Travel

An honest family review of HOTEL CULTIA Dazaifu, a restored-machiya hotel one minute from Dazaifu Tenmangu, plus a rainy-day detour to E-ZO FUKUOKA.

A family review of HÔTEL de L'ALPAGE in the Tateshina highlands of Nagano.

A family review of BUB RESORT Yatsugatake: a relentless activity programme run by the crew, an old building and ordinary food — and a child who cried when it was time to leave.

A family review of Izu Kogen Onsen Lucy Kiki: kids glamping rooms with a tent and hammock on the balcony, resident cats, excellent food, and Izu Granpal Park to wear everyone out first.

A family review of FUFU Kawaguchiko near Mount Fuji: all-suite rooms with their own open-air baths, unusually thoughtful restaurant seating, and kayaking on Lake Kawaguchi.

NASPA New Otani in Echigo-Yuzawa: just over an hour from Tokyo by Shinkansen, ski-in ski-out, and a rental plan that means you can travel with no equipment at all. Skiing only, no snowboards.

Why the five-hour USJ VIP tour is better value than the eight-hour one, how the wristband keeps working all day, and why the Ritz-Carlton Osaka beats the parkside hotels.

A family review of WITH THE STYLE FUKUOKA: seven minutes on foot from Hakata station, excellent food and lounge, and the one room layout to avoid if you are travelling with a child.

How to get from New Chitose Airport to Niseko with children: train, direct bus, hire car and private taxi compared with real prices, and the option that beat all of them.

A family review of Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Atami: forty minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen, rooms over 60 square metres, and an activity programme you must book the instant you book the room.