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Park Hyatt Tokyo vs. Park Hyatt Kyoto - Which Should You Choose?
Tokyo’s skyline or Kyoto’s historic streets? After returning to both, here’s what we love about each - and who we think would enjoy them most
Waldorf Astoria Osaka Review: When One Night Simply Wasn’t Enough
A gorgeous room, remarkable hospitality, memorable sushi, and one surprise after another - our one-night stay left us already planning a return
Kimpton Shinjuku Review: A Surprisingly Good Place to Start a Tokyo Trip
Excellent food, warm hospitality, and just enough New York energy - the Kimpton Shinjuku turned out to be exactly what we needed at the start of our Japan trip
Four Luxury Hotels in Tokyo - What They Taught Me About Choosing the Right One
Kimpton Shinjuku, Park Hyatt Tokyo, EDITION Ginza, and JW Marriott Tokyo - four luxury hotels, four very different experiences, and four very different reasons to stay
14 Nights in Japan on Points: Final Thoughts, Mistakes, and Favorite Moments
This is Part 5 of 5 in our 14-night Japan trip on points
In this final part: Our biggest surprises, favorite experiences, and the travel lessons we’ll carry into every future Japan trip
The Stay We Didn’t Plan For: When a Hotel Becomes the Destination
This is Part 4 of 5 in our 14-night Japan trip on points
In this part: A points redemption that turned into the most unexpected highlight of our trip
Flights, Hotels, and the First 48 Hours: When the Plan Meets Reality
This is Part 3 of 5 in our 14-night Japan trip on points
In this part: We explore how we booked everything perfectly - and how the first 48 hours taught us otherwise
Bones Before Meat: How I Plan Japan Trips That Actually Work
This is Part 2 of 5 in our 14-night Japan trip on points
In this part: How I approached planning a first trip to Japan for friends - balancing points, expectations, and leaving space for the unexpected
A 14-Night Japan Trip on Points: Premium Flights, Luxury Hotels, and First-Timer Reactions
This is Part 1 of 5 in our 14-night Japan trip on points
In this part: $14,000 for flights and hotels. $945 out of pocket. Here’s how we used points and miles to plan a bougie 14-night Japan itinerary
Ranked #3 Andaz Tokyo: The Legendary Sky Suite Upgrade We Never Expected
We booked a Deluxe Tokyo Tower view room. The Sky Suite waiting for us cost nearly $15,000 more per night - and it almost ruined future hotel stays
Ranked #2 - The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto: The Hotel That Changed How We See Luxury in Japan
It was our first luxury stay on points. Its genuine, consistent hospitality became the benchmark for every hotel that followed
Ranked #1 - Park Hyatt Kyoto: The 2-Michelin-Star Breakfast We Still Think About
We thought we were booking a beautiful hotel in Kyoto. We didn’t expect a breakfast that would bring us back again and again
The Top 3 Luxury Hotels in Japan - Ranked by What Matters Most
Luxury means different things to different travelers. For us, it came down to food, hospitality, and unforgettable moments
What The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto Means to Us
Set along Kyoto’s Kamo River, this was more than a hotel for us - it was the beginning of our honeymoon and a tradition we’ve returned to ever since