Plan smarter, pack better, and experience Japan like an insider.
Built on 30+ years of experience creating family Japan itinerary guides, including living in Tokyo.
Welcome to
SAKE WITH SUSAN
The highlight of our family trip!
“We loved using Susan’s Japan guides. They led us to some incredible hidden gems we would have never found on our own. The foot spa café in Shinjuku was such a unique and relaxing experience, and the monkey park in Kyoto was unforgettable. Both were highlights of our trip and made it extra special.
— Jody C., teacher from San Clemente, CA, traveled with husband and two adult daughters
Japan was easier than I ever imagined!
“I was convinced Japan would be complicated: the language, the trains, the planning. Susan’s guides walked us through everything step by step. We navigated Tokyo like locals by day three, and my wife hasn’t stopped telling friends to go.”
— Mark D., empty nester from Laguna Beach, CA, traveled with wife and adult son
ABOUT SUSAN
Hi, I’m Susan Meredith. Japan changed my life when I lived there in the 1990s. Now I help families experience it the same way.
After living in Japan for three years and going back almost every year, I curate the very best of Japan: unforgettable meals, hidden gems, and experiences you’ll be talking about long after your trip ends. Every tour and experience I recommend has been personally researched or visited. You can browse all of my Japan recommendations on my Viator shop below. Whether you need a family Japan itinerary, hotel recommendations, or packing tips, everything here is built from personal experience.
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FROM THE BLOG
Start with these family Japan itinerary guides and travel resources.
Japan Itinerary 10 Days: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka Guide
Plan the perfect 10-day Japan trip covering Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. A personal guide for families with adult kids based on 30 years of Japan travel experience
5-Day Tokyo Itinerary (2026 Guide + Real Travel Tips)
Plan the perfect Tokyo trip with a simple 5-day itinerary, must-see highlights, and real travel tips from experience
What to Budget, Where to Splurge, and How to Plan with Confidence
Everything you actually need for Japan, from packing cubes to walking shoes. A complete Japan travel packing list based on 18 years of personal experience
A country where the details are kind of a big deal.
From bullet trains that apologize for a one-minute delay to vending machines that give out free drinks in an earthquake, Japan is obsessed with doing things right. And that obsession makes it one of the most remarkable places on earth to visit.
1 min
delays or more
FREE
drinks in a disaster
21,500+
stores and counting
$100B
bigger than Star Wars