2026 Podcast Meetup Announcement
Join Jason and Paul in Sapporo for the 2026 podcast meetup!
Topics Covered:
Podcast Meetup 2026: Feb 7th, 2026 at 6:00pm in Sapporo, Japan. (Venue TBD)
Hikonyan — the mascot of the city of Hikone — in front of Hikone Castle
148. Mascots
Japan loves its mascots—from cuddly creatures promoting local towns to bizarre characters representing government agencies. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the wild, whimsical world of yuru-kyara and discover what makes these mascots such a beloved part of Japanese culture!
Topics Covered:
What are yuru-kyara?
What do mascots do?
Why are mascots so popular in Japan?
Notable mascots: Hikonyan (Hikone) — Kumamon (Kumamoto) — Funassyi (Funabashi) — Melonkuma (Yubari) — Gajiro (Fukusaki) — Nyango Star (Kuroishi) — Annie (Kumamoto University anisakis research) — Matagi no Momiji-chan (Hokkaido)
Controversy: Amazoness (Ama City) — Chiitan (Susaki) — Sento-kun (Nara) — Marimokkori (Hokkaido)
An abandoned house in Onomichi
147. How to Buy a House in Japan (Akiya)
Akiya are abandoned homes found all over Japan—some listed for shockingly low prices. Join Jason and Paul as they explore what it’s like to try to buy one, from navigating the listings to understanding the hidden challenges.
Topics Covered:
Why are there so many vacant houses?
Can foreigners buy akiya?
How to search for an akiya
How to choose an akiya
How to buy an akiya
How to renovate an akiya
Living in an akiya
Is it worth it?
Ginkakuji, the silver pavilion
146. Kinkakuji and Ginkakuji (The Golden and Silver Pavilions)
Kyoto is full of famous temples, but few are as iconic—or as confusingly named—as Kinkakuji and Ginkakuji. Join Jason and Paul as they dig into the history behind these two landmarks, explore what makes each one special, and explain why the silver Pavilion isn’t actually silver.
Topics Covered:
History
Kinkakuji (The Golden Pavilion)
Ginkakuji (The Silver Pavilion)
Shioyaki, salt-grilled fish, from Inuyama
145. Street Food
Goma dango from Hakone, roasted black sesame dumplings with a walnut miso glaze
Japan might be known for its sushi and ramen, but its street food scene is just as exciting. From takoyaki and taiyaki to yakitori and beyond, join Jason and Paul as they dive into some of Japan’s best street eats — and share where to find them!
Topics Covered:
Takoyaki
Yakitori
Ikayaki
Taiyaki
Yakisoba
Yaki-imo
Yaki Tomorokoshi
Tako Tamago
Karaage
Kobe Beef
Gyoza
Korokke
Senbei
Soft Cream
Kakigori
Dango
Crepes
Choco Banana
Boba
Where to Find Street Food
144. Things You'll Miss About Japan (And Some Things You Won't)
Japan is full of things to love - and a few things that might drive you a little crazy. Join Jason and Paul as they discuss the best and worst aspects of exploring Japan!
Topics Covered:
Planes
Trains
Hotels
Food
Walkable Cities
Convenience
Politeness
Customer Service
Bathrooms
Onsen
History
Hiking
City Life
Gyutan (cow tongue, a specialty of Sendai.
143. The City of Sendai
Tashirojima, “Cat Island”, a popular day trip from Sendai.
The Ishinomori Manga Museum in Ishinomaki.
Known as the "City of Trees," Sendai is the largest city in the Tohoku region and a great place to learn about the culture and history of northeastern Honshu. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the city and uncover the story of its founder—a samurai with the coolest nickname ever.
Topics Covered:
History
Loople Sendai: Zuihoden — Sendai City Museum — Sendai Castle — Tohoku University Museum of Natural History — Miyagi Museum of Art — Osaki Hachiman Shrine — Jozenji-dori — Sunmall Ichibancho Shopping District — Date no Gyutan Honpo
Other Sights: Sendai City Tomizawa Site Museum — Rinnoji — Dai Kannon — Earthquake Heritage Arahama Elementary School
Sendai Port: Umino-Mori Aquarium — Mitsui Outlet Park — Sendai Port Central Park — Kirin Beer Factory
Events: Sendai Tanabata Festival — Pageant of Starlight — Jozenji Street Jazz Festival
Day Trips: Matsushima Bay — Ishinomaki/Tashirojima (Cat Island) — Zao Kitsune Mura
How to get to/around Sendai
The jorogumo, one of the most common spiders in Japan
142. Bugs of Japan
Japan is home to a variety of fascinating — and sometimes terrifying — bugs and insects, from summer’s singing cicadas to giant hornets and everything in between. Join Jason and Paul as they dive into the world of Japan’s bugs—both the beloved and the infamous!
Topics Covered:
Cultural Significance
Famous Bugs: Cicadas — Giant Hornets — Fireflies — Stag Beetles — Rhinoceros Beetles — Silkworms
Seasonal Bugs: Butterflies — Dragonflies — Crickets
Common Pests: Mosquitoes — Cockroaches — Centipedes — Spiders
Hanami (cherry blossom viewing) is a popular experience for locals as well as tourists
141. Rating Cultural Experiences
Ohori Park Japanese Garden in Fukuoka
Udon, a traditional noodle dish
Japan offers a wide range of unique experiences, from cherry blossom viewing and high-speed train rides to exploring ancient temples and sampling the local cuisine. Join Jason and Paul as they rate and discuss some common experiences that visitors are likely to have in Japan!
Topics Covered:
Konbini
Temples and Shrines
Hanami
Maid Cafes
Hiking
Eating
Shopping
Shinkansen
Arcades
Japanese Gardens
Matsumoto Castle
140. 2024 Trip Recap (Part 3)
Kamikochi
Narai-juku
A view of Mt. Fuji from Hakone
Jason and Paul recently returned home from a trip to Japan. Join them as they discuss their itinerary and recount their third week of sightseeing!
Topics Covered:
Kamikochi
Matsumoto: Matsumoto Castle — Yabuhara to Narai-juku — Matsumoto City Museum — Nawate Shopping Street — Nakamachi Shopping Street — Daio Wasabi Farm — Ishii Miso — Agatanomori Park
Omiya: Omiya Bonsai Village — The Railway Museum
Tokyo: Shibuya Parco — Rainbow Karaoke Shibuya — THE MUSIC BAR -CAVE SHIBUYA- — Mount Takao — Meiji Jingu
Hakone: Yama no Chaya — Owakudani — Hakone Checkpoint
Tokyo: Denimio — Akihabara
The view of Hikone Castle from Genkyuen
139. 2024 Trip Recap (Part 2)
Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum
The Site of Reversible Destiny in Yoro Park
Hida no Sato Open Air Museum
Jason and Paul recently returned home from a trip to Japan. Join them as they discuss their itinerary and recount their second week of sightseeing!
Topics Covered:
Nagoya: Coffee House Kako — Nagoya Castle — The Tokugawa Art Museum — SCMAGLEV and Railway Park
Inuyama: Showa Alley — Dondenkan (Matsuri Museum) — Inuyama Castle — Urakuen — Momotaro Shrine
Hikone: Hikone Castle — Genkyuen — Rakurakuen — Yume Kyobashi Castle Road
Omihachiman: Kawara Museum — Hachimanyama Ropeway — Borderless Art Museum NO-MA
Yoro: Site of Reversible Destiny
Sekigahara: Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum — Sengoku Armor Museum
Takayama: Hikaru Museum — Takayama Sky Park — Hida no Sato Open Air Museum — Squirrel Forest Hidayama Wild Grass Nature Garden (Risu no Mori) — Matsuri no Mori Museum — Miyagawa Morning Market — Takayama Showa-kan Museum — Tofu Cuisine Noguchiya — Funasaka Sake Brewery — Hida Takayama Retro Museum
The view from Guest House Yunosato near Yunomine Onsen
138. 2024 Trip Recap (Part 1)
A view on the Kumano Kodo, an ancient pilgrimage trail in Wakayama Prefecture
Jason and Paul recently returned home from a trip to Japan. Join them as they discuss their itinerary and recount their first week of sightseeing!
Topics Covered:
Kumano Kodo: Kii-Tanabe — Guest House Kiyohime — Takijiri Oji — Chikatsuyu — Guest House MUI — Kumano Hongu Taisha — Yunomine Onsen — Minshuku Yunosato
Osaka: Shin-Osaka Station — Tempozan Ferris Wheel — Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan — Naniwa Kuishinbo Yokocho — Namba Parks
Nagoya: Atsuta Jingu — Shirotori Garden — Osu Shopping Street — Osu Kannon Temple — Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology — Sky Promenade
Sakura (Cherry blossom trees)
137.5. Folklooooore
Ancient Japanese folktales offer a window into the philosophies and culture of Japan. Join Jason and Paul as they share and discuss two timeless tales that have been passed down through the centuries!
Topics Covered:
Ubazakura
Rokurokubi
Jiu-Roku-Zakura
The Goblin of Adachigahara
137. 2024 Halloween Special - Japan's Most Horrific Crimes
Japan may be one of the safest countries in the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s without its share of chilling and horrific crimes. Join Jason and Paul as they delve into some of the most shocking cases in Japan’s history.
Topics Covered:
Junko Furuta
Issei Sagawa
Kobe Child Murders
Nevada-Tan
Ninja of Heisei
Podcast Meetup 2024: Nov 6th, 2024 at 7:00pm at Commune on the rooftop of the Shibuya Parco shopping mall in Tokyo. Take the elevator to the 9th floor and then take the escalator to the roof.
Nunobiki Herb Garden in Kobe
136. Day Trips from Kyoto and Osaka
Magome, a post town on the Nakasendo
Kyoto and Osaka offer countless attractions, but venturing beyond these cities for day trips can unveil another side of Japan. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the diverse experiences waiting just outside Kansai’s largest metropolis!
Topics Covered:
Nara (Ep112)
Hiroshima (Ep118)
Kobe (Ep96)
Uji
Koyasan
Himeji
Okayama and Kurashiki
Kurama and Kibune
Nakasendo (Magome to Tsumago)
Hikone
Omi Hachiman
Amanohashidate and Ine
Nagoya
Listener Mail: Ryokan Matsubaya — Shoseien Garden — Takase River — Kyoto Railway Museum — Umekoji Park
Podcast Meetup 2024: Nov 6th, 2024 at 7:00pm at Commune on the rooftop of the Shibuya Parco shopping mall in Tokyo. Take the elevator to the 9th floor and then take the escalator to the roof.
135. Reality TV and Game Shows
Japan has unique television programming that has gained a reputation internationally for being extremely wacky and sometimes even dangerous. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the wild world of reality TV and game shows in Japan!
Topics Covered:
What is TV like in Japan?
Denpa Shonen
Terrace House
Old Enough
Iron Chef
Takeshi’s Castle
Wafu Sohonke (Japanese Style Originator)
Youtube Segments: Zoo Prank — Candy or Not — Falling Elevator — AKBingo — Bicyclist — Massage Chair Prank — Brain Wall
Can you get on Japanese TV?
Podcast Meetup 2024: Nov 6th, 2024 at 7:00pm at Commune on the rooftop of the Shibuya Parco shopping mall in Tokyo. Take the elevator to the 9th floor and then take the escalator to the roof.
Momotaro (Peach boy), one of the most popular figures in Japanese folklore who is also now the mascot for a denim brand.
134.5. Even More Folklore
Ancient Japanese folktales offer a window into the philosophies and culture of Japan. Join Jason and Paul as they share and discuss two timeless tales that have been passed down through the centuries!
Topics Covered:
The Stones of Five Colors and the Empress Jokwa
Momotaro, or the Story of the Son of a Peach
Podcast Meetup 2024: Nov 6th, 2024 at 7:00pm at Commune on the rooftop of the Shibuya Parco shopping mall in Tokyo. Take the elevator to the 9th floor and then take the escalator to the roof.
The Hamanasu, an overnight train that ran between Aomori and Sapporo until it was discontinued in 2016.
134. Sightseeing and Overnight Trains
Japan is known for its incredible train system, but did you know about the wide array of unique sightseeing and overnight trains? Join Jason and Paul as they discuss these exciting travel options that offer new perspectives on Japan’s diverse landscapes and cities!
Topics Covered:
Overnight Trains: Sunrise Express (Seto/Izumo)
Cruise Trains: Seven Stars in Kyushu — Shiki-Shima — Twilight Express Mizukaze — Royal Express
Sightseeing Trains: Tokaido Shinkansen — Sightseeing Limited Express Aoniyoshi — Kurobe Gorge Railway — Kyo-Train Garaku — Sagano Scenic Railway — Pokemon With You Train — Hisatsu Line — Sanriku Railway Kotatsu Train — Hakone Tozan Line — Fujisan View Express — Furano Biei Norokko Train — Takayama Main Line — Chiba Monorail
Podcast Meetup 2024: Nov 6th, 2024 at 7:00pm at Commune on the rooftop of the Shibuya Parco shopping mall in Tokyo. Take the elevator to the 9th floor and then take the escalator to the roof.
Himeji Castle
133. Rating Popular Attractions
Kiyomizu-dera
Japan is full of “must-see” attractions, but which ones are most worth visiting? Join Jason and Paul as they rate some of Japan’s most popular attractions!
Topics Covered:
Shibuya Crossing
Sensoji Temple
Takeshita Street (Harajuku)
Akihabara
Nikko Toshogu Shrine
Kiyomizu-dera
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Yasaka Pagoda
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Osaka Castle
Himeji Castle
132. Natto
Natto is one of Japan’s most divisive foods. Join Jason and Paul as they learn about — and sample — this slimy and smelly delicacy!
Topics Covered:
History
How is Natto Made?
Types of Natto
How to Eat Natto
Health Benefits
Taste Test
Where to Get Natto