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Pro Tips from Real People Who Live Here! You've landed in Japan. Now what? In this episode, Ari walks through what to expect during your first 24 hours in Japan, from getting through the airport and reaching your hotel to making the most of your first full day. We talk about airport transportation, jet lag, restaurant reservations, choosing the right hotel location and getting started in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto… or anywhere else. __________ Brought to you by Japan Travel Pros. Your collaboration partner based in Japan's Kansai Region. Clients from around the world trust our Japan-based local travel experts. We give you context and good judgment, and you get the confidence to travel to Japan your way. Get started at⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠JapanTravelPros.com/plan⁠⁠⁠ __________ Episode Chapters: (00:00) Intro & Overview (01:30) Day 0: Arrival Day (02:40) Plan Ahead, Stay Flexible (03:17) Arriving from N.America (afternoon/evening) (04:15) Morning Arrivals (05:57) Jet Lag, Adrenaline & Fatigue (06:26) At the Airport (09:31) Getting to Your Hotel (09:57) Tokyo Airports to City (10:59) Osaka & Kyoto from KIX Airport (11:55) Reserve Transport Ahead of Time or Buy at Airport? (12:40) Airport to Bullet Train Connection Time (14:13) Leave Bags or Early Check-in? (15:12) Food in Japan - First 24 Hours (17:58) Getting Acclimated in Japan (Exercise, Sights, Jet Lag etc) (20:40) First Day in Tokyo (24:32) Should You Take a Tour on Day 1? (25:27) Day 1 in Osaka (27:22) Day 1 in Kyoto (30:03) Local Transport Tips (32:42) Closing Thoughts __________ Theme Music: "Tokyo Nights" by Snoozy Beats licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License (free download available from the Snoozy Beats page on Free Music Archive) -----More Music: "旅ゆけば" by Tinymemory (Dova Syndrome Music Materials License (dova-s .jp) _________

Have you found yourself researching your trip so much that you can't make a decision? With so many places to visit, hotels to choose from and opinions about what you allegedly *gotta* see, it's easy to get stuck when planning a trip to Japan. In this episode, Ari talks about analysis paralysis, FOMO and five questions to help you get unstuck and get your trip planned. Plus, a pair of walking shoes, how to thank well-intentioned friends & colleagues while still managing to sidestep their Japan advice... and a little wisdom from Neil Peart. __________ Brought to you by Japan Travel Pros. Your collaboration partner based in Japan's Kansai Region. Clients from around the world trust our Japan-based local travel experts. We give you context and good judgment, and you get the confidence to travel to Japan your way. Get started at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠JapanTravelPros.com/plan⁠⁠ __________ Theme Music: "Tokyo Nights" by Snoozy Beats licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License (free download available from the Snoozy Beats page on Free Music Archive) -----More Music: "旅ゆけば" by Tinymemory (Dova Syndrome Music Materials License (dova-s .jp) _________

When is the best time to visit Japan if you want to avoid the crowds? Does Japan even have a low season anymore? And if Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka & some of Japan’s most famous sights are crowded, does that mean Japan itself is crowded? In this episode, Ari looks at how crowds and seasonality in Japan have changed, why weekdays aren't necessarily quieter at popular attractions and why where you go can make as much difference as when you go. There may not be a magical time when the weather is perfect, prices are low and famous sites are empty. But that doesn't mean your entire trip has to feel crowded. __________ Brought to you by Japan Travel Pros. Your collaboration partner based in Japan's Kansai Region. Clients from around the world trust our Japan-based local travel experts. We give you context and good judgment, and you get the confidence to travel to Japan your way. Get started at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠JapanTravelPros.com/plan⁠ __________ Theme Music: "Tokyo Nights" by Snoozy Beats licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License (free download available from the Snoozy Beats page on Free Music Archive) -----More Music: "旅ゆけば" by Tinymemory (Dova Syndrome Music Materials License (dova-s .jp) _________

We're back with Frank from 5 AM Ramen for the second half of our conversation. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, maybe give that episode a listen first. This time we're talking about ramen's continuing evolution, the impact of YouTube & social media on small ramen shops, practical advice for first-time visitors and the people behind some of Japan's most memorable bowls. We also get into ramen reviews, neighborhood discoveries and Frank's choice for his ultimate last bowl of ramen. Tokyo ramen toursFood Tours Tokyo5 AM Ramen – YouTube channel⁠ — including Frank's completed Yamanote Line ramen series__________ This episode is brought to you by Japan Travel Pros. We make travel planning make sense. Clients from around the world trust our Japan-based local travel experts. We give you context and good judgment, and you get the confidence to travel to Japan your way. Get started at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠JapanTravelPros.com/plan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ __________ __________ Music: Island Travel - by Anonyment 旅ゆけば - by Tinymemory Investor Night - by Anonyment (all tracks with Dova Syndrome Music Materials License (dova-s .jp)  __________

Frank knows ramen. You might even say that Frank eats, sleeps & breathes ramen. Through 5AM Ramen, Frank has eaten hundreds of bowls a year (many years ongoing), explored ramen shops across Japan & beyond and built a career around sharing what he's learned through YouTube, ramen tours and hands-on experiences in Tokyo. In Part 1 of our conversation, Frank joins Ari to talk about growing up in Tokyo, his earliest ramen memories and how 5AM Ramen got started. We get into everything from instant ramen and late-night bowls to ramen tours, regional styles, tonkotsu, Jiro and the enormous variety that makes ramen such an interesting part of Japanese food culture. We also talk about Frank's own multicultural background and why ramen, despite its roots outside Japan, has become such a distinctly Japanese food while continuing to evolve. In this episode: Frank's earliest ramen memories growing up in TokyoWhere the name 5AM Ramen came fromHow Frank went from a ramen blog to running ramen tours and a popular YouTube channelWhat it's like eating 200~400 bowls of ramen a yearHow ramen tasting tours workWhy there's no single “right” way to enjoy ramenShio, miso, shoyu, tonkotsu & the incredible range of ramen stylesWhy ramen leaves so much room for experimentationThis is Part 1 of our conversation with Frank. Look for Part 2, where we get into how ramen is changing today, the influence of YouTube and social media, what happens when small local shops suddenly get international attention, and some practical advice for visiting ramen shops in Japan. Learn more about Frank and 5 AM Ramen: 5 AM Ramen5AMRamen.com Food Tour TokyoFoodTourTokyo.com You can also find 5 AM Ramen on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/c/5AMRamen __________ Brought to you by Japan Travel Pros. We make travel planning make sense. Clients from around the world trust our Japan-based local travel experts. We give you context and good judgment, and you get the confidence to travel to Japan your way. Get started at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠JapanTravelPros.com/plan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ __________ Episode Chapters: (00:00) Intro & Overview (03:05) Meet Frank (05:00) 5AM Ramen Origins (09:05) Ramen Tours in Tokyo (22:47) Eating 200-400 Bowls a Year (24:05) 5AM Ramen YouTube Channel (27:28) Ramen & Multi-Culture (31:30) Tonkotsu Ramen (39:10) Closing Thoughts __________ Music: Island Travel - by Anonyment 旅ゆけば - by Tinymemory Investor Night - by Anonyment (all tracks with Dova Syndrome Music Materials License (dova-s .jp)  __________

Restaurant ratings in Japan can be confusing. Why does the same restaurant have a 4.6 on Google Maps and a 3.48 on Tabelog? In this Quick Tip, Ari breaks down how to make sense of restaurant ratings and reviews in Japan, including: Why Google and Tabelog ratings shouldn't be compared directlyWhat a 3.4 or 3.5 on Tabelog actually meansWhy it helps to look at who's writing the reviews, not just the scoreWhen restaurant reservations make sense and why you don't need to plan every meal in advanceRatings & reviews can be useful tools. The key is knowing how to use them without letting them plan your trip for you. __________ Brought to you by Japan Travel Pros. We make travel planning make sense. Clients from around the world trust our Japan-based local travel experts. We give you context and good judgment, and you get the confidence to travel to Japan your way. Get started at ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠JapanTravelPros.com/plan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ __________ Music: Investor Night - by Anonyment (all tracks with Dova Syndrome Music Materials License (dova-s .jp)

In Part 2 of our conversation with Xander Soren, we pick up where we left off: with a drink in hand. If you haven't heard the Part 1 episode, we recommend listening to it here first. This time, we move from sake to wine and the story behind Xander Soren Wines. Xander explains how a personal project making small batches of California wine grew into a second career, and why Japan and Japanese food have been central to it from the beginning. We talk about what makes a wine work with Japanese food. Xander also shares how Japanese design influenced his branding, and how relationships with chefs and restaurants helped him establish the wines in Japan. We also cover cocktail bars, dining in Japan, Google & Tabelog ratings and the value of leaving room in your itinerary for places you didn't plan in advance. And to close out our conversation, Xander shares some practical advice for first-time visitors to Japan. Learn more about Xander Soren Wines https://xandersorenwines.com/ __________ Brought to you by Japan Travel Pros. We make travel planning make sense. Clients from around the world trust our Japan-based local travel experts. We give you context and good judgment, and you get the confidence to travel to Japan your way. Get started at ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠JapanTravelPros.com/plan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ __________ Episode Chapters: (00:00) Intro & Overview (01:32) Sake to Wine (06:00) Xander's Wine Story (27:10) Pairing with Japanese Food (30:50) Drinks in Japan Beyond Wine (35:44) Dining in Japan (44:34) Travel Tips (47:41) Closing Thoughts __________ Music: Island Travel - by Anonyment 旅ゆけば - by Tinymemory Investor Night - by Anonyment (all tracks with Dova Syndrome Music Materials License (dova-s .jp)  __________

What does working on the original iPod have to do with falling in love with Japan? Quite a bit, as it turns out. Xander Soren spent more than 20 years at Apple, working on products including the iPod and GarageBand. These days, he's a California wine producer with a longtime connection to Japan, curating wines designed specifically with Japanese food in mind. In Part 1 of our conversation, Xander takes us back to his years at Apple and working closely with Steve Jobs, including Jobs's own connection with Japan and the recommendations that helped shape Xander's early experiences in Kyoto. Xander has returned to Japan regularly since then and has watched international tourism here change dramatically along the way. We also talk about getting beyond the usual "best of" lists, connecting with people in restaurants, learning enough Japanese to open a few doors and paying attention to the craft behind what you're eating. And we get into sushi, why the rice deserves a lot more attention than it usually gets and Xander's growing appreciation for sake around Japan. Stay tuned for Part 2 with Xander, coming soon! __________ Brought to you by Japan Travel Pros. We make travel planning make sense. Clients from around the world trust our Japan-based local travel experts. We give you context and good judgment, and you get the confidence to travel to Japan your way. Get started at ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠JapanTravelPros.com/plan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ __________ Episode Chapters: (00:00) Intro & Overview (01:32) Meet Xander (07:51) Steve Jobs & Japan (16:25) Xander's Early Days in Japan (24:01) Avoiding Overtourism & Other Tips (29:45) Dining in Japan (38:12) Sake 日本酒 (45:13) Closing Thoughts __________ Music: Island Travel - by Anonyment 旅ゆけば - by Tinymemory Investor Night - by Anonyment (all tracks with Dova Syndrome Music Materials License (dova-s .jp)  __________ Xander Soren Wines: https://xandersorenwines.com/ NHK Documentary on Steve Jobs & Japan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDerjbyqYMs

There are more ways to fly to Japan than ever, with new routes, new gateways and more flights being added. That’s good news! But more choices don’t necessarily make choosing the right flight any easier. In this episode, we talk about new routes and increased capacity for flights to Japan… flying into Tokyo and home from Osaka… what an open-jaw ticket is & why nonstop isn’t always better … and how new flights to places like Sapporo and Okinawa can change the way you put a trip together. We also get into domestic flights that may be available as part of an international ticket, turning a connection elsewhere in Asia into a stopover and some of the less obvious things to think about before you hit the Buy button.  Because the best flight isn’t necessarily the cheapest flight, the shortest flight or even the nonstop flight. It’s the one that works best with the Japan trip you want to take. __________ Brought to you by Japan Travel Pros. We make travel planning make sense. Clients from around the world trust our Japan-based local travel experts. We give you context and good judgment, and you get the confidence to travel to Japan your way. Get started at ⁠⁠⁠⁠JapanTravelPros.com/plan __________ Episode Chapters: (00:00) Intro (00:52) Overview of routes & strategies (05:08) Flight Factors (10:27) New Routes & Added Capacity (14:33) Tips for Booking Flights (19:30) Closing Remarks with Ari __________ Theme Music: "Tokyo Nights" by Snoozy Beats licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License (free download available from the Snoozy Beats page on Free Music Archive) -----More Music: "旅ゆけば" by Tinymemory (Dova Syndrome Music Materials License (dova-s .jp) _________

In this episode we sit down with John and Josephine, hosts of the YouTube channel "Uncharted Japan". Check out Uncharted Japan on YouTube John and Josephine have spent years traveling around Japan, often finding some of their favorite experiences well beyond the places that dominate most Japan itineraries. Josephine also has an extraordinary connection to the country. Her family's history in Japan stretches back to 1861, and she grew up in Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. Together, John and Josephine created Uncharted Japan, a YouTube channel focused on the places, people, history and experiences they've discovered during their travels. In this episode, we talk about how they choose where to go, why they don't feel the need to cram every famous destination into a trip and what they've found by exploring more of regional Japan. We also get into castles, onsen and ryokan stays, renting a car in Japan, some memorable wrong turns and the remarkable encounter in a small rural community that helped inspire Uncharted Japan. And we talk about something that can have a surprisingly big influence on your own trip: the travel algorithm. When YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and even AI keep showing travelers the same places and experiences, it's easy to start building a trip around what keeps appearing on your screen rather than what you're actually interested in. There's nothing wrong with visiting Japan's famous destinations. We certainly aren't suggesting you skip Tokyo or Kyoto just to be different. But there's a lot more Japan out there, and sometimes the places you weren't originally looking for become the ones you remember most. __________ Brought to you by Japan Travel Pros. We make travel planning make sense. Clients from around the world trust our Japan-based local travel experts. We give you context and good judgment, and you get the confidence to travel to Japan your way. Get started at ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠JapanTravelPros.com/plan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ __________ Episode Chapters: (00:00) Intro & Overview (02:05) Meet John & Josephine (08:47) Planning Advice (13:00) Castles & Other Gems (21:50) Onsen Hot Springs (25:55) Local Japan vs What Visitors Tend to See (30:58) YouTube - Uncharted Japan (55:12) Takeaway Advice & Thoughts __________ Music: Island Travel - by Anonyment 旅ゆけば - by Tinymemory Investor Night - by Anonyment (all tracks with Dova Syndrome Music Materials License (dova-s .jp)  __________ The Uncharted Japan YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UnchartedJapanTravel ... and their travel blog & photos etc: https://unchartedjapan.net/ (Cover Art for this episode by Uncharted Japan)

When does fall actually start in Japan? You’ll see plenty of information out there describing September and October as autumn travel time in Japan. But if you’re picturing cool, crisp weather and fall colors, you may be surprised by what you actually find, especially in places like Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka. In this Quick Tip, Ari talks about what we’ve been seeing in Japan in recent years, why long-term weather averages may not give you the full picture and why fall weather & autumn colors don’t necessarily arrive around the same time. We’ll also look at how the timing changes depending on where you go, why November or even early-mid December may be a better fit if you’re hoping to experience autumn in much of Japan, and what to think about if your travel dates are already set. __________ Brought to you by Japan Travel Pros. We make travel planning make sense. Clients from around the world trust our Japan-based local travel experts. We give you context and good judgment, and you get the confidence to travel to Japan your way. Get started at ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠JapanTravelPros.com/plan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ __________ Music: Investor Night - by Anonyment (all tracks with Dova Syndrome Music Materials License (dova-s .jp)

What if the onsen isn't something you squeeze into a busy Japan itinerary, but a highlight of the trip itself? In this episode, Ari sits down with longtime friend Ken, who has spent much of his life traveling around Japan – often by car or motorcycle. After a long career in tech, Ken now has more time to explore the country and continue an ongoing search for his favorite onsen. Ken shares what he enjoys about staying at onsen ryokan, why winter is one of his favorite times to visit and why he often spends most of his stay doing little more than soaking, eating, relaxing and doing it all over again. Ari and Ken also talk about when driving makes sense in Japan, some of the challenges visitors should be prepared for on Japanese roads and how having a car can open up rural areas that aren't nearly as convenient to reach by train. Plus, we cover onsen etiquette, what first-time visitors should know about public bathing and one particularly memorable lesson Ari learned at an onsen in Hakodate. Sometimes sightseeing can wait until before check-in or after check-out. Once you're at the ryokan, the onsen might be all you need. __________ Brought to you by Japan Travel Pros. We make travel planning make sense. Clients from around the world trust our Japan-based local travel experts. We give you context and good judgment, and you get the confidence to travel to Japan your way. Get started at ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠JapanTravelPros.com/plan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ __________ Episode Chapters: (00:00) Intro & Overview (02:28) Meet Ken (04:20) Driving in Japan (12:03) Onsen Overview (21:00) Onsen Styles & Etiquette (29:55) Ari's Embarrassing Onsen Story (32:34) Advice for Travelers (38:56) Closing __________ Music: Island Travel - by Anonyment 旅ゆけば - by Tinymemory Investor Night - by Anonyment (all tracks with Dova Syndrome Music Materials License (dova-s .jp)  __________

If you’re planning a trip to Japan, you’ve probably heard about IC cards, JR Passes, Shinkansen tickets, SmartEX and plenty of other ways to pay for transportation. Sound complicated? It can seem that way at first, but we're here to help. In this Quick Tip, Ari breaks down the basics: what an IC card is, what it’s useful for, when you’ll still need a separate ticket and why most travelers probably don’t need a nationwide JR Pass. We also cover mobile IC cards, physical cards and whether you really need to link everything together before your trip. In this episode: What IC cards such as Suica and ICOCA are actually forMobile IC cards vs. physical cardsWhy overseas Android users will generally need a physical IC cardWhen an IC card isn’t enoughBuying point-to-point Shinkansen ticketsSmartEX and whether you need to link your IC cardWhy the nationwide JR Pass usually isn’t the answer __________ Brought to you by Japan Travel Pros. We make travel planning make sense. Clients from around the world trust our Japan-based local travel experts. We give you context and good judgment, and you get the confidence to travel to Japan your way. Get started at ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠JapanTravelPros.com/plan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ __________ Music: Investor Night - by Anonyment (all tracks with Dova Syndrome Music Materials License (dova-s .jp)

Adam first visited Japan in the early 1980s, expecting to stay for about a week (ended up staying over a month). More than forty years later, he keeps coming back again & again. In this episode, Ari sits down with Adam, an alumni client and friend of Japan Travel Pros, to talk about the places, experiences and moments that have made impressions over the years. Our conversation covers historic towns, onsen hot spring baths, Japanese service, department stores, great food, the Nakasendo Trail, Takayama and why Japan continues to inspire curiosity, even after many visits. Whether you're planning your first trip or thinking about returning, there's plenty here to help shape your own journey. __________ Brought to you by Japan Travel Pros. We make travel planning make sense. Clients from around the world trust our Japan-based local travel experts. We give you context and good judgment, and you get the confidence to travel to Japan your way. Get started at ⁠⁠⁠⁠JapanTravelPros.com/plan⁠⁠⁠⁠ __________ Episode Chapters: (00:00) Intro (01:42) Adam's Japan Origin Story (03:55) Japan Then & Now (09:00) Respect in Japanese Culture (13:37) Japan's Smaller Towns & Regions (33:29) Seeking Out Experiences (39:25) Advice for Travelers (45:38) Closing __________ Music: Island Travel - by Anonyment 旅ゆけば - by Tinymemory Investor Night - by Anonyment (all tracks with Dova Syndrome Music Materials License (dova-s .jp)  __________

James is from Canada. Junko grew up in Osaka. Together they’ve now made three trips to Japan, and each one has been different. In this episode, we talk about James’s first trip to Japan, what it was like experiencing the country with Junko and her family, and how their travels have changed as they keep coming back. James shares some of those first-trip moments that stand out, from arriving in Japan and being overwhelmed by Osaka Station to discovering just how hot a Japanese summer can be. We also talk about their wedding in Nara and how returning to Japan has gradually given them more opportunities to travel beyond the familiar first-time destinations. Their most recent trip included Hokkaido, Kochi and Kanazawa, along with driving in Japan, exploring the countryside and a day making a Japanese kitchen knife with local craftspeople in Kochi. Junko also shares what it’s been like seeing her own country through James’s eyes, including places and details she might otherwise have taken for granted. Along the way, we get into some practical lessons for anyone planning a trip: choosing what actually matters to you, dealing with crowds and lines, knowing when an early start is worth it, leaving room for alternatives and remembering that you don’t have to discover everything on your first trip. Because there’s a pretty good chance you’ll want to come back. __________ Brought to you by Japan Travel Pros. We make travel planning make sense. Clients from around the world trust our Japan-based local travel experts. We give you context and good judgment, and you get the confidence to travel to Japan your way. Get started at ⁠⁠⁠⁠JapanTravelPros.com/plan⁠⁠⁠ __________ Episode Chapters: (00:00) Intro (01:36) Meet Junko & James (03:20) 1st Japan Trip Together (17:38) Food in Japan (33:08) Repeat Visits to Japan (41:55) Hokkaido & Driving (44:44) Kochi Countryside (47:15) Advice for Travelers (53:58) Closing __________ Music: Island Travel - by Anonyment 旅ゆけば - by Tinymemory Investor Night - by Anonyment (all tracks with Dova Syndrome Music Materials License (dova-s .jp)  __________