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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
Why the New IHG Premier Select Card Deserves Attention for Japan Travel
Domestic flights, four-night stays, and a path to suites and lounges - why IHG’s newest card has my attention for Japan
What Points Don’t Cover: A Realistic Japan Budget for Two
Even with flights and hotels covered by points, a Japan trip still has a real cash cost. Here’s what we’re budgeting for 13 nights - from food and trains to matcha, luggage forwarding, and a few splurges
How Many Hilton Points Do You Need for a Japan Trip? Budget-Friendly vs. High-End Award Stays
One 14-night trip, three hotel styles, and the Hilton points a couple would need for each
The JAL Award Calendar I Wish I’d Found Earlier: How I Search for 55k Business Class
By searching an entire year and leaving the destination open, I found 55k Business Class awards from Boston to a city I never would have checked
Points-Rich, Strategy-Poor: Why 300k Miles Can Still Get You Nowhere
A friend’s 300k Capital One balance made me think about how transferable points actually become a JAL award flight to Japan - and why having enough miles still isn’t enough
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
JAL Economy, Premium Economy or Business Class: What I’d Actually Book
Business Class is incredible. Premium Economy surprised me. And Economy? I’d happily fly it again
The 3 Mileage Programs I Actually Use for Flights to Japan
Not sure which airline miles to collect? Here's how I choose between American, Alaska, and JAL
How to Book Andaz Tokyo With Points in 2026
Three ways to book the same hotel. Which one actually offers the best value?
How to Book Park Hyatt Kyoto With Points in 2026
Award nights are scarce, rates have changed, and the rules are different. Here's how I'd book Park Hyatt Kyoto in 2026
How I Find JAL Award Availability (Without Spending Hours Searching)
The tools, strategies, and mindset I use to find Japan Airlines award flights without wasting hours chasing unavailable seats
9 Common Mistakes First-Time Japan Travelers Make
Flights, hotels, points, pacing, and the lessons learned after years of traveling to Japan
The Beginner Strategy We Use for Booking Hotels in Japan With Points
How normal travelers use credit card points to save on great hotels in Japan - and occasionally splurge on once-in-a-lifetime stays
The Beginner Strategy We Use for Award Flights to Japan
How annual trips to Japan became a reality - and how we stopped paying full price for flights
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
What Are Transferable Points & Which Ones Work Best for Japan?
You don’t need to master every program to get started. A few good strategies and some flexible points can take you surprisingly far - especially in Japan
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