New Zealand Olympic medalist Brooke Francis shares her trip to Japan

Olympic medalist rower and mum of two, Brooke Francis, takes on Tokyo with baby Flynn in tow.

Japan has always been a special place for me, there really is so much to love. The people, the environment, and you can’t forget to mention the food! Oh, and in 2021 I returned from Tokyo with a silver medal! I was lucky to become an ambassador for Mazda, so when I was offered a chance to travel to Japan in October 2025 and learn more about their brand, well, How could you say no?! 

Five months ago my husband and I welcomed our second baby, Flynn. Flynn is still very reliant on me, so we were lucky to make the trip work with Flynn and my husband Jeff accompanying me. Plus, it was a good excuse for Flynn to get a stamp on his passport to try and catch up to his sister who spent her first two years following me around the world watching me at rowing events. 

My daughter was slightly older when I travelled long haul with her. I can definitely confirm, for us at least, flying with a four month old was a lot easier than a toddler, but all ages come with their own pros and cons. 

TIP #1 WHEN TRAVELLING WITH A BABY

Be organised! Especially when a ten hour flight is involved

Packing is particularly important on the plane as you don’t want to be caught short on any supplies. I always make sure we have plenty of changes of clothes, nappies, wipes and a little first aid kit for the off chance they need something. 

For Flynn’s first time on a plane, he was super relaxed. Air New Zealand were wonderful from the time we checked in with all of our stuff, and having the bassinet row to ourselves was a lifesaver. 

Seeing the coastline as we approached into Tokyo’s Narita airport was a very welcome sight, but the adventure was just about to begin. Jeff, Flynn and I had travelled up a couple of days ahead of the rest of our team so we could have some time to acclimatise.  

Our first night in Tokyo was in the Shinjuku area. It seemed, on a map at least, an easy place to get to with the amazing Japanese public transport. We’d organised a hotel for the night, and it was on arriving here that I remembered: houses, hotels, rooms and bathrooms in Japan are very small! Wherever you go, space is at such a premium. 

Waking up in Tokyo on our first full day, I was reminded of the calmness and serenity of Japan. Even in the middle of one of the world’s megacities, there is still a sense of peace. 

We caught a train to Lake Kawaguchi, which is about two hours to the south-west of Tokyo, for the next couple of nights. Many people don’t leave the main centres of Japan, but it really is worth it to get off the beaten track and explore what the country has to offer. Views of Mount Fuji eluded us – at first.

TIP #2 WHEN TRAVELLING WITH A BABY

Think about how you will get around, in advance

We had chosen not to take a pram or a car seat – crazy, some might say! For Flynn’s age the front pack was the best option and maybe given I am an athlete having an extra 8kgs strapped to me for hours of walking per day wasn’t really a big deal. The front pack gave us flexibility to take stairs and move around freely, but Japan is very well set up for prams with accessible options everywhere. Also, not taking a car seat meant we had one less thing to lug around, but I would highly recommend taking your own if you are planning on travelling by car. 

The two days at Lake Kawaguchi really helped to get Flynn (and us) into the time zone. We focused on getting sunlight in the morning and making sure Flynn could have at least one nap a day in his cot. 

Our next mode of transport was a bus to take us back to Tokyo. Again, very easy with Flynn. I was really impressed at the baby changing facilities and feeding rooms at all the train stations and major bus stops. Not once did we get caught out needing to change a nappy with no where to go.  Back in the hustle and bustle of Tokyo we were very excited to meet with the team and continue our big trip.  For the next few days we would be based in the Ueno area of the city.

TIP #3 WHEN TRAVELLING WITH A BABY

Pack a portable change mat

While all the changing facilities were generally very clean, travelling with a portable change mat is a good idea. That way you know exactly what your child is lying on. 

Our schedule while in Japan was to cover off a few key locations, and the first full day with the team took us back to the Sea Forest Waterway. Sounding quite exotic but located near the Port of Tokyo, this is where Lucy Spoors (fellow mum and Olympic rower) and I had won Olympic silver medals four years prior. A very nostalgic time for us. 

We found Ueno a great place to base ourselves, and that night we took to the streets and found them packed with people and hundreds of food options. The smells were incredible! We picked our food option quickly and had an early night to get Flynn to bed on time. 

The next couple of days were spent exploring the streets of Tokyo. We checked out Shibuya Scramble Crossing, Sensō-ji Temple, Takeshita Street, the Mazda Trans Aoyma brand store and Tokyo Skytree – all whilst Flynn slept in the front pack. 

Our big day of the trip was visiting the Japan Mobility Show. This isn’t just a car show, but it’s a look at the future of mobility. Think cars, but also bikes, personal mobility options such as robotic wheelchairs, autonomous heli-taxis and even a jet! This is where Lucy and I got to see the direction Japan is heading with mobility. As this was the media-only day, I wasn’t able to bring Flynn in with me and so this was Jeff’s time to shine. Flynn and Jeff kept themselves amused in close proximity so I could still pop out and feed Flynn when he was hungry (Jeff was sorted, there were great food options nearby!). 

Being able to do things outside of being a mum always fills my cup and means I can give more to my kids. Having Jeff’s support in doing this has meant the world to me, we make an amazing team.

TIP #4 (MY BEST HACK)

Travel with someone who can help!

Even if it is just someone who can give you a hand carrying your bag, it makes a big difference being hands-free with your baby. While travelling we often allocate ourselves roles. For example, Jeff might carry the bags, and I have the baby. Or on the plane Jeff will get what I need from the bags and I change the nappies.  

Flynn has now ticked off flying in a plane, riding on the metro, travelling by bus, and being front-packed around all the hotspots of Tokyo. At four months, he honestly wasn’t too aware of his surroundings, but I know he loved being with his mum and dad.

TIP #5 WHEN TRAVELLING WITH A BABY

Pack things that are familiar to your child

When you are frequently changing environments it can be a little overwhelming for a baby. We travelled with the blanket from his cot at home and his favourite toys that he was familiar with. 

Travelling with a baby can have its challenges but with a bit of planning it can be made a lot easier. It helps that a country like Japan is so accommodating and welcoming, with great options for families. Thanks for taking us on the trip of a lifetime, Mazda New Zealand!

MAZDA.CO.NZ

PHOTOGRAPHY: BROOK FRANCIS, ISTOCKPHOTO, FACEBOOK.COM/KIRIHARAYOKI