Baby rooms and nursing rooms in Japan
Japan has some of the best baby facilities in the world. Called akachan honpo or bebi rumu, these rooms let you change diapers, nurse in private and prepare bottles. Here is how to find them.
What you find in a Japanese baby room
Baby rooms vary in size, but the better ones in department stores are close to a small nursery.
- Diaper changing tables
- Private nursing booths with curtains
- Hot water dispensers for formula
- Sinks, seating and sometimes weighing scales
Where to look
Department stores usually have the best rooms, often on the floor that sells children's goods. Large shopping malls, big train stations, airports and some parks also have them. Many public toilets include a fold-down changing table.
Useful signs and words
Look for a pictogram of a baby bottle or a parent changing a baby. The Japanese word for nursing room is junyushitsu, and diaper changing is omutsu gae.
Frequently asked questions
Are baby rooms free in Japan?
Yes. Baby rooms in stores, stations and malls are free to use.
Can dads use baby rooms in Japan?
Changing areas are usually open to all parents. Private nursing booths are generally for breastfeeding mothers.
