Honest reviews of the 6 hotels we stayed in across 13 nights in Japan — what we loved, what we'd skip, and how location shaped every decision we made.

The big-picture route we took across 14 days in Japan — Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Nara, and Osaka — and how we decided what to see where.

Curious what a 14-day Japan trip actually costs? Here's our complete, real breakdown — flights, hotels, food, transportation, and experiences — down to the dollar, with the mistakes and surprises included.

We spent months planning our Japan trip before we ever boarded the plane — here are the 10 lessons that actually made the difference, from how we mapped our route to what we'd do differently next time.