The Japan Travel Pros Podcast

Have you found yourself researching your trip so much that you can't make a decision? With so many places to visit, hotels to choose from and opinions about what you allegedly *gotta* see, it's easy to get stuck when planning a trip to Japan. In this episode, Ari talks about analysis paralysis, FOMO and five questions to help you get unstuck and get your trip planned. Plus, a pair of walki...

When is the best time to visit Japan if you want to avoid the crowds? Does Japan even have a low season anymore? And if Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka & some of Japan’s most famous sights are crowded, does that mean Japan itself is crowded? In this episode, Ari looks at how crowds and seasonality in Japan have changed, why weekdays aren't necessarily quieter at popular attractions and why where you g...

We're back with Frank from 5 AM Ramen for the second half of our conversation. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, maybe give that episode a listen first. This time we're talking about ramen's continuing evolution, the impact of YouTube & social media on small ramen shops, practical advice for first-time visitors and the people behind some of Japan's most memorable bowls. We a...

Frank knows ramen. You might even say that Frank eats, sleeps & breathes ramen. Through 5AM Ramen , Frank has eaten hundreds of bowls a year (many years ongoing), explored ramen shops across Japan & beyond and built a career around sharing what he's learned through YouTube, ramen tours and hands-on experiences in Tokyo. In Part 1 of our conversation, Frank joins Ari to talk about growi...

Restaurant ratings in Japan can be confusing. Why does the same restaurant have a 4.6 on Google Maps and a 3.48 on Tabelog? In this Quick Tip, Ari breaks down how to make sense of restaurant ratings and reviews in Japan, including: Why Google and Tabelog ratings shouldn't be compared directly What a 3.4 or 3.5 on Tabelog actually means Why it helps to look at who's writing the reviews, not...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Xander Soren, we pick up where we left off: with a drink in hand. If you haven't heard the Part 1 episode, we recommend listening to it here first. This time, we move from sake to wine and the story behind Xander Soren Wines. Xander explains how a personal project making small batches of California wine grew into a second career, and why Japan and Japanese fo...

What does working on the original iPod have to do with falling in love with Japan? Quite a bit, as it turns out. Xander Soren spent more than 20 years at Apple, working on products including the iPod and GarageBand. These days, he's a California wine producer with a longtime connection to Japan, curating wines designed specifically with Japanese food in mind. In Part 1 of our conversation, Xander...

There are more ways to fly to Japan than ever, with new routes, new gateways and more flights being added. That’s good news! But more choices don’t necessarily make choosing the right flight any easier. In this episode, we talk about new routes and increased capacity for flights to Japan… flying into Tokyo and home from Osaka… what an open-jaw ticket is & why nonstop isn’t always better … and...

In this episode we sit down with John and Josephine, hosts of the YouTube channel "Uncharted Japan". Check out Uncharted Japan on YouTube John and Josephine have spent years traveling around Japan, often finding some of their favorite experiences well beyond the places that dominate most Japan itineraries. Josephine also has an extraordinary connection to the country. Her family's hi...

When does fall actually start in Japan? You’ll see plenty of information out there describing September and October as autumn travel time in Japan. But if you’re picturing cool, crisp weather and fall colors, you may be surprised by what you actually find, especially in places like Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka. In this Quick Tip, Ari talks about what we’ve been seeing in Japan in recent years, why lon...

What if the onsen isn't something you squeeze into a busy Japan itinerary, but a highlight of the trip itself? In this episode, Ari sits down with longtime friend Ken, who has spent much of his life traveling around Japan – often by car or motorcycle. After a long career in tech, Ken now has more time to explore the country and continue an ongoing search for his favorite onsen. Ken shares what he...

If you’re planning a trip to Japan, you’ve probably heard about IC cards, JR Passes, Shinkansen tickets, SmartEX and plenty of other ways to pay for transportation. Sound complicated? It can seem that way at first, but we're here to help. In this Quick Tip, Ari breaks down the basics: what an IC card is, what it’s useful for, when you’ll still need a separate ticket and why most travelers prob...

Adam first visited Japan in the early 1980s, expecting to stay for about a week (ended up staying over a month). More than forty years later, he keeps coming back again & again. In this episode, Ari sits down with Adam, an alumni client and friend of Japan Travel Pros, to talk about the places, experiences and moments that have made impressions over the years. Our conversation covers historic...

James is from Canada. Junko grew up in Osaka. Together they’ve now made three trips to Japan, and each one has been different. In this episode, we talk about James’s first trip to Japan, what it was like experiencing the country with Junko and her family, and how their travels have changed as they keep coming back. James shares some of those first-trip moments that stand out, from arriving in Japa...

Many folks are seeking "hidden gems" for a trip to Japan. But what does “hidden” actually mean? In this episode, we look at why travelers ask for hidden gems, why those places often stop being hidden once they appear in the public domain, and why popular places can still be well worth visiting. We talk about Uji, Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa, Naoshima, Koyasan, Ginzan Onsen, the Nakasendo, Kyo...

In this episode, we sit down with Laura and Javier from Kyoto Daily Tours to talk about what they've learned from years of guiding visitors through Kyoto. The conversation goes far beyond temples and shrines. We discuss how Kyoto has changed over the years, why summer surprises so many visitors, how to avoid the biggest crowds and why flexibility often leads to the most memorable travel experi...

In this episode, the second of a two-part series, we're joined by Rise-san, the founder of: ⁠Rise's House in Nishio, Aichi Prefecture⁠ If you haven't listened to part 1 yet, we encourage you to do so before listening to Part 2. In Part 2 of our conversation, Rise-san returns to talk about the people, places and ideas that have shaped Rise's House in Nishio, Aichi Prefecture. We exp...

In this episode, the first of a two-part series, Rise-san joins us for a conversation about hospitality, community and a different way of experiencing Japan. Rise-san is the founder of: Rise's House in Nishio, Aichi Prefecture Inspired by a serendipitous journey abroad, Rise-san returned to Japan with a vision of creating a place where travelers could connect with local people, businesses and...

Japan Rail Pass? Trains always on time? Japanese food is always healthy? Japan is living in the future? In this episode, we break down some common Japan travel myths and what first-time visitors should know before planning around them. Plus a listener question about luggage forwarding. - Brought to you by Japan Travel Pros . We make travel planning make sense. Clients from around the world trust o...

In this episode, Yuki joins us for a conversation about photography, Tokyo, local neighborhoods and the pressure travelers often feel to fit everything into one trip. Yuki grew up in the States with Japanese family, visited Japan throughout his life and eventually moved to Japan as an adult. The conversation starts with photography, but it quickly opens up into a broader discussion about how Japan...

Ari is joined by Brad for the first guest episode of Japan Travel Pros. Brad first visited Japan in the 1980s, lived here in the 1990s and recently returned with his family. In this conversation, Brad & Ari talk about how Japan has changed over the years, what still feels familiar and why the small moments often feel more meaningful than the big checklist items. They talk about Kyoto, bullet t...

In this episode, we answer a round of Japan travel questions submitted by our listeners, clients and alumni. We cover practical insights on local food, weather, logistics and much more. What we discuss: Rice in Japan, and Japanese food expectations inside versus outside Japan Underrated destinations, foods & experiences in Japan (a few of our picks) Japan travel for vegetarians How much cash y...

Food is one of the biggest reasons people visit Japan. It's also a topic that makes a lot of visitors anxious. In this first full episode of the Japan Travel Pros Podcast, Ari takes a look at convenience stores, ramen chains, famous food markets - and some of the alternatives that can make your trip feel more local & legit. Beyond food, this episode is about a travel philosophy. It's a...

A quick preview of The Japan Travel Pros Podcast. Ari introduces the show and what we’ll be talking about: Japan travel, food, cities, regions, seasons, crowds, tourist traps, baseball, sumo... did we mention food?! (learn more at www.japantravelpros.com)