I just got back from my trip in Japan where my husband and I (in our 30s) traveled for 4 weeks while I was 5 months pregnant. In this post I am sharing what made my life easier in hopes to help future parents-to-be visiting this amazing country.
**Itinerary:** Osaka-Hiroshima-Nagasaki-Fukuoka-Kyoto-Kanazawa-Nishiakao (Shirakawago area)-Takayama-Tokyo
**Intro:** I felt pretty good throughout the whole trip, walking 20,000-25,000 steps/day, and we hit almost everything we wanted to do. What made it easy:
– I was fit before my pregnancy and used to exercise/run/walk frequently
– My partner was extremely helpful, carrying most of the weight in our backpacks and being understanding and accommodating whenever I needed to rest
I consider these prerequisites for this kind of trip while pregnant.
**Flights and trains:** we flew economy, 13 hours direct flight. What made it bearable:
– I brought a chair pillow to sit on, it saved my life – and my butt!
– Moved around the cabin often, did some squats, stretches…
– Drank a lot of water
– Brought my skincare routine with me and kept my skin hydrated
I had jet lag when I got to Japan and woke up in the middle of the night during the first week. What helped me most was buying midnight snacks that I could eat before going back to sleep.
I would recommend buying reserved seats in trains.
**Ryokans (3 nights):** The futon on the floor was pretty uncomfortable for me and I woke up with back pain after the first night. Thankfully the staff provided me with a second futon on top, which helped. Looking back I would just reserve western rooms (with beds) and leave the traditional ryokan experience for another trip.
If you have reserved menus (e.g. traditional breakfast or dinner), let them know beforehand if you have restrictions (e.g. no raw foods). They may not be able to accommodate everything but it should be okay, the menus include plenty of things.
**Clothes:**
– With most of my clothes you could notice my belly, and I didn’t get any uncomfortable stares. Some Japanese older women congratulated me and rubbed my belly for good luck (3 times in 4 weeks). I am comfortable with that, but if you are not, consider wearing looser clothing or just letting people know politely.
– Use compression socks and comfortable shoes with cushioning if you plan on walking for long times. I also recommend shoes/sneakers that are very easy to take on/off as you will have to do it for temples and some restaurants
**Food:**
– There are SO many options that do not include raw foods
– All eggs in Japan are pasteurized, so consider whether you feel comfortable eating them raw/soft boiled
– I found dairy products difficult to find in restaurants. To make sure I hit my calcium needs I bought yogurt at convenience stores and drank decaf latte. Most coffee shops do not have decaf but there are Starbucks everywhere in case you need it
**Medical needs:**
We had to go to the OBGYN during our stay.
– If you have to, and you know beforehand, make reservations if possible. Look for “international clinics” that have a Gynecology department or for “ladies clinics”. English can be a limitation but Google translate works well.
– If you have an emergency, and don’t speak Japanese, there is a phone number you can call where they will connect you to someone that speaks your language and they will search hospitals/clinic locations around you. I think the number was #7119 (it was a stressful time and I can’t remember for sure). The hotel we stayed at allowed us to call from their line.
– Of course, get a travel insurance and locate your nearest hospital/emergency room wherever you go.
– Also, bring all the meds you’ll need during the trip, including your prenatal vitamins and any specific creams that you may not be able to find in Japan
**Gyms/staying active:** I knew I wanted to keep active during the trip (apart from walking) and I went to the gym a couple times a week. If you need to, and your hotel doesn’t have a gym, you can find them on google maps. Look for places that accept day passes/visitors. Anytime fitness was available in all major cities and they have visitor hours 11am-8pm most days of the week.
All in all, it was a wonderful experience and I would repeat 100%.
Have fun!!
by cmp2806