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.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

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