Hokkaido With a Baby: Hotels With Cribs, Private Baths and Baby Food

Plenty of parents wonder whether Hokkaido is really doable with a baby under 1. There is the question of how old a baby must be to fly and how to help with ear pressure, the long drive from the airport to the hotel, mornings and evenings that stay cool even in summer, and snow in winter. Things adults barely notice all become real concerns with a baby who can't yet hold their head up or a little one who has only just started solids. Distances between cities in Hokkaido are long, so trips go more smoothly when you decide where to base yourselves before you choose a hotel.

When you compare hotels, look at four things: the room, the bath, the food and baby gear rentals. For the room, check whether a crib can be brought in, or whether there is a Japanese-style tatami room where your baby can sleep on a futon (a soft mattress laid on the floor). For bathing, a private bath lets your family soak together on its own, and a baby bed in the changing area of the large shared bath makes it easier for parents to take turns. For meals, some hotels prepare baby food, while others will warm up food you bring. If a hotel also lends out baby bathtubs, bouncers and bottle warmers, you simply have less to pack.

For this collection, we gathered the areas and hotels in Hokkaido where we have solid data on features for babies under 1, such as crib rentals, diaper bins, private baths and baby food. The basic approach for Hokkaido with a baby is to narrow things down to one or two bases and spend your time staying, not traveling. Many rental items are limited in number, and the eligible age varies from hotel to hotel, so please check the notes on each hotel page and the official website before you book.

The tips here apply just as well to families traveling with 1 to 2 year olds. If you are going with children aged 3 and up, the age-by-age chapters in our guide to Hokkaido family travel are a good place to start.