Japan Travel Smart

Travel Smart Productions

Japan Travel Smart is a biweekly podcast all about the joy of travel through Japan far and wide, from the perspective of a frequent traveler who just can’t get enough of the place that does it best.

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20 episodes
Updated July 21

Episodes20

Newest first

July 21 · 30 min
9 unsung marvels of Japanese cuisine to try on your visit
This episode exists because there are really popular dishes in Japan that need a bigger international spotlight, including Western-inspired and regional staples. These are my 9 picks for food you ought to try in Japan! Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay
July 5 · 36 min
Tokyo as I enjoy it
This time around, I finally decide to cover Tokyo without going into the obvious. Actually, we are throwing out the guidebook for this one, because it's all about how I personally approach the city! Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay
June 9 · 30 min
Hacking the Japan travel experience
Sit back and tune in to another carefully crafted episode of JTS with unconventional tricks and tips inspired from personal experience alone to vastly enhance anyone's independent discovery of Japan! Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay
May 17 · 29 min
Ultimate pre-travel checklist for Japan!
In the age of increasingly ambitious and complex independent travel itineraries, it becomes incredibly easy to mess up your best possible travel plans. Take every scenario into consideration by maintaining your own pre-travel checklist! We'll tell you everything to account for on this episode of JTS! Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay
April 26 · 36 min
The underrated prefecture right beside Kyoto and Osaka
Be inspired to visit more than one popular destination in Hyogo, a stone’s throw away from Kyoto and Osaka! Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! Kobe -Nada Sake District: Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Museum, Hamafukutsuru, Sakuramasamune Museum Sakuraen, Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum, Kobe Shushinkan -Kitanocho: Weathercock House, Moegi House, Kitano Foreigner’s Association, Kitanocho Square, Kitano Tenman Shrine -Sannomiya -Harborland, Meriken Park Mount Rokko Area -Rokko Garden Terrace -Alpine Botanical Garden, Musical Box Museum Arima Onsen -Arima Cider -Taikou-no-Yu Hot Spring Himeji -Himeji Castle -Nada no Kenka Matsuri Takeda Castle Ruins Kinosaki Onsen Area -Public bathhouses -Toyooka Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay
April 5 · 21 min
Around Japan with just a carry-on
Traveling in Japan for weeks at a time while packing just a carry-on: Is it feasible or even possible? Find out on this episode of JTS! Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay
March 15 · 40 min
The konbini AND Japanese supermarket geek-out episode!
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! Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! 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! Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay
March 1 · 26 min
[RE-RECORDED] Smart to visit: A sampler escapade on the revitalized coast of Iwate
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! Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! 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 Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay
February 15 · 23 min
[RE-RECORDED] 9 understated Japan survival tips
What is some travel advice applicable to Japan that no one is really bringing up? Find out in this episode! Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay
February 1 · 24 min
[RE-RECORDED] My 9 favorite online resources for where to visit and what to do in Japan!
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: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay
January 19 · 6 min
An update about upcoming episodes
Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee at Ko-Fi! Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay
January 18 · 29 min
The easiest way to include Shikoku in ANY Japan Travel plan!
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: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay
Dec 28, 2025 · 30 min
Japan forever changed: Thoughts on the state of tourism and travel in Japan
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: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay
Dec 7, 2025 · 39 min
9 insane tourist traps of Tokyo (and our perfectly sane alternatives)
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: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay
Nov 16, 2025 · 26 min
The well-trodden Nara and the hidden Nara
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: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay
Oct 26, 2025 · 26 min
9 more tips for saving money on a Japan trip!
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: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay
Oct 5, 2025 · 23 min
Smart to visit: Northern Tohoku - Aomori and Akita prefectures
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: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay
Sep 14, 2025 · 29 min
Learn from my most egregious mistakes traveling in Japan!
Everyone screws up traveling in Japan. But especially me. Find out more on this episode. Business contact and listener feedback: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay
Aug 24, 2025 · 19 min
The vast, lush frontier: national parks of Hokkaido
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: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay
Aug 3, 2025 · 28 min
Bike sharing services: super convenient!
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: japantravelsmart@gmail.com X (Twitter) Instagram Music by Reza Alvin from Pixabay