Big Group Travel in Japan: What Malaysian Families Should Know

 

Malaysians love travelling as a big family. Three generations in one trip, the grandparents, parents, kids, maybe even an auntie or two tagging along. At Tabigo Japan, about 80% of our customers travel in big groups, and 60% of those groups have toddlers or elderly family members with them. If this sounds like your upcoming trip, good news for you. Today, we would like to share our experiences with you, so you can have a heads up on what to expect!

1. Trains get tricky when you're a big group with luggage

Japan's train system works great, only if you're travelling light, solo, or as a couple. But add five suitcases, a stroller, and grandparents who need a bit more time to walk, and travelling to the countryside like Mt Fuji area, is challenging. In Japan, not every station has a lift, and sometimes you'll need to walk quite a bit just to find the right exit. Peak hours make it even harder trying to fit a big group with bags into a packed train is no joke.

Our recommendation: For airport transfers or longer trips between cities, go for our Tabigo private charter instead. It's more comfortable and time saving, especially with elderly family members or little ones, and it really takes the stress off everyone.

2. Almost everything needs to be booked in advance

This definitely surprises most of our customers. Popular restaurants, the bus up to Mt Fuji or popular attractions, many have limited seats or limited slots each day. Show up without booking and you might get turned away, or end up waiting much longer than planned. For a group of eight or ten, this matters even more since everyone needs to be seated or boarded together.

Our recommendation: Book your must-do activities, meals, and transport early, especially anything involving buses to popular spots like Mt Fuji. Much less stressful than trying to fix it on the day itself. Opt for our Booking & Reservation service if you need help.

3. Facilities are actually very kid and elderly-friendly

Here's the good news. A lot of our Malaysian customers want to bring along an elderly parent who might need a wheelchair, and they're often worried it'll be inconvenient. But in fact, travelling with toddlers or elderly parents in Japan is easier than most people expect.

Most areas have special needs toilets that are wheelchair-friendly. Many also come with baby seats or changing areas, and public spaces are generally easy to get around with a stroller or wheelchair. Lifts may sometimes be a little hidden, but they're there in most major stations and malls.

Our recommendation: Don't let worries about toddlers or elderly family members stop you from planning the trip. Japan is more accommodating than people think, just build in a little extra time for getting around, which we already factor into our custom itineraries.

4. Accommodation is harder to find, and smaller than you expect

This one surprises a lot of big families. Finding an Airbnb or hotel that fits eight to ten people comfortably isn't easy, especially in cities like Tokyo and Osaka. And even when you do find one, the actual space is often smaller than what most Malaysians would expect. Japanese homes and hotel rooms are just built smaller compared to what we're used to back home.

Our recommendation: Book your accommodation early, since big units always get snapped up fast. Sometimes booking two connecting units works out better than squeezing everyone into one. Contact us and we can help you find a place that actually fits your group size.

Travelling as a big group in Japan does take a bit more planning, but it's far from impossible. That's where we come in, providing our customers with the right information they need, backed by our local expertise. With the right preparation, your grandparents, your kids, and everyone in between can enjoy the trip without anyone feeling left out!

Got a big group trip coming up? Hit us up — we're always happy to help. 😉