Why MIMARU makes Japan the best for multi-gen travel

Japan is one of those rare destinations that appeals across generations. And while travelling here is not without its challenges, thoughtful planning and the right accommodation can make the experience easier.

For families travelling together, Japan is endlessly rewarding. There are steaming bowls of ramen shared across bustling tables, lantern-lit laneways that feel straight from the pages of a storybook and captivating customs woven seamlessly into daily life.

Yet Japan can also be a little daunting for multigenerational travellers. The language barrier may feel intimidating, navigating busy cities with children and grandparents in tow can be overwhelming, and hotel rooms are often more compact than many families are used to.

But when the trip is well planned, those deterrents quickly fade into the background. Here are our favourite reasons to plan a multi-gen trip to Japan.

Family-friendly stays

MIMARUoffers spacious and stylish apartment-style accommodation — Enjoy more space for the family in MIMARU hotels.

With apartment-style rooms significantly larger than most city hotels in Japan, Apartment Hotel MIMARU are the ultimate base for families exploring the Golden Route cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Guests can spread out, cook their own meals and truly settle in, rather than squeeze into standard hotel layouts.

English-speaking staff at reception make arrivals and daily questions effortless, while practical services – such as luggage delivery to and from airports or onward destinations – reduce the travel burden. Guests can also borrow a wide range of complimentary rental items, ranging from thermometers and baby bathtubs (reserved in advance) to Bluetooth speakers and champagne glasses (on a fist-come first-served basis). Some MIMARU properties even offer Pokémon- and ninja-themed rooms that turn bedtime into part of the adventure – they’re an absolute hit with kids (and often grown-ups too).

Ancient culture meets modern excitement

temple with a view of Mount Fuji japan — Centuries-old temples meet theme parks in Japan. (Credit: David Edelstein)

Japan is a country that offers an excellent balance of cultural depth and playful discovery for every generation. Adults are drawn into centuries-old temples, serene gardens and refined culinary traditions, while children are captivated by interactive museums and neon-lit pop culture districts celebrating anime and gaming.

Japan’s theme parks also hold cross-generational appeal, blending nostalgia with cutting-edge spectacle. At Tokyo Disney Resort, timeless favourites such as the Mark Twain Riverboat and attractions inspired by Peter Pan sit alongside contemporary blockbusters such as Frozen, Star Wars and Buzz Lightyear-themed adventures. Universal Studios Japan in Osaka delivers an equally compelling mix of immersive worlds, from classics like Jaws to the broad appeal of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

A diverse culinary offering

table at mealtime in japan — Japan’s cuisine will make all ages happy. (Credit: Kae Ng)

From fussy eaters to dedicated foodies, Japanese cuisine offers something to tempt every palate. There’s a strong sense of playfulness and discovery in its interactive dining experiences, with conveyor-belt sushi that turns a meal into a fun moving feast, or smoky yakitori and bubbling hot pots cooked right at the table before your eyes.

Convenience stores in Japan are also next level, with brands like 7-Eleven, FamilyMart and Lawson on seemingly every corner offering affordable, tasty and kid-friendly food, like pillowy egg sandwiches, fried chicken and nigiri.

City lights to countryside

couple crossing the street in tokyo — Find bright lights and day trips to the countryside. (Credit: Jezael Melgoza)

The contrast between city and country in Japan is striking. Tokyo delivers a high-voltage immersion into one of the world’s most exhilarating megacities, where neon-lit districts, cutting-edge design and quiet pockets of tradition coexist.

Osaka is Japan’s undisputed culinary playground, celebrated for its street-food culture, bustling markets and irreverent local spirit. Then there’s Kyoto, a living museum of refined heritage, where UNESCO World Heritage-listed temples, centuries-old castles and the atmospheric geisha districts of Gion and Higashiyama evoke a slower, more contemplative Japan. Each also offers access to day trips that reveal another layer of the country, from mountain retreats and bamboo forests to coastal towns and sacred pilgrimage routes.

Seamless public transit

passengers on train in japan — Enjoy free and organised public transport. (Credit: Liam Burnett Blue)

In Japan, public transport is a masterclass in precision and calm. The system is famously clean and efficient, from local metros to sleek fast trains like the Shinkansen, which glide between cities with near-clockwork timing. Travelling through the countryside becomes an experience in itself, especially when opening a kid-friendly ekiben (eki = station, ben = lunch box), a beautifully packed meal designed for eating on the move.

Families who stay at MIMARU Hotels find the journey even easier, with staff on hand at reception to help guests navigate public transport routes, platforms and transfers with ease.

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Exceptionally safe and friendly

woman feeding nara deer — The only thing more friendly than the locals, are the deer of Nara. (Credit: Spenser Sembrat)

There’s one comment you’ll hear time and time again from people who have just returned from a holiday in Japan, and that’s how friendly the locals are. They’ll often go out of their way to help visitors get to their train platform, find hidden eateries or simply feel welcome. It’s a destination that consistently ranks among the lowest globally for overall travel risk, reinforcing its reputation as one of the world’s safest countries. Clean streets, orderly public transport and a strong sense of civic respect all contribute to that reassuring ease of travel.

Added to this is the experience of staying with MIMARU, where warm, attentive staff are always ready to assist with everything from local recommendations to practical travel support.

Multi-generational cultural experiences

little girl in geisha outfit funning through red arches in japan — The whole family can dress up. (Credit: EeaIkeda)

From hands-on origami workshops to immersive ninja-training experiences, Japan offers a wealth of cultural activities for families looking to bond and create lasting memories together. Travellers can try their hand at traditional calligraphy, dress in kimono for authentic tea ceremonies, watch live sumo wrestling matches, attend enchanting kabuki theatre performances or learn to throw shuriken (ninja stars) under the guidance of expert instructors.

Street food tours and local festivals also provide an engaging introduction to Japan’s celebrated culinary heritage and sense of community.

Book at mimaruhotels.com to enjoy five per cent off with code MIMARU_IT. Valid for bookings by 22 August 2026 and stays until 22 March 2027. This excludes Pokémon rooms and cannot be combined with other special offers except membership discounts.

After youth-led protests in 2025, this year Nepal elected a 35-year-old former rapper as Prime Minister. In a country where tourism is its biggest industry, what’s next for travellers?

In 1986, Nepal changed its clock. It had used India Standard Time since 1920 so, to differentiate, it wound its clock 15 minutes ahead of, not behind, its big-brother neighbour. Boss move. “Nepal is strongly opposed to the idea that our identity is connected to India,” says Community Homestay Network (CHN) guide Bikal Khanal.

Tharu dance is traditionally set to hand drums. (Credit: Kate Lewis)

Today, Nepal is the only independent country with a 45-minute deviation to universal time; an oddity that’s become a symbol of national pride. The quirk is nearly as endearing as Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan airport where carved varnished wood and shiny red bricks rule. One sign points to a ‘Travelator’ and another to a ‘Grievance Handling Desk’ while visas are noisily stamped at customs for US dollars, cash only. When am I?

Spot the endemic Nepal gray langur. (Credit: Simon Urwin)

The 15 or 45 minute anomaly sees me tap out completely on timezone calculations. Why bend my brain calculating if it’s quarter to or quarter past elsewhere when I’m in the honking here and now of Kathmandu where the air is high-altitude crisp, the prayer flags flutter and the street dogs howl?

How tourism is changing in Nepal

Bardiya National Park is rich with wildlife. (Credit: Simon Urwin)

India is not the only association many Nepalis would like to shake. With eight of the world’s 10 tallest mountains, including Mount Everest and Annapurna, Nepal has long attracted mountaineers and trekkers, and expedition numbers are continuing to rise.

Tourism is one of the country’s biggest sources of foreign currency, so this growth is not negative, per se. But according to Ang Tshering Lama, who co-founded Phaplu Mountain Bike Club, being reduced to a mere trekking destination is limiting.

“Trekking is just one layer of our identity,” says Ang. “When it becomes the dominant narrative, it limits how we’re seen and how we see ourselves.” Nepal’s recent success, however, in diverting trekkers to less-trafficked areas such as Manaslu mofuntain, where visitor numbers rose by 117 per cent last year, offers hope that tourism can diversify even more radically.

Local men in Bhada village. (Credit: Simon Urwin)

The founder of CHN, Shiva Dhakal, wants that change. “The whole idea of the Community Homestay Network is to promote experiences outside of trekking,” he says. “Community tourism changes lives and helps kids stay home instead of coming to the city or migrating to the Middle East.”

Ang grew up seeing people leave, “not because they wanted to but because there weren’t enough opportunities to stay”, he states. Yet from remote villages to living traditions; food, art, music and emerging subcultures, “there’s so much that’s not being seen.”

CHN is opening some of those doors. It doesn’t own, or fund, any homes. Rather, it promotes homestays to travellers on a single, slick platform, while fostering entrepreneurship in places where women, marginalised castes, Indigenous people and the youth stand to benefit the most.

A new generation demanding more

Dalla Town Hall, where volunteers discuss anti-poaching tactics. (Credit: Bheem Thapa)

The future prospects of next-gen Nepalis can no longer be ignored. On a Kathmandu tour with 33-year-old guide Monica K.C, we pass buildings torched in the September 2025 ‘Gen Z protests’, including the Supreme Court and Parliament House. Seventy-two people died. “They were anti-corruption protests,” says Monica. “Politicians’ children are living a lavish life but the airports are crowded with youngsters leaving to find work.”

We stop in ‘little Tibet’ at the wondrous sixth-century Boudha Stupa. “The wheel of life is Buddhism in a nutshell,” says Monica. “Things such as hate, ignorance and anger keep you rotating around the wheel, so you must follow the principles of Buddhism to detach. If you can’t, there’s no nirvana for you.”

Boudha Stupa's prayer wheels — Boudha Stupa’s prayer wheels are used to recite Buddhist prayers. (Credit: Kate Lewis)

In a sun-drenched twist to the usual temple visit, we ascend the stupa’s sloping plinth and roam its whitewashed dome. Tendrils of diaphanous prayer flags stream from a steeple-like structure where the Buddha’s unblinking eyes stare out. No nirvana for you…

bouda stupa prayer flags — Tibetan-style prayer flags embellish the whitewashed dome of Bouda Stupa, a Buddhist temple. (Credit: Kate Hennessy)

The dome is delightfully free of guard rails or chiding from security. There is, however, a stern ‘No TikTok’ sign, perhaps in response to the youth’s newly flexed power. The booted-out Prime Minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, was replaced in a resounding election victory in March by 35-year-old Balendra Shah of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) – a former rapper and mayor of Kathmandu. The RSP’s manifesto indicates tourism is a priority, and that Nepal’s cultural identity in areas such as gastronomy will be strengthened.

Boudha Stupa vendors — Vibrant souvenir shops and cafes around Boudha Stupa. (Credit: Kate Hennessy)

A more confronting stop awaits at Pashupatinath Temple. Today is Bala Chaturdashi, a Hindu festival where thousands of devotees gather to honour their dead ancestors. Vendors hauling foam mattresses do a lucrative trade as people set up for a night of vigil. This includes burning the bodies of recently deceased relatives on bamboo pyres in the Bagmati River, which flows into the sacred Ganges.

A woman at annual Hindu festival Bala Chaturdashi, in Kathmandu. (Credit: Kate Hennessy)

Wrapped in a shroud, the bodies are positioned with their heads facing north to the Himalayas where Lord Shiva resides. They’re covered with flowers and straw and set alight by male family members.

Hours later, the ashes are swept into the river where devotees will take a holy dip the next day. As much as Monica assures us it’s not voyeuristic to watch, I struggle to do so. “Here you see the reality of life because everyone ends up there,” she says, gesturing to the river.

Life unfiltered in the Terai region

tharu woman — Tharu woman and master weaver Parbati Chaudhary in Bhada Village. (Credit: Bheem Thapa)

The reality of life needs processing time, which the western Terai region delivers in spades. The Terai is largely separated from India by the Karnali River and Bardiya National Park, where elephants, rhinos and the elusive Bengal tiger roam.

Once a nomadic tribe, the Indigenous Tharu people are now the largest ethnic group here. “They didn’t know their daily life was interesting for international travellers but they’re starting to understand now,” says CHN founder Shiva.

Take a Jeep safari through Bardiya National Park. (Credit: Bheem Thapa)

We fly Buddha Air to Dhangadhi airport and drive five hours to stay in Tharu homes. The journey to Bhada village is a blur of roadside fruit stalls, traffic-stopping sacred cows and fields sown with wheat, rice, mustard, spinach, cauliflower and potatoes. Nepal’s agriculture feeds only Nepal.

Marigolds are an important part of Hindu rituals. (Credit: Simon Urwin)

“The only thing we export is young people,” says our guide Bikal. As the light dims and we plunge evermore rural, mysterious mounds of compacted hay – some house-sized – loom like the creatures from Where The Wild Things Are. Even our trusty driver gets flummoxed by a dirt road that abruptly ends and we find ourselves hurtling across a paddock.

On arrival, some are ferried to mud-walled cottages greened by gourd creepers, with thatched roofs and rustic-chic mosquito nets. Myself and two others are ushered to the home of corner store owner, mechanic and mushroom farmer Man Kumar Chilaruwa and his wife Rajkumari.

community homestay entrance — A warm welcome at a community homestay. (Credit: Simon Urwin)

They escort us to a bunker-esque back building with steel doors and a folding security gate, behind which is gleaming linoleum, dolphin-printed tiles and a shower cavity that must be gingerly stepped through to reach the toilet.

The ceiling lights emit a rainbow of colours (the bathroom light gets stuck in, frankly, a quite frightening red). We’re nevertheless touched that our hosts invested in all this bling when the average salary is around $275 a month.

In the coming days, we participate in Tharu traditions such as making moonshine, dancing, weaving straw handicrafts and gold-panning. We’re fed well with staples of rice, mustard greens, lentil pancakes, daal, curried chicken and tomato chutney served on antibacterial saal leaves.

food at community homestay — Dig in. (Credit: Kate Hennessy)

Sonara community homestay president Indradevi Tharu tells us river snails are often served, and the boiled and pickled flesh of rats hunted in the rice fields. “Perhaps next time?” we say and all have a laugh.

The power of community homestays

community homestay owners in Nepal — Barda community homestay owners Parbati Chaudhary and Ram Krishni Devi Chaudhary. (Credit: Simon Urwin)

Immersing Western visitors in foreign cultural practices is not new. But with the Tharu, I never get that uneasy sensation that I’m being performed for. Despite being the only tourists, there’s no ‘othering’; just warm, composed and ultra-dignified welcomes. Like we’ve always been here.

“I love to have travellers in my village so I can see the world,” says local woman Parbati Chaudhary. “Why would I travel the world when the world comes to me?”

The graceful acceptance the Tharu offer, as well as the slow pace, works miracles on my frazzled nervous system. One day I even take a nap on a vacant homestay bed.

Sonara community room — An authentic stay in the Sonara community. (Credit: Kate Hennessy)

Roosters strut and goats bray as we sit on the ground in al fresco kitchens, rolling rice flour into cylinders steamed to make dhikri (dumplings). When water is needed, we fetch it using a hand-operated pump as a family of ducks strolls by, side-eying us like curious neighbours.

Animal lovers will delight in Tharu villages. Kind and resourceful inventions are everywhere, such as snacking stations where two posts lean together, with leafy boughs dangling on rope for baby goats to forage from.

CHN’s CEO, Aayusha Prasain, nods knowingly when one in our group says she cried when she left her host, Shayam Chaudhary, in Bhada. Shayam’s 17-year-old son, Prashant, had translated, which deepened the connection.

“Community tourism turns travel into a relationship, not a transaction,” says Aayusha. “It places decision-making power in the hands of local communities, especially women and youth.” Since 2018, CHN has hosted more than 4000 travellers from 52 countries in 408 households, and estimates women’s participation has increased by 381 per cent.

In the Bardiya community, where vexing human-animal conflict has been a balancing act for decades due to elephants raiding crops, long-time homestay operator Salik Ram Chaudhary says young people keep the older ones on their toes.

“We can’t keep homestays stagnant,” he says. “We have to upgrade our service and redefine our product or young people won’t see it as an attractive business. If we can keep evolving with this travelling trend we’re confident the youths will stay and continue it.”

Back in Kathmandu, Monica explains that after the deaths of young protestors in September, a determination had spread to not let their sacrifice be in vain. “We want to keep holding the government accountable,” she says. “We don’t know what situation we’re facing, but we’re ready to face it.”

Interested in Nepal but prefer to experience it in total comfort? Read our guide to luxury travel in Nepal.

7 reasons why Japan is the ultimate destination for multi-generational travel