We’re a multicultural family exploring the world together, and through LuNi Travels, we bring you a different kind of family travel blog. One filled with imagination, curiosity, and real stories told through the eyes of two little explorers: Luca & Nico.

Whether you’re dreaming up your first trip to Japan or discovering hidden gems near your neighborhood, our blog offers family-tested guides, playful adventures, and practical tips to help you travel smarter, have more fun, and create lifelong memories together.

Why “LuNi Travels”?

“LuNi Travels” is short for “Luca & Nico’s Travels”, the two little explorers at the heart of our adventures! While the name is short and catchy, the stories we share are anything but. Every guide, every mission, and every silly moment comes straight from their real-life discoveries, turning everyday places into unforgettable memories.

Why We Created This Blog

Travel with kids is different. It’s snack breaks and stroller detours. It’s counting train stops and turning shrines into ninja hideouts. It’s a little more work, and a whole lot more magic.

When we returned to Japan as a family, we were eager to explore beyond the usual grown-up travel lists. But most of what we found online was written by short-term visitors or focused on adult experiences. That’s when we realized: families like ours needed something more personal, more playful, and more practical.

So we created LuNi Travels, a space where real family travel meets storytelling, where you can find not only where to go, but how to make it fun, immersive, and kid-friendly every step of the way.

What Makes LuNi Travels Different?

We’re not just another travel blog listing things to do. We’re a real family, based in Japan, sharing the joys, challenges, and laughter that come with traveling together.

  • Real family experiences: Every guide, itinerary, and tip is tested by us. If we haven’t done it with Luca & Nico, it’s not on our site.
  • Two voices in one: We mix playful storytelling from Luca & Nico’s perspective with practical planning advice parents can trust.
  • Parent-approved insights: We know what works (and what doesn’t) when exploring with kids, and we tell you the truth about both.
  • Deeper travel, not just sightseeing: We show you how to turn simple walks into treasure hunts, temples into missions, and even rainy days into stories worth remembering.

Because travel isn’t just about seeing new places, it’s about seeing them differently.

Who Is This Site For?

This site is for families who travel with wonder. Whether you’re…

  • Planning your first trip to Japan with kids and want advice you can trust
  • Looking for more than just tourist spots, you want immersive, playful, meaningful experiences
  • A local or expat family ready to rediscover Japan from a child’s point of view
  • Hoping to turn culture, food, and history into adventures your kids will remember forever

…you’re in the right place.

What You’ll Find on LuNi Travels

  • Family-Friendly Travel Guides & Itineraries: Stress-free plans built around what families actually need, from seasonal fun to off-the-path surprises.
  • Luca & Nico’s Adventures: Imaginative stories that bring destinations to life through their eyes.
  • Hidden Gems Across Japan: We go beyond the big cities to find secret beaches, sleepy villages, magical parks, and local treasures.
  • Luca & Nico’s Challenges & Travel Tips: Playful ways to make sightseeing exciting and help kids engage with history, nature, and culture.
  • Adventure Club (Coming Soon!): Downloadable family missions, craft ideas, and fun tools to make travel more hands-on and screen-free.

Join Us on This Adventure!

We believe travel builds connection, not just to places, but to each other.

At LuNi Travels, we invite you to rediscover Japan through the magic of childhood, the lens of curiosity, and the joy of shared adventure. Whether you’re walking the quiet streets of Kyoto or riding a Hello Kitty bullet train, we’re here to help you turn every trip into a story your family will remember forever.

So come along… The next page in your family’s travel story is waiting.

  • Sign up for updates (Coming Soon) – Get new family guides, ideas, and stories in your inbox.
  • Follow us on Instagram (Coming Soon) – Peek into our real-life adventures.
  • Join the conversation – Comment, share your stories, and connect with other curious families!

See you on the journey!
Nico, Luca, Mama & Papa

A Note About Privacy & Authenticity

Luca & Nico are at the heart of everything we share, but we protect their privacy by not showing their faces online. All the photos on this site come from our real family adventures. If a destination seems light on photos, it’s probably because we were caught up in the adventure, or the boys were off discovering one of their own ‘secret missions’!

A young child wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt and red shorts frames a scenic view with his hands while standing on a countryside road in Japan. Lush green rice fields stretch towards the forested mountains under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

LUCA – born in Yokohama, Japan in 2017 and has been curious about the world around him ever since. A passionate soccer player and fan, he has an affinity for FC Barcelona and his hometown team Yokohama Marinos. His inquisitive nature drives him to learn something new every day, and he keeps a special notebook to jot down interesting words or facts he doesn’t want to forget.

Luca speaks both Japanese and English, has big dreams of becoming a professional soccer player, and approaches every adventure with energy, curiosity, and determination!

A young child in a light blue t-shirt and orange shorts stands at the helm of a wooden boat, gripping the large steering wheel while looking out at the open sea. Sunlight streams through the boat's glass windows, highlighting the calm ocean and distant islands in the background.

NICO – born in Brussels, Belgium in 2020 and is the mischievous and playful younger brother, always full of energy and imagination. He shares his older brother’s love of soccer, looks up to him as his favorite playmate, speaks both Japanese and English, and has a big love for Parmigiano cheese. Nico is always up to something, whether it’s building creative projects with origami paper and tape or gleefully destroying things he and his brother make.

Nico’s adventurous spirit often leads to fun and slightly chaotic situations, but it’s his laughter and sense of wonder that keeps the family smiling. With him, every moment is an adventure in its own right!

Mama wearing a navy blue winter coat with a fur-lined hood walks along a historic stone bridge overlooking the Seine river in Paris. She gazes at the riverside promenade, with a backdrop of classic Parisian buildings, bare winter trees, and a partly cloudy sky.

MAMA – born in Tokyo and brings warmth and positivity to every moment. She loves her family and friends and is the heart of the household, ensuring that every decision benefits the entire family. Adventurous and open-minded, Mama loves experimenting with recipes from around the world and never hesitates to try new foods or explore unfamiliar places.

Her calm and go-with-the-flow attitude keeps the family balanced during their travels. Mama can always be found with her phone in hand, capturing moments (she is often the blog photographer) or staying connected, and she currently enjoys practicing yoga as a way to recharge. With her adventurous spirit and nurturing nature, she makes every journey unforgettable.

A man in a dark hoodie and white headscarf stands on a wooden platform near the summit of Mount Fuji, gazing at the sea of clouds below. The mountain's volcanic slopes and scattered rocks surround him, with a clear blue sky stretching into the horizon.

PAPA – born in Texas but has lived in some of the world’s most exciting places, including Spain, Japan, Belgium, and Italy. His career has taken him on a journey across continents, but his greatest adventure is spending time with his two boys, Luca and Nico.

A man of many tastes, Papa is the creative mind behind the blog, is passionate about investing, enjoys soccer, is a fan of the Patagonia brand, loves Spanish ham, and can’t start his mornings without a perfectly brewed espresso. A self-proclaimed pizza connoisseur, he insists on authentic Neapolitan style every time. Through it all, his family is at the heart of everything he does, making every destination and meal more meaningful.