Shota Furuyama 10/4/26 Shota Furuyama 10/4/26

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

Shota Furuyama 9/13/26 Shota Furuyama 9/13/26

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

Shota Furuyama 9/6/26 Shota Furuyama 9/6/26

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

Shota Furuyama 8/9/26 Shota Furuyama 8/9/26

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

Shota Furuyama 7/12/26 Shota Furuyama 7/12/26

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

Shota Furuyama 7/5/26 Shota Furuyama 7/5/26

How to Book Andaz Tokyo With Points in 2026

Three ways to book the same hotel. Which one actually offers the best value?

Shota Furuyama 6/21/26 Shota Furuyama 6/21/26

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

Shota Furuyama 6/14/26 Shota Furuyama 6/14/26

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

Shota Furuyama 6/7/26 Shota Furuyama 6/7/26

9 Common Mistakes First-Time Japan Travelers Make

Flights, hotels, points, pacing, and the lessons learned after years of traveling to Japan

Shota Furuyama 5/31/26 Shota Furuyama 5/31/26

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

Shota Furuyama 5/24/26 Shota Furuyama 5/24/26

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

Shota Furuyama 5/17/26 Shota Furuyama 5/17/26

The Japan Airbnb Myth vs Reality: Are They Better Than Hotels?

Five Airbnb stays across Japan taught us that the right accommodation can either elevate a trip - or quietly complicate it

Shota Furuyama 4/12/26 Shota Furuyama 4/12/26

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