A family afternoon at Baisha Bay in New Taipei, with sand play, calm shallows for young children, and a practical note on why the second parking lot is less convenient than it looks.

On our fifth day in Okinawa, we played the coin-operated rides at Naha Airport, shopped for souvenirs, and headed home to tackle the mountain of luggage.

On our fourth day in Okinawa, we took a chartered car to Nakagusuku Castle Ruins and Okinawa World's Gyokusendo Cave, then changed plans and headed to Senaga Island and Kokusai-dori Street.

On our third day in Okinawa, we took taxis to Okinawa Zoo & Museum and Wonder Museum, then stopped by AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom in the afternoon and ended the day with the hotel public bath and a nighttime sea view.

On our second day in Okinawa, we joined a KKday day tour to Manzamo, Kouri Island, and Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, then returned to American Village for sand play, Okinawa soba, and Blue Seal.

On our first day in Okinawa, we took an early flight, checked into a sea-view hotel near American Village, played in the sand at Sunset Beach, and ended with dinner at A&W.

A family day trip to Mt. Takao with our two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, taking the cable car, reaching the summit in under two hours, and enjoying dango and maple rice crackers along the way.

After checking out of Tobu Hotel Levant Tokyo, we took the Sumida River cruise from Asakusa to Hamarikyu Gardens, met friends for dinner in Mita, walked over to Tokyo Tower, and ended the day at Shinagawa Prince Hotel, where the room's age and lingering smell were a letdown.