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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. Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! 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/ Business contact and listener feedback: [email protected] X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! Business contact and listener feedback: [email protected] X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

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! Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! 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 Business contact and listener feedback: [email protected] X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

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 Business contact and listener feedback: [email protected] X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

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! Business contact and listener feedback: [email protected] X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

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 Business contact and listener feedback: [email protected] X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

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 Business contact and listener feedback: [email protected] X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

We continue our Smart to Visit series by returning to the Tohoku region on one of our most eclectic trip reports yet! It’s time to introduce Aomori and Akita prefectures! Hachinohe -Niida-maru cruise -Nanbu Senbei Aomori City -Nebuta Matsuri -Nebuta Warasse  Osorezan Hirosaki -Hirosaki Castle -Apple pie Thrift and second hand stores of Tohoku -Yorozuya -Mansaido Resort Shirakami between Aomori and Akita City Akita City -Akita Inu -Namahage at Oga Omagari Fireworks Festival Kakunodate -Samurai Quarters Nyuto Onsen Business contact and listener feedback: [email protected] X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

Everyone screws up traveling in Japan. But especially me. Find out more on this episode. Business contact and listener feedback: [email protected] X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

There's an entire world to see just past Sapporo. Get to know about Hokkaido's incredible national park areas on this entry of Japan Travel Smart! New Chitose Airport, Asahikawa Airport , Memanbetsu Airport, Kushiro Airport Daisetsuzan National Park -Sounkyo Onsen -Mount Kurodake -Ohachidaira Caldera Shiretoko National Park   -Utoro -Shiretoko Goko Lakes -Kamuiwakka Hot Falls  Akan Mashu National Park  -Lake Akan  -Ainu Kotan village  -Iozan (Sulfur Mountain) -Lake Mashu, Lake Kussharo Business contact and listener feedback: [email protected] X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

Should you actually consider bike sharing services to get around for your Japan trip? What is important to know to get set up to use shared bicycles and what's some important riding advice to bike safely in Japan? Find out everything about bike sharing on this episode of Japan Travel Smart! Bike share service (docomo) https://docomo-cycle.jp/?lang=en LUUP https://luup.sc/en/ HELLO CYCLING Google Play Store Apple Store Business contact and listener feedback: [email protected] X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

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 Business contact and listener feedback: [email protected] X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

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 Business contact and listener feedback: [email protected] X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

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 Business contact and listener feedback: [email protected] X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay

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! Business contact and listener feedback: [email protected] X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay