People often worry about all of the sacrifices they’ll have to make once they have kids. You won’t be able to hop on a last-minute flight to Thailand or stay out at the club until 7 a.m., so you’d better get that out of your system before starting a family. Just prepare yourself to not have any free time until you have self-sufficient teenagers.
But if parents are willing and able to take their young kiddos on adventures around the world with them, why wait? One mom, Maggie Boynton, recently went on a trip to Japan with her husband and four-month-old baby, and she was shocked by how hospitable some of the people they encountered were. Below, you’ll find a video that she posted on TikTok during their trip, as well as a conversation between Maggie and Bored Panda.
Traveling as a new parent can be incredibly stressful
Image credits: freepik (not the actual image)
But this woman had a surprisingly wholesome experience while out for dinner in Japan
Image credits: maggieeboynton
Image credits: maggieeboynton
Image credits: maggieeboynton
Image credits: maggieeboynton
Here's the video Maggie shared
"It is one of the best places you could visit with kids; I would go back in a heartbeat"
To find out more about this encounter, we got in touch with Maggie via email. She was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and share what inspired her and her husband to travel abroad while their daughter was so young.
"My husband and I have been traveling just the two of us ever since we got married at 20 years old," Maggie says. "We did Van-life and backpacked through 15 countries together before we found out we were having a baby (actually right before traveling to Thailand for a month)."
"Since it’s always been a part of us to travel, we knew just because we were having a baby, we wouldn’t let that stop us from doing what we love," she continued. "While I was pregnant, we promised each other that we’d still travel with her. Japan had always been on our bucket list, and we had heard it was family friendly, so we said: why not!"
We were also curious about some of the more difficult aspects of traveling with a baby. "The biggest challenge was the evenings, when it was dinner time and her 'bedtime', but we wouldn’t want to be back at the hotel/Airbnb," Maggie shared.
"Sometimes, we’d get lucky, and she would fall asleep. But a lot of times, she’d be awake while eating dinner, and we’d have to transfer her back and forth to each other while the other ate," the mom continued. "This was hard to really enjoy our experience at dinner, but we learned to get used to it and not to let it get in the way of enjoying ourselves."
Maggie also believes Japan is a great travel destination for families. "I think it is one of the best places you could visit with kids! I would go back in a heartbeat," she told Bored Panda.
Next, we wanted to know what she thought of the replies to this video that went viral. "I was very surprised! It was genuinely so amazing to see the response people had," Maggie says. "It just confirmed and solidified my love for Japan, as well as how incredibly kind and incredible the people there are."
Finally, the mom wants to remind others "not to let having a baby stop you from traveling and living your best life!"
"I was really scared before this trip and almost thought about canceling it out of fear," she admitted. "But turns out, it was one of the best trips we’ve ever been on, and I am just so incredibly happy we went!"
Image credits: Curated Lifestyle (not the actual image)
There is a strong focus on hospitality in Japanese culture
Traveling, in general, can be a stressful experience. So most people certainly aren’t interested in introducing children into the equation. In fact, a survey from CivicScience found that 71% of adults consider making travel arrangements to be at least somewhat stressful. And over half of travelers consider making their way through the airport anxiety-inducing.
But if you can actually manage to get your little ones out the door in time to make your flight, you might be wondering if it would even be safe to take them with you. Well, according to the Mayo Clinic, they’re probably going to be just fine tagging along.
They note that it’s usually wise to keep infants at home for the first few weeks of their life, as their immune systems are quite weak while they’re young. But as long as you're prepared and take precautions to keep them safe, there’s nothing wrong with traveling with a baby.
However, that’s not the only concern many parents have when it comes to globetrotting with their children. It can be daunting to embark on a journey when you’re not sure how kid-friendly your destination is or if you’ll ever be able to have a moment of peace. That’s why Maggie and her husband were so amazed by the hospitality they encountered in Japan.
Some viewers of the video pointed out that this kindness might have something to do with “Omotenashi” – an idea deeply ingrained in Japanese culture that one should wholeheartedly take care of guests.
The Japanese National Tourism Organization notes that this idea is difficult to translate to English, so the best way to understand it is to simply experience it.
Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual image)
As a nation, Japan cares about providing resources for new parents
“It is a sense of incredible hospitality that carries across home stays, formal ceremonies, retail, and dining,” they explain on their site. “However, omotenashi goes beyond ‘the customer is always right;’ rather, it is an implicit understanding that there are no menial tasks if the result ensures a great experience for a guest.”
Meanwhile, other viewers of Maggie’s video pointed out that birth rates are extremely low in Japan, so some people might be especially excited when they get to see a baby. Reuters reports that fertility rates in Japan fell to a record low in 2024 after nine years in a row of declining rates. And over 55% of single Japanese adults between the ages of 18 and 29 have no interest in having kids in the future.
Despite this, Japan seems to value parents more than the United States does. As many people know, the U.S. is the only industrialized nation in the world that does not have a federal paid maternity leave policy.
Japan, on the other hand, offers mothers 14 weeks of maternity leave. During which, they will be paid two thirds of their base salary. And once that ends, mothers can transition to “childcare leave” until their baby’s first birthday.
Now, the country of Japan is beloved for many reasons including its nature, cuisine, culture, media and more. But one thing it has gotten some negative press for is being ranked one of the worst countries in the world for helping strangers.
However, many travelers quickly disputed this title after it was publicized, noting that they’ve had plenty of pleasant experiences with helpful locals while in Japan. And I’m sure Maggie and her family would defend the island nation as well.
Image credits: S. Tsuchiya (not the actual image)
Viewers' hearts were warmed by the video, and many noted that this is a beautiful example of how society should be
Traveling with kids can present unique challenges, but experiencing the warmth and kindness of locals can truly enhance any family trip. For instance, the charming story of a feline with a fascinating natural pattern highlights how small, unexpected joys in a new place capture hearts and create lasting memories. Discovering such delightful oddities can add an extra layer of wonder to your travels, much like the gentle hospitality encountered when exploring unfamiliar destinations.
For more on unique and heartwarming discoveries abroad, you might enjoy reading about this fascinating feline phenomenon that has captured many admirers.