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

Many parents wonder whether it is a good idea to take a newborn or a baby under 1 to Hokkaido. There is the age at which a baby can fly and the ear pressure on the plane, the long drive from the airport to the hotel, chilly mornings and evenings even in summer, and snow in winter. Adults may not think twice about these things, but for a baby who cannot hold their head up yet, or one who has just started solid food, every one of them matters. Distances between cities in Hokkaido are long, so before you pick a hotel, it works better to decide first where you will base yourself.

When you look at hotels, check four things: the room, the bath, meals, and baby gear rentals. For the room, see whether a crib fits, or whether it is a Japanese-style room with tatami floors where the baby can sleep on a futon (Japanese floor bedding). For the bath, a private bath (a reservable bath just for your family) lets you bathe together, and a crib in the changing room of the large public 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 baby baths, bouncers, and even bottle warmers, you can pack much less.

For this collection, we gathered areas and hotels in Hokkaido that have solid data on facilities 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 limit yourself to one or two bases and spend your time on the stay rather than on the road. Many rental items are limited in number, and the eligible ages differ from hotel to hotel, so check the notes on each hotel page and the official website before you book.

The tips here apply just as well to families with 1- and 2-year-olds. If you are traveling with a child who is 3 or older, the age-by-age chapters in our column on family travel in Hokkaido will help.

For Hokkaido with babies and toddlers (ages 0 to 2), it is easiest to get around if you choose a hotel within an hour of the airport and one with facilities that let you spend time indoors.