Two weeks in Japan, one carry-on each - here's exactly what our family of three packed, what we're glad we brought, and what we'd leave at home next time.

Buying tickets, choosing a seat, traveling with kids, and what it's actually like onboard - everything we learned riding Japan's bullet train for the first time.

Trains, Suica cards, Google Maps, taxis, and luggage forwarding - everything we learned navigating Japan's transportation system as a first-time family, so you can skip the parts that intimidated us.

Curious what a 14-day Japan trip actually costs for a family? Here’s our real breakdown for a family of 3: $11,085 across 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.

Is Japan actually kid-friendly? After 14 days traveling with our five-year-old, here's what surprised us, what we wish we'd known, and what we'd do differently - from the walking to the quiet trains to the small hotel rooms.