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 )

Tokyo Ramen Festa (Komazawa Olympic Park)

Fuchu (Suntory Musashino Brewery, Tokyo Racecourse)

Mount Takao

Tachikawa (Showa Kinen Park)

Tama (Sanrio Puroland)

Machida (Snoopy Museum)

Higashi-Kurume  (Spadium Japon)

Okutama

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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

-Yukata

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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

-Reimeikan Museum

-Sakurajima

Miyazaki

-Chicken Nanban

-Miyazaki Beef

-Aoshima Beach

Beppu and Oita

-Hot springs

-Jigoku Hells

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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!

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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!

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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!

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 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 desu

Itekimasu! Tadaima

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There exist some popular places in Japan that are a bit dubious at best.

In this episode we’ve come up with 9 examples of spots in Japan that you might want to reconsider visiting for reasons that may shock you!

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The best rail travel tips and advice for the best rail travel country! It all begins here on Japan Travel Smart!

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Get our unique takes on Osaka on this special “smart to visit” episode of Japan Travel Smart!

Airports

Kansai International Airport

Osaka International (Itami) Airport

Kobe Airport

City centers

Namba

Umeda

Locations

Dotonbori

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

Osaka Castle and Castle Park

Osaka Museum of History

Shin Sekai New World

Den Den Town

Takedao Abandoned Railway Hike

Food

Takoyaki

Okonomiyaki

Kushikatsu

Akashiyaki

Observation decks

Abeno Harukas

Umeda Sky Building

Osaka Dojimahama Tower

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