Ryokan Food for Kids
Last Updated on April 10, 2025 by Kay
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If you’re considering staying at a ryokan with kids, you might be wondering about what kind of meals they serve for kids, especially since ryokan tend to serve kaiseki, which is a multi-course Japanese meal.
Kids can be very picky eaters, so this is an understandable concern for parents. But don’t fret! I’ve stayed at ryokan throughout Japan with my daughter ever since she was six months old. Granted, she didn’t get a meal when she was that young since she was just being introduced to solid food.
However, from when my daughter was about 1.5 years old, she started getting kid-friendly meals at the different ryokan we stayed at.
So you might be wondering… What kind of kid-friendly meals do ryokan serve in Japan?
In this article, I’ll share the various types of meals my daughter has gotten from ryokan over the last five years (!).
Table of Contents
Ryokan Dinner for Kids
Here are examples of what my daughter has gotten for dinner at ryokan.
Example 1
Ryokan: motoyu Ryuusenkaku in Arima Onsen, Kobe.
Pictured below is beef stew with seasonal vegetables. My daughter quite liked it.
She also got some wagyu beef and seasonal vegetables, which my husband grilled for her.
Not pictured is her bowl of steamed rice.
For dessert, she got some seasonal fruits.
Example 2
Ryokan: Ryokufukaku in Kinosaki Onsen
Dishes (clockwise from the top left):
- french fries
- apple juice
- a slice of roll cake
- fried chicken karaage and fried shrimp
- corn on the cob
- hamburg (salisbury steak)
- yakiniku (grilled beef) with onions
- pudding
Example 3
Ryokan: Yama no Hotel Musouen in Yufuin, Oita
Usually courses during dinner are served one by one at ryokan, even for kids, but this ryokan served everything at once.
Dishes (clockwise from the top left):
- fried chicken karaage
- grilled salmon
- salad
- fried shrimp
- potato salad
- fresh corn on the cob
- french fries
- cake and fruit
- orange juice
- hamburg (salisbury steak)
- miso soup
- inari sushi
Ryokan Breakfast for Kids
Below are some of the various breakfasts my daughter got when we stayed at ryokan.
Example 1
Ryokan: motoyu Ryuusenkaku in Arima Onsen, Kobe.
Dishes (clockwise from the top left):
- pineapple in yogurt
- hijiki seaweed with carrots and beans
- spinach and fried tofu
- white beans with shrimp
- tamagoyaki (rolled egg omelet) with broiled miso
- tofu in sauce and topped with grated ginger and green onion
- pickes
- tamagoyaki with grated daikon radish
- grilled salmon
- white rice
Example 2
Ryokan: Ryokufukaku in Kinosaki Onsen
Dishes (clockwise from the top left):
- almond jelly
- deli ham with potato salad
- fresh fruit
- meatballs
- fried fish, sausages, tamagoyaki, salad, and ketchup
- boiled tofu (inside the clay pot) and dip
Example 3
Ryokan: Yama no Hotel Musouen in Yufuin, Oita
Dishes (clockwise from the top left):
- assorted miso
- rice with optional soft-boiled egg
- fried salmon
- cheese and sausage gratin
- tamagoyaki
- tuna sashimi with ground sesame seeds
- pickles
FAQ About Ryokan Meals for Kids
Here are some frequently asked questions parents have about ryokan meals for kids.
Can I ask for substitutions?
Yes, absolutely! Make sure you specify what your child can/cannot eat before you book the ryokan. This way both you and the ryokan can make sure dietary restrictions can be accommodated.
Do my kids have to eat everything on the plate?
No, they don’t. It’s not rude to leave anything behind, so you don’t have to force your kids to eat something they don’t like. My daughter, a Japanese national, leaves food behind all the time! Of course, we don’t like to be wasteful but we also don’t want to make her sick.
My husband and I will also eat dishes she doesn’t like if we have room for it.
Will I be charged for a ryokan meal for kids?
Yes, you will be charged. This won’t be a surprise charge since you will need to specify whether you want a kids meal when you book the ryokan.
The cost of a kids meal varies depending on the ryokan. Some are as low as 1600 yen while others are a whopping 5000 yen!
Do I have to order a kids meal?
No, you don’t. You can share your meal with your child if you like, especially since ryokan will provide you with kids’ cutlery.
For those wondering what ryokan meals for adults look like, read this article.
Do ryokan have high chairs and bibs?
Yes, ryokans will have a chair just for your child so they can enjoy their meal on their own. When my daughter was young, she received a bib when she needed it, but I still always carried my own just in case.
Wrap-up: A Look at Ryokan Dinner and Breakfast Food for Kids
I hope this look at ryokan meals for kids has been helpful, especially if you’re trying to decide whether to stay at one with your family.
I absolutely love staying at ryokan with mine, which is why I’ve written an article about the best ryokan to stay at with kids of all ages in Japan. This article also contains helpful tips that every parent should know so make sure to give it a read!