Deer hugs, a tick, and one of the best pizzas of our whole trip — here's our honest take on Nara with kids, deer bites and all.

Real numbers from our final stop in Osaka — hotel, food, and experiences, broken down honestly, from a family who actually did it.

From Dotonbori's neon chaos to an accidental discovery at Tsutenkaku Tower, here's our honest take on things to do in Osaka with kids — the good, the crowded, and the surprisingly cheap zoo.

Real numbers from our overnight stop in Hiroshima and Miyajima — the ryokan, food, and experiences, broken down honestly.

An incoming typhoon cut our Hiroshima time short, but Miyajima delivered fully — the ferry, the ropeway, free-roaming deer, and a torii gate at both low and high tide. Here's our honest take.

Kyoto has a real mix of moments that click with a 5-year-old and a few that don't — the Monkey Park was a highlight, the Bamboo Grove less so. Here's our honest take.

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.

Real numbers from our one night in Hakone — the ryokan, the onsen, the massages, and trout fishing, broken down honestly.

We did the Hakone Loop on a rainy, foggy day with almost zero views — and our 5-year-old still loved it. Here's our honest take on whether it's worth it with kids. Plus, additional stops to make the most of your time in Hakone!

Shibuya Sky at sunset, teamLab Borderless, a sushi-making class, and a sumo show — here's what we actually did in Tokyo, and what's worth booking ahead.

See exactly what our family of 3 spent in Tokyo — real hotel, food, and experience costs from our 14-day Japan trip.