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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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Become a member on Patreon!