Currently in Japan and had a bit of a realization today while sitting at a random neighborhood park for an hour. I used to be the parent who tried to hit every temple and must-see spot on the list. But traveling with a toddler changes the math. Today, we ditched the big itinerary, grabbed some snacks from the konbini, and just let my kid plays and rest while I caught up on some bits on my laptop.
The day felt so much smoother because we weren't rushing. If you're planning a trip here, don't be afraid to just... stop. The magic isn't always at the landmark, sometimes it's just the quiet cafe break where everyone finally catches their breath.
Anyone else find that their favorite travel memories are the ones that weren't actually on the itinerary?