How practical will it be to bring along our North America sized stroller to Tokyo?

The only reason we are thinking of taking it is that our 2 year old will sleep better and longer in that stroller where the seat will goes back (like being in J class I suppose) so that her parents can enjoying touring the city longer.

Not sure how wide and how crowd the roads are and how accessible the metro/JR lines are during non-rush hour. We plan to visit the Tsukiji fish market, the Ueno Ameyoko market and other less touristy places. Are we being unrealistic to take it with us? Should we opt for an umbrella stroller instead?

Thanks.

 

Mrs jib71 and I were in the UK this week -

Mrs jib71 saw the stroller that my sister uses for her baby and immediately remarked "You could only design a stroller like that in a car-centric society."

You may well need to cram the stroller into tight spaces even outside rush hour. And you may well need to carry it up 20 or 30 stairs at some stations. Lighter and more compact is better.

 

I agree w/ jib-san. The umbrella version is definitely easier for public transport, restaurants and other public places. You might consider something in-between as an alternative.

Use your "ease-of-getting-it-on-the-airplane" standard as a guideline for in-town challenges.

 

While I agree that lighter is better, the modern Japanese stroller looks as hefty as American strollers. Almost all the stations have elevators so unless your stroller is huge, it should be ok.

 

Another vote for the umbrella stroller. Our kids are now 6 and 4 and we have been going to Tokyo with them twice a year since they were born.

Japanese strollers (Apricas and Combis) are always superlight, narrow and can be folded up/down with just one hand and a flick of a switch for a reason: there are some subway stations where there will be endless numbers of steps. While it is true a lot of them now have elevators (this is a recent development), sometimes it is hard for a tourist to find them (you have to see the underground subway to believe it).

Sidewalks are usually crowded with human traffic, bicycles etc. Supermarket aisles are not as wide etc.

Trust me, do not bring a big stroller. A 2-year old usually can sleep in an umbrella stroller pretty well

 

Hi,

Wow, I just looked at those Aprica strollers. They look pretty nice... and pricey! In the US it seems they are 350-400USD. Would anyone happen to know what the price is like in Japan?

Thanks,
Wooe

 

At least that for the better ones. And maybe more. Would buy in the US if you can get them at $350.

 

Yea, just watch out for the baby's bottom, it could get a rash with all that Aprica. And it could be fatal if he's alergic to it. I prefer the Utmeg strollers. Tokyo is always more fun when stoned.

 

Would Tide and anyone else know where one may get an Aprica/combi stroller in Tokyo? We will be staying near Shinjuku area. Although it is pricy, it may worth every penny if it means easier and lighter to handle and one hand maneuver. Plus we still have several international trips to make in the coming year. So worth to take a look. What are the weight limits does anyone knows? My girl is 25 lbs already.

Thanks again,

Mrs Wooe

 

There are some useful Tokyo stroller comments here.

 

From the point of view of the reviewer (who is a first time visitor), this is an excellent report.^

 

You don't have to go all the way to Tokyo to buy these. You can find Apricas and Combis in North America (I'm guessing that's where you are from your profile) - google for a list of retailers.

FWIW, we own an Aprica that we never use anymore. I never liked the Aprica - after some use, it felt "wobbly", probably because there are so many joints to it (it folds into itself in so many ways)

For a 2-year old, you will use the stroller less and less - why not go with an umbrella stroller especially when you are only going to use it for international trips? We use the Maclaren Volo (I think we paid no more than $70 for this) but you could easily go with something else, many competing products out there. My 6-year old (45 lbs) still sits in the Maclaren occasionally.

What you want to look for is:
a) Lightweight sub-9lbs
b) Easy to fold
c) Small Footprint taken up when folded. This is the one main reason that you cannot you use your big Graco-stroller in Japan - not if you want to use the trains/buses that is.
d) Stable and smooth on uneven surfaces when pushing with one-hand

Summary: I'd recommend getting a good umbrella stroller. It has been a must for us particularly in any city (international or otherwise) where you won't drive and you must take public transport or walk a lot. It has also been a good investment, we've had both of ours since our kids turned one, and our 6-year still continues to use it now and then (e.g. Disney World)