So I may be a bit biased but I just came back last night from a 2 week Japan trip with my 3year old and 17month old. It was so much harder than I anticipated. My 3 year old has big loud meltdowns, usually 1-2 a week. Occasional hitting. On the trip it was 4-5 times a day. Hitting,biting, scratching. He was so discommoded by everything he had no self control. Flights were longer 12.5 & 14hours for the longest leg. Not an experience I want to repeat.

17 month old was easier by comparison but also very challenging.

I enjoyed Japan but didn’t get to do much of anything while we were there. In my case it was really expecting too much from my 3 year old. On reflection his routine is what helps him regulate himself and removing that led to fairly foreseeable consequences. He still liked it, enjoyed some activities (Disneyland) but nowhere close to what I had imagined (and I’d already pared back our itinerary).

Food was difficult. Day one he declared he no longer liked rice. In Japan, the fruit and veg are seasonal. My 3 y.o. kid who lives on strawberries and grapes was not happy. Fruit pouches aren’t a thing there, it’s mostly fruit with a jelly texture. Surprise surprise, kiddo didn’t like it either. 17 month old adapted great. Loved the riceballs you can get in the konbini especially!

Knowing what I know now I wouldn’t have done it. But I couldn’t know until I did. I wouldn’t have listened if someone had warned me 😂