I'm absolutely delighted to announce the earthquake documentary is finally out on Abroad in Japan.
A huge thank you to each and every one of you for supporting us and making it possible.
As I mentioned before, it's the single most expensive video we've produced in 12 years and I hope you'll agree it was for a worthy cause.
When we set out to produce this documentary, the main focus was actually Tokyo. We wanted to dig into the preparations the city had made in anticipation of the mega-earthquake.
And yet, on our shoot in Noto and the town of Wajima, we were absolutely shocked to find the town had been completely destroyed - despite being barely covered by the media.
If this documentary does one good thing, it's share the town's story with the world. It's been severely neglected and I hope the coverage this project brings, is able to somehow do some good. I hope to return there in 2025.
We also explore Tokyo's insane $2bn underground cave, meet Governor Koike and experience a terrifying earthquake simulation.
Enough talking from me though, please watch the documentary for yourself!
Hey guys, At long last, I'm delighted to finally share with you the trailer for the upcoming earthquake documentary we've been painstakingly working on these last few months!
Filming mostly took place in August and September and since then the team have been editing the episode and doing lots of the more mundane aspects of production, such as clearing footage.
And at long last, we're just a week away from the launch of the documentary. šæ Watch:https://youtu.be/1pPl_KwXvOw
The documentary is about 36 minutes long and takes us across the country from a rural destroyed town in the opening days of 2024, to the heart of Tokyo to find answers as to how likely a mega earthquake is and what kind of devastating affect it would have.
As a Patreon backed project, thank you to everyone who made this possible. It simply wouldn't have been possible without your support - it was the most expensive single video we're produced in 12 years and having seen the finished documentary, it's one I'm very proud to have been a part of.
Before then however, we have the launch of the 21 Days in Japan video out tomorrow! A huge sequel to last year's 14 Days in Japan episode, and in case you missed it, we did have a somewhat more sombre video out yesterday about my thoughts on certain individuals.
- I won't dwell on it here, but thanks for all the kind words I received.
For now guys, enjoy the trailer and please have yourselves a wonderful Saturday! Best,
Delighted to announce this month's Patreon stream will be tonight (23:00 Japan time) on Sunday 1st December. We've got a wild month ahead and in between catching up and answering any questions you guys might have, I'll be sharing some of the highlights from the weeks ahead!
Firstly, you might have noticed it's been quieter than a Tokyo train carriage on Abroad in Japan this month. Unfortunately, I spent the first half of November knocked out by a viral infection. Iām usually pretty lucky that I donāt get sick that often; Family Mart Chicken is very vitamin rich after all.
The very good news is, the rest of November was spent shooting and producing no less than 5 new videos and this December, we'll be ending 2024 in epic fashion.
So what's been going on? Wacky Weekend (x2) This month, Mr Dawg and I shot two Wacky Weekends back-to-back (which you should never do).
First, we headed to the tropical paradise of Okinawa (my god, I didnāt want to come back to Tokyo) where Connor traumatised me with some water sports in an erstwhile attempt to burst my eardrumāagain.
Then we returned to Kyushu for a bit of a Bond themed trip. I've always been afraid of hopping in a helicopter, but figured it was time to shut up and get over it. And I have to say, it certainly didn't fucking help that we arrived to find our pilot dressed in a Pikachu costume.
Still once we were up there, I didn't want to come back down. It was genuinely an incredible experience - and now I demand an Abroad in Japan helicopter.
We also slept on Japan's cheapest overnight train, hiked up a volcano, and attempted to survive a camping trip gone wrong, when we were surrounded by an army of hungry feral cats (photos below). Connor's Wacky Weekend in Okinawa will drop on his channel imminently, whereas the Abroad in Japan one will be up in mid-December! Stay tuned. -------------------------------------------- 21 Days in Japan The title might sound like a 90's romcom, but don't be fooled. It's the best goddam Japan itinerary video out this year.
With the great Pete Donaldson and I reunited in Japan for the first time since 2020 this week, we promptly went on a road trip with Natsuki to Nikko! It was actually my first time somehow and I have to say, it was a stunning area.
The national park felt like the Garden of Eden and the Toshogu Shrine itself, commemorating the all powerful ruler Tokugawa Ieyasu, was utterly jaw dropping in scale. It is without a doubt the most impressive shrine I've ever laid eyes upon.
But Nikko was the final piece of the puzzle in this year's '21 Days in Japan,' video the successor to last year's '14 Days in Japan' itinerary episode.
Despite everything we put out last year, 14 days in Japan was our biggest video of 2023 and by popular request, weāve produced a sequel to be proud of. -------------------------------------------- Earthquake Documentary Meanwhile, Iāve been working with the team to put the finishing touches on the Earthquake Documentary, also dropping in December. I'm really proud of the story we told and the spotlight we shone on the victims of this yearās tragic Noto earthquake.
But the overall theme is preparing travellers for the spectre of the mega earthquake which still looms large in Japan in the coming years. Itās a Patreon backed production and one I hope youāll be proud to have been a part of.
AND BECAUSE THAT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH, I also spent a day working at a Japanese hotel up in Yamagata for yet another video, sat down in the studio for a commentary episode on the quirks of Japanese culture and also started work shooting a new documentary for early 2025, involving a town that got destroyed by a volcano - a project Iāve been wanting to produce for a long time now. More on that early next year.
There's no doubt 2024 has been a pretty spectacular year so far - the above videos should be the perfect way to end the year on a high note.
And of course there'll be plenty of Patreon bonus content to follow! (Especially on the epic wacky weekend).
Thanks for your support as always guys, have a fantastic end to to the week and buckle up for an incredible Christmas season on Abroad in Japan.
In the spirit of Halloween, and the absence of a scary episode this year, what with being off on trains and eating endless food in Tokyo in recent videos, I wanted to list off the top 5 scariest moments from Abroad in Japan!
This doesnāt include videos that are scary due to safety risks, ie. Every single damn trip with Ryotaro.
These are videos that are genuinely creepy or unsettling in some way - and Iāve ranked them in order below, along with the awesome Patreon behind the scenes videos that accompanied many of them! Particularly the love hotel episode which had to be censored on Youtube.
These are amongst my favourite videos ever produced on Abroad in Japan and dare I say, rather timeless! I'm really proud that every single one of them were funded through Patreon as well.
As always guys, a huge thanks for making them possible. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5) Japanās Most Haunted Tunnel (2018
Back on the original Journey Across Japan, our first guest was Joey the Animeman and in honour of Halloween (as it was October) we had to find a scary location.
Joey, being the ever savvy researcher, discovered a Japanese website listening off abandoned places and came across the tunnel, which had been closed after a tragic car crash within. Upon discovering the tunnel it was easy to see how said crash had happened, given the tunnel was so narrow, even I would have trouble getting through it after a trip to a buffet.
Within the tunnel, it was remarkably dark and with only the flimsiest of torches at our disposal, we caught sight of an ominous stain on the wall that seemed to resemble Joeyā¦
Japanās most haunted inn doesnāt look that haunted. It looks like a rather modern, renovated inn. Tragically about a decade ago it burned down, though thankfully the shrine at the back of the inn remained safe, said to be thanks to the child ghost, the legendary Zashiki Warishi.
Many Japanese spirits are said to be a force for good and the Zashiki Warishi is one of them, though he does play pranks and interact with guests, almost like a poltergeist.
The inn lies in a remote northern mountain range in Iwate and weāve stayed at the hotel twice over the years, first with Ryotaro and most recently with Sharla and on both occasions, strange things have happened.
On a trip with Ryotaro, a figure of a bird randomly fell of a shelf and with Sharla a random powerful gust of wind nearly knocked us off our feet amidst the shrine. One moment it was calm, the next minute after a few remarks about the ghost, a perfectly time gust of wind swept through the shrine in an almost Spielbergian manner.
But regardless, haunted or not, the fact the inn embraces its haunted past and encourages guests to go out at night and explore, gives it an atmosphere unlike anywhere else Iāve stayed in Japan.
3) Britainās Most Haunted Prison & Church | Wacky Weekend (2022)
Itās not the nicest thing to discover youāre about to sleep in a prison cell where a man had hung himself above your bed. Joey and I slept in the UKās most haunted prison, while the night before Connor and I slept in an unsettling church from a Charles Dickens novel.
In some respects, the Church creeped me out more - Iāll never forget waking up at 3am to ominous creaking noises and looking around in a moment of startled realisation, that I was sleeping in a church. It wasnāt normal.
Meanwhile in Shelton Mallet prison, Joey had a jump scare and eagle eyed viewers spotted a ghostly figure in the background of the video. Make of it what you will, but it was a rough two nights of filming! šæ Watch Patreon Episode:https://youtu.be/is1kBzuryrg --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Inside Japanās Abandoned Love Hotel | Journey Across Japan (2020)
The closest thing Abroad in Japan has to a found footage horror movie. On Journey Across Japan 2, Natsuki, Joey and I chanced upon an abandoned love hotel in a remote corner of Nagano.
As we made our way through, Natsuki encountered a bat and each room got more unsettling by the minute as grim drawings were found on the wall, depicting a shocking and violent act.
Genuinely terrifying from the moment we entered the grisly concrete staircase, Iām not sure Natsuki has forgiven me for this yet!
You can watch the uncensored Patreon version of the video here! šæ WatchPatreon Episode:https://youtu.be/932OBaMLLBA --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Inside Japanās Abandoned Theme Park | Wacky Weekend (2021)
Officially the abandoned love hotel video is the scariest for what was featured in the video. But unofficially, for me personally this video is by far the most terrifying.
For some context, in this video Connor and I explored an abandoned theme park which set the ominous tone from the get-go.
On the night segment however, we explored an abandoned shipyard in an extremely remote region of Yamagata. Without phone signal, we wandered through a swamp, in a region famous for bear attacks and into a crumbling mouldy building to discover various drugs and needles littering the site.
At one point Natsuki almost stabbed himself in the face with a rusty needle on a collapsed door.
For me, the trip was a turning point that made me take a step back from exploring abandoned places, as it simply wasnāt worth putting anyone in harms way.
It remains my most terrifying memory of a single location and one that couldāve gone a lot worse had luck not been on our side. Such was the trauma, the next few Wacky Weekends were spent in much more pleasant backdrops.
Thereās a massive Patreon behind the scenes of the episode with Natsuki and Connor, worth checking out here!
Hey guys, Hope you've all had a great week so far!
Delighted to say tomorrow I'll be holding our monthly Patreon live show and in celebration of Halloween we'll be taking a look at some of the scariest Abroad in Japan moments of all time!
From abandoned love hotels and haunted tunnels, to an unsettling prison and a bleak discovery in an abandoned shipyard with Connor and Natsuki.
I'll be revealing what really happened behind the scenes in 5 of the scariest moments we've captured on camera!
At long last we've just released an epic bumper HOUR LONG video in which myself and a motley crew of suspiciously eager volunteers try each of the unique iconic Japanese dishes at some of the best restaurants Tokyo has to offer.
Featuring Sharla, Connor, Pete, Natsuki, Alex and even Ryotaro, we got to a whopping 12 restaurants, showing you the full buffet of culinary treats awaiting you in Tokyo.
Shot over the course of 10 very intensive days in September, by the end of it I never wanted food again. But then watching this in the edit made me disgustingly hungry and now I want to revisit all the restaurants for round 2.
Over those 10 hot and tiring days we filmed a crazy amount of footage and there were a lot of funny moments that painfully ended up on the cutting room floor.
Check out this epic Patreon Exclusive video to see some of those deleted scenes if you're hungry for more and want to hear the final word on what my favourite stops on our tour were.
I think one of the crowning achievements of the Abroad in Japan channel is that after 12 years, we've done a successful job of steering clear of any Youtube drama.
For sure, we've had a few moments - after all, we did release a video on foreign influencers last year, causing havoc in Japan, but it was less about drama and more about covering an ongoing news story that affected foreign tourists in the country.
With all that in mind, last week I found myself in the rare position of going viral for a rant about Logan Paul and Mr Beast and finding myself caught up in stupid internet drama - an event that certainly wasn't on my bingo card for this month.
I'm sure many of you guys saw the clips, the headlines, the tweets (one tweet is currently at 160,000 likes) with ominous photos of Mr Beast and my angry face, screenshotted mid sentence (god damn it).
It was certainly a bizarre turn of events, almost like living a double life.
On the one hand, I found myself in the mountains of central Japan, helping Sharla film a video in Takayama - one of my favourite places in Japan. We cycled through rice fields, spent an evening with a farmer and even watched an elderly skilled craftsman carve a spoon from a single piece of wood. It was beyond idyllic.
And yet, the moment I withdrew my phone from my pocket, I entered my worst nightmare. An online battleground - albeit mostly on Twitter, which I've subsequently deleted from my phone
So why did I choose to do this to myself?
And why - despite it all, do I not regret what I said.
And what the hell did I say?! For those that missed the video, the short answer is, I publicly declared my dislike for Mr Beast's videos and re-declared my dislike for Logan Paul.
On the surface, there's nothing inherently controversial there.
I don't see the issue with publicly stating you're not a fan of somebody's Youtube videos. Hell, I'm sure there's plenty of folks who can't stand me and my cynical British ways - and that is of course, is completely fine. Everyone is allowed their opinion.
Except it's no secret, that publicly declaring one's dislike for Mr Beast's videos is considered a cardinal sin. Behind closed doors, most Youtubers I know speak critically but never step out of line. It's something of an unwritten rule not to burn the many, many bridges that link back to Mr Beast.
After all, with all his highly publicised philanthrophy work, how could one ever speak ill of such a heroic individual?
It's true, aspects of the philanthropy are doubtlessly impressive and have done good. Even a grumpy cynic like myself can appreciate that. I've marvelled at some of the good things that have been done over the years.
But the problem for me lies in the cynical nature of using charity work as a shield or defense mechanism against legitimate public criticism, as has happened on several occasions, most notably last year when Jacksepticeye made some comments about disliking Mr Beast's content, only for a swift, childish outburst from Mr Beast garishly declaring in a tweet "I've inspired kids".
If someone publicly stated that they disliked the angry white guy in Japan who looks like Elon Musk, I wouldn't rebut their opinions with "How dare you! I've ridden a bike for charity! I've inspired children!"
You might be wondering, Indeed but what the heck has this got to do with you? Why do you care?
And it's a fair question - this isn't my fight.
But as you guys may recall back in 2018 I had to go on Japanese television, on the biggest morning news show and explain the activities of Logan Paul to several million viewers. I say activities, it was more an abject trail of destruction; from throwing objects at strangers in the street, and throwing fish around in public to thoughtlessly filming somebody who'd taken their own life and exploiting it for views.
I believe in forgiving and forgetting if somebody can learn from their mistakes and move on to become a better person. But nothing in Logan Paul's character would suggest that is the case.
Type his name into a search box and brace yourself for a proverbial flood of awful headlines.
So to see Mr Beast gleefully partner with Logan Paul to sell crappy 'Lunchly' snacks to children was something of a last straw. (And if that isn't bad enough, this week has seen wave after wave of photos posted online of mouldy Lunchly snacks).
For all of Mr Beast's feats, few are greater than convincing people of his altruistic nature. Many people revere him as some sort of second coming of Christ, thanks to the many awkward smiling thumbnails clutching money.
Seeing him partner with Logan Paul was a huge mistake that perhaps revealed the motivations of the man beneath - that perhaps charitable acts and unbridled altruism weren't the guiding star after all.
If you're willing to partner with a man who's most notable incident is filming somebody who's tragically committed suicide, to sell a questionable food product aimed at children, all in the name of making money, then you've long since lost your moral compass.
It honestly shouldn't require much analysis to realise this.
Particularly for a man who professes to spend all of their time "analysing algorithms". It would suggest, amidst his incredible analytical skills, he determined the making of money outweighed all else.
Most notably, having some fucking principles.
So do I regret it all?
- No.
It sounds strange perhaps, but as a Youtuber/influencer person myself, I'm concerned at the power and influence such folks can wield. I want to live in a world where influencers genuinely do good, to inform, educate, entertain, and not at the expense of others.
And while my faith in influencers continues to be shaken, for the most part seeing the response of broad public support and receiving messages from other Youtubers behind closed doors, at least gave me some much needed reassurance in humanity itself.
The real tragedy is knowing that having burned the bridges of the Beast empire, I will likely never be invited on to a Mr Beast video to roll around in a puddle of shit and desperately beg for his approval like countless other Youtubers.
But it's the unfortunate price I'll pay for speaking my mind.
--------------------
Thanks guys for your continued faith in me and for the kind words of support I saw amidst all this drama nonsense.
In happier news, we've got an epic video out this weekend guys so keep an eye out!
I'll post separately when it's uploaded along with the Patreon BTS.
Like all great interviews, I walked into Tokyo's imposing Metropolitan Government building on two hours sleep.
It happened with Ken Watanabe and it happened with Tokyo's all powerful Governor Koike, albeit, under different circumstances. The night before meeting Ken Watanabe I was genuinely bloody nervous, as it all seemed too good to be true.
Fearing I was somehow going to blow the whole thing, my body didn't let me sleep the night before and I remember feeling numb during our first encounter; numb from the lack of energy essentially under-powering my nerves.
Still I made it through.
With Governor Koike, while I was a touch nervous, it was instead a brutal work schedule that led me to climb into bed at 2pm and awaken at 5am to shoot a scene at Shibuya Crossing in the morning, when the place is unnervingly quiet.
From 5am till 2pm I found myself filming the final scenes of the epic earthquake documentary from the roof of Tokyo's second tallest skyscraper, to the busiest crossing at dawn and then inside the twin towered megastructure that is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building in Shinjuku. (It's got a solid observation deck worth checking out!)
Governor Koike is one of Japan's most powerful politicians, having overseen the running of the world's largest city since 2016 and prior to that in various cabinet positions, which is probably why her appearance was preceded by a literal army of PR staff.
I shit you not, there were at least seven members of staff working for her PR team who came in, during the hour setting up the equipment and carefully watched the whole endeavour.
Apparently, it's the first time she's appeared on a Youtube channel so they weren't taking any chances. Thankfully, the PR army were very kind and dare I say, a few were actual viewers of Abroad in Japan, delighted at our presence.
It made me wish I too had an army of public relations experts to keep my Family mart fried chicken comments in check.
The set up was undeniably spectacular.
By the end of preparations, the backdrop looked like a conference room on the fucking Death Star.
Koike walked in with crutches, given a recent highly publicised incident where she tripped while playing baseball on national television, spraining her leg and I was surprised how she seemed a lot less imposing in person, compared to her public persona.
After all, this is a woman that I vividly recall one of my Japanese teacher colleagues referred to as "very scary".
Far from it though, we had a good long 30 minute interview and though I felt completely out of it throughout, it turned out rather well and will no doubt be a solid 1-2 minutes in the actual documentary itself. (I can't wait for the PR team to realise we've massacred the interview right down to about 5% of the total shoot).
The earthquake documentary that's secretly dominated my schedule for the last two months or so has finally wrapped filming and the painstaking post production work is now under way! I pray to god it does well, as the whole team has done a top job on this one and above all, it's a serious topic that demands highlighting.
Still, we all know Youtube is where documentaries go to die unfortunately.
And who knows, now Koike and I have been acquainted, maybe I can pull off a "Day in the Life of Tokyo Governor" video sometime in the not so distant future - or at the very least, get her a complimentary cheeseboard down at Lost Bar.
It's been a funny old year meeting people in high places; Kings, Emperors, Prime Ministers and Governors.
Through honestly it's rammed home one thing.
- They're all just people.
Strip away the pomp and the pedestals and they're just other people wearing rather fetching clothing. It's all pretty humbling stuff.
And perhaps even disappointing, given how humans seem to wish thereās something greater than ourselves - that rockstars, film stars, writers and politicians operate on another level so we have something to aspire to. Something to believe in. (Although to be fair, David Bowie ticked that box).
The first time I met the rockstar Hyde, I was in awe.
After all, I met him at a venue where 2,000 people were literally queueing up to buy credit card, t-shirts and posters emblazoned with his face. It was the full rock star experience.
Fast forward to this year and I was in a bar in Tokyo with a friend and Hyde appeared out of nowhere, disguised in a gritty hoody and perched himself down at my table where we (drunkenly) chatted for the first time in half a decade like two old friends catching up.
It was only half way through I reminded myself, wait a minute - this man is one of Japan's biggest rock stars beloved by millions.And he's just sitting here showing me his tattoos in the corner of a bar.
I'll admit it was rather cool.
- Should've vlogged it.
People often ask which famous person I want to interview next and honestly I'm not that fussed. Give me a regular person with a compelling story any day - another Natsuki.
(Although to be fair, I wouldn't say no to hanging out with Hiroyuki Sanada).
And speaking of Natsuki we've just spent a whole week shooting exotic locations in west Japan for another massive upcoming video (guess the location).
In the meantime, he appears in today's brand new video with some groundbreaking acting.
We've got another episode out in the next few days so keep an eye out, but for now, check out today's 12 Unspoken Rules video on Abroad in Japan, if you missed it guys and above all have yourself a fantastic weekend!
12 Unspoken Rules NOT to Break in Japan | Abroad in Japan
In the latest Abroad in Japan episode, to celebrate Natsuki's birthday we whisked him off to his dream destination of Amanohashidate - the so called "third best" view in all of Japan. There was just one problem; lots of things went wrong.
I reveal all amongst a montage of outtakes, bloopers and deleted scenes on the Patreon exclusive episode.
For the first time since February, Iāve been on a break and itās done me a world of good.
August came at great cost; in the space of one month we launched Lost Bar in Shibuya, shot three videos and one major documentary and I handed in the first chapter of the second (and in all likelihood final) book that I plan to write.
All the while scurrying like a rat between various buildings in Tokyo, desperately seeking shelter below roaring air conditioning units, away from the formidable summer heat, which has been the highest ever on record.
As a result, I spent a week in bed ill and started to wonder what on Earth Iām doing with my life. Admittedly, it was unfortunate the bar launched two months late (due to some frustrating interior designers) and collided with the production of the long planned documentary, which Iāll get on to in a moment.
But despite all the chaos of August, to my immense relief, Lost Bar has been a fantastic success so far, rammed every night and off to a very encouraging start. Hell, the Japan Times wrote a wonderful article which you can check out here, complete with my cackling, maniacal, Bond villain face. What a photo.
Iāve swung by over a dozen times since the doors opened, perched down alongside bemused viewers and promptly drank the night away. One night I sat down next to a lone pilot at the bar counter and discovered the secrets of being a long haul freight pilot over a small mountain of cheese.
Another time, I sat down with a couple that had got engaged the night before in Yoyogi park and celebrated with a round of Too Much Volcano. For all the hell spent preparing and launching the bar, any regrets have been swept away since the doors opened to the public.
Consumed with the launch of the bar for almost the last two months though, at last I feel unshackled to get back to work on making videos and today I want to chat with you guys about what lies ahead.
First off, weāve got an awesome event compliments of the great Ian Rudd - the legendary producer behind every single Journey Across Japan series and all three of the epic Cyclethons. In October, heās holding a week-long event dedicated to showcasing artists in Tokyo through his brand Artedly.
And it kicks off with a Journey Across Japan event, where Iāll be joining to sit down to chat about the highs and lows of JAJ, and do a fun Q&A with the audience. Before I promote it publicly, as always I wanted to share it with you guys here first! Itās on Saturday 5th October in Tokyo, 7pm - 10pm.
As I mentioned at the start, Iāve been on a holiday. And I use the word āholidayā liberally, as instead of spending it on a beach rolling around in some sand and splashing in some water (the British dream), Iāve actually spent most of the ten days popping in and out of book shops in search of ideas and inspiration and just taken a step back from work.
On paper this year has been a pretty spectacular year, between the Abroad in Japan book being the No.1 bestselling book in the UK for six weeks, the $1m raised with Connor on the Cyclethon, the launch of Lost Bar and the trip to Buckingham Palace. And Iām generally pleased with the videos weāve released this year such as the trip around the Yamanote Line, spending a day chatting with strangers in rural Japan for a day in the life video, and staying overnight in an inn without electricity (much to my companionās dismay).
But thereās also this feeling that itās all a bit business as usual. Entertaining videos go out, folks watch them and have a laugh and then forget about them. Thereās not much in the way of lasting impact, no important message to be shared. (Unless of course, āpizza you can walk withā is a revelation Iāve underestimated).
For all the distractions of books and bars, I live for making videos. Thatās what I love, thatās why Iām still doing this after 12 years. I enjoy it immensely.
But I know I can do better.
Of all the times I run into viewers, it hasnāt gone unnoticed which videos get quoted the most; the few times I take myself seriously. The documentaries - from the episode on the Fukushima nuclear disaster to interviewing victims of the Tohoku Tsunami. Theseare the stories that matter.
Iām proud that the former CEO of Youtube, Susan Wojcicki, who tragically passed away this year, was moved enough by the documentary to publicly share it.
And so with all that in mind, in the final months of this year, I plan to pivot the channel to producing higher end documentary form content kicking off with the most expensive single video weāve ever produced on Abroad in Japan; an hour long special on the mega earthquake. Iāve tried to keep it under wraps, as Iāve learned my lessons from the past when I rant and rave about a video and then something goes wrong, so I wonāt spoil too much here today.
But over August we shot 80% of the documentary around Japan and interviewed some remarkable individuals whose stories Iām desperate to share. Itās shaping up to be an extraordinary documentary - all of which, Iām delighted to say, is funded entirely by you guys here on Patreon.
All of the upcoming documentaries we plan to produce will be funded by Patreon, so weāll be redoubling our efforts here on the platform going forward with more behind the scenes content.
But I look forward to making you guys proud for funding the videos we make in the coming months, both in this documentary and in the several others that are currently in pre-production. It's definitely a risky path, but one that feels right to pursue.
That aside, weāre also exploring producing another feature on Natsuki, as heās a little older and wiser since Natsuki: The Movie (I think?!) and in a recent video discussing how Japan had changed, his segment was rather stark and profound.
When he sticks to Japanese and talks about a serious topic, Natsuki is a compelling storyteller and I've come to believe thereās a whole side to his character that we may have neglected over the years. (Though letās face it, it's also rather cathartic witnessing him telling people to go fuck themselves).
Also, while thankfully there are no plans for a ātubathonā, Connor and I have also been working on a large scale Wacky Weekend project, more akin to āWacky Weekā for the final months of this year, which should fill the void left by the absence of Journey Across Japan this year.
And on a final note, weāve still got three videos coming out in the coming week or two! The next one is an āAbroad Investigationā travelling with the aforementioned Natsuki, to visit Japanās āthird most scenic sightā to see if it lived up to the hype in a rather far-flung location.
The second video involves me eating a sandwich on a train.
And the third episode is the second longest video of the year; a MASSIVE in depth review of Japanās quintessential dishes with an all star cast of characters joining us, as we work our way through a dozen of Japanās top restaurants. It sounds like a dream, but it was a huge production to undertake and an even bigger edit to work through.
So know that while the last two weeks have been seemingly quiet, weāre gearing up for a very big end to 2024. I'm excited to dream up content that's less about getting views and more about covering meaningful topics. The time has come to really take things up a level and 2025 will be the year, I hope, that comes to define the channel in a new light and potentially have a much larger impact. I hope we can raise the bar for high end content here on Youtube.
In the meantime guys, if you can join our Journey Across Japan event be sure to snap up tickets fast (before they become public in the coming days) and in case you missed the epic Patreon exclusive Q&A be sure to check that out as well.
Patreon Exclusive: Ask Me Anything šæ WATCH:https://youtu.be/bxB9GIKukLA Now back to the edit! Enjoy the rest of your weekend guys - see you in the week,
Some insane things to discuss this month, from the launch of our very own bar in Shibuya, the Cyclethon 3 episode and work starting on the the second book.
But what lies ahead for the rest of the year?
Looking forward to chatting, answering your questions and giving you all the behind the scenes gossip you deserve.
The last week has certainly been bloody hectic, in between chatting with folks and knocking back cocktails at Lost bar, the launch of the cycle video, today's Abroad in Japan Q&A and filming in Kyoto with Natsuki for a video out early next month!
(Not to mention shooting a seriously important earthquake documentary in between).
All against the backdrop of one of the hottest summers I can recall in 12 years, with humidity off the charts and relentless typhoons inbound!
BUT the fun doesn't stop there.
We now have the awesome PATREON EXCLUSIVE Q&A, answering all your burning questions and it's the BIGGEST one I've ever done. There were honestly so many damn good questions, I tried to answer as many as I could!It's a great chance to answer some of those more private questions I'm not necessarily overly keen to chat about in full public view on Abroad in Japan as well.
And as a bonus, we've also got the first ever look inside Lost Bar awaiting you at the end of the video, a Patreon exclusive of the upcoming epic bar tour out this weekend.
These Q&A's are always a lot of fun to do as they're a great opportunity to discuss topics that wouldn't warrant a whole video, as well as make some silly sketches along the way, and in this one we even got to pick the great mind of Natsuki the man himself, something I'm keen to do more in the future.
For now though, I hope you enjoy the Q&A(s) and keep an eye out for the full bar video later this week!
In 12 years of producing Youtube videos, this has to be a career highlight and I'm delighted to present nothing short of an epic FEATURE LENGTH MOVIE of our epic 1,200km adventure across Japan with the most amazing team of friends; Connor, Pete, Natsuki, Garnt and Felix, raising $1million for the Immune Deficiency Foundation.
Shot and edited beautifully by the great cameraman Paul, join us from the shores of Hiroshima, to the cherry blossom of Himeji castle, to the madness of Legoland and the crazy finale at Tokyo Tower.
On another note, our bar 'Lost' is now finally open to the public. Thanks to those of you who attended our event last week and I look forwarding to seeing you guys in the bar in the coming weeks and months.
The video tour of the bar will drop on Abroad in Japan towards the end of next week. We're concerned about overburdening the team with too many customers, so we've been promoting Lost bar gradually across social media this last week.
But before I drop the video I'll be sharing an advance sneak peak at the bar with you here on Patreon in the coming days - so stay tuned! It's been a very promising start so far; folks have been enjoying the atmosphere and the cocktails. We've noticed it's an excellent place to travellers to meet and chat - hell, there was even one blossoming romance at the counter the other day.
We've still got some really stunning projection mapping to implement next week and artwork to place around the bar, but an encouraging start. I've been stressed all month and I feel like a weight has finally been lifted.
In the meantime, here are some photos of the bar below, that've I snapped throughout last week. And of course, if you happen to be in Tokyo, be sure to swing by! Sharla and I have been there most evening these week, to the detriment of my liver.
Will definitely be sticking to mocktails going forward š
At long long long last. I can finally reveal this huge announcement I've been alluding to for many weeks now...
A very exciting announcement that'll have big, exciting, stressful, wonderful ramifications for the rest of the year. A project that we've been working on since the start of 2024. WE ARE OPENING A REAL, ACTUAL BAR IN TOKYO!
Following on from the incredible success of last year's Kyoto bar last year, we wanted to follow it up with a Tokyo bar.
But unlike Kyoto, rather than a limited week long event, this time we've gone all in and actually opened a full blown cocktail bar, in a renovated space, right in the absolute centre of Tokyo that'll hopefully be around for years to come.
This time everyone can swing by.
From delicious 'Like a Magic' cocktails and my dream cheese plate, to a swanky private room with Pacman and an awesome night time vibe, it's the quintessential Abroad in Japan bar made alongside Sharla.
I won't lie, it's been a long journey to get here. Turns out starting and renovating a bar in Tokyo isn't easy (surprise surprise).
And there's plenty more to reveal and discuss.
But it opens next week! And before it officially opens to the public, we'll be holding a Patreon-only event for a few hours before the doors open.
Obviously tickets are limited but fear not if you can't make it, it won't be the last Patreon event. And of course, after that you can swing by any time you like - it's a bar after all!
As you'd expect, we've got a hilarious bumper video coming out with tours with the holy trinity of excellent (Natsuki, Pete, Connor), similar to the ramen shop studio reveal.
And of course plenty of questions remain to be answered in the coming days. Where is it? What's it called? What does a 'Too Much Volcano' cocktail taste like?
But get ready because August is going to be bloody wild.
For now though, as always guys thanks for your support. I couldn't have reached this point without you. Every year, I've wondered if there's one more level we can reach - one more boundary to be pushed.
Natsuki: The Movie, Journey Across Japan, Ken Watanabe, the Abroad in Japan studio, raising $1m on the Cyclethon, the bestselling book, meeting the King and the Emperor at Buckingham Palace. It's all been bloody crazy and hard to keep up with honestly.
Having a tangible, real location Abroad in Japan viewers can sit, drink and escape the chaos of Tokyo is a long awaited and very exciting step indeed.
Can't wait to see you there guys,
Chris
P.S. Also this month we've got the cycle video dropping and the Q&A video amongst other videos! The icing on the cake.
So as I was eating a mountain of chicken last night, it suddenly hit me that it is a year to the day that Natsuki, myself and our incredible gang made it to the top of Mount Fuji.
Something I had pledged never to do again, after only just about surviving it way back in 2013. I thought it would be nice to look back and write a bit about our trek and share some previously unseen photos.
If you haven't seen it already, or even if you already have, here's the link to our epic Fuji climb video. Who needs Lord of the Rings when you can spend your Sunday night joining us on our struggle to deliver Natsuki to the top of a volcano, at a fraction of the runtime no less.
To mark his milestone 50th birthday Natsuki wanted to do something special and having never ventured up Fuji-San - or literally done any form of physical activity whatsoever - it seemed like the perfect challenge.
We were going to get Natsuki to the summit.
To do this we would of course need to adequately fuel ourselves with a Mcdonalds breakfast beforehand, at a store with perhaps the coolest view of any.
The trail up was steep, rocky and gruelling as we, perhaps unwisely, chose to take the Fujinomiya trail. There are 4 trails up to the top of Fuji, Yoshida, Subashiri, Gotemba and our good friend Fujinomiya.
This route is the shortest on paper, but as you will see below it was also very steep and rocky. We chose it mainly as we anticipated less climbers and honestly I don't regret picking this route, given it didn't resemble the theme park attraction atmosphere of the main route.
As the ascension continues, it is breathtaking to see the clouds below you and the ground become obscured. At one point we could see the shadow that Fuji was casting down on the land the below, which was stunning to behold. I say it was breathtaking, but maybe that was just the effect of thinning air as we got higher and higher.
You can genuinely feel the difference as every breath becomes a little harder and you don't quite feel you are getting the oxygen you need. As an asthmatic, I've had 34 years of previous experience in this field.
Luckily Natsuki came well equipped, with a cheap can of oxygen in one hand and a Marlborough cigarette in the other, keeping his levels perfectly balanced.
As night drew in we made it our luxury accommodation for a gourmet meal.
Well it was a hut and a basic curry - but when you consider you're 3000m up in the sky it's actually pretty damn good. This was the point where the team was really starting to feel the altitude sickness, with a lot of dizziness and grogginess going around.
Full of rice and thick, oily curry, we squeezed like sardines side by side in to our small 'private' sleeping area, for a couple of hours sleep. I thought sleeping on a rock 10 years previously was the pinnacle of awful, but this genuinely wasn't much better, with phone alarms beeping and ringing throughout the night ensuring sleep remains a distant dream.
(Dave - dismayed above). Feeling positively refreshed after our 12 minutes of sleep, we set back off, for the final hour of our trek to try and reached the top just in time for sunset. It was very touch and go whether we would make it in time, and I wont lie Natsuki was struggling. To be fair we were all lacking energy.
But we made it just in time - genuinely almost to the minute. It was truly stunning to see the sun pop up above the horizon as we reached the summit and went over the brow of the final cliff.
It was rather emotional - not least because of what an achievement it was for Natsuki. There'd been speculation he wouldn't be able to make it in the final hours and he proved us all wrong.
The way back down was in many ways the worst bit. Without the prospect of that glorious sunrise to pull you through and with energy running lower and lower. Coming back down uses a total different set of muscles and you have gravity and your own weight wanting to send you down the slopes which can make it hard to keep your footing.As Natsuki unfortunately found out, suffering a rather nasty fall, doing a literal somersault down a slope.
We were quite worried about him as it really didn't sound good at all, but he managed to remain positive...ish and made it to the bottom where it was all smiles again.
An absolutely exhausting 18 hour journey over, its safe to say I was completely wiped. A moment that one cheeky member of the team kindly caught on camera back on the coach ride back.
But a year has passed now and would I do it again? Have I changed my mind with time?
No. No I haven't and no I would not. BUT I enjoy hiking and I'd love to venture up more Japanese peaks before this year is out.
It'd be amazing to climb one of Fuji's neighbours and get a view of the mountain itself at sunrise. As for Natsuki, he's a changed man!
Who am I kidding. Outside of two hours of cycling on the cyclethon he's back to his old ways. But he beat the odds and proved us all wrong. And for that alone, the whole journey was worth it.
Thanks for reading guys and I hope you all have a great weekend.
Chris
P.S. Let me know if you have any questions about Fuji! And speaking of questions, thanks for all your questions the other day for the Q&A video which will be coming up soon. I'm having a fun time scripting and filming that now. Back to it!
Hey guys, hope you've had a great start to the week! I have a very big, exciting announcement in a few days for you all.At LONG last.
But before then, this week I'm at last sitting down to shoot the annual Abroad in Japan Q&A for the main channel š„³
I'd originally planned to film it a few months back, but so much has happened since then that I think now's the time do it.
I do always try to prioritise Patreon questions for the Abroad in Japan Q&A, but thegood news is while this is the first and last Q&A of the year on Abroad in Japan channel, I'll also be filming a sepatate exclusive Patreon Q&A as well, where I'll answer all of your questions on here that we're not able to pack into the Abroad in Japan episode.
So please do ask me ANYTHING below with the #askabroad
Japan, Youtube, Travel, Philosophy (god forbid) - count me in.
The odds are you'll get an answer from me somewhere!
Looking forward to diving in - see you in a few days for the big one! Chris
I often wonder if I were to go back in time and reshoot videos for the Abroad in Japan channel differently, what would I do differently?
To be honest, if I could travel back in time, Iād probably slap myself in the face first for my lack of self discipline when it comes to my diet. Why can I never learn?! Still, thatās a depressing time travel story for another day.
Iām incredibly proud of the 300 or so videos weāve shot over the last 12 years; for the places, stories and of course, dishes that weāve shared with the world, particularly in north Japan and Tohoku.
And Iām certainly proud of the cinematography, music, locations and humour weāve managed to pack in along the way. But I often think if I were to go back, the biggest change Iād make is to interact more with the folks I encounter on my travels.
Iāve always had a bit of a knee jerk reaction to shut off the camera when running into strangers, or chatting with locals in Japan, mainly out of shyness. (Often Japanese strangers are terrified by cameras too).
But I look at other Youtube channels where they make the effort to prioritise those random encounters with a degree of envy. Granted, weāve had our moments - terrifying Journey Across Japan biscuit lady springs to mind.
And it was also a ton of fun chatting with viewers in the most recent Abroad in Japan episode at the worst tourist traps with Pete.
So on this weeks cinematic Day in My Life video out in Yamagata - out this week - I really made the effort to say āyesā to consciously filming every encounter I had in a single day.
And incredibly, there was some beautiful moments.
In the space of just one morning, I enjoyed a spontaneous encounter with a kind Buddhist monk called Otaki san, who was proud to show of an impressive statue built by his father in a school playground of which he was the Principal.
I chatted with an 'inventor' - a mean whoād allegedly patented the concept of a pizza that you can walk with.
(Genuinely patented or not, the pizza was delicious).
Hell I even ran into a Malik, a charming German viewer in an impossibly remote valley, who happened to be cycling to Wakkanai from Kagoshima! (Thankfully no broken mugs were involved).
We were both equally surprised to run into each other and it terrifies me that I almost drove away and missed the encounter, while thinking he was some crazed maniac chasing down my car! (Explained in the video š ).
We even caught up with a prolific rockstar and beauty salon owner, who promptly crashed a big yellow bicycle into my car.
I'll get him back.
And we had a long awaited reunion with Tera chan, the perky bar owner of a British themed pub in downtown Sakata.
You may recall him from Natsuki the movie, as Natsukiās former band mate who gleefully endures Natsukiās questionable chupa chups 'magic' trick.
But all of these encounters, against the backdrop of my favourite corner of Japan, turned an unscripted Day in My Life vlog into one of the most surprisingly enjoyable videos Iāve shot this year so far.
For me, itās a reminder we donāt always need blockbuster moments to make travelling rewarding. Itās those simple, memorable encounters with strangers that make life and travel fulfilling.
It also reminded me that for all the chaos in the world, most folks are out there happily living their lives day by day. Step away from the phone screen and thereās a lot of great things happening in the world - the world isn't ending after all.
At times I feel lost as a creator wondering what lies ahead and where to take things from here.
But wandering the streets of a remote Japanese town and having a spontaneous encounter with a friendly Buddhist monk is all the reassurance I need that things will be all right. If that's all I got to do for the rest of my days I'm happy with that.
And I intend to remember that for the videos that lie ahead. From here on out I'm going to strive to capture these moments with strangers as much as possible. The more people I encounter and the more stories I can share the better.
I'm really looking forward to sharing this Day in My Life episode with you later this week.
- And above all getting my damn Kei Car back from Natsuki š
For now guys, I hope youāve had a great start to the week.
Weāve got a big month ahead...
- Chris
P.S. In case you missed it in the previous post, the Patreon Behind the Scenes episode with bloopers and outtakes from our most recent episode (and featuring Pete) is now up to watch!
Another week, another big video release with our FIRST EVER Abroad Investigates.
If you haven't already seen it, amidst all the stories about over-tourism and a topic we've covered a few times (and one that I sometimes feel guilty for adding more fuel to the media fire) I decided it was time to investigate it first hand.
From Tokyo to Kyoto, no tourist trap was spared, as we met with viewers along the way to hear their thoughts.
And it's not just viewers that lend a hand either, we are joined by our very own Watson for one section as Pete PremierTwo is treated to a trip to Harajuku, a place we both feel completely out of our depth in.
Although, as you will see in the outtakes, he didn't turn out to be the best sidekick, as he lost a lead and abandoned an interview to go get potatoes.
Meanwhile let me know below if there's anything you would like to see us turn our all powerful magnifying glass towards for the next Abroad Investigation and let's see where our next case leads us.
Thanks as always for your support. We have another video coming out in the next week or so, featuring Natsuki in his natural habitat. Stay tuned!
Hey guys, Hope you've had a pleasant end to the week so far!
So whilemy trip to Buckingham Palace and back to meet the King and the Emperor is still fresh in my mind, I figured what better time than to sit down with you guys and chat about it!
Join me tomorrow (Saturday 29th June: 22:00 JST) and come with any questions you may have.
A few weeks ago I received an invitation to the UK-Japan State Banquet at Buckingham Palace and almost chucked it in the bin, thinking it was spam or a joke.
Alas, it turned out to be a real invite to a real event with a real Emperor being hosted by a real King Charles.
And with that, I spent a week trying to work out what the fuck a white tie suit was so I could try and get hold of one for the event (I got there eventually).
I'll admit, it was rather surreal walking into Buckingham Palace. It's not somewhere you ever expect to set foot in. After stumbling out of a taxi and waving the invite to the police at the gates, we were in and made our way across the courtyard into the inner sanctum of the Palace.
I knew it was going to be grand (after all I've seen the Crown) and having worked at a decadent castle as a waiter for 4 years, I thought I'd seen it all. But my lord, the Palace has one hell of an interior; a mesmerising mix of fine furnishings, chandeliers, paintings and wine. Apparently you can tour it in the summer and I definitely recommend having a poke around, as it's an almost otherworldly interior, like some sort of perfectionist film set.
After downing a glass of champagne, I turned the corner to find King Charles, Emperor Naruhito, the Empress and Camilla standing there, who's hands I promptly shook and to each I had a brief chat.
Credit to Charles, he's got quite the presence and charisma, and he dived in straight away to ask a few questions after he heard I am Youtuber.
I pointed out that even in far flung regions of north Japan, most Japanese folks seem to have a fond affection and curiosity for the British royal family, to which he was most pleased - though I stopped short of name dropping Natsuki outright.
I then found myself in the grand banquet hall early with a few other early arrivals, one of which was Keir Starmer, the soon to be Prime Minister of the UK in a fortnight. We shook hands and had a chat for a few minutes, wishing him well in the impending top job.
Then after an endless dinner of wine and fish, I ended up somehow chatting with former UK Prime Minister David Cameron about the BBC show Giri Haji and the assassination of Shinzo Abe. He was surprised at how quickly Abe become unpopular after his demise, to which we pointed out the scandal involving the Unification Church.
And as quickly as the night began, we were back outside the gates of Buckingham Palace, the whole evening feeling like a surreal fever dream and one that I certainly won't forget in a hurry!
Lots to think about on the trip back home to Tokyo!
Now let the 8 million year flight back to Japan begin.
Hey guys, hope youāre all having a great week so far!
Itās been a monumentally busy week here shooting two videos across the three big sights of Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto, and of course, Yamagata.
Heading up north and catching up with Natsuki was the highlight, especially getting back behind the wheel of my beloved Kei car for the first time since Non-Stop North.
For Yamagata, I shot a Day in the Life video, for my annual escape back to the place I call home in Japan, as well as cycling around Sakata chatting with eccentric locals along the way.
Hell we even ran into an awesome viewer in the most unlikeliest places. But for the variety of locations - forests, bars, temples and sea - and for the variety of interesting characters we met along the way, it should be a really fun episode, out in just a couple of weeks.
As for the second video, well it wasnāt so fun to film, and youāll see why when it drops next week, though thankfully American Pete made the shoot a lot more bearable.
IN both new episodes though I put a real emphasis on chatting with strangers on camera and I have to say, it's something I'm really keen to do more of going forward; Japanese or foreign travellers alike, half the fun of travel is who you run into.
Behind the scenes, big things have been happening which I can finally reveal next month. Make no mistake, itās the biggest thing weāve ever done and you guys will be the first to get the details. (And no, itās not Ryotaro: The Movie, thankfully).
Now we all know a trip to Japan typically means a stop at Kyoto. Over the years, my relationship with the city has certainly had its ups and downs. Initially, I was impressed by the architecture but not so impressed by the overall atmosphere of overcrowded streets and travellers out to get photos for Instagram rather than digging into the city's rich culture. Hell I recall several years ago posting here on Patreon about why I thought Kyoto was overrated.
In hindsight, it was very naive, and in the years since, over the course of many trips, Iāve grown to embrace Kyoto as one of my favourite spots in the country. But with all the articles and news stories of late, decrying over-tourismāespecially in KyotoāI maintain the issue is simply that most travellers arenāt aware of alternative locations, cities, journeys, or experiences that provide the same rewards as Japanās ancient capital.
And so today, I wanted to share with you guys five alternative destinations to Kyoto. Maybe as a first-time traveler to Japan, or if youāre looking to return and go off the beaten track for the same 2-3 days youād typically dedicate to Kyoto. Islands, city breaks, and road tripsāIāve thought long and hard, and hopefully at least one of these destinations sounds appealing.
So, letās dive in. Quite literally! As our first location is in the Sea of Japan.
1) Sado Island Escape
Home of Taiko drums, gold mines, and exiled figures including an emperor and infamous monk, Sado Island has quite the legacy. When I think about the idea of an āescape,ā I often think about the mysterious island of Sado nestled in the Sea of Japan, a two-hour boat ride from Niigata.
A few years ago, Ryotaro and I shot a video on the island over the course of 3-4 days, and it was honestly one of my favourite shoots together. We journeyed to tranquil beaches, wandered the seemingly undiscovered Myosenji and Seisuji temples, and indulged in some local award-winning Michelin star restaurants.
Sado struck me as the perfect place for a romantic getaway (so it was something of a tragedy I was lumbered with Ryotaro), where you can experience the best of Japan and have it all to yourself. To this day, itās very rare that I meet a foreign traveller whoās actually made a trip to the island. If you ever do, Iād strongly recommend renting a car and avoiding the winter months when itās too cold or windy to truly appreciate.
But youāll find thereās a real spirit of adventure on a trip to Sado, from hopping on the ferry to wandering quiet fishing towns and enjoying the many hidden temples and shrines all to yourself. Personally, Iād love to go back as itās been too long, and Iām amazed at how few travellers or influencer folks set foot on the island. Itās a side of Japan thatās unfortunately seldom explored.
Whether youāre taking in Sapporoās snowy winter streets or fleeing the rotisserie chicken summertime experience that is Japan in August, Hokkaidoās capital city is an incredibly rewarding city to dive into. On my first visit with Natsuki, we ate our way through a cookie factory, enjoyed a mouthwatering bowl of miso ramen, queued for an hour for the Genghis Khan (fortunately not the warlord, but the famous lamb mutton BBQ), and drank at a cocktail bar overlooking the neon-lit glory of SusukinoāHokkaidoās answer to Shibuya or Shinjuku.
Since then, Iāve returned numerous times, usually for no more than 2-3 days, including a trip for the legendary Sapporo Snow Festival and when Connor and I passed through on the original Cyclethon. Whether youāre twinning the trip to Sapporo with a journey through Hakodate city and the epic hot spring town of Jigokudani or simply want to experience a Japanese city with its own unique vibe and local dishes outside of Honshu, Iāve never met a traveler whoās been to Sapporo and not walked away wishing they could stay longer. And at just an hourās flight time from Tokyo, itās an ideal destination for a long weekend away.
While most folks have their first hot spring and Ryokan experience (a traditional inn) in Hakone, instead of heading west from Tokyo for 2-3 hours, head north to Fukushima, where the historic town of Aizu Wakamatsu awaits, with onsen in abundance, a bizarre temple inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci, and a retro 1960s museum all in good measure.
I wonāt deny, this is a destination where I highly recommend renting a car, but the rewards are great. Weāve passed through with both Ryotaro and Natsuki on numerous occasions, most recently on JAJ: Non-Stop North, where Ryotaro took me to the most bloody spectacular eel restaurant Iāve ever visited, and Natsuki almost melted his mouth on a spicy bowl of ramen in the neighbouring town of Kitakata.
Fukushima is a deeply rewarding place to explore, and whether youāre eating your way through Kitakata, which has the honour of hosting more ramen shops per capita than any place in Japan, or stumbling in confusion through the Sazaedo temple, built from plans pinched from Da Vinci, youāll certainly be returning from your trip with some amazing stories to tell.
Most folks speed run Hiroshima over the course of two days, one night. Something Iām guilty of for the majority of my visits to the city. Perhaps I was deterred by the fact that my first stay on the island involved having half my baggage eaten by a mischievous deer when I slept overnight in a tent. But in a recent episode on Hiroshima, I went back and had another shot at staying on the island in a far more ādeer secureā environment (i.e., an actual hotel), and I came away with the realization that Miyajima might just be one of the most beautiful islands in Japan.
Temples and shrines lie on misty mountains, traditional houses and shops blend into the forests, and Itsukushima Shrine at dawn towers quietly over the waves that gently lap the coastline. Given most travelers in Japan spend their time in urban environments for the majority of their stay, Miyajima offers a chance to escape the chaos and find yourself on a sacred island whose beauty reveals itself at dawn and dusk.
On my recent trip to Yamagata for the aforementioned Day in the Life shoot, I was reminded of why I fell in love with Japan in the first place. Japanās far-flung west coast really is a treasure trove of discovery. Nothing beats driving across the luscious plains of Shonai and stumbling across a tiny hamlet village with an impeccable shrine to explore.
Towering mountains, sacred temples, gushing waterfalls, fishermen quietly enjoying the afternoon along the Sea of Japan coastlineāit really is a magical place. Itās undeniably the most daring place to reach on this list, requiring a car to get around and truly enjoy it. But the rewards here are great. Thereās a real sense of adventure to be found: visit Ginzan Onsen, Yamadera Temple, Haguro Mountain, and stay in a traditional inn down the southern end of the prefecture such as Takinami Onsen (as seen in last yearās documentary). Thereās no better place in Japan to find yourselfāspeaking from experience.
That's all for now guys - now let me know where YOU would recommend as an alternative to Kyoto in the comments below - would love to hear your suggestions!
Hiroshima, adventures around Tokyo's Yamanote line and a restaurant for Japanese speakers only. Plenty of intriguing stories to unpack in our monthly Patreon live catch up! I'll also reveal what I've been up to this week with Natsuki and the subject of another video out tomorrow on Abroad in Japan.
Apologies for the delay on this live show by the way guys - I'd planned to hold it a week ago, but I foolishly undertook a Spartan race on 4 hours sleep and fell rather ill over the course of the weekend.
And rather than hold the live show on a weekday, I figured it was best to hold off until the weekend when most of you aren't at work!
Hope youāve been enjoying the onslaught of videos over the last few days - and itās about to get worse! (Or better depending on how you view it). Itās been a crazy month of filming and relentless editing and itās a relief to finally get them out there.
Iāve always been bloody amazed how much you can stuff into one day if you really set your mind to it; how far you can travel, how much you can see and how much you can do (and how MUCH YOU CAN EAT of course). So I went a bit mad and decided to visit ALL the stations along the Yamanote Line - all 30 of them.
If youāve come to Japan, youāll likely know the line well. Itās a circular line stopping at many of the major stations; Shinjuku, Shibuya and Tokyo stations to name just a few. Admittedly, those are also my least favourite stations on the Yamanote line and half the fun on this journey was uncovering new stops and locations Iād never explored before, particularly on the north side of Tokyo.
With any luck, I was able to burn off a few calories as well! (And promptly put them back on during the trip).
As some bonus content weāll be sharing tips on what to see and do around the stations at the bottom of this post. Iāve selected things that can be reached within 20 mins of each stop. On my travels Iāve been to at least half before, so will share some stories along the way and some photos from the filming.
AS WELL as that, weāve made a spectacular map of EACH AND EVERY location we visited in the video just for you guys, so you donāt have to waste time searching for each one. You can check it out here.
As much fun as it was to film, we had many many takes interrupted by the sheer noise, of the people, cars, trains, building work. Of course it's to be expected in such a busy and bustling city, but it made for a funny compilation of outtakes.
Patreon exclusive video - Why I Hate Filming in Tokyo
Tokyo has so much to offer, and itās impressive that after years of exploring, Iām still discovering new places and things to do.
Personally, my favourite stops are probably Nippori and Nishi-Nippori Stations with Nezu Shrine, and Yanaka Ginza. If you canāt get round the whole line (itās quite the undertaking!), put these ones top of your list.
I really hope you enjoy this video guys, it was incredibly fun to film. Let us know your favourite stops, your thoughts on alternative station names for Takanawa Gateway and of course feel free to share your snaps if you hit up any of the places weāve listed.
Chris
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YAMANOTE TRAVEL TIPS
Weāve turned our stops into a Google map for you guys, which you cancheck out here.
Plotted are all the Yamanote Line stations, the spots featured in the video, and some other honourable mentions. Looking at this again, I canāt bloody believe we managed to make it all the way round!
Happy travels!
JY01. Tokyo Station - Grab freshly made Bentos at Tokyo Station š±
Take a photo with the iconic, red brick station opened in 1914. Definitely the most impressive station on the line, Tokyo station connects you to all of wider Japan through the train, Shinkansen and bus networks.
JY02. Kanda Station - Pick out a book in JimbÅchÅ Book Town š
Stroll to Jimbocho Book Town, or jump in a cab if youāre pressed for time, to browse the delightful book stores for treasures like a George Lucas magazine or Japanese festival guidebooks.
JY03. Akihabara Station - Spend 500 yen on a Gatcha Capsule šļø
Experience the true madness of Akihabara by diving into the noisy arcades and exploring the side streets, filled with electronic stores. We found a cool camera shop stocking almost any model you could name!
JY04. Okachimachi Station - Grab a street snack in Ameyoko Market š”
Ameyoko, short for "Ameya Yokocho" which translates to ācandy store alleyā, is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat. Youāll find everything here from clothes and cosmetics to kebabs and candied grapes on stick. You can either grab something whilst on the go, or take a seat to people watch while you chomp away on something tasty.
JY05. Ueno Station - Snap a photo at the iconic Yamanote line overlook š·
Or should we say āUeno Stastionā?! Head out from Shinobazu exit, take a right and head up to the first floor balcony, using this sculpture as your destination! The corner of this terrace offers a fantastic photo spot for when the trains whizz past.
JY06. Uguisudani Station - Escape to the calm of Yanaka Cemetery (and spot a cat) š
Exiting at Uguisudani station take a gentle walk to Yanaka Cemetery, which stretches between this station and the next. My first trip here was hunting for cats to befriend for the televisual masterpiece āCat Nationā. Itās absolutely stunning and, as youād expect, offers a space of calm where you can escape the Tokyo crowdsā¦ and Tokyo cats, as, like before, they proved elusive!
JY07. Nippori Station - Discover the retro charm of Yanaka Ginza shopping street šļø
From this station you can explore Yanaka Ginza shopping street, one of Japan's old shopping streets (or Shotengai). Itās a cool place with a 1950s vibe. Its retro charm lies in the - around 60 - small independent shops, selling their handmade crafts, tea, or indeed bites to eat such as the bagel shop, āFuku bagelsā.
Start from the steps of YÅ«yake Dandan and work your way through the quirky streets.
Nezu Shrine was a trip highlight. Despite being in Tokyo for overa year I canāt believe Iād never heard of this place. The shrine is simply stunning with its many vibrant Tori gates, streams, koi and turtles and azalea plants. Itās almost a mini version of the well known Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, minus the noise and frustration of crowds. Itās about a 20 min walk from the station, but itās well worth the trip.
JY09. Tabata Station - Move to Tokyo on a Budget š°
Tabata is an area known for it's writers, artists and creatives. These professions donāt typically pay well and so the area was, and is still, the most affordable with the lowest average rental price along the whole Yamanote line. Unfortunately thereās not a whole lot nearby the station, we could only find a rather boring bridge in Tabata, which you can check out if youād like. But donāt. Itās really pretty dull!
JY10. Komagome Station - Get lost in the oasis of the Rikugien Gardens & taste the Matcha tea šµ
There was a period where I briefly lived in Komagome, so Iām pleased to share the beautiful Rikugien Gardens with you guys. The gardens were first made between 1695 and 1702 and are now listed as a special place of scenic beauty. Absolutely worth a visit, itās cleverly landscaped with at least one species always in bloom at any time throughout the year. Take a stroll around and enjoy a cup of matcha at the teahouse.
JY11. Sugamo Station - Feel young again in āGranny Harajukuā Sugamo Jizodori Street š
Visit an 800 metre long road, that actually formed part of the Nakasendo Trail in the Edo period, the street now contains about 200 shops and restaurants. Itās mainly targeted toward the elderly so has adopted the nickname 'Granny Harajuku'. If you need clothes with elasticated waists (no judgements from me!) or fancy some delicious food, then this is one hundred percent the place to go!
JY12. Otsuka Station - Indulge in Gourmet Onigiri š
Onigiri bingo is the unique name for a very popular restaurant. Located right next to the tramline, itās a great place to pick up one of these gourmet treats. It wonāt be a quick stop though, this place is far from undiscovered so youāll be queuing for a while.
JY13. Ikebukuro Station - Shop āTil You Drop at Sunshine Cityās Pokemon Center šļø
Sunshine City complex packs a punch with around 200 retail stores, a multitude of restaurants, and even an Aquarium and theme park. Whilst Iām not a fan of shopping in general, normally avoiding malls at all costs, the Pokemon Centre holds fond memories for me as itās where I first hung out with Sharla bloody ages ago.
JY14. Mejiro Station - Spot Japanese Nobility at Gakushuin University š
Built in 1885 and now serving the Gakushuin university, where members of the Royal family have studied, thereās not a whole lot in the area that warrants the trip. Reading some reviews on the station, it became clear the station itself is divides opinion. Some people love the stained glass windows, some people thought the place was a dump. We solved the mystery once and for all and give the place a rating of āgoodā.
JY15. Takadanobaba Station - Experience the Thrill of Tokyoās Legendary Arcade (Just Donāt Work up a Sweat) š®
Takadanobaba Mikado Game Center is probably one of the best arcades in Tokyo. Sadly, we couldnāt film inside on our spontaneous adventure, so youāll have to take our word for it! Remember to bring a) bring whole stash of coins with you as many of the machines only accept 100Y coins, and B) smell fresh!
JY16. Shin-Okubo Station - Indulge in the miracle of Korean Fried Chicken š„”
Explore vibrant Korean Town and experience the best fried chicken in Tokyo. With a potent combo of cheese, chicken and kimchi this place does it right and is a total gamechanger. Be prepared to battle your way through the crowds of youngsters to get your hands on the delicious streetfood though!
JY17. Shinjuku Station - Grab a photo overlooking the Kabukicho Rail bridge (at night) š·
Iāve been lost in the jungles of Okinawa and the forests of Hokkaido, but Iāve never been as lost as I was a few days ago in Shinkjuku station. If you can navigate your way out (exit A18 or D4 is best), head over to the footbridge weāve pinned which gives you both bustling views back to Shinjuku or imposing, futuristic views of the Sompo building and surrounding office blocks.
Walking South from the station for approx 6 minutes, youāll be accessing Meiji Jingu from itās North, or back, entrance. This āsecretā entrance offers a quieter entry to the shrine, away from the bulk of tourists who enter from the South/Harajuku. Pausing at the entrance, if you look backwards youāll see the Docomo Tower soaring over the treetops.
JY19. Harajuku Station - Chill out in Yoyogi Park š³
Yoyogi Park is where I spent a lot of time learning to play chess in the run up to the big chessboxing tournament a couple of years back.
Itās a sizeable park where youāll see people enjoying themselves by walking their dogs, dancing and exercising together and has a whole different vibe to the rest of Tokyo.
JY20. Shibuya Station - Snap up a record (or cassette) at the iconic Tower Records š¼
Tower Records is the best store in all of Shibuya. A lot of people in Japan still buy records, CDs and cassettes, and itās nice to own a physical version of your favourite artistsā music. In this case, I bought a Tatsuro Yamashita cassette, and then realised I needed a cassette playerā¦
Seriously though, if you like music at all, itās a place youāll need to check out.
JY21. Ebisu Station - Try Tokyoās Greatest (and Messiest) Wagyu Burger at Henryās š
Henryās Burger is my favourite burger joint in the whole of Tokyo. Theyāve truly mastered it with tomato, lettuce and an insanely soft, buttery Wagyu patty. Itās everything that a good burger should be and if you feel like ruining your cholesterol level - small price to pay - then head over to their restaurant.
JY22. Meguro Station - Stroll Along the relaxing Meguro River šļø
If youāre lucky enough to come over in Spring, head to Meguro River, where your walk will be lined in stunning pink cherry blossom. Outside of the blossom, the river still provides respite from both the sun and the crowds with its quiet, shaded walkways.
A new place for me, Iād never heard of Kiji shrine before this shoot. Itās a tiny shrine nestled under a huge modern concrete building, only a few minutes walk from Gotanda. I wonder how many folks whizz past this shrine, oblivious to itās history. Itās worth a visit, and you can get a fortune with a 100 Yen coin.
JY24. Osaki Station - Savour a Taste of the UK (stick with the cider) š„«
Missing fish and chips? Wish you could have a crisp, refreshing sip of Magnerās Cider?! Well, head to Footnik British pub, just moments walk from Osaki station, and your wishes will become reality! I wonāt lie, it wasnāt the best meal Iāve had, but the ambiance is almost like āhomeā and itās a fun place to drop by if you fancy a flavour of the UK. Plus if you for some reason want to watch some live sport on TV, I'm told they show lots of it there.
JY25. Shinagawa Station - Lament Sonyās Absurdly Branded Products š¤Ø
Weāre big fans of Sony at Abroad in Japan, and used their equipment in the production of this very video. So it hurts us to say this, but, what the hell were they thinking giving their products such tedious, clunky and nondescript names?! Seriously, if anyone out there has a connection, let us know, weāre full of (better) suggestions!
JY26. Takanawa Gateway - Wander the Yamanote Lineās newest station (and think of a better name) ā
The latest addition to the Yamanote Line and thereās honestly nothing to do hereā¦ yet. If you do swing by bring headphones, as with all the construction going on itās a bloody noisy station!
JY27. Tamachi Station - Frame the Perfect Photo of Rainbow Bridge š·
Hidden under the Rainbow Bridge, we found the Shibaura Minami Futo Park which gave us the perfect place to frame the Rainbow Bridge and the iconic Fuji Television Building over in Odaiba. The Rainbow bridge will always have a special place in my heart. Itās where my journey began all those years ago, and I remember passing over it, looking out across the Tokyo skyline on my very first day in Japan.
JY28. Hamamatsucho Station - Get the perfect shot of Tokyo Tower from ZÅjÅ-ji Temple š¼
Over in the beautiful grounds of Zojoji Park, youāll find ZÅjÅ-ji Temple which is impressive in its own right. But, looming behind it is both Azabudai Hills at 325 metres and Tokyo Tower at 333 metres. Get your perspective right, and all three line up in a trifecta of building brilliance.
JY29. Shimbashi Station - Explore Tokyoās most underrated night time photography spot šø
JY30. Yurakucho Station - Pick Up Electronic Gadgets Old & New at Bic Camera š¹
Yurakucho is a shopping district and you could spend hours exploring the stores and eateries. For me, I needed to pick up a cassette player and dived into the nearby BIC Camera store.
So itās been over 5 years since we were last in Hiroshima, a city thatās often regarded as a symbol of the darker side of humanity, but also as a beacon of hope for itās impressive and incredible rebirth.
I really do love the place and Iām delighted to have 48 hours in the city to explore the city, stuff myself silly with as many Okonomiyaki pancakes as possible, and venture to the stunning island of Miyajima for a stay overnight with the most incredible views.
To accompany the video weāve made a PDF itinerary which details the locations we visited in the video - hopefully this saves you some time if you want to make your own visit! It's attached to the end of this post. Here's a photo of part of it:
You'll find the FULL guide attached below!
Hope you enjoy the video guys and fear not - we have another big video coming out imminently!
After a month tirelessly working behind the scenes on numerous videos, weāve at last dropped a new video covering the difficulties folks face when trying to learn Japanese (as well as a roundup of ridiculous news stories involving tourists and Fuji).
I enjoyed covering the Japanese language again in a video for the first time in a few years! Reflecting back on the barriers I found on my own language learning journey and of course mocking the ever-hysterical Japanese media.
In honour of this new video I thought it might be a good time to re-surface some of the old advice and videos Iāve made about learning Japanese over the years, buried away in the Patreon archives. For anyone who missed them the first time round, check it out at the end of this post!
And don't forget we've got a Patreon Exclusive episode covering How I Learned Japanese in Detail! Nearly every step I took or resource I used can be found in here:
Next up we've got an outing in Hiroshima, as well as a mad dash around Tokyo to visit some hidden spots.
Lastly, thanks to those of you who were able to make it to the meet up and book signing event last weekend - almost everyone who turned up was from the Abroad in Japan Patreon and was bloody great to meet you guys and hear your stories about what youāre up to in Japan!
And for those who couldnāt make it, donāt worry there will be more events coming up in the future, including one very exciting, big, top secret special event in Tokyo in July. Trust me, its going to be fun. As ever, I will let you guys on Patreon have a heads up!
Anyway enjoy the rest of your week and speak soon!
If you're about to learn Japanese from scratch in the next 10 minutes, I cannot recommend Human Japanese enough. To this day, it's the best app I've ever bought. It's like a friend teaching you the language in a fun, down to earth way. (There's also a free version as well to sample). Available on iOS, Android, PC, MAC.
The most popular Japanese textbook series and easily my favourite. Fantastic book to kick off with, that covers basic vocabulary, grammar and kanji characters.
The best way to memorise Kanji characters; how to write them and understand their meanings. It doesn't teach you how to read them out loud, but given there are 2,200 characters to master, it's very effective to learn the meaning and writing order first. Everyone I know who mastered Japanese to a native level, started here.
A more recent potential alternative to Heisig, that's proven very popular. It actually came out after I'd already learned the kanji characters, otherwise I may have used it instead. However, everyone I know still swears by Heisig - I think if used alongside the book, this could be a very effective resource.
The intermediate successor to the best Japanese learning app ever made. This really saved me in my second year in Japan and got me speaking with confidence in everyday life.
Effectively the next level in the Genki series once you've finished the first two books. An excellent resource on vocab, grammar and characters and my favourite Japanese textbook.
Today I'm delighted to announce that next week we'll be holding the first ever Tokyo book signing event to celebrate the launch of the Abroad in Japan Book in Paperback.
Before promoting the event publicly, as always I wanted to give you guys a chance to get in first, as there's limited tickets (50 tickets) on a first-come-first-served basis.
We'll be promoting the event publicly tomorrow so you've got a fairly decent head start!
If you're in Tokyo or Japan next week and able to swing by, it'll be great to see you in person and of course, handover a a signed copy of the book!
If you can't make it, don't worry, there'll be more upcoming events over the coming months in Japan (and dare I say beyond).
Some great videos dropping in the coming days, so stay tuned and in case you missed it, I caught up with the ever cheeky American Pete this week on the Abroad in Japan Podcast, where he regaled a horrific story of something he did last week in a Tokyo coffee shop š
So I'd planned to have our long awaited catch up last week, but as mentioned on the previous post, I've been rather ill for 5-6 days now. I'm more or less recovered though thankfully and ready to chat - after all, April was one hell of a month!
Will be chatting about the Cyclethon, hiking the Nakasendo and what lies ahead in the coming weeks, as well as answering any and all questions you guys might have! š»
I think if Iād left April completely unscathed, I would start to think I was the luckiest man on Earth.
From the success of the Cyclethon raising $1m for the Immune Deficiency Foundation, and the Abroad in Japan book being the No.1 bestselling book in the UK for three weeks running, to a birthday hike down the Nakasendo trail, it really was a month to good to be true.
Then in the last week of April, I got the worst food poisoning Iāve ever had and spent almost a week lying on the floor feeling rather humbled š
I believe the suspect might actually be a piece of blue cheese of all things - either that or some pork. All I know is, being physically sick on a moving train felt like being in some sort of shitty gameshow, as the train rocked from side to side while I lay on the bathroom floor. (Thank god it was a clean Japanese train at least).
But Iād hoped to do a post celebration liveshow at the end of the month, but I could barely walk across the room unfortunately. Still, thank god it didnāt happen on the cycle - for that Iām eternally grateful!
Today though, Iām here to tell you what Iāve been up to (lying on a floor aside) and to convince you to hike the legendary Nakasendo trail yourself!
āāāāāāāāāāāāā
A few years ago we produced a video on the Nakasendo Trail with Ryotaro. A stunning route though the central Japan Alps of 69 post towns, that was once the main route between Tokyo and Kyoto.
Unfortunately, due to time constraints on the shoot we didnāt get to hike it, so much as rock up in a Toyota and speed run each of the three main towns of Tsumago, Magome and Naraijuku, and in the years since, Iāve been consumed by the idea of hiking it.
I decided what better time to do it than the week of my 34th birthday and post cyclotron celebration. In hindsight, it was a bit of a daft move as my legs were still broken, and I suspect the physical exhaustion from cycling 1,000km then hiking 50km led to my body failing to handle the food poisoning.
ALAS, no regrets.
Joining our small group was a surprise guest - Ali Plumb, the BBCās resident film expert who spends his days interviewing Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Emma Stone and Quentin Tarantino to name a few over on BBC Radio 1. (Here: https://youtu.be/fx_-l6xq2KI?si=jtk9Gu63ALfFL2yX )
And having convinced him to come to Japan, I invited him along and he relished the chance to trudge alongside us through the mountains.
The weather certainly wasnāt kind raining almost for the entirety of the trip, but the misty mountains and forests enshrouded in clouds gave an almost enchanting atmosphere to it all.
We started at a town called Nakatsugawa, passing through Magome and Tsumago and stayed overnight in Kiso Fukushima, before hiking the next day further north to Naraijuku, capping it off with a train ride to our end point of Matsumoto, with the iconic black castle.
From Tokyo itās a 90 minute Shinkansen to Nagoya, followed by an hour long journey into the mountains of Gifu - all super accessible. My only advice is to try and book hotels/lodgings a good few weeks ahead, as we found something of a short supply (perhaps given it was April when things get crazy travel wise).
Ali spent two weeks in Japan and claimed the Nakasendo hike to be his favourite stretch; thereās no doubt escaping the city and taking in quiet mountain towns at a gentle pace, sleepy hamlets and gushing streams, is a perspective on Japan not enough folks get to experience.
I canāt recommend it enough and Iām happy to answer any questions you guys might have below.
While I didnāt film it this time (outside of one Instagram reel), the video with Ryotaro does a great job explaining the area and showcasing the towns (in much better bloody weather as well).
Give it a watch if youāre thinking of doing it! Be sure to set aside 3 nights if you can.
And Ali will be appearing on two upcoming Abroad in Japan Podcast episodes chatting about his perfect two weeks in Japan, as well as us chatting about Japanese TV and films including the recent Shogun! (Sad to see it end).
Weāve got also got a very exciting month ahead and a fair few videos coming out, including:
- A big night out in Tokyo with Che Guevara Natsuki himself, revealing nightlife etiquette and tips for travellers to Japan
- A dedicated in-depth travel episode covering Hiroshima (our first time back since 2018 for a travel video)
- The long awaited Q&A video celebrating 3millions subscribers
- Hopefully the cycle video (good luck Paul we believe in you)
- And no less than two absolutely nerve-racking MASSIVE unrelated projects that get underway in May. (More on that in a few weeks).
- If I feel 100% better this weekend, a public live show catching up with the world from the ramen shop
We may also have an epic event in the pipeline which Iāll be promoting on Patreon first-come-first-served as well. As always, best to remain frustratingly tight lipped until the time is right!
Until then guys, have a great first day of May and for the love of god, stay away from poorly refrigerated blue cheese.
Connor's Wacky Weekend in Okinawa will drop on his channel imminently, whereas the Abroad in Japan one will be up in mid-December! Stay tuned.
Also, while thankfully there are no plans for a ātubathonā, Connor and I have also been working on a large scale Wacky Weekend project, more akin to āWacky Weekā for the final months of this year, which should fill the void left by the absence of Journey Across Japan this year. 
