It took us way longer than we’d like to admit to actually understand the Hakone Loop before our trip. Here’s the step-by-step version we wish we’d had, plus what we’d do differently.

Miyajima was our intentional splurge, and staying overnight let us see the floating torii gate at both low and high tide. Here's where we stayed, how a typhoon rearranged our plans, and honest picks for families in every price range.

One of the toughest calls in planning a Miyajima visit: see the torii gate floating at high tide, or walk right up to it at low tide? Here's what each view is really like — and the one decision that let us have both.

Nara was one of the most budget-friendly stops on our whole trip — here's exactly what we spent on food, deer crackers, Todai-ji, and a bike rental that turned out to be worth every yen.