Japan Travel Smart

This time around, I finally decide to cover Tokyo without going into the obvious. Actually, we are throwing out the guidebook for this one, because it's all about how I personally approach the city! Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

Sit back and tune in to another carefully crafted episode of JTS with unconventional tricks and tips inspired from personal experience alone to vastly enhance anyone's independent discovery of Japan! Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

In the age of increasingly ambitious and complex independent travel itineraries, it becomes incredibly easy to mess up your best possible travel plans. Take every scenario into consideration by maintaining your own pre-travel checklist! We'll tell you everything to account for on this episode of JTS! Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! Business contact and listener feedback: japantr...

Be inspired to visit more than one popular destination in Hyogo, a stone’s throw away from Kyoto and Osaka! Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! Kobe -Nada Sake District: Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Museum, Hamafukutsuru, Sakuramasamune Museum Sakuraen, Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum, Kobe Shushinkan -Kitanocho: Weathercock House, Moegi House, Kitano Foreigner’s Association, Kitanocho Squa...

Traveling in Japan for weeks at a time while packing just a carry-on: Is it feasible or even possible? Find out on this episode of JTS! Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

It's time to get you up to speed with the wonderful world of Japanese convenience stores, as well as the relatively low key supermarket offerings. What sets them apart? How do you ask the clerk for a fork or refuse a shopping bag? And why even care about supermarkets in the first place? Find out in this episode! Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! Supermarkets -Aeon Group supermarke...

Dare to head away from the well trodden path and go into coastal Iwate for a different Japan! Find out how we did it on this episode of Japan Travel Smart! Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! Entry points by rail: Ichinoseki, Hanamaki, Morioka, Hachinohe JR East ‘Joyful Trains’ https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/joyful/ Hinabi excursion train POKÉMON with YOU Train Tono City, Tono Furusa...

What is some travel advice applicable to Japan that no one is really bringing up? Find out in this episode! Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

So you’ve decided to do your own travel itinerary planning for your trip to Japan. But where should you start? Here are some websites that will make it easy. Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! Websites and resources mentioned on this episode: japan-guide.com https://www.japan-guide.com/ JapanTravel https://en.japantravel.com/ Trip Advisor https://www.tripadvisor.com/ JNTO Travel Brochu...

Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

Were you already thinking you'd need to skip Shikoku on a trip around Japan? Think again! I'll tell you how easy it is to include the island region of Shikoku on ANY Japan itinerary. Errata: At 11:08 we said that "Ehime" was our arrival point to Shikoku when we meant Kagawa Prefecture. Marugame is Kagawa's gateway into Shikoku! Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! L...

Japan has changed so much ever since we first started visiting. Some of these changes really alter the travel situation for better or for worse! Find out what changes actually affect your visiting experience in order to be better prepared! Tabelog international version Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

These Tokyo attractions and experiences are popular, but are they worth it in 2025 and beyond? Be sure to listen in before signing off on that Tokyo travel plan! Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

Nara is not a "day trip". Here's why. Nara Park, Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Shrine Heijo Palace Site, Toshodaiji Temple, Yakushiji Temple Imaicho Town, Tanzan Shrine, Hasedera Temple Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

Don’t waste your travel budget on simple mistakes that can be prevented by listening to JTS! We’ve got 9 more ways to stretch your yennies on this episode of the show!  Lodging: Minshuku and shukubo Observation decks: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Bunkyo City Office Shinkansen discounts: SmartEX app, Platt Kodama, kinken shops Workshops: kominkan Omamori and omikuji Business contact and...

We continue our Smart to Visit series by returning to the Tohoku region on one of our most eclectic trip reports yet! It’s time to introduce Aomori and Akita prefectures! Hachinohe -Niida-maru cruise -Nanbu Senbei Aomori City -Nebuta Matsuri -Nebuta Warasse  Osorezan Hirosaki -Hirosaki Castle -Apple pie Thrift and second hand stores of Tohoku -Yorozuya -Mansaido Resort Shirakami between Aomori and...

Everyone screws up traveling in Japan. But especially me. Find out more on this episode. Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

There's an entire world to see just past Sapporo. Get to know about Hokkaido's incredible national park areas on this entry of Japan Travel Smart! New Chitose Airport, Asahikawa Airport , Memanbetsu Airport, Kushiro Airport Daisetsuzan National Park -Sounkyo Onsen -Mount Kurodake -Ohachidaira Caldera Shiretoko National Park   -Utoro -Shiretoko Goko Lakes -Kamuiwakka Hot Falls  Akan Mashu N...

Should you actually consider bike sharing services to get around for your Japan trip? What is important to know to get set up to use shared bicycles and what's some important riding advice to bike safely in Japan? Find out everything about bike sharing on this episode of Japan Travel Smart! Bike share service (docomo) https://docomo-cycle.jp/?lang=en LUUP https://luup.sc/en/ HELLO CYCLING Goog...

Boldly head out from the busy and crowded tourist areas of Tokyo to find a much more intimate version of the city in western Tokyo! Find out where you can go on this episode of the show! Nakano (Nakano Broadway) Koenji Mitaka and Kichijoji (Inokashira Park, Ghibli Museum, Kichijoji Autumn Festival, Harmonica Yokocho) Shimokitazawa (Ichibangai and Suzuran-dori) Sangenjaya (Sangenjaya Fureai Square...

What options de we have at our disposal to experience onsen culture in Japan? How to properly use a shared bathing space without committing faux paux or creating embarrassment for yourself? Find out all about hot springs in Japan in this episode of JTS! -Onsen vs sento -Staying at ryokan -Onsen towns: Kusatsu Onsen, Kinosaki Onsen, Gero Onsen, Noboribetsu -Super sento -Ofuro, rotenburo, ashiyu -Yu...

Get to know Kyushu through its cities on this episode of Japan Travel Smart! We'll talk about what makes each of them unique and worth checking out on a visit to Kyushu. Fukuoka -Yatai food stalls -Tenjin shopping -Tonkotsu ramen -JR Hakata City Rooftop Garden Nagasaki -Peace Park Nagasaki -Atomic Bomb Museum -Castella cake Kumamoto -Kumamoto Castle -Kumamon Square Kagoshima -Senganen Garden -...

Flying to Japan is expensive, right? Right? Well, it certainly can be, but it doesn't have to be needlessly expensive on a budget. Find out more on this episode of Japan Travel Smart! Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

Regional rail passes in Japan offer foreign visitors the chance to binge on exploration of a unique region in Japan, but what exactly is the trick to them? Can they hope to match the former glory of the JR Pass or is it truly over? In this episode we blow the lid off regional rail passes! Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin f...

What Japanese from the basic phrase book have we found to be actually useful when traveling in Japan? In this episode of Japan Travel Smart we bring up better Japanese for travel that we really use. Sumimasen vs Gomenasai Dozo Shitsureishimasu! Orimasu Hitori, Futari, Sannin, Yonin Osusume wa... Mou ikkai! Gochisousama! Okaikei onegaishimasu Ojamashimasu! Gomen kudasai! Domo. Kanshashimasu Kekkou...