Whenever we are planning to jet off to a foreign land I take the lead on the plans. I love to do it (mostly).  And what’s most rewarding for me is that I learn so much in the planning that it enriches our experience once we arrive. Each trip-planning unveils new experiences, quirks, foods, places, customs that I know we have to try on our trip. Here are a few from Japan- ONSEN: this is a Japanese hot spring or bath often located in a traditional inn that is situated around a hot spring. These are part of Japan’s present and past because it is a volcanically active country. Not…

Hakone was a lot to do in a day. You could easily stay the night at a ryokan (Japanese style inn) and take your time. But, we opted to pack it in. Although we did it all in one day, I couldn’t manage to fit it all in one post. If you missed it, check out Hakone Part 1. Here’s part two! After gliding across Lake Ashi for about 40 minutes we got off at Togendai-ko and made our way to the Hakone Ropeway. This was an amazing experience. Like so much of Japan, the process was very orderly and easy to understand. There was a long line but no…

When we first started traveling with littles we found that the less movement required once arriving at far-away destination the better. So, we developed a strategy that we would set up a home base in the city of our choice and focus on really getting to know only that city. Obviously there are down sides to this strategy. Surely people think ~we’ve come all the way to this country and we have to see it all~. I get that mentality. But, with small babes we found that having multiple destinations added to the stress. I mean…transporting pack-n-plays and strollers and luggage and babies after you’ve already journeyed around the world?…