This trip to Japan, my 5th visit to this beloved country, was inspired by our desire to see the country through our kid’s eyes. Besides, we all shared a common love for sushi and hand-made ramen, so how could we go wrong! We started with a visit to Harajuku where Ariana and I enjoyed window-shopping, admiring the cute fashion items and other tchotchkes each luring her into a begging plea to purchase. We also visited the Meiji Jingu shrine, and strolled the swanky tree-lined Omotedando. That night, Gaurav had booked a one-Michelin starred dinner at Hirooishizaka where we enjoyed a private dinner prepared and served by the chef and his wife respectively. We were impressed with the multitude of nigiri courses and enjoyed tasting four different types of sake including the chefs library selection. The next day began with a much-anticipated sushi-making class at Asakusa which we all thoroughly enjoyed. After devouring our handmade sushi 🍱, we walked to the nearby shrine where we followed the traditional practices and sought blessings.

Quite possibly the highlight of my day was 3 hours of Karaoke at ‘Big Echo’ in a highly advanced private Karaoke room in Ginza where Ayaan quickly learned to navigate the Japanese-marked buttons to queue in songs and most other requirements. Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and a couple of classics were belted out by most of us, the adults enjoying carafes of sake and shochu. Our last entertainment stop was anime and games at Akhihabara where both kids ranked the train simulation as their favorite. For dinner, we slurped bowls of ramen paid for by a machine upfront, washed down with Asahi which was extremely satisfying. Returning to the hotel after nearly 12 hours on our feet resulted in as all retiring early for the night.

Today started off with a visit to the TeamLab digital art museum, a true spectacle for all senses. Each of us enjoyed the borderless wandering through the stimulating works of art, alluring us from one room to the next while indulging almost all our senses. The highlight was when we designed and colored our own fish which subsequently (and almost instantaneously) entered the walls ‘swimming’ with the rest of the artwork. Ours boasted taglines such as ‘exploring new waters’ and ‘swimming around the world’ aptly representing our journey.

Lunch was memorable as we tried the kaitensushi (conveyor belt) at sushiro and the kids throughly enjoyed the experience. Next, we ventured across to Odaiba where Ariana and I enjoyed several pictures and interactive displays at the Trick art museum while the boys indulged in more arcade games. That evening, Gaurav and I went off to one of our best memories from our last visit – Golden Gai. We experienced a diverse mix of bars from a bar-tender that was also an inspiring actor and avid baseball fan to one celebrating her birthday with her close friends and family (we got to be a part of her party belting out Kanpai at every opportunity). The last bar had a bunch of tourists packed in so Gaurav and I were nearly on the stairs (part of the infamous Golden Gai experience as I remembered it) but enjoyed the jovial atmosphere before tucking back into one of the alleys and making our way back to the hotel.

This morning, we treated ourselves to a sumptuous meal of grilled Kobe beef and shabu shabu at one of the established I’d added to the list from back home. The meat was succulent and divine! The kids always enjoy cooking their own meat tableside so they were pleased with the experience as well, and commented on how kid-friendly Japan was when they got complimentary gifts and ice cream.

We then ventured onto a bus to Lake Kawaguchiko where we were excited to finally stay at Hoshinoya Fuji. Hoshinoya had been on our bucket list for over a decade and I was pleased to try their glamping experience. Despite my high expectations for the resort, the attention to detail and thoughtfulness of the guest journey and experience completely blew my mind. Our cabin overlooked the lake (with a direct view of Mount Fuji when visible), replete with a large outdoor deck with a daybed and fire. The resort leaned into the rainy days that frequented the area to make it a positive (rather than a detractor) with rain-driven programming and gear that activated all the senses. There was water-color sketching with rain sounds as the backdrop, bird calls, binoculars, rainy day books, and the list goes on. That afternoon, we enjoyed s’mores and sparkling wine by the campfire before retreating the room to enjoy the views. As soon as I tucked into the Hoshinoya-provided matching family PJ’s, I knew that I was too cozy to leave! That worked out perfectly because Hoshinoya had curated an absolutely incredible ‘glamping curry’ dinner which the staff setup for guests on our outdoor deck. It included an outdoor grill that allowed guests to grill the meat and vegetables tableside accompanied by a choice of freshly-ground spices. We all loved the meal and in particular, Ayaan who requested it again the following night. The next day we relaxed at the resort enjoying the guided stretching course, water-coloring postcards of the resort and Mt Fuji, drinking Ethiopian coffee cooked atop the campfire, hiking through the forest, enjoying the distilled water fragrances, and lounging on the hammocks and floating benches. Gaurav and I found out ourselves repeatedly telling each other how magical the Hoshinoya experience was for our entire family! On our last day, Fuji-San graced as with her views from the room, and from the guided canoe trip that Ayaan and I had reserved through the resort. Hoshinoya, you were absolutely incredible with unparalleled service and attention to detail, and I can’t wait to return to another one of your resorts!

We reluctantly checked out of Hoshinoya for a ryokan experience with an onsen. Both kids embraced the matching yukatas, slippers and outdoor and indoor pools and baths. We also took the gondola up to views of Mount Fuji and enjoyed the swings that felt as if we were swinging toward the majestic mountain. On the last day, we went to a sake brewery, a pagoda and ate some incredible meals including okonomiyaki, tempura and ramen. After returning to Tokyo via the Fuji Excursion train, we dropped our bags off in a locker and enjoyed an afternoon of games, karaoke, and a final sushi meal before heading to Haneda for our flight to Bali. Sayonara Japan, you were memorable as always!