Japan

  • Nihon Minka-en Japan Open Air Museum
    Japan

    4 Weeks in Japan: Part 4, 5 Nights in Kanagawa with Young Kids

    June 27, 2026

    We didn’t actually stay in Tokyo, but rather in the suburbs of Kanagawa with young kids all packed into my friend’s family home. After a wonderful (and also exhausting but still wonderful) time hanging out with old friends in Osaka, and then traipsing around the oft-forgotten city of Nagoya, and then exploring the hot springs and mountains of Hakone, it was time for me to get to work.

    I had some work meetings in the centre of Tokyo, which did mean we had to go into the city – it’s 1.5-2 hours to get there! Traveling during rush hour in Tokyo again is kind of fun when you know it’s not your day-to-day life. 

  • Japan

    4 Weeks in Japan: Part 3, 3 Nights in Hakone with Young Kids

    June 23, 2026

    I am so glad we did 3 nights in Hakone with our kids! Most people only do one night on the way from Tokyo, but we wanted to spend time in quieter places. I had also never been to Hakone, and it seemed like a good one to check off my list while we were doing a fairly basic Japan tour with the kids. Accordingly we headed there from Nagoya on our way to Tokyo (and from Osaka before that) ready for some mountain time.

  • Nagoya with kids
    Japan

    4 Weeks in Japan: Part 2, 5 Nights in Nagoya with Kids

    June 21, 2026

    Traveling from Osaka, we headed to Nagoya with kids in October 2025 excited to start the next chapter of our Japan trip. After this we would spend 3 nights in Hakone and 5 nights in Tokyo, but for now it was time for Nagoya.

    Nagoya was my favorite part of the trip. This was despite our baby getting sick enough that he didn’t sleep at all one night, everyone ended up yelling at each other at 3am in the hotel room, and we had to take him to an after-hours urgent care clinic in the morning for medicine. Adventures, adventures.

  • Osaka with Young Kids
    Japan

    4 Weeks in Japan: Part 1, Osaka with Young Kids

    June 12, 2026

    Osaka with young kids you say? What about Nagoya, Hakone, and Tokyo too? I’ve lived in Japan and visited many times, and this was my first time going with my children. It was our chance to do a big trip before my son turned five and had to stay in school. So we went for a long time. Our itinerary was:

    If you’re thinking of doing a good ‘basic’ trip to Japan with small kids, perhaps my experience can help. I know most people can’t go for nearly a month, but these bases are all well on the beaten track — and a lot of fun, too.

  • Travelogues about Japan in the 19th century
    Japan - travel prep

    Travelogues about Japan in the 19th century

    October 9, 2025

    Ahead of my trip to Japan, I decided to do a more thorough review of what 19th century travelogues about Japan exist in the English language. Maybe I’ll do Japanese as well, but starting in English. The thing I find so fascinating about reading these is that I compare my knowledge of Japanese culture today to what it would have been like centuries ago. You notice the little changes and what has held steady over the years in Japanese culture.