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Thanks for finding our podcast! We are a family of 5 who does most of our travel using credit card points and miles and we share how we leverage credit card offers to earn a ton of points/miles so we can afford travel as a larger family.
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These are all the experiences we booked in Japan using Viator:
This episode wraps up our Japan series with a practical Q&A: From eSIM setup and Suica hacks to Shinkansen tradeoffs and Japanese toilets, we share what worked, what didn’t, and what we’d do differently next time.
• choosing eSIMs over pocket Wi‑Fi for simple, low‑cost data
• adding Suica to Apple Wallet and getting physical child IC cards
• booking Shinkansen on short notice and budgeting for higher fares
• reserving luggage space vs overhead racks for carry‑ons
• live navigation with Google or Apple Maps and using Google Translate
• Borderless vs Planets and why early time slots matter
• views of Shibuya Crossing without paying tower fees
• packing light with airline weight limits and carry‑on tips
• paying with cards, IC cards at vending, and minimal cash needs
• eating etiquette, where to sit, and the lack of public bins
• clean, ubiquitous bidet toilets and what to expect
• no‑tipping norms and rare cases we tipped
• long flights with kids: downloads, snacks, and clear expectations
• future wishlist: Fuji, Hokkaido, Okinawa, Kyoto’s new TeamLab
Send me a DM on Instagram @travelpartyof5 if you have further questions!
Chapters
1. Welcome & Series Wrap (00:00:00)
2. Phone Service: eSIMs vs Pocket Wi‑Fi (00:03:20)
3. Suica Setup And Kids’ IC Cards (00:08:20)
4. Narita Express, Luggage, And Language (00:14:40)
5. Shinkansen Booking And Costs (00:19:40)
6. Seating, Bags, And Fuji Views (00:25:00)
7. Google Translate And Navigation Apps (00:30:30)
8. Shibuya Crossing And Skytree Choices (00:35:20)
9. Carry‑On Strategies And Airline Weight Limits (00:40:20)
10. Cash, ATMs, And Paying With IC Cards (00:46:00)
11. Eating Etiquette And The Trash Can Mystery (00:50:20)
99 episodes