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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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

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