Japan Travel Smart

Kyoto is more than a city. Let's dare to head out from the crowded city attractions and reach a new frontier of Kyoto on this episode of JTS!

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Featured on this episode:

-Uji

-Byodo-in Temple

-Uji Tea Houses

-Ujigami Shrine

-The Nintendo Museum

-Enryakuji Temple

-Amanohashidate

-Kyoto Tango Railway

-Maizuru

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Your first day in Japan can be surprisingly busy, but we talk about how to take care of everything and put your best foot forward for a successful rest of your trip.

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Why does Mount Fuji suck to climb, and why might you want to consider literally anywhere else to climb on a trip to Japan? Find out on this towering episode of JTS!

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Mt. Mitsutoge

Mt. Takao

Mt. Inari (Fushimi Inari Taisha)

Mt. Misen (Miyajima Island)

Togakushi Shrines

Mt. Kurodake

Kotohira-gu (Kompirasan, Mt. Zozu)

Yamadera Temple

Mt. Mihara

Mt. Daisen

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What are my impressions of the two most important places in the Shinto religion after having visited them back-to-back? I'll let you know if they're worth it on this episode of JTS.

-Izumo Taisha in Shimane Prefecture

-Ise Jingu in Mie Prefecture

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On this episode, we offer candid commentary about the ups and downs of solo travel in Japan. In addition to that, we note about how the weather affects your impression of places in Japan! We also briefly touch upon about how Japan always manages to throw curve balls at experienced travelers with a laundry list of unexpected situations.

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This episode exists because there are really popular dishes in Japan that need a bigger international spotlight, including Western-inspired and regional staples. These are my 9 picks for food you ought to try in Japan!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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Be inspired to visit more than one popular destination in Hyogo, a stone’s throw away from Kyoto and Osaka!

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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 Square, Kitano Tenman Shrine

-Sannomiya

-Harborland, Meriken Park

Mount Rokko Area

-Rokko Garden Terrace

-Alpine Botanical Garden, Musical Box Museum

Arima Onsen

-Arima Cider

-Taikou-no-Yu Hot Spring

Himeji

-Himeji Castle

-Nada no Kenka Matsuri

Takeda Castle Ruins

Kinosaki Onsen Area

-Public bathhouses

-Toyooka

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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!

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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!

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Supermarkets

-Aeon Group supermarkets (Aeon MaxValu, My Basket)

-Seiyu

-Ito-Yokado

-Life Supermarkets

-Co-op

Convenience stores

-7-Eleven

-Family Mart

-Lawson

-Ministop

-Daily Yamazaki

-New Days

-Seicomart

Common interactions

-Fukuro ni oire shimasu ka? / Fukuro wa irimasu ka? / Fukuro o tsuke shimasu ka?

-Pointo kādo wa omochi desu ka?

-Obentō o atatamemasu ka? / O-atatame shimasu ka?

-Ohashi o otsuke shimasu ka?/ Fōku/Supūn o otsuke shimasu ka?

-Shīru de yoroshii deshou ka?

-Fukuro o owake shimasu ka?

-O-shiharai hōhō wa ikaga desu ka?

-Reshīto wa yoroshii desu ka?

-Otsugi no kata dōzo! / Otsugi no okyakusama dozo!

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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!

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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 Furusato Village

Kamaishi City

Sanriku Railway Rias Line

Miyako City

Jodogahama Beach

Miyako Umineko Maru Jodogahama Boat Cruise

Kitayamazaki Cape

Iwaizumi Town, Ryusendo Cave

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What is some travel advice applicable to Japan that no one is really bringing up? Find out in this episode!

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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.

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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 Brochures

https://www.japan.travel/brochures/eng/index.php?sort=upd_date_desc

Tokyo Cheapo and Japan Cheapo

https://tokyocheapo.com/

https://japancheapo.com/

GO TOKYO

https://www.gotokyo.org/en/index.html

Time Out Tokyo

https://www.timeout.com/tokyo

Tabelog

https://tabelog.com/en/

Tokyo Gig Guide

https://www.tokyogigguide.com/en/

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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!

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Land bridge entry points:

-Akasahi Kaikyo Bridge route

-Central Route via the Great Seto Bridge

-Onomichi-Imabari Route (Shimanami Kaido)

"Rail Pass route" locations mentioned

Marugame

Kotohira & Kompirasan

Niihama Taiko Festival

Matsuyama

Yawatahama Ferry Terminal

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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

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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!

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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

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