Toy Rental in Japan for Visiting Families
Traveling to Japan with young children?
Even the best Japan trip has its slower moments: rainy afternoons, jet-lagged mornings when everyone is awake at 5 a.m., the hour before dinner when little legs are done walking. Having a few good toys waiting at your hotel or apartment can turn those moments into the easiest part of your day.
Kids Laboratory offers a short-term toy rental for families visiting Japan. We deliver a curated box of toys to your hotel, serviced apartment, vacation rental, or a relative’s home anywhere in Japan.
There is no need to fill your suitcase with toys from home, and no need to pack up the ones you buy here for the flight back.
4.6★ Google reviews
Featured on Japanese TV
Cleaned & inspected after every rental
FREE BOOKING REQUEST
Have toys waiting at your hotel
Flat ¥6,500 (about US$40) for up to 30 days · ages 0–8 · hand-picked for your child
- No payment at this step
- Reply by email within 2 business days
- English OK · translation apps welcome
- Yes, tourists can rent toys in Japan — no Japanese residential address or residency required. You only need a delivery address in Japan, such as a hotel, serviced apartment, vacation rental, or family home.
- We deliver to hotels, serviced apartments, vacation rentals, and family homes across Japan.
- Flat rate: ¥6,500 (tax included, about US$40) for up to 30 days. The price is the same whether you need toys for 4 nights or 20.
- Deposit: ¥30,000, about US$190. We will initiate your refund within 3 days after we confirm the returned toys.
- Returns are easy: drop the box at many convenience stores that handle Yamato packages, or ask your hotel front desk whether they can arrange pickup. Return shipping is paid by you at drop-off.
- Families from any country are welcome. We support you in clear, translation-friendly English by email, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or LINE.
Can tourists rent toys in Japan?
Yes. You do not need to live in Japan or have a Japanese residential address to use this short-term plan.
Where you fly in from doesn’t matter either — families visiting from anywhere in the world are equally welcome.
You only need a delivery address in Japan where a package can be received during your stay — a hotel, serviced apartment, vacation rental, or relative’s home.
This service is a good fit if you are:
- Staying in a hotel and want a few good toys for downtime in the room
- Visiting Japan with a baby or toddler and can’t pack much in your luggage
- Looking for quiet, screen-free ways to fill rainy days and jet-lag mornings
- Visiting grandparents or relatives whose home isn’t set up for young children
- Trying to avoid buying toys in Japan that you’d then have to fly home
- Visiting from anywhere in the world — Asia, Europe, the Americas, or beyond (we text in clear, translation-friendly English)
Can toys be delivered to our hotel in Japan?
Yes. If your hotel accepts packages for guests — and many hotels in Japan do — we can deliver directly to the front desk.
Receiving luggage and packages at hotels is common practice in Japan. That said, each property has its own rules: some hold packages that arrive before check-in, others don’t. After you send the booking request form, we double-check delivery feasibility on our side as well.
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How the hotel address should look
For hotel deliveries, the guest name and check-in date go on the label so the front desk can match the package to your reservation.
Example
Hotel Name
Guest Name: Taro Yamada
Check-in Date: August 10
1-2-3 Example, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
How the toy box arrives
Your toys arrive in a single cardboard box, shipped by Yamato Transport or Sagawa Express — Japan’s two major parcel carriers.
The box is what Japanese carriers call a “size 100” parcel: the three sides add up to roughly 100 cm in total. Picture something around 40 × 35 × 25 cm (about 16 × 14 × 10 inches) — close to a carry-on suitcase — so it sits in the corner of a hotel room without getting in the way.
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During your stay, the delivery box also works as a simple storage box for the toys: keep everything in it, and when your trip ends, pack the toys back into the same box to send them home. Nothing extra to buy, and no packing materials to hunt down on your last day.
Optional: a play-mat toy bag (+¥2,000 rental)
For an extra ¥2,000 rental fee, we can add a drawstring toy bag that opens flat into a play mat.
- Spread it open on the bed or floor and play on top — small parts are easier to keep together.
- When playtime ends, pull the drawstring: everything is packed away in seconds.
- The mat gives your child a clearer, more comfortable play space on the bed or floor — genuinely handy in a hotel room.
The bag is a rental item and should be returned together with the toys. Want it? Just mention the toy bag in the notes of your booking request form.
How much does toy rental in Japan cost?
You’re probably thinking in nights, not months — so here is the simple version.
The short-term rental is a flat ¥6,500, tax included (roughly US$40), for up to 30 days counted from your scheduled delivery date.
It’s the same price whether you stay 4 nights or 20. There is no per-day calculation and no subscription to cancel afterward. Return shipping, and any remote-area delivery fee if applicable, are explained before payment.
Price examples
- 4 nights in Tokyo: ¥6,500 (tax included)
- 10 days across Osaka and Kyoto: ¥6,500 (tax included)
- 20 days around Japan: ¥6,500 (tax included)
- Any stay up to 30 days from the delivery date: ¥6,500 (tax included)
Staying longer than 30 days? Send the booking request first and we’ll work out the details with you individually.
Booking opens 3 months before your trip
You can send a booking request up to 3 months before the date you’d like the toys to arrive.
Flights and hotels tend to get booked early — once your dates and accommodation are set, feel free to reach out, even months in advance.
The deposit is ¥30,000, and yes, it comes back
When you book, we hold a refundable deposit of ¥30,000 (roughly US$190) on your credit card.
The deposit exists to cover unreturned or lost items. Once the toys are back with us, we confirm everything is there, settle any shipping adjustments, and refund the rest.
We initiate the refund with your credit card company within 3 days of confirming the return — including after you’ve already flown home.
How quickly the refund appears on your statement depends on your card issuer, and processing for cards issued outside Japan can take longer. Because everything is billed in Japanese yen, the amount shown in your home currency may differ slightly from the original charge due to exchange rates.
Cards issued outside Japan are accepted
Visa, Mastercard, and American Express cards issued outside Japan all work with our payment system.
In rare cases, a card issuer’s own security checks or spending restrictions can block an international charge — if that happens, we’ll let you know and sort it out together by text.
You will never be asked to send your card number by email or chat. Once delivery and toy availability are confirmed, we send you a secure link where you register your card directly.
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Who is Kids Laboratory?
Kids Laboratory is a Japanese toy subscription company. We choose developmentally appropriate toys for each child and deliver them to families across Japan.
Since launching, we have delivered roughly 450,000 toys to families in Japan. The service has been featured on Japanese television, and holds a 4.6 rating on Google reviews.
If this is your first time using a Japanese service, it’s natural to wonder: Will it actually arrive? Is it clean enough for my baby? Can I trust the process? Those are exactly the questions this page is here to answer.
Every box is put together by a toy concierge, who selects toys based on your child’s age, interests, and how you’ll be spending your time in Japan.
Why families trust us
- About 450,000 toys delivered to families across Japan
- Featured on Japanese TV and other media
- 4.6 rating on Google reviews
- Toys hand-picked for each child by a toy concierge
- Every returned toy is cleaned and inspected before it goes to the next family
Want to verify us first? That’s a smart instinct. You can find Kids Laboratory on Google Maps — our office, photos, and public reviews are all there.
What toys will we receive?
The service covers children from 0 to around 8 years old.
As a guide, expect around 3 to 5 toys per child. The exact number depends on your child’s age, where you’re staying, sibling use, and availability.
A peek at the kinds of toys we send
Where you’re staying shapes what we pick. Hotel rooms call for quiet toys that don’t need floor space; a serviced apartment or a grandparent’s house opens the door to bigger builds and toys siblings can share.
In the booking request form, tell us what matters for your trip: quiet play for the hotel, something absorbing for rainy days, toys siblings can share, or a STEM or Montessori-style focus.
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How are the toys cleaned?
Toys go in mouths and little hands, so this matters — and it’s a question we take seriously.
No toy goes from one family straight to the next. After every return, each toy is cleaned, dried, sanitized where appropriate, and inspected using a method suited to its material — fabric, wood, plastic, and electronic toys each need a different approach.
Each toy is checked for missing parts, visible damage, and overall condition before it is selected for the next family.
How it works
You are not charged the moment you fill out the form. Everything starts with a booking request — we confirm your dates, delivery address, and toy availability first, and only then send you the secure payment link.
FREE BOOKING REQUEST
Have toys waiting at your hotel
Flat ¥6,500 (about US$40) for up to 30 days · ages 0–8 · hand-picked for your child
- No payment at this step
- Reply by email within 2 business days
- English OK · translation apps welcome
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What the booking request form asks
- The date you’d like the toys to arrive
- Your planned return date
- Type of accommodation
- Accommodation address
- Hotel name, guest name, and check-in date (for hotel delivery)
- Your child’s age
- Whether siblings will share the toys
- Whether you need quiet toys
- Any toy preferences
- Allergies or materials to avoid
- Your email address
- Your preferred messaging app
How do we return the toys?
Returns go through Yamato Transport — one of Japan’s most widely used parcel delivery services, the one behind the black-cat logo you’ll see everywhere during your trip.
Inside your delivery box, you’ll find a pre-addressed Yamato return slip. When it’s time to head home, pack the toys back into the box, attach the slip, and drop it off.
Many convenience stores in Japan, including many 7-Eleven and FamilyMart locations, accept Yamato packages. Many hotel front desks can also help arrange pickup if you ask, “Could you send this by Yamato?” If you are unsure where to return the box, contact us by text and we’ll help you choose a practical option.
Every return is trackable, so you can check that the box arrived even after you’ve left Japan. Return shipping is paid by you when you drop off the package.
We tell you your return date in advance
Before your trip ends, we send you your return date by text, based on your check-out date and the day you fly home.
As a rule, plan to ship the box by the day before your departure — not on the day you head to the airport, when time gets tight fast.
Staying somewhere without a front desk, like a vacation rental? No problem — we’ll walk you through the nearest drop-off options by text.
The return, step by step
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About return shipping
Return shipping is at your expense — pay it when you drop off the package, using the slip we include.
If a package is sent collect (cash on delivery) instead, we deduct the shipping cost we paid from your deposit and refund the remainder.
For Okinawa, remote islands, and areas far from major cities, an additional delivery fee may apply. We’ll quote the exact amount once your accommodation is set — before you pay anything.
Support by text — from anywhere in the world
All support for this short-term rental is handled by text, not phone.
Between time zones, sightseeing schedules, and translation apps, written messages are simply more reliable for both sides — you can reply from a train, and nothing gets lost to a bad connection or a language slip.
Reach us by email, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or LINE — whichever you already use.
Support is written in clear, translation-friendly English. If English is not your first language, that’s completely fine — whether you normally text in Korean, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Hindi, Russian, or any other language, we’re happy to work through translation apps together.
We reply during Japanese business hours, typically within 2 business days, though busy periods can add a little time.
What about damage, loss, and stains?
Kids play hard — we know. Normal wear and tear, including damage from ordinary play, is covered by the rental fee. Small scratches and everyday accidents are nothing to worry about.
Lost toys or missing parts are the exception: those are charged at full replacement value, which is what the deposit is for.
If we need to deduct anything from the deposit, we will explain the reason by text before finalizing the refund.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. You do not need to be a resident of Japan or have a Japanese residential address.
As long as you have somewhere in Japan that can receive a package — a hotel, serviced apartment, vacation rental, or relative’s home — you can use the service.
Once your dates and accommodation are set, send the booking request form.
Yes, as long as your hotel accepts packages for guests. Many hotels in Japan do, but rules vary by property.
It’s worth asking your hotel whether they can receive a package before your check-in date.
Please contact us by text as soon as possible.
If the box has not shipped yet, we will do our best to update the delivery address or schedule. If it has already shipped, changes may be limited.
In general, we deliver to accommodations or addresses where a package can be received reliably.
Hotels, serviced apartments, vacation rentals, and family homes are usually more suitable than airports or train stations.
Yes. It’s a flat ¥6,500 (tax included) whether you stay 4 nights or 20, for up to 30 days from the delivery date.
There is no per-day pricing and no subscription cancellation. Return shipping is paid separately at drop-off. For stays over 30 days, contact us and we’ll arrange it individually.
Booking requests open 3 months before your desired delivery date.
Once your flights and hotel are booked, feel free to get in touch.
Yes. Visa, Mastercard, and American Express cards issued outside Japan are accepted.
Occasionally, a card issuer’s own security checks may block an international charge. If that happens, we’ll let you know by text and guide you through the next step.
We initiate the refund with your card company within 3 days of confirming the return — including after you’ve flown home.
How soon it appears on your statement depends on your card issuer. Cards issued outside Japan can take a little longer, and the final amount shown in your home currency may vary slightly because of exchange rates.
The service covers children from 0 to around 8 years old.
Expect around 3 to 5 toys per child, depending on age, accommodation type, sibling use, and availability.
No. This service is for children’s toys only.
We do not rent strollers, cribs, car seats, or other baby gear.
Via Yamato Transport, using the pre-addressed return slip included in your box.
Drop it off at a convenience store that handles Yamato packages, or ask your hotel front desk whether they can arrange pickup. Return shipping is at your expense.
We confirm your return date in advance by text, based on your check-out and departure dates.
As a rule, ship the box by the day before you fly home — not on departure day itself.
If the box is sent collect, cash on delivery, we deduct the shipping cost we paid from your deposit and refund the remainder.
In many cases yes, though an additional delivery fee may apply for Okinawa, remote islands, and areas far from major cities.
We’ll quote the exact amount once your accommodation is set — before you pay anything.
We don’t offer phone support for this service — all communication is by text.
Reach us by email, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or LINE.
Travel lighter. Play more.
Time in Japan with young kids is wonderful — and unpredictable. Trains, queues, rainy days, and jet lag don’t always follow the itinerary.
A box of well-chosen toys waiting at your accommodation gives your children something to settle into, and gives you back the quiet moments of your trip — without an extra kilogram in your suitcase, coming or going.
Kids Laboratory’s short-term toy rental exists for exactly this: making your family’s stay in Japan a little easier, wherever you’re staying.
Once your dates and accommodation are set, send us a booking request — we’ll take it from there.
FREE BOOKING REQUEST
Have toys waiting at your hotel
Flat ¥6,500 (about US$40) for up to 30 days · ages 0–8 · hand-picked for your child
- No payment at this step
- Reply by email within 2 business days
- English OK · translation apps welcome