Round1 Osaka: Spo-Cha vs Arcade, Prices and Tips
We went to Round1 in Osaka twice in one trip, which tells you most of what you need to know about whether children like it. What I did not understand until afterwards is that we…
View Post
Ippudo Osaka: The Queue, the Kids & What to Order
We ate at Ippudo Osaka on our first day in the city, at midday, on the recommendation of my brother-in-law — who lives there. That’s the only reason we found it rather than one of…
Nara with Kids: The Deer, Todai-ji and What to Know
The deer in Nara bow. They also bite, kick, butt and knock people over — that isn’t me being dramatic, it’s what the official warning signs in the park say, illustrated, in four panels. We…
Universal Studios Japan with Kids: Tickets & Timing
The thing nobody tells you about Universal Studios Japan is that your park ticket does not get you into Super Nintendo World. That needs a second, separate, timed ticket — and families find this out…
Osaka Castle with Kids: Tickets, Timing & What to Skip
We visited Osaka Castle with kids twice on the same trip, and only got inside on the second attempt. The first time we arrived late in the afternoon, spent an hour wandering the park, and…
Is the JR Pass Worth It in 2026? A Family’s Real Answer
We bought four Japan Rail Passes in Barcelona, paid over €1,000 for them, and used them across a 19-day trip through Tokyo, Nikko, Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Uji and Kurashiki. So this is not a theoretical…
Nikko Day Trip from Tokyo with Kids: Shrines or Waterfall?
We took our two kids to Nikko as a day trip from Tokyo in July 2023, and the thing I wish someone had told us beforehand is this: you cannot comfortably do the shrines and…
4 Days in Tokyo with Kids: A Real Family Itinerary
4 Days in Tokyo with Kids: A Real Family Itinerary We landed at Narita, went straight to a digital art museum with our suitcases still with us, and only reached the hotel that evening. That…
Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo: Prices, Booking, With Kids
The Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo is the largest Starbucks in the world, it sits on the Meguro River in Nakameguro, and a drink there costs between ¥1,100 and ¥2,400. We went as a family of…
The B Ochanomizu Tokyo: Honest Family Review
We paid around €400 for four nights at The B Ochanomizu — two adults, two children, in central Tokyo. About €100 a night for the family, three minutes by metro from Tokyo Station. That location…
teamLab Planets Tokyo with Kids: Tickets, Water & Tips
You take your shoes and socks off at the door, and at some point you walk through water up to your knees. That’s the part nobody quite prepares you for, and it’s why teamLab Planets…
ITA Airways Economy Review: Barcelona to Tokyo With Kids
We flew Barcelona to Tokyo with ITA Airways as a family of four, via Rome, and the round trip cost us €2,600 for all four of us, July 2023, tickets were bought in January 2023.…