About Red Panda Japan
– A Japan Family Travel Blog
Plan your perfect Japan family trip with our Japan family travel blog – real stories, local tips, and kid-friendly adventures.
👋 Hi there! We’re the Red Panda Family – a travel-loving Japanese family of three. We run a Japan family travel blog to share real experiences and tips with families who want to explore Japan with kids and grandparents.
We’ve spent the last 10 years exploring Japan with our daughter and grandparents, always on the hunt for the perfect family-friendly getaway.
If you’re looking for authentic hot spring inns, Disney hotel tips, or unforgettable island trips – you’re in the right place.
Who We Are
– Meet the Family Behind Our Japan Family Travel Blog
👧 About Our Daughter
Our daughter is now 11 years old, and she’s been our travel buddy since she was two. She’s the ultimate test for every place we go – if she has fun, we know it’s a good choice for other families too. She loves pools, buffet breakfasts, art workshops, and of course, anything Disney. She’s also a huge fan of red pandas – we’ve visited zoos all over Japan just to meet them! At home, our shelves are filled with red panda plush toys, and she never travels without her favorite one, named “Ressa-chan.” You might spot Ressa-chan in a few of our travel photos if you look closely! Most of our recommendations are kid-approved because of her!
👨 About Dad (The Planner)
Dad is our master travel planner. He loves researching with Japanese YouTube and always finds hidden gems – whether it’s a cozy ryokan or a family-friendly local restaurant. His travel plans are always well-balanced: relaxing for adults, fun for kids, and smooth for multi-generational travel with grandparents. We’ve learned from experience that spending a little more on quality usually results in the best overall value and joy.
👩 About Mom (Disney Superfan)
Mom (that’s me!) is obsessed with Tokyo Disney Resort. Since our daughter’s first trip at age 3, we’ve gone back about six times every year. I’ve tested countless hotels, services, and park strategies to create stress-free Disney trips that combine magic for kids with comfort for parents. I’m always looking for the best balance of convenience, cost, and unforgettable moments.
🏰 Tokyo Disney Resort: 6 Visits a Year
We visit Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea around six times a year as a family. It’s our happy place and the reason many of our best travel tips are Disney-related. We’ve tried almost every Disney and partner hotel, so we can honestly share what works best for families depending on your needs.
🏝️ Okinawa Islands: A Summer Tradition
Every summer, we plan a getaway to one of the Okinawa remote islands. We’ve stayed on both the main island and various outlying islands, and without question, the islands win when it comes to ocean clarity and natural beauty. Each island has its own personality, and we love going with grandparents to relax and reconnect.
♨️ Hidden Onsen Ryokan: Year-Round Escapes
For nearly a decade, we’ve explored small to mid-sized hot spring inns across Japan, often traveling with Dad’s parents. We seek out places that offer private baths, kid-friendly meals, and peaceful mountain or countryside settings. Onsen travel is our year-round escape when we want something quiet, restorative, and close to nature.
🏨 Our Favorite Stays & Why We Recommend Them
🛏️ Why We Love Kyoritsu Resort
We’ve stayed at dozens of family-friendly places, but some have truly stood out. Among our favorites are the inns operated by Kyoritsu Resort (共立リゾート). We love them so much that we’ve even purchased shares in the company to take advantage of their shareholder benefits. We use them every year to enjoy several stays at their consistently high-quality properties.
🏖️ Why We Prefer Okinawa’s Remote Islands
For resort stays, we always recommend the Okinawa islands over the main island. Having traveled to both, we can say the ocean around the remote islands is in a league of its own – crystal-clear, vibrant, and truly breathtaking. Each island has its own personality, and island-hopping is one of our favorite ways to enjoy summer. In fact, we already have Okinawa island stays planned for this summer – and next!
🌟 Our Top Picks
- Small to mid-sized onsen ryokan
- Kyoritsu Resort properties (共立リゾート)
- Disney official hotels for Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea
👉 Explore Our Favorite Onsen 👉 Discover Okinawa Island Resortsfor this summer – and next!
What You’ll Find Here
- Family-friendly onsen ryokan with private baths and buffet dining
- Sample 3-day itineraries perfect for first-time or repeat visitors
- Cultural experiences like food sample making and traditional art workshops
- Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea hotel tips and itinerary suggestions
- Car rental and transport tips for island trips and countryside adventures
- Hidden gems that make your trip truly special (and Instagram-worthy!)
Why You Can Trust Us
Everything we share is based on our own trips. If our daughter didn’t enjoy it, we won’t recommend it.
We believe in honest, helpful travel advice. We mainly introduce hotels and tours through Klook and Agoda — platforms known for their multilingual support and ease of use for international travelers. Since English is still not widely spoken in many parts of Japan, booking through these platforms can make your trip much smoother and more stress-free. Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links, which means if you book through them, we may earn a small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps us continue sharing more family-friendly travel tips!
💌 Let’s Stay Connected
Follow us on Instagram and Pinterest, for weekly inspiration.
Got a question or partnership idea? Feel free to reach out via our Contact Page—we’d love to hear from you!