Travel Japan with less stress and more joy.
Hotels, transport, tickets, packing and everyday travel questions — all in one place.
Some links are affiliate links. I only recommend what I would tell a friend.
🏨 Stay
Family rooms, solo stays, onsen
🚄 Transport
Airports, trains, luggage
🎟️ Tickets & Booking
Disney, eSIM, experiences
🧳 Packing
What to wear and bring
🍁 Seasonal Tips
New Year, autumn, sakura
🆘 Help in Japan
Lost items, sick, cash
🏨 Stay
Where to stay, by who you are traveling with.
Tokyo Hotels for a Family of 4
Real beds for four in one room, with room sizes in m².
Kyoto Hotels for a Family of 4
Kyoto rooms that actually fit two adults and two kids.
Shinjuku vs Shibuya vs Tokyo Station
Pick your Tokyo base in one read.
Safe, station-close areas for a first solo trip.
In-room or private baths near Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
Tokyo & Kyoto Hotels with a Spa
A treatment and a room under one roof.
MIMARU Tokyo Asakusa Station
A family apartment with beds and a bunk bed. kids 0-6 stay free (up to 2) · sleeps 4 · Family Apartment 35 m², 2 singles + 1 bunk bed
Checked 2026-10-30
MIMARU Kyoto Station
A Family Apartment with a bunk bed and single beds by a garden-view window. kids 0-6 stay free in an adult’s bed (up to 2) · sleeps 4 · Family Apartment 40 m², 2 singles + 1 bunk bed
Checked 2026-10-30
🚄 Transport
Airports, trains, and getting your luggage out of the way.
Kansai Airport to Osaka, Kyoto & Nara
The best way from KIX, by where you are staying.
Arriving at Haneda Late at Night
Where to sleep and how to reach your hotel after the last train.
Is the Narita Express Worth It?
N’EX, Skyliner or a bus: Narita to Tokyo compared.
Send your suitcase ahead and travel light.
Mobile Suica or a physical card? Which to get.
A Japanese mom does the JR Pass math.
Shinkansen Tickets Without a JR Pass
How to book single bullet train tickets, and when that beats a pass.
Kansai Airport to Namba on the Rapi:t, compared with the regular train.
Haruka tickets
KIX to Osaka & Kyoto · reserved seats · buy before you arrive
Checked 2026-10-30
🎟️ Tickets & Booking
Book the fun stuff, and the boring stuff, in English.
How to Buy Tokyo Disney Tickets
Official site vs Klook, and what to do about card errors.
Disneyland vs DisneySea with Kids
Which park to pick for your family.
How to Book a Head Spa in Tokyo
English-friendly salons and how booking works.
An honest eSIM comparison from a local.
A Japanese Phone Number as a Tourist
For SMS codes, restaurant bookings and calls.
Kansai trains worth paying a little extra for.
Tokyo Disney 1-Day Passport
up to 2 months ahead · dated, 1 day, 1 park · smartphone ticket, no printing
Checked 2026-10-30
🧳 Packing
What to pack, what to wear, what to skip.
Small things that make a Japan trip easier.
What to Wear in Japan in November
Layers that work from Tokyo to Kyoto.
What to Wear in Japan in Winter
December to February, from a Japanese mom.
Cherry blossom season outfits that handle cold mornings.
Kairo, yutanpo and the warm things we use at home.
Do You Need a Stroller in Japan?
Trains, stairs and what Japanese parents actually do.
What to Wear in Japan in December
Early vs. late December, with shoes and a packing list.
🍁 Seasonal Tips
Timing matters in Japan. Here is what to book early.
Where to Stay in Tokyo for New Year’s Eve
Areas close to countdown spots and first shrine visits.
Autumn Ryokan with a Garden View
Watch the leaves from your room in Kyoto and Kansai.
Autumn Trains with a Meal and a View
Japan’s sightseeing trains where you eat as you ride.
Where to Stay in Kyoto for Cherry Blossoms
Walk to the sakura at dawn. Book early for 2027.
Black Friday: Japanese Brands on Amazon US
Not traveling yet? The Japanese brands worth checking from home this week.
🆘 Help in Japan
Something went wrong? Start here.
Set up immigration and customs QR codes before you fly.
📚 Read & Listen Before You Go
A few books and audio courses I would hand a friend before a first trip. Kindle, Kindle Unlimited and Audible all work from outside Japan.
Lonely Planet Japan (2026 edition)
The classic all-Japan guide, fully updated this year. Read it free with a Kindle Unlimited trial.
Prices change often — please check the latest price on Amazon.
Lonely Planet Pocket Kyoto & Osaka
Small enough for a day bag — the neighborhood maps alone are worth it. Also on Kindle Unlimited.
Prices change often — please check the latest price on Amazon.
A Geek in Japan
Manga, zen, tea and trains explained in short chapters. Perfect plane reading before you land.
Prices change often — please check the latest price on Amazon.
Amy’s Guide to Best Behavior in Japan
Polite, practical and never preachy. It covers the little things I would tell a friend before dinner out.
Prices change often — please check the latest price on Amazon.
Rice, Noodle, Fish
Food travel writing that will make you hungry for ramen in Fukuoka and sushi in Tokyo.
Prices change often — please check the latest price on Amazon.
Learn Japanese with Paul Noble for Beginners
No grammar drills — you start speaking in the first lesson. Free with an Audible trial.
Trial terms change — please check the latest offer on Audible.
Pimsleur Japanese Level 1 (Lessons 1–5)
Thirty-minute lessons you can do on the commute. Great for sumimasen, arigatou and ordering food.
Trial terms change — please check the latest offer on Audible.
Useful Finds for Your Japan Trip
Towels, tea, a good water bottle, and the little things I pack every time. Chosen by a Japanese mom, shipped to you.
Explore YUU’s Picks →
New to planning? Read the 7-step Japan Trip Planning Guide from the beginning.