Hibiki blended whisky from Suntory, Japan’s oldest whisky company.
A life-sized Gundam on display in front of Diver City, a shopping mall in Odaiba, Tokyo.
Magome, a post town on the Nakasendo, an ancient trail connecting Kyoto and Edo.
75. The Chubu Region
The peak of Mount Fuji as seen from the 5th station (about halfway up the mountain).
The Japanese Alps, a series of mountain ranges that divide the Chubu region’s two distinct climatic zones.
A small alley in Kanazawa’s Higashi Chayagai, a historic entertainment district with traditional teahouses where geisha perform.
The Chubu region is located in central Honshu between the Kanto and Kansai regions. It is characterized by rugged mountains and also contains an important symbol of Japan, Mount Fuji. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the amazing things to see and do in this oft-overlooked region of Japan!
Topics Covered:
History: Tokaido Trail — Nakasendo Trail
Aichi Prefecture: Nagoya Castle — Inuyama Castle — Atsuta Jingu — Tokugawa Art Museum — SCMaglev and Railway Park — Toyota Kaikan Museum — Nagashima Resort — Atera-no-Nanataki Falls — Miso Nikomi Udon — Gohei Mochi
Shizuoka Prefecture: World Tea Museum — Kunozan Toshogu Shrine — Kakegawa — Mt. Fuji — Izu Peninsula
Gifu Prefecture: Gifu Castle — Shirakawa-go — Takayama — Ukai Fishing — Gujo-Hachiman — Furukawa
Niigata Prefecture: Koshihikari Rice — Ponshukan Sake Museum — Yuzawa — Sado Island
Yamanashi Prefecture: Kofu — Fuji Five Lakes — Fuji-Q Highland — Shosenkyo Gorge
Nagano Prefecture: Zenkoji Temple — Myoko Togakushi Renzan National Park — Togakure Ninja School — Chibiko Ninja Mura — Matsumoto Castle — Daio Wasabi Farm — Jigokudani Monkey Park — Kiso Valley
Fukui Prefecture: Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum — Eiheiji Temple — Tojinbo
Ishikawa Prefecture: Kanazawa — Geisha Evenings in Kanazawa — Kenrokuen Garden — Myoryuji (Ninjadera) — Noto Peninsula — Kaga Onsen
Toyama Prefecture: Toyama Castle — Toyama Municipal Folkcraft Village — Ikeda Yasubei Shoten — Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route — Toyama Bay (Firefly Squid)
How to get to/around the Chubu Region
74. Arcades (Game Centers)
A multi-floor Taito Station arcade in Akihabara.
Taiko no Tatsujin, a rhythm game where you can play traditional Japanese drums along to music.
A SEGA game center near Akihabara Station.
Video game arcades are ubiquitous in Japan where they are known as “game centers”. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the history of this innovative industry and learn about the many amazing games that can be found at Japanese arcades!
The Great Buddha of Kamakura.
72. The City of Kamakura
The view of Kamakura from Hase-dera.
Kamakura is a city steeped in history and tradition and is now a popular tourist destination. Join Jason and Paul as they explore this former capital of Japan and learn about the many things to see and do there!
Topics Covered:
History
Near Kamakura Station: Wakamiya Oji — Dankazura — Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine — Komachi Street
Hase: Kotoku-in (Great Buddha) — Hasedera
Enoshima
Temples: Hokokuji — Engakuji
Festivals: Chona Hajime Shiki — Setsubun Matsuri — Kamakura Matsuri — Kusajishi-shiki — Fireworks — Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Reitaisai
How to get to Kamakura
Large eyes and a round face are common attributes of kawaii characters as exemplified by this Pikachu doll at the Pokemon Center in Osaka.
The town of Kojima is the birthplace of Japan’s denim industry, and their Jeans Street is a neighborhood filled with shops where local denim companies sell their goods.
68. Denim
The pink selvedge ID and inseam on this pair of Momotaro jeans are references to the peach in the Japanese folktale about Momotaro, a.k.a. “peach boy”.
Jeans hanging over Kojima Jeans Street.
Fading on a slubby pair of jeans from Pure Blue Japan.
The leather patch on a pair of Oni Denim jeans.
Did you know that Japanese denim is widely considered to be among the best in the world? Join Jason and Paul as they learn about what makes Japanese denim so great!
Kagami mochi, a traditional new year’s decoration.
67. Mochi
Yakimochi, a grilled piece of mochi filled with sweet red bean paste.
Mochi is a popular rice-based food in Japan that has been considered sacred since ancient times. Join Jason and Paul as they learn about how it is made, its cultural significance, and the many types of dishes that can be made with mochi!
Tashirojima (a.k.a. Cat Island) off the coast of Ishinomaki, a city in Miyagi Prefecture in the Tohoku region.
66. The Tohoku Region
The Tohoku region of Japan, consisting of six prefectures in northeast Honshu, is known for its mountains, winter sports, onsen resorts, and natural scenery. Join Jason and Paul as they explore what there is to see and do in the Tohoku region!
Topics Covered:
History
Fukushima Prefecture: Oze National Park — Goshikinuma Ponds — Ouchi-juku — Kitakata Ramen
Miyagi Prefecture: Jozenji-dori — Kokubuncho — Ichibancho Shopping Arcade — Sendai Daikannon — Tomizawa Site Museum — Zuihoden Mausoleum — Gyutan (Beef Tongue) — Zundamochi — Sendai Asaichi Morning Market — Tashirojima (Cat Island) — Zao Kitsune Mura (Fox Village) — Ishinomaki — Zuiganji Temple — Matsushima Bay Islands
Yamagata Prefecture: Zao Onsen Ski Resort — Yamagata City — Somaro Maiko Teahouse — Ginzan Onsen — Yonezawa Beef — Yamagata Cherry Festival
Akita Prefecture: Kanto Festival — Kakunodate — Namahage Museum — Nyuto Onsen — Kiritanpo — Akitakomachi Rice — Hinai Chicken
Iwate Prefecture: Jodogahama Beach — Ryusendo Cave — Hiraizumi — Chusonji Temple — Geibikei Gorge — Kitakami Tenshochi Park — Wanko Soba — Maezawa Beef — Abalone
Aomori Prefecture: Nebuta Festival — Shirakami-Sanchi — Sanriku Fukko — Oirase Stream — Aoni Onsen — Osorezan — Black Garlic
How to get to/around the Tohoku Region
A pachinko parlor in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.
The village of Shirakawa-go as seen from the Shiroyama Viewpoint.
64. Shirakawa-go
Furusato, one of the many gassho-zukuri farmhouses where you can stay overnight!
Shirakawa-go is a quaint mountain village nestled in the Japanese Alps that is known for its beautiful views and a unique architectural style called gassho-zukuri. Join Jason and Paul as they discuss the many things to see and do in this picturesque village!
Topics Covered:
History
Gassho Zukuri Houses
What to see/do: Open-Air Museum — Wada House — Kanda House — Nagase House — Shirakawa Kaido Street — Shiroyama Viewpoint (Tenshukaku Observatory) — Tajima House Museum of Silk Culture — Myozenji Temple — Hachimangu Shrine — Shirakawa-go no Yu (Foot bath)
Events: Snow-Dyeing Ceremony — Cherry Blossom Viewing (Hanami) — Rice-Planting Festival — Doburoku Matsuri
Food: Doburoku (Unrefined sake) — Hida Beef — Suttate Nabe (Hot pot) — Fish — Gohei Mochi — Tochimochi — Soba
Travel Tips
Momotaro (Peach boy), one of the most popular figures in Japanese folklore who is also now the mascot for a denim brand.
The control panel for a Japanese toilet with a built-in bidet.