Back from Japan… and already planning my next trip 🇯🇵✨

Unfortunately, I’m back from my two-week trip to Japan with my wife and our one-year-old baby 😭

But honestly? What. A. Trip. This country is just unreal — I’m already planning to go back next year, same period, new itinerary 😅

We landed in Osaka and took a taxi straight to our hotel near Dotonbori (no choice with all the luggage!). Then… we realized we’d forgotten one of our suitcases 🤣 So the next morning I had to go back to get it. Ended up costing me 2000 yen, but it was actually worth it — I learned how to use the metro and train system, made my ICOCA card, and even withdrew cash from a 7-Eleven.

By the way, the ICOCA card is a total game changer — you can use it pretty much everywhere, recharge it easily, and it just makes everything smoother.

Now about Osaka — my favorite city of the trip! The vibe there is just so chill and authentic. I absolutely loved it. Of course, with a baby, our rhythm was slower, lots of stops and last-minute changes. But Japan is amazing for traveling with a baby — you can find changing tables everywhere, elevators and escalators are everywhere (and never broken 😅).

I really enjoyed Umeda Sky Building and Tsutenkaku Tower, both had such a cool atmosphere. We also did Himeji and Kobe on the same day — it was a bit rushed, so we didn’t get to explore Kobe’s port, but what a beautiful city.

Next was Kyoto, and the vibe changed completely — much busier and way more touristy. We had to wake up super early a couple of times to enjoy some spots almost empty. Fushimi Inari was breathtaking, same for Kiyomizu-dera! Again, our schedule was too packed, and we couldn’t see everything we wanted. But the highlight was definitely staying in a ryokan and experiencing the kaiseki dinner and traditional breakfast — absolutely unforgettable 😍

We also made a quick stop in Nara — didn’t have much time, but the park alone was stunning!

Finally, we headed to Tokyo and Fujikawaguchiko, where we stayed one night. Once again, not enough time to do everything we planned. Shibuya was cool but honestly a bit too crowded for my taste. The observatory view of Tokyo though — incredible. Asakusa was a beautiful area to stay in!

Looking back, next time I want to go at a slower pace — maybe one main visit per day and then just chill and explore the city. Trying to see everything made it feel a bit rushed at times, and you end up not fully enjoying each moment.

So next year, I’ll be back — same route (Osaka → Kyoto → Tokyo) but with more days, and new stops in between like Gifu, Kamakura, Wakayama or Nikko. Can’t wait already 🇯🇵🔥