Sightseeing Japan

Kyoto is full of famous temples, but few are as iconic—or as confusingly named—as Kinkakuji and Ginkakuji. Join Jason and Paul as they dig into the history behind these two landmarks, explore what makes each one special, and explain why the silver Pavilion isn’t actually silver. Topics Covered: History Kinkakuji (The Golden Pavilion) Ginkakuji (The Silver Pavilion) Join our Discord community! Become a member on Patreon!

Japan might be known for its sushi and ramen, but its street food scene is just as exciting. From takoyaki and taiyaki to yakitori and beyond, join Jason and Paul as they dive into some of Japan’s best street eats — and share where to find them! Topics Covered: Takoyaki Yakitori Ikayaki Taiyaki Yakisoba Yaki-imo Yaki Tomorokoshi Tako Tamago Karaage Kobe Beef Gyoza Korokke Senbei Soft Cream Kakigori Dango Crepes Choco Banana Boba Where to Find Street Food Join our Discord community! Become a member on Patreon!

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 Join our Discord community! Become a member on Patreon!

Known as the "City of Trees," Sendai is the largest city in the Tohoku region and a great place to learn about the culture and history of northeastern Honshu. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the city and uncover the story of its founder—a samurai with the coolest nickname ever. Topics Covered: History Loople Sendai: Zuihoden — Sendai City Museum — Sendai Castle — Tohoku University Museum of Natural History — Miyagi Museum of Art — Osaki Hachiman Shrine — Jozenji-dori — Sunmall Ichibancho Shopping District — Date no Gyutan Honpo Other Sights: Sendai City Tomizawa Site Museum — Rinnoji — Dai Kannon — Earthquake Heritage Arahama Elementary School Sendai Port: Umino-Mori Aquarium — Mitsui Outlet Park — Sendai Port Central Park — Kirin Beer Factory Events: Sendai Tanabata Festival — Pageant of Starlight Day Trips: Matsushima Bay — Ishinomaki/Tashirojima (Cat Island) — Zao Kitsune Mura How to get to/around Sendai Join our Discord community! Become a member on Patreon!

Japan is home to a variety of fascinating — and sometimes terrifying — bugs and insects, from summer’s singing cicadas to giant hornets and everything in between. Join Jason and Paul as they dive into the world of Japan’s bugs—both the beloved and the infamous! Topics Covered: Cultural Significance Famous Bugs: Cicadas — Giant Hornets — Fireflies — Stag Beetles — Rhinoceros Beetles — Silkworms Seasonal Bugs: Butterflies — Dragonflies — Crickets Common Pests: Mosquitoes — Cockroaches — Centipedes — Spiders Join our Discord community! Become a member on Patreon!

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 Join our Discord community! Become a member on Patreon!

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 Join our Discord community! Become a member on Patreon!

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 Join our Discord community! Become a member on Patreon!

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 Join our Discord community! Become a member on Patreon!

Ancient Japanese folktales offer a window into the philosophies and culture of Japan. Join Jason and Paul as they share and discuss two timeless tales that have been passed down through the centuries! Topics Covered: Ubazakura Rokurokubi Jiu-Roku-Zakura The Goblin of Adachigahara Join our Discord community! Become a member on Patreon!

Japan may be one of the safest countries in the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s without its share of chilling and horrific crimes. Join Jason and Paul as they delve into some of the most shocking cases in Japan’s history. Topics Covered: Junko Furuta Issei Sagawa Kobe Child Murders Nevada-Tan Ninja of Heisei 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. Join our Discord community! Become a member on Patreon!

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. Join our Discord community! Become a member on Patreon!

Japan has unique television programming that has gained a reputation internationally for being extremely wacky and sometimes even dangerous. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the wild world of reality TV and game shows in Japan! Topics Covered: What is TV like in Japan? Denpa Shonen Terrace House Old Enough Iron Chef Takeshi’s Castle Wafu Sohonke (Japanese Style Originator) Youtube Segments: Zoo Prank — Candy or Not — Falling Elevator — AKBingo — Bicyclist — Massage Chair Prank — Brain Wall Can you get on Japanese TV? 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. Join our Discord community! Become a member on Patreon!

Ancient Japanese folktales offer a window into the philosophies and culture of Japan. Join Jason and Paul as they share and discuss two timeless tales that have been passed down through the centuries! Topics Covered: The Stones of Five Colors and the Empress Jokwa Momotaro, or the Story of the Son of a Peach 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. Join our Discord community! Become a member on Patreon!

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. Join our Discord community! Become a member on Patreon!

Japan is full of “must-see” attractions, but which ones are most worth visiting? Join Jason and Paul as they rate some of Japan’s most popular attractions! Topics Covered: Shibuya Crossing Sensoji Temple Takeshita Street (Harajuku) Akihabara Nikko Toshogu Shrine Kiyomizu-dera Fushimi Inari Taisha Yasaka Pagoda Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Osaka Castle Himeji Castle Join our Discord community! Become a member on Patreon!

Natto is one of Japan’s most divisive foods. Join Jason and Paul as they learn about — and sample — this slimy and smelly delicacy! Topics Covered: History How is Natto Made? Types of Natto How to Eat Natto Health Benefits Taste Test Where to Get Natto Join our Discord community! Become a member on Patreon!

The city of Kanazawa is rich in history and culture, famous for its Edo-era districts and traditional crafts. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the many things to see and do in Kanazawa! Topics Covered: Check out our new itinerary store! History Omicho Market Oyama Shrine Nagamachi District: Kanazawa City Ashigaru Museum — Nomura-ke Samurai Residence — Kanazawa Shinise Memorial Hall — Maeda Tosanokami-ke Shiryokan Museum Myoryuji (Ninja Temple) Nishi Chaya District: Ninjabuki Museum — Dolls Museum — Kanazawa Nishi Chaya Museum South of Kenrokuen: Ishiura Shrine — 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art — Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art — Kanazawa Nakamura Memorial Museum — National Crafts Museum — Ishikawa Prefectural History Museum — Kenrokuen: Seison-kaku — Kanazawa Shrine Hakuichi Kenrokuen Store Kanazawa Castle Park Higashi Chaya District: Geisha House Shima — Kaikaro — Geisha Evenings in Kanazawa Kanazawa Phonograph Museum Kanazawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum How to get to/around Kanazawa Join our Discord community! Become a member on Patreon!

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 Join our Discord community! Become a member on Patreon!

Akihabara is a unique district in Tokyo, renowned for its many electronics stores and its status as a mecca for otaku culture enthusiasts. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the vibrant streets of Tokyo's iconic "electric town"! Topics Covered: History Electronics (e.g. Yodobashi Akiba, BicCamera AKIBA) Arcades (e.g. Namco Akihabara) Anime Shops (e.g. Akihabara Kotobukiya, Mandarake) Computer Shops (e.g. Tsukumo PC Honten) Maid Cafes (e.g. Maidreamin) Akihabara Dear Stage Little TGV Akihabara Gachapon Hall 2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan Yusha Kobo Keyboard Specialty Shop Komaki Shokudo Bars (Game Bar A-Button, Beer Pong Bar Grove, Hitachino Brewing Lab, Low-Non-Bar) Weird Vending Machine Corner Karaoke Join our Discord community! Become a member on Patreon!