3. The Kansai Region

The Kansai region is the second most populated and second most visited area of Japan. Join Jason and Paul as they explore Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and other amazing cities in Kansai!

3. The Kansai Region

Jason Nieling and Paul Bresin

Topics Covered:

• History

• Culture: Food — Sake — Baseball

• Kyoto: Culture/Arts/History — Temples/Shrines — Festivals — Fushimi Sake District — Arashiyama (Bamboo Grove/Monkey Park) — Imperial Palace — Nijo Castle — Theatre/Geisha/Tea Ceremony — Philosopher’s Path

• Osaka: Food (Okonomiyaki/Takoyaki) — Museums/Theaters/Shopping/Dining — Osaka Castle — Dotonbori — Universal Studios — Cup Noodle Museum — Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

• Nara: Friendly Deer in Nara Park — Todaiji — Kasuga Taisha

• Kobe: Kobe Beef — Sake Breweries — Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge — Arima Onsen — Shin-Kobe Ropeway — Kitano

• Himeji: Himeji Castle — Kokoen Garden — Temples/Museums/Aquarium

• Koyasan: Temple Lodging — Hiking

• Ise: Ise Shrines — Ise-Shima National Park

• Uji: Byodoin Temple — Green Tea — Taihoan Tea House

• Kinosaki: Onsen (Hot Spring Baths)

• Yoshino: Cherry Blossoms — Temples/Shrines

• Asago: Takeda Castle Ruins

• Asuka and Sakurai: Archaeology

2. The Kanto Region

The Kanto region is the most populated and most visited part of Japan. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the greater Tokyo area and the fun things to do there!

2. The Kanto Region

Jason Nieling and Paul Bresin

Topics Covered:

• What is Kanto?

• Kanto Fureai Trail

• Tokyo: Harajuku (Fashion) — Akihabara (Electronics/Anime/Manga) — Asakusa (Museums/Temples/Gardens) — Shinjuku/Shibuya (Nightlife) — Odaiba (Malls/Entertainment/Convention Center) — Roppongi Hills (High-End Shopping) — Ueno (Zoo/Ameyokocho)

• Yokohama: Maritime Culture — Cup Noodle Museum — Cosmo World — Kirin Beer Factory — Chinatown

• Kawasaki: Kanamara Matsuri (Festival of the Steel Phallus) — Kawasaki Daishi — Koreatown — Anata no Warehouse — Nihon Minkaen Open Air Museum — Doraemon Museum

• Kamakura: Kotoku-in (Great Buddha) — Beaches/Hiking — Enoshima Island — Enoden (Electric Railway)

• Nikko: Toshogu Shrine — Nikko National Park — Edo Wonderland (Theme Park)

• Kawagoe: Warehouse District (Historical Architecture) — Matsuri Museum — Candy Alley (Kashiya Yokocho) — Sweet Potatoes

• Hakone: Views of Mt. Fuji — Hot Springs — Odawara Castle — Hakone Checkpoint — Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

• Saitama: Railway Museum — Omiya Bonsai Village — Saitama Super Arena

• Chiba: Surfing — Otaku Shops — Tokyo Disneyland — Tokyo DisneySea — Oyumino Fireworks Festival

1. Planning

Have you ever thought about going to Japan? Don’t know where to start? Join Jason and Paul as they discuss all the things to consider when planning a trip to Japan!

1. Planning

Jason Nieling and Paul Bresin

Topics Covered:

• Time of year

• Passport

• Booking a flight

• Booking hotels

• Pocket Wifi (Affiliate link)

• JR Pass (Affiliate link)

• Events

• Restaurants

• Money

• Language

• Etiquette

• Packing

0. Introductions

Jason and Paul introduce themselves and the subject matter of the podcast.

0. Introductions

Jason Nieling and Paul Bresin

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