If you have a chance to stay in a traditional ryokan rather than a modern hotel I strongly recommend it.

Thanks, Sean.

We would love to do that, and as I work through the chapter that Jeff very kindly sent me I'll hopefully learn more about that. We've traveled abroad with our kids several times in Europe, though, and we've found that lodgings can be challenging for a family of four. Given the small rooms and (usually) even smaller bathrooms, finding someplace that can handle a group of four (with four suitcases) usually requires a lot of research and knowing exactly what the room will be like ahead of time.

AirBnB or other vacation rental is often our best choice, since we can usually get a place with at least an additional half bath - and a washer/dryer at some point on the trip cuts the packing. Plus it's typically easier to make reservations from abroad using the global platforms. But the experience of staying at a ryokan is certainly worth exploring, even if it's only for a night!