We traveled to Japan, spending time in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. It was a full cultural immersion from start to finish.

Our two sons have been interested in Japanese culture and food for years, and they ask us every single year if we can go. We finally decided to take the plunge and visit during cherry blossom season. Once a year, we try to visit a new place overseas, and our trips are typically somewhere in Europe. This year, we wanted a change, and we were all looking forward to everything Japan had to offer.

We flew into Tokyo's Narita Airport on a straight flight from Houston, spent our first night in the Ginza district, and then headed to Osaka the following day via Shinkansen. We stayed in Osaka for three nights at The Bridge Hotel, which was fabulous. The rooms were large, there were massage chairs in the lobby, a daily happy hour, and free daily cultural activities. We explored the Dotonbori District, wandered through local neighborhood temples, and soaked up the cherry blossoms at Osaka Castle. The boys went a little crazy at Yodobashi Camera, which carries everything electronic imaginable plus every Gunpla kit you could dream of. Sensory overload is the only way to describe it.

From Osaka, we headed to Kyoto where we stayed in a traditional Ryokan with an onsen. We slept on tatami mats and woke up to a full traditional Japanese breakfast. We explored the old town, visited a local market full of fresh street food, and had dinner at a homemade ramen restaurant that came highly recommended. It did not disappoint.

From Kyoto, we made our way back to Tokyo and stayed in the Shinjuku district. Tokyo is a massive city, and you could spend weeks barely scratching the surface. We tried to hit all the highlights, from spotting Godzilla at ToHo Towers to attending a Sumo wrestling exhibition. We walked until we could barely walk anymore. The kids loved the anime district of Akihabara and the conveyor belt sushi. TeamLab was a fascinating sensory experience that we balanced out with temple exploring in Asakusa. We ended the trip back in Ginza at the fish market, indulging in A5 Wagyu and some truly exotic seafood.

The food was a big hit with everyone. The Sumo wrestling dinner show was a highlight as well. They walked us through the cultural context before the show, and we ate the traditional food of the Sumo wrestlers, which was a really memorable experience. But honestly? The 7-Elevens absolutely stole the show. The quality and variety of food they offer is unlike anything you would expect from a convenience store. We kept going back.

Come prepared for the language barrier by downloading the right translation apps before you go. Do your research on the different neighborhoods and districts so you can choose where to stay based on what you want to see and do. We also highly recommend joining Japan-focused Facebook groups ahead of time. They are incredibly helpful for planning and for learning the do's and don'ts before you arrive. And one more tip: going to Japan, we experienced no jet lag at all. Coming home, though, was a different story. Give yourself three to five days to get back on track before jumping into your regular routine.