Visiting Hiroshima with kids: Should families tour the A-bomb sites? Melissa shares honest advice on navigating Japan with kids, including age-appropriate preparation strategies and what to expect at the Peace Memorial Museum. Learn which books helped her family prepare, how her 8 and 10-year-old handled the experience, and practical tips for making the right choices for your children.

In this episode:

• Best books to prepare kids for visiting Hiroshima
• What to see at Peace Memorial Park (outdoor memorials vs. museum)
• How to handle the intense Peace Memorial Museum with different ages
• Real experience: How an 8-year-old and 10-year-old navigated the sites
• Alternative options for younger children
• Practical admission and planning tips
  
  

00:00 Introduction to Family Travel Unpacked

00:14 Discussing Hiroshima with Kids

00:55 Preparing for the Visit

01:24 Exploring Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

02:08 Navigating the Peace Memorial Museum

04:01 Practical Tips and Final Thoughts

04:52 Conclusion and Additional Resources

Japan travel planning resources for families

• Visiting the A-Bomb Sites in Hiroshima with Kids
• 10 Japan Cultural Activities & Attractions For Your Bucket List
• How to Choose a Family-Friendly Ryokan in Japan
• Essential Japan Itinerary: 10 Days of Family-Friendly Travel
• Best Things to do in Japan With Kids: A Kid’s Take
• 9 Tips for Japan Travel You Can’t Afford To Miss
• Things to do in Tokyo With Kids: Itinerary for 4 Days of Old and New
• The Best Hotels in Tokyo for Families (and How to Choose Yours)
• Visiting Kyoto With Kids: 2+ Day Itinerary + Must-Read Travel Tips
• Best Family Hotels in Kyoto
• What to Pack for Japan in Spring (and What to Leave at Home)

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

Blog The Family Voyage

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Planning a family trip to Japan? In this episode, Melissa shares honest insights from her family's 10-day Japan adventure with kids ages 8 and 11. She covers what worked, what didn't, and why Japan became one of their most memorable trips despite being the hardest to plan.

In this episode:

• Why you need to plan early
• Transportation strategy
• Kid-approved Japan activities
• Real talk about jet lag, language barriers, and managing expectations
• Why you can't see everything in one trip (and why that's okay)

Whether you're dreaming about Japan with kids or actively planning your itinerary, this episode gives you the realistic, practical guidance you need.

Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome to Family Travel Unpacked
02:31 Challenges of Planning a Japan Trip
08:46 Must-Try Activities and Experiences
13:00 Japanese Cuisine: A Culinary Adventure
15:02 The Realities of Traveling in Japan
20:12 Final Thoughts and Resources

Activities:

• Buy your Japan Rail Pass
• Tokyo cooking class
• teamLab Planets
• Tea ceremony

Japan planning resources:

• 9 Tips for Japan Travel You Can’t Afford To Miss
• Essential Japan Itinerary: 10 Days of Family-Friendly Travel (Plus Optional Extension)
• Best Things to do in Japan With Kids: A Kid’s Take
• What to Pack for Japan in Spring
• Things to do in Tokyo With Kids: Itinerary for 4 Days of Old and New
• The Best Hotels in Tokyo for Families
• Visiting Kyoto With Kids: 2+ Day Itinerary + Must-Read Travel Tips
• Best Family Hotels in Kyoto
• Pokemon Things to do in Japan

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

Blog The Family Voyage

Get your free ebook The Busy Mom's Guide to Free Travel

Check out my favorite travel gear and my Etsy shop!

Chase Sapphire credit cards

Southwest Companion Pass 2026 lets you fly your kids for $5.60 on every flight! Learn how to earn 135,000 points fast with credit card bonuses.

Melissa breaks down everything you need to know about earning the Southwest Companion Pass in 2026 - the ultimate family travel hack that lets you bring a companion on every Southwest flight for just $5.60 in taxes. Despite Southwest's recent changes, the Companion Pass remains one of the best travel rewards for families who want to travel more without breaking the budget.

In this Quick Tip Tuesday episode, you'll learn exactly how to earn your Companion Pass using two Southwest credit cards, why January 2026 is the perfect time to start, and how this travel hack has enabled our family of four to take trips to Hawaii, Costa Rica, and countless weekend getaways we couldn't otherwise afford.

Episode Highlights:

• What the Southwest Companion Pass is and how it works
• Step-by-step credit card strategy to earn 136,000+ qualifying points
• Real examples: Hawaii, Costa Rica and more family trips for just taxes
• Southwest's 2025 changes
• Perfect combination of Southwest credit cards
• Total cost analysis: $400 in fees for $1500+ in travel value

00:00 Welcome to Quick Tip Tuesday
00:26 Introducing the Southwest Companion Pass
01:02 What is the Southwest Companion Pass?
02:29 How to Earn the Companion Pass
02:52 Credit Card Strategies for Earning Points
05:10 Why Now is the Best Time to Get the Companion Pass
06:54 Conclusion and Additional Resources

Compare Southwest credit cards here*

Complete Companion Pass Guide

Free Travel Resources & Ebook

*This is a referral link. When you apply for a credit card through this link, I may earn a commission or bonus at no cost to you. This helps support the free content on this site. I only recommend products and services I personally use and believe will benefit families traveling with kids.

Don't miss this inspiring, practical travel with kids podcast hosted by family travel expert Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

Blog The Family Voyage

Get your free ebook The Busy Mom's Guide to Free Travel

Check out my favorite travel gear and my Etsy shop!

Chase Sapphire credit cards