2026 Podcast Meetup Announcement
Join Jason and Paul in Sapporo for the 2026 podcast meetup!
Topics Covered:
Podcast Meetup 2026: Feb 7th, 2026 at 6:00pm in Sapporo, Japan. (Venue TBD)
An abandoned house in Onomichi
147. How to Buy a House in Japan (Akiya)
Akiya are abandoned homes found all over Japan—some listed for shockingly low prices. Join Jason and Paul as they explore what it’s like to try to buy one, from navigating the listings to understanding the hidden challenges.
Topics Covered:
Why are there so many vacant houses?
Can foreigners buy akiya?
How to search for an akiya
How to choose an akiya
How to buy an akiya
How to renovate an akiya
Living in an akiya
Is it worth it?
144. Things You'll Miss About Japan (And Some Things You Won't)
Japan is full of things to love - and a few things that might drive you a little crazy. Join Jason and Paul as they discuss the best and worst aspects of exploring Japan!
Topics Covered:
Planes
Trains
Hotels
Food
Walkable Cities
Convenience
Politeness
Customer Service
Bathrooms
Onsen
History
Hiking
City Life
Hanami (cherry blossom viewing) is a popular experience for locals as well as tourists
141. Rating Cultural Experiences
Ohori Park Japanese Garden in Fukuoka
Udon, a traditional noodle dish
Japan offers a wide range of unique experiences, from cherry blossom viewing and high-speed train rides to exploring ancient temples and sampling the local cuisine. Join Jason and Paul as they rate and discuss some common experiences that visitors are likely to have in Japan!
Topics Covered:
Konbini
Temples and Shrines
Hanami
Maid Cafes
Hiking
Eating
Shopping
Shinkansen
Arcades
Japanese Gardens
Matsumoto Castle
140. 2024 Trip Recap (Part 3)
Kamikochi
Narai-juku
A view of Mt. Fuji from Hakone
Jason and Paul recently returned home from a trip to Japan. Join them as they discuss their itinerary and recount their third week of sightseeing!
Topics Covered:
Kamikochi
Matsumoto: Matsumoto Castle — Yabuhara to Narai-juku — Matsumoto City Museum — Nawate Shopping Street — Nakamachi Shopping Street — Daio Wasabi Farm — Ishii Miso — Agatanomori Park
Omiya: Omiya Bonsai Village — The Railway Museum
Tokyo: Shibuya Parco — Rainbow Karaoke Shibuya — THE MUSIC BAR -CAVE SHIBUYA- — Mount Takao — Meiji Jingu
Hakone: Yama no Chaya — Owakudani — Hakone Checkpoint
Tokyo: Denimio — Akihabara
The view of Hikone Castle from Genkyuen
139. 2024 Trip Recap (Part 2)
Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum
The Site of Reversible Destiny in Yoro Park
Hida no Sato Open Air Museum
Jason and Paul recently returned home from a trip to Japan. Join them as they discuss their itinerary and recount their second week of sightseeing!
Topics Covered:
Nagoya: Coffee House Kako — Nagoya Castle — The Tokugawa Art Museum — SCMAGLEV and Railway Park
Inuyama: Showa Alley — Dondenkan (Matsuri Museum) — Inuyama Castle — Urakuen — Momotaro Shrine
Hikone: Hikone Castle — Genkyuen — Rakurakuen — Yume Kyobashi Castle Road
Omihachiman: Kawara Museum — Hachimanyama Ropeway — Borderless Art Museum NO-MA
Yoro: Site of Reversible Destiny
Sekigahara: Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum — Sengoku Armor Museum
Takayama: Hikaru Museum — Takayama Sky Park — Hida no Sato Open Air Museum — Squirrel Forest Hidayama Wild Grass Nature Garden (Risu no Mori) — Matsuri no Mori Museum — Miyagawa Morning Market — Takayama Showa-kan Museum — Tofu Cuisine Noguchiya — Funasaka Sake Brewery — Hida Takayama Retro Museum
The view from Guest House Yunosato near Yunomine Onsen
138. 2024 Trip Recap (Part 1)
A view on the Kumano Kodo, an ancient pilgrimage trail in Wakayama Prefecture
Jason and Paul recently returned home from a trip to Japan. Join them as they discuss their itinerary and recount their first week of sightseeing!
Topics Covered:
Kumano Kodo: Kii-Tanabe — Guest House Kiyohime — Takijiri Oji — Chikatsuyu — Guest House MUI — Kumano Hongu Taisha — Yunomine Onsen — Minshuku Yunosato
Osaka: Shin-Osaka Station — Tempozan Ferris Wheel — Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan — Naniwa Kuishinbo Yokocho — Namba Parks
Nagoya: Atsuta Jingu — Shirotori Garden — Osu Shopping Street — Osu Kannon Temple — Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology — Sky Promenade
Nunobiki Herb Garden in Kobe
136. Day Trips from Kyoto and Osaka
Magome, a post town on the Nakasendo
Kyoto and Osaka offer countless attractions, but venturing beyond these cities for day trips can unveil another side of Japan. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the diverse experiences waiting just outside Kansai’s largest metropolis!
Topics Covered:
Nara (Ep112)
Hiroshima (Ep118)
Kobe (Ep96)
Uji
Koyasan
Himeji
Okayama and Kurashiki
Kurama and Kibune
Nakasendo (Magome to Tsumago)
Hikone
Omi Hachiman
Amanohashidate and Ine
Nagoya
Listener Mail: Ryokan Matsubaya — Shoseien Garden — Takase River — Kyoto Railway Museum — Umekoji Park
Podcast Meetup 2024: Nov 6th, 2024 at 7:00pm at Commune on the rooftop of the Shibuya Parco shopping mall in Tokyo. Take the elevator to the 9th floor and then take the escalator to the roof.
The Hamanasu, an overnight train that ran between Aomori and Sapporo until it was discontinued in 2016.
134. Sightseeing and Overnight Trains
Japan is known for its incredible train system, but did you know about the wide array of unique sightseeing and overnight trains? Join Jason and Paul as they discuss these exciting travel options that offer new perspectives on Japan’s diverse landscapes and cities!
Topics Covered:
Overnight Trains: Sunrise Express (Seto/Izumo)
Cruise Trains: Seven Stars in Kyushu — Shiki-Shima — Twilight Express Mizukaze — Royal Express
Sightseeing Trains: Tokaido Shinkansen — Sightseeing Limited Express Aoniyoshi — Kurobe Gorge Railway — Kyo-Train Garaku — Sagano Scenic Railway — Pokemon With You Train — Hisatsu Line — Sanriku Railway Kotatsu Train — Hakone Tozan Line — Fujisan View Express — Furano Biei Norokko Train — Takayama Main Line — Chiba Monorail
Podcast Meetup 2024: Nov 6th, 2024 at 7:00pm at Commune on the rooftop of the Shibuya Parco shopping mall in Tokyo. Take the elevator to the 9th floor and then take the escalator to the roof.
Announcements and Current Events
Join Jason and Paul as they discuss various announcements and current events!
Topics Covered:
Season 5 Start Date
Patreon
Itinerary Store
Podcast Meetup 2024: Nov 6th, 2024 at 7:00pm at Commune on the rooftop of the Shibuya Parco shopping mall in Tokyo. Take the elevator to the 9th floor and then take the escalator to the roof.
Tourist Ban in Gion
Shohei Ohtani
Kamakura
129. Day Trips from Tokyo
Mt. Fuji
Tokyo has all sorts of attractions to offer, but venturing outside the bustling city for a day trip can unveil another side of Japan. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the many diverse experiences that can be had just beyond Tokyo’s borders!
Topics Covered:
Kamakura and Enoshima (Ep72)
Kawagoe (Ep46)
Nikko (Ep80)
Mt. Fuji (Ep10, also mentioned Arakurayama Sengen Park)
Amusement Parks (Ep 94)
Mt. Takao (Ep 119)
Utsunomiya
Hakone
Odawara
Omiya
Yokohama
Chiba
Shizuoka
122. What to Do if You Get Sick in Japan
Traveling is exciting and rewarding, but even the best-laid plans can encounter unexpected bumps along the way. Join Jason and Paul as they discuss how to handle health concerns when you're in Japan. From navigating the healthcare system to finding the right resources, this episode has you covered in case you ever need it!
Topics Covered:
Emergency Services
Vaccinations
Travel and Health Insurance
Japan’s Medical System
Interview with Ryan Sandlin
120. Traveling to Japan with Children
Visiting Japan with children can be an exciting and rewarding adventure, but it also raises unique challenges. Join Jason and Paul as they discuss tips and tricks to help make your experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible!
Topics Covered:
Planning: Hotels, attractions, meals, internet
Packing: Stroller, food, supplies
When In Japan: Transportation, food, navigation, attractions, entertainment, what to expect
Affiliate Links:
Nikko Toshogu Shrine
115. 2023 Trip Recap (Part 3)
Mount Nantai and Lake Chuzenji
Edo Wonderland
Jason and Paul recently returned home from a trip to Japan. Join them as they discuss their itinerary and recount their third week of sightseeing!
Topics Covered:
Day 15: Nikko (Taiyuin, Futarasan Jinja, Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Rinnoji, Kanmangafuchi Abyss)
Day 16: Nikko (Kegon Falls, Lake Chuzenji Sightseeing Trail)
Day 17: Kinugawa (Edo Wonderland, Tobu World Square)
Day 18: Tokyo (Tanuki Street, Kappabashi Street, Sogenji, Hitachino Brewing Lab)
Day 19: Tokyo (Yanaka Ginza, Animate Ikebukuro, Sunshine City, Akihabara)
Day 20: Tokyo (Akihabara, Iron Heart in Hachioji)
Day 21: Tokyo (Akihabara, flight home)
Announcement - JR Pass Changes
Changes are coming in October 2023 for the JR Pass. Join Jason and Paul as they discuss the changes and their impact on the value of the pass!
Affiliate Links:
Sakurajima, one of the most active volcanoes in the world
114. 2023 Trip Recap (Part 2)
Kokura Castle in Kitakyushu
Namba Yasaka Jinja in Osaka
Jason and Paul recently returned home from a trip to Japan. Join them as they discuss their itinerary and recount their second week of sightseeing!
Topics Covered:
Day 8: Kagoshima (Sengan-en)
Day 9: Sakurajima (Hotel Rainbow Sakurajima)
Day 10: Kagoshima (Museum of the Meiji Restoration, Reimeikan, Cave of Saigo Takamori, Shiroyama Park Observation Deck)
Day 11: Kitakyushu (Kokura Castle, Yasaka Shrine, TOTO Museum, Aru Aru City, Manga Museum)
Day 12: Osaka (Sakuranomiya Park/Shrine, America-mura, Namba Yasaka Jinja, Shinsekai, Shitennoji, Pearls Cafe, teamLab at Nagai Botanical Gardens)
Day 13: Kobe (Port Tower, Nankinmachi, Ikuta Jinja, Kitanocho, Nunobiki Herb Gardens, Nunobiki Falls, Motomachi Shopping Street)
Day 14: Nikko (Yuba, Shinkyo Bridge, Tamozawa Imperial Villa)
Sakura in Onomichi
113. 2023 Trip Recap (Part 1)
Matsuyama Castle
Kosanji, a temple on the Shimanami Kaido
Jason and Paul recently returned home from a trip to Japan. Join them as they discuss their itinerary and recount their first week of sightseeing!
Topics Covered:
Day 1: Flights
Day 2: Onomichi (Temple Walk. Senkoji Park)
Day 3: Shimanami Kaido (Dolce Ice Cream, Kosanji, Hill of Hope, I-Link Hostel & Cafe Shimanami)
Day 4: Shimanami Kaido (Fuu, Michi-no-Eki, Dolphinfarm Shimanami, Sunrise Itoyama) - Matsuyama (Nagasaka)
Day 5: Matsuyama (Matsuyama Castle, Dogo Onsen, Dogo Beer Hall, Dogo Shopping Street, Botchan Karakuri Clock, Isaniwa Shrine)
Day 6: Takamatsu (Ritsurin Garden, Sanuki Udon Ueharaya, Shikoku Village, Omiya Hachiman Shrine, Waraya)
Day 7: Takamatsu Castle Park, Onomichi Temple Walk
110. Miyuki Seguchi (Interview)
Join Jason and Paul as they interview Miyuki Seguchi, licensed travel guide and host of the Japan Experts podcast!
Find Miyuki Seguchi Online:
Grab the FREE Japan Travel Guide: The 7 steps to creating your unique immersive experience
Learn more about her Japan travel program the Japan Travel Essentials
Momiji (Japanese Maple) trees in Koyasan.
106. The Four Seasons
The four seasons in Japan each have their own distinct character, and the impact that seasonal changes have had on the country’s culture over the centuries is apparent in many aspects of their society. Join Jason and Paul as they explore what makes Japan’s four seasons so special!
Topics Covered:
History
Weather
Events/Holidays
Food
Decorative Motifs