Japan Tax-Free Shopping Changes in 2026: What Families Need to Know
Starting November 1, 2026, you'll pay full price at Japan's tax-free shops and get the 10% tax back at the airport. Here's how the new refund system works and what families should know before they shop.
How We Used Suica in Japan With Kids (Apple Wallet Setup + Tips)
Suica made getting around Japan easy for our family. Here’s how we set it up in Apple Wallet before we landed, how it worked with our 5-year-old, and the tips we’d give a friend before their first trip.
Japan Weather in Late May and Early June: What It Was Really Like
We spent the last week of May and first week of June in Japan with our 5-year-old. Here’s what the heat, humidity, rainy season, and one typhoon were really like, plus what we were glad we packed.
How Much Do You Walk in Japan? Our Real Step Counts From 14 Days With a 5-Year-Old
Is Japan a lot of walking? Yes. We tracked every step of our 14-day trip with a 5-year-old and averaged about 18,300 steps a day, with five days over 20,000. Here are our real day-by-day numbers, why Japan adds up so fast, and what helped our son keep up.
What Not to Pack for Japan: 3 Things to Leave at Home (and 3 We're So Glad We Brought)
After two weeks in Japan carry-on only as a family of three, here are the three things to leave at home, the three we'd pack again without question, and one tiny tip that makes repeating outfits more fun.
Is the JR Pass Worth It? We Did the Math for Our Family’s Real Route
We went back and forth on buying a Japan Rail Pass, then booked individual tickets instead. Once we had our real numbers, we did the math: here's what we actually spent versus what the pass would have cost.
Japan Travel Activities for Kids (Free Printable Scavenger Hunt + Journal)
A free printable Japan activity pack for kids and toddlers, with a scavenger hunt, train log, station stamp page, snack ratings, easy Japanese words, and a daily travel journal to use on your trip.
Gluten-Free at Japanese Convenience Stores: Why We Stuck to Just a Few Things
We read every gluten-free convenience store guide before our trip, then barely used them. Here's what we actually bought at 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart, why we stuck to so little, and how to read a label even if you don't read Japanese.
How the Hakone Loop Actually Works (Explained Simply)
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.
Luggage Forwarding in Japan With Kids: How We Sent Our Bags Between Cities
We sent our bags ahead three times on our 14-day Japan trip with a 5-year-old. Here's how luggage forwarding (takkyubin) worked, where we used it, how to arrange it at your hotel or a convenience store, and why we'd call it our biggest travel hack of the trip.
Is Japan Good for Families? What We Actually Thought of Our Trip
Short answer: yes. After 14 days in Japan with our 5-year-old, here's what worked, what was genuinely hard, and everywhere we stayed and booked.
Kyoto or Osaka: Which Is Better for Families?
We spent 3 nights each in Kyoto and Osaka on our 14-day Japan trip. Here's our honest, category-by-category breakdown - vibe, cost, food, crowds, and more - to help you decide which city (or both) is right for your family.
Where to Stay in Osaka With Kids: Our Honest Take
Osaka was one of the easiest stops on our whole Japan trip to feel at home in. Here's where we stayed, an honest breakdown of the city's four main areas, and vetted family-friendly hotel picks in each.
Where to Stay in Miyajima With Kids: Our Honest Take
Is Miyajima worth an overnight stay with kids, or is a day trip enough? For us, staying the night was worth it, since we got to see the floating torii gate at both low and high tide. Here’s where to stay on the island and the mainland, the family-friendly hotels we found, and how a typhoon rearranged our plans.
Where to Stay in Kyoto With Kids: Our Honest Take
Trying to decide where to stay in Kyoto with kids? Here’s our honest breakdown of the four best areas (Kawaramachi, Gion, Kyoto Station, and Arashiyama), family-friendly hotel picks in each, and where we actually stayed.
Miyajima Gate: High Tide or Low Tide?
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 Day Trip Cost: A Real Family Breakdown
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.
What We Spent in Osaka: A Real Cost Breakdown
Real numbers from our final stop in Osaka - hotel, food, and experiences, broken down honestly, from a family who actually did it.
What We Spent in Hiroshima & Miyajima: A Real Cost Breakdown
Real numbers from our overnight stop in Hiroshima and Miyajima - the ryokan, food, and experiences, broken down honestly.
What We Spent in Kyoto: A Real Cost Breakdown
Kyoto was one of the most affordable stops on our whole trip - here's exactly what we spent on the hotel, food, and experiences, real numbers included.
