether children in diapers can use them) | Oiso up to age 5, Atagawa under 2; Dogo allows 1 co-sleeping child, check the plan for whether it's free |
| City | Shinagawa, Shin Takanawa, Tokyo Bay Shiomi, Nagoya | From age 0 | Nagoya through elementary school, Shin Takanawa under 6 |
hotelRepresentative hotels of the four types
One pick each from beach, snow, onsen, and city
Oiso Prince Hotel
Shimoda Prince Hotel
Naeba Prince Hotel
Dogo Prince Hotel
Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa
Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel
Top picks by your child's age
- Ages 0 to 1: Okinawa Ginowan and Nagoya Sky Tower lead the list. Both are certified Welcome Baby hotels, and at Ginowan you can borrow everything from a crib to a bottle washer for free. Karuizawa West also offers nursing booths and baby bathtub rentals
- Ages 2 to 3: in summer, the toddler pools at Shin Takanawa and Tokyo Prince Hotel are easy to use, and swim diapers are allowed. Year round, Tokyo Bay Shiomi with its free kids' room and Dogo with its ball pit are the candidates
- Ages 4 to 6: Oiso's leisure pools and Shimoda's mix of the beach and a kids' room are a good fit. In winter, try Naeba, with playable guest rooms that have a chalkboard wall
- Elementary schoolers will enjoy Naeba Summer Park, with water slides and canoeing in summer, and Shinagawa, with an aquarium on the grounds
The younger your child, the safer it is to choose by baths and rental items rather than play areas.
Karuizawa Prince Hotel: West, East, or Asama?
Karuizawa has one of the widest selections in the chain: West's main building, West's cottages, East, and Asama. West is close, about 560 m in a straight line from Karuizawa Station, and a free shuttle bus runs from the station's South Exit about every 30 minutes. The difference is how you stay and how well stocked the baby gear is.
Choose West for its onsen building, cottages, and baby gear
West is a large 421-room resort where you can choose between twin rooms in the main building and detached cottages in the forest. It has an onsen building, rents out baby bathtubs and strollers, and offers fully private nursing booths. In winter, kids can play at Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort within the same resort, and the forest adventure park Amici Adventure Karuizawa is there too, so it's an easy base for families who want their kids to play in the snow in winter. Children under 6 stay free, and according to West's official page, breakfast is also free for children under 6 for a limited time through March 31, 2027. Cottages suit three generations or two families traveling together, while the main building is the easier choice with a baby under 1. What guests say about it is summarized in our breakdown of Karuizawa Prince Hotel West reviews.
Choose Asama for the quiet of the highlands
Karuizawa Asama Prince Hotel sits at an elevation of about 1,000 m, about 12 minutes from the station by car. Every room has a balcony, and the onsen building has an open-air bath. Course menus for children of elementary school age and younger, as well as in-room breakfast, are available, so it suits families who would rather relax quietly than face the outlet crowds.
Choose East for direct slope access, its onsen, and co-sleeping ages
Karuizawa Prince Hotel East offers direct slope access to Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort and is about 540 m in a straight line from Karuizawa Station. A free shuttle bus also runs from the station's South Exit about every 30 minutes. In winter there's the East Snowman Park, dedicated to snow play, with sleds, tubing, a snow escalator, and other things little ones can enjoy. The natural hot spring, Forest Hot Spring, is free for guests of the East main building (bathing tax of ¥150 per adult is charged separately), but children in diapers are asked not to use it. Children under 6 stay free of room charges, and co-sleeping is also free for ages 1 to 5. Cribs cannot be lent for children who can pull themselves up to stand. If closeness to the station and the slopes is your priority, West's main building and East are equally strong candidates.
For closeness to the slopes, choose East; for space, West's cottages; for quiet, Asama.
Beach resorts (Oiso, Shimoda, Kamakura, Okinawa Ginowan) depend on summer pools and the rest of the year
Summer is the star at the beach Prince Hotels, but choosing by what you can do outside of summer means fewer regrets. Oiso in particular becomes a different hotel depending on the season.
Oiso is two hotels: Long Beach in summer, the spa in winter
Oiso Prince Hotel is a seaside resort about 7 minutes by taxi from JR Oiso Station. In summer, the Oiso Long Beach leisure pool complex opens, with seven pools including a 140 m water slide, a lazy river, and a children's pool. In 2026 it was open from July 4 to September 13. Children 8 and under must be accompanied by a guardian aged 16 or older. If you're staying during summer vacation, matching your dates to the pool season is a must.
Outside summer, the highlights are the hotel's hot springs and spa, but children not yet out of diapers cannot use the hot springs or the spa. To soak with a little one, you'll book one of the two private spa rooms. According to Oiso Prince Hotel's official page, co-sleeping is free for ages 0 to 5, and co-sleeping is not offered for children 6 and older. Stay videos on YouTube show families enjoying the spa and the breakfast buffet.
Compare Shimoda, Kamakura, and Okinawa Ginowan by how they work year round
| Hotel | Summer | Off season and rainy days | Baths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shimoda | Shirahama Central Beach right in front, garden pool | Bouldering in the indoor kids' room | Observation bath with simple hot spring water |
| Kamakura | Outdoor pool free for guests, 1.1 m deep with no children's pool, swim pants allowed | Room service available (limited hours and menu), no kids' program | No large public bath, in-room bathrooms |
| Okinawa Ginowan | 2nd-floor pool allows swim diapers | 1st-floor kids' room, plus an indoor pool | Large bath not open to children in diapers |
Once you factor in somewhere to go on rainy days, Shimoda and Ginowan are the ones you can enjoy year round. Shimoda has Japanese-style rooms where up to 7 guests can sleep on futons, which also works for three-generation trips. Okinawa Ginowan is about 30 minutes by car from Naha Airport. There is only one family room with bunk beds (49.6 m²) per floor, and its stay plan is limited to two rooms per day.
hotelThree beach Prince Hotels
Seaside stays that work well outside summer too
Shimoda Prince Hotel
Kamakura Prince Hotel
Okinawa Prince Hotel Ocean View Ginowan
Ski-in and onsen Prince Hotels: choose by snow play and baths for kids in diapers
The mountain Prince Hotels split into ski hotels and onsen hotels. For ski hotels, the deciding factors are how close the slopes are and whether there's a station shuttle; for onsen hotels, it's whether there's a bath your child in diapers can use with you.
Choose ski-area Prince Hotels by shuttles and age rules
Naeba Prince Hotel is next to Naeba Ski Resort, and a free shuttle bus for hotel guests runs from Echigo-Yuzawa Station (reservation required, about 50 minutes). Building 6 has playable guest rooms with a chalkboard wall and a wall of rock climbing holds, and children aged 0 to 5 can stay co-sleeping. The large baths, Naeba no Yu and Hiuchi no Yu, are not open to children in diapers. If you just want snow play, Hakone-en, a 5-minute walk from The Prince Hakone Lake Ashinoko, opens a snow and sledding play area in winter only. If snow play for little ones is the goal, Naeba with its station shuttle or Karuizawa East with its direct slope access makes life easier. For choosing the ski resort itself, see the best ski resorts for families with kids, and for hotels where you can step right onto the slopes, see our ski-in hotel feature.
Naeba isn't the only snow option.
- At Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel, the whole hotel sits right in front of the slopes with direct access. Children through elementary school ride the ski lifts for free, and the Family Snow Park is open free of charge. Children 5 and under can co-sleep and be booked without counting toward the number of guests
- At Shizukuishi Prince Hotel, kids can enjoy snow play such as sledding and tubing at Shizukuishi Ski Resort right out front. A free shuttle bus runs from Morioka Station and Shizukuishi Station, with reservations required at least 3 days in advance. Children aged 0 to 6 can stay co-sleeping
- Manza Prince Hotel is in Manza Onsen at an elevation of 1,800 m, next to a ski resort. It's about 90 minutes by shuttle bus (reservation required) from the South Exit of Karuizawa Station. Co-sleeping children under 6 stay free of room charges
Shin Furano Prince Hotel, in Furano, doesn't describe its location relative to the ski resort in its information, so if snow play is the goal, check before booking. It has a natural hot spring, Shisai no Yu, but no private baths. Co-sleeping is for preschoolers.
Shiga Kogen doesn't provide baby food, and the nearest convenience store is about 40 minutes away by car. Families with little ones will feel more at ease bringing their own food.
Choose onsen Prince Hotels by private baths and in-room baths
The reality is that many Prince onsen hotels turn away children in diapers from their large public baths. What you can count on are private baths the whole family can use together, and in-room baths.
- Oiso has two private spa rooms (FUJI and OSHIMA), which the hotel says can be used by children not yet out of diapers
- Dogo has four private open-air baths called Yuraku and guest rooms with their own open-air baths, plus 22 kinds of baths to hop between and a ball pit inside the hotel. Check before booking whether children not yet out of diapers can use Yuraku
- Atagawa has two private baths, Tsukiakari and Hoshiakari, at ¥2,200 (tax included) for 45 minutes, booked at the front desk at check-in. The in-room baths also use hot spring water, and some rooms have their own open-air bath. The large bath has a baby bathtub and small children's chairs, and in summer a children's pool opens free for guests. The hotel's information doesn't say whether children not yet out of diapers can use the private baths or the children's pool, so check before booking
- Hakone Sengokuhara has a large bath and open-air bath fed by Ubako Onsen, but children wearing diapers cannot use the large bath. The hotel asks that children not yet out of diapers bathe in the in-room bath
- Hakone Yunohana has an open-air bath with milky white hot spring water, but people using diapers cannot use the hot springs. Rooms have bathtubs, so children in diapers use the in-room bath instead
Biwako Otsu Prince Hotel, a lakeside hotel, has no large public bath, but in summer it opens a children's pool 30 cm deep. To find places where you can soak with a child in diapers, browse hotels with family baths and private baths.
To soak with a child in diapers, Oiso's private spa rooms, which the hotel says children not yet out of diapers can use, are the sure bet. For Dogo's private open-air baths, Yuraku, confirm before booking whether children in diapers can use them.
Tokyo Prince Hotels: choose by aquarium, pools, or access to Maihama
Even within Shinagawa, Tokyo's Prince Hotels differ from building to building. The trick is to decide your sightseeing goal first, then pick the building that suits families.
Tokyo hotels by purpose
| Purpose | Hotel | Deciding factor for families |
|---|---|---|
| Aquarium and play | Shinagawa Prince Hotel | 2 minutes' walk from Shinagawa Station, the Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa aquarium on the grounds |
| Summer pool | Shin Takanawa | Free for guests 12 and under (with a guardian), toddler pool for ages 3 and under |
| Summer pool | Tokyo Prince Hotel | Children's pool 50 cm deep, 24-hour baby care room |
| Near Maihama (Tokyo Disney Resort) | Tokyo Bay Shiomi | 7 to 9 minutes by train to Maihama and Tokyo Station, free kids' room and large bath |
| Japanese garden and summer pool | Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa | About 5 minutes' walk from Shinagawa Station, a children's pool in summer free for guests 12 and under (with a guardian), paid babysitting available |
| Ikebukuro | Sunshine City Prince Hotel | 3 minutes' walk from Higashi-Ikebukuro Station, free cribs (for babies under 10 months who can't yet pull up to stand, request required), bed guards also available to borrow |
In Jalan reviews, one guest said the bath and toilet at Shinagawa Prince Hotel felt dated but they were happy with the convenience and the price, and another pointed out that there were few outlets, so a single extension cord wasn't enough. In Tripadvisor reviews, one family said the walk from the station to Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa is uphill and was hard going with kids, so they wished they had taken the free shuttle bus, while others praised the staff's kind guidance and found the garden pond and the greenery around the bridge soothing. Also on Tripadvisor, a family who stayed one night with a 3-year-old and a baby under 1 said Sunshine City Prince Hotel, freshly renovated, had new, clean bathrooms, and that even the child co-sleeping for free received kids' amenities (a handkerchief and child-size disposable slippers). Drawbacks like an older building or a hill, and pluses like cleanliness or kids' amenities, show up differently at each hotel.
The toddler pool at Shin Takanawa can be used if your child wears a swim diaper under their swimsuit. For summer pool fun with a child in diapers, the Tokyo options are Shin Takanawa and Tokyo Prince Hotel.
Buildings to skip with kids
Shinagawa's East Tower is a building of 13.2 m² single rooms, each with one 115 cm wide bed. The Prince Park Tower Tokyo lends cribs free of charge, but its basement hot spring and indoor pool are for ages 20 and over only. To compare Tokyo hotels across chains, our 17 family hotels in Tokyo is the quickest route.
Child rates, co-sleeping, and baby gear rentals vary by hotel
The official guide for traveling with babies says co-sleeping (a child sharing a parent's bed instead of getting their own) is free for babies, and that meals for co-sleeping children are not included in the rate and are paid at the hotel. However, the age limit for free co-sleeping differs from hotel to hotel.
Free co-sleeping is mostly under 6, with exceptions
| Free co-sleeping age | Hotels |
|---|---|
| Under 6 (up to age 5) | Oiso, Karuizawa West, Karuizawa East, Kamakura, Okinawa Ginowan, Shin Takanawa, Takanawa, Tokyo (2 per room), Hakone Sengokuhara, Manza |
| Through elementary school | Nagoya Sky Tower |
| Through preschool | Shin Furano, Sunshine City (both when no meals or bedding are needed) |
| Free under 2 | Atagawa (preschoolers 2 and older are ¥1,650 even without meals or bedding, except on room only and breakfast plans) |
| Free under 3 (no meals or futon) | Hakone Yunohana (facility fee of ¥800 from age 3 until starting elementary school) |
Many hotels also cap the number of children: Okinawa Ginowan allows up to 2 per room, and Shin Takanawa allows 1 per bed. Families with two kids can book with peace of mind by checking the cap first. Find hotels with free co-sleeping in our list of hotels with free co-sleeping.
Meals and cribs differ by hotel too
For meals, Oiso's restaurants charge separately from age 3, and breakfast at Shinagawa and Tokyo Prince Hotel is charged at the child rate from age 4. Even when co-sleeping is free, plan on paying for meals separately so your budget doesn't slip.
Crib eligibility also differs by hotel. Karuizawa West and The Prince Hakone Lake Ashinoko won't lend cribs for children who can pull themselves up to stand. At Oiso they may not be available depending on the room type, and Shimoda offers them only in Standard Twin rooms. Find crib-friendly hotels in hotels that lend cribs.
Don't rely on the chain's name alone: confirm the co-sleeping age, the number of children allowed, and crib eligibility in your own hotel's information.
Find hotels with free co-sleeping
Find hotels with free co-sleeping
On Kids Stay, you can search only hotels with free co-sleeping, filtered from the start. Just choose your area and party size.
Summary
For a Prince Hotels trip with kids, deciding first on a type (beach, snow, onsen, or city) narrows the field. For ages 0 to 1, Okinawa Ginowan or Nagoya; for summer water play, Oiso, Shimoda, or Shin Takanawa; for snow, Naeba; and for onsen, Oiso and Dogo with their private baths are the top picks. In Karuizawa, choose West for cottages, East for the slopes, and Asama for quiet. Finally, confirm the co-sleeping age and the limit on children with your hotel before you book.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nagoya Prince Hotel Sky Tower good for families with kids?
Yes. It's a certified Welcome Baby hotel where you can borrow cribs and diaper pails, and co-sleeping is free through elementary school. It connects directly to Sasashima-Live Station on the Aonami Line, and every guest room is on the 32nd floor or higher. There's no large public bath or pool. For choosing where to stay in Nagoya, see our Nagoya family trip guide.
Can children use the club lounges?
The rules vary by hotel. For example, the 31st-floor club lounge at Nagoya Prince Hotel Sky Tower has family seating, and children can use it until 8 p.m. when accompanied by a guardian. For co-sleeping children who use it, there's an extra charge of ¥4,000 per night for elementary schoolers and ¥3,000 per night for young children (age 4 and up). For other hotels, check before booking.
What is the Prince Kids Club?
It's a membership program for children run by Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts; for example, Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel offers perks for members. The benefits change over time, so check the official site before joining.
Find hotels with free co-sleeping
Find hotels with free co-sleeping
Related articles
Seasonal collections
Autumn Cottages and Glamping
No one else to worry about, at your children's own pace. Areas with self-catering villas, cottages, and glamping, from north to south
Winter Onsen With Kids
Winter onsen towns from north to south, where an in-room bath, a reservable private bath and meals in your room mean you never have to go out
Christmas With Kids in Japan
Book December weekends early. Three ways to spend it: city hotels, dinner-included resorts, or snow and hot springs
Winter Vacation With Kids
Family trips for the first or second half of Japan's winter break, timed to avoid the New Year crush. Choose by snow play, hot springs, a warm southern island, or city indoor fun
Autumn Leaves With Kids
Peak color timing, plus hotels in autumn leaf areas you can manage with a baby or toddler, from Hokkaido to Kyushu
New Year Hidden Gems With Kids
Step around the December 29 to January 1 peak, stay one stop past the famous sightseeing town, and let the day end inside the hotel. This is the hidden gem approach to domestic travel in Japan, applied to the New Year holidays with kids, with the areas and hotels that fit it.