Send us Fan Mail Travel Expert Onanta Forbes was on the last leg of her cruise around Northern Europe last week so we'll get the highlights on this week's show. Plus, travel writer and luxury hotel reviewer Debra Smith will join us to give her take on her stay at the Fairmont Tokyo. Support the show
Tokyo DisneySea is routinely voted the best theme park in the world — and it's not even the most iconic Disney park internationally. This week, Ryan and Julie continue their international Disney series with Tokyo and Paris, two parks that couldn't be more different from each other. Tokyo Disneyland …Tokyo DisneySea is routinely voted the best theme park in the world — and it's not even the most iconic Disney park internationally. This week, Ryan and Julie continue their international Disney series with Tokyo and Paris, two parks that couldn't be more different from each other. Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea Tokyo Disneyland was Disney's first international park, and it shows — hub-and-spoke layout, familiar lands, even upgraded versions of classics like Winnie the Pooh (the first trac...more
In this weeks Travel Tuesday Flashback Episode, we’re taking you with us to vibrant, bustling Tokyo! From theme parks to tea ceremonies, ancient temples to glowing digital art museums, we packed our itinerary with the best of Japan’s capital city—and now we're sharing it all with you. Whether it’s y…In this weeks Travel Tuesday Flashback Episode, we’re taking you with us to vibrant, bustling Tokyo! From theme parks to tea ceremonies, ancient temples to glowing digital art museums, we packed our itinerary with the best of Japan’s capital city—and now we're sharing it all with you. Whether it’s your first trip to Tokyo or you’re planning a return visit, this episode is full of helpful travel tips, must-do activities, and honest insights to help you experience the magic of Tokyo like a squad pro.
Download our 5 Day Tokyo Itinerary to make your trip planning even easier!
• Stay at the Rembrandt Style Tokyo Nishikasai Grande Hotel or DoubleTree by Hilton near the Kyoto Station
• Get an eSim from Airalo before you go and the Tokyo Tourist Subway Passes as soon as you get there
• Reserve your Tokyo Disney Sea tickets well ahead of time
• We highly recommend the Tea Ceremony Workshop, Sumo Wrestling Show the Onsen experience, and going to TeamLab Planets while it’s still there.
• Visit iconic sites like Sensoji Temple, Sumida Park, Nezu Shrine, and Ueno Park during cherry blossom season
• Stroll through Tsukiji Outer Market, sampling sushi, seafood, and Japanese street snacks
• Discover hidden gems like Hamarikyu Gardens and the peaceful Nezu Shrine away from the crowds
• Take in sweeping skyline views (for free!) from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building’s observatory and catch their epic Godzilla-themed light show
Find more recommended activities in our Japan Experience's Viator Shop
Find a great flight deal to Tokyo, or anywhere else, by signing up for Thrifty Traveler Premium and get flight deals sent straight to your inbox. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.
Connect: YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram and contact us at [email protected] to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.
Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!more
British singer, songwriter and actress Pixie Lott joins Tanya Rose to reveal the travel experiences that have shaped her life.
From writing music in New York and Los Angeles as a teenager to touring across Japan, performing in Brazil, discovering hidden gems through local recommendations and fallin…British singer, songwriter and actress Pixie Lott joins Tanya Rose to reveal the travel experiences that have shaped her life.
From writing music in New York and Los Angeles as a teenager to touring across Japan, performing in Brazil, discovering hidden gems through local recommendations and falling in love with Italy, Pixie shares the places that continue to inspire both her life and career.
She also talks about why she never plans her holidays too far in advance, why Tokyo completely changed her perspective on travel, and the emotional trip to Brazil that she’ll never forget.
In this episode, she talks about:
Why Tokyo and Rome are the two destinations everyone should visit
How music took her around the world from the age of 15
The unexpected trip to Brazil that became one of the most emotional experiences of her life
Why Cornwall and the Lake District deserve more recognition
The Italian destinations she keeps returning to and the pasta she still dreams about
The London restaurants and cocktail bars she always returns to
Why she prefers booking travel as she goes and trusting local recommendations
Her unforgettable visit to Zambia with Comic Relief
Writing her latest album Encino in California
Why New York and Nashville still inspire her creativity
🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe to @TravelSecretsThePodcast and listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts.
Chapters
03:44 Number one destination everyone should visit: Tokyo or Rome?
08:29 The unexpected Brazil trip that changed everything
13:26 Why Pixie thinks holidays in the UK are underrated
18:52 Favourite food, restaurants and cocktails while travelling
23:36 Pixie’s best travel advice: trust the locals
26:58 Her most poignant travel memory in Zambia
28:26 Writing Encino in California
30:54 Why New York and Nashville will always inspire her
34:29 The travel photographs that mean the most to her
• Get a $200 gift card after your first payment of $500 with Melio (affiliate) - https://milestomemories.com/go/melio/
• Get 3 free months of Audible - https://milestomemories.com/audible-subscription-offer-2/ Mark is taking his son to Japan on points, so we walk through exactly how he booked it, sn…• Get a $200 gift card after your first payment of $500 with Melio (affiliate) - https://milestomemories.com/go/melio/
• Get 3 free months of Audible - https://milestomemories.com/audible-subscription-offer-2/ Mark is taking his son to Japan on points, so we walk through exactly how he booked it, snagging American Airlines business class from Detroit through Dallas to Tokyo for 100,000 miles a person, why he locked it in even though it is not the rock bottom price, and his plan to fly Delta One home from Seoul nonstop for 140,000 SkyMiles. It turns into a bigger conversation about how the burn side of miles and points has gotten harder and less fun, and why getting the trip you want now can beat holding out for the perfect saver award. On the news side, there is an excellent Audible deal with three free months plus a $20 credit for Prime members, another two Hyatt hotels dropping suite upgrade awards, and Hyatt dressing up an old 13 month booking window as a shiny new elite benefit. Then we react to a great Benji article full of points assumptions worth rethinking, from not needing to be a credit card travel protection expert, to skipping mediocre free breakfast, to whether tracking every tiny bonus is actually worth your time, and the classic debate of booking flights first versus hotels first. Let us know in the comments whether you are team flights or team hotels, and drop any Japan tips for Mark.
Episode Guide:
• 0:00 What's Coming Up
• 1:35 Why Japan? A 16th Birthday Bucket List Trip
• 2:59 How We Booked 100K Business Class to Tokyo
• 6:02 Flying Delta One Home From Seoul
• 8:58 A Great Audible Deal (3 Free Months + $20)
• 9:59 Hyatt Drops More Suite Upgrade Hotels
• 11:41 Hyatt's "New" 13-Month Booking Benefit
• 14:07 Do You Need to Master Card Travel Protections?
• 16:53 Skip the Free Breakfast?
• 19:27 Are You Wasting Time Tracking Points?
• 23:41 Book Flights First or Hotels First?
• 29:30 Final Thoughts Links
• Sign-up for Rakuten! (referral) - http://milestomemories.com/go/rakuten
• Hyatt upgrade certs - https://milestomemories.com/hyatt-expands-list-of-hotels-that-dont-accept-suite-upgrade-awards/
• Hyatt 13 month benefit - https://milestomemories.com/hyatt-early-award-access-for-elites-and-cardholders/
• Points assumptions - https://milestomemories.com/travel-and-points-assumptions/ ✈️ Track your travel credit cards for free
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When Tom Feiling lived in Tokyo in the early 1990s, Japan was a vision of the future. A place where science fiction existed next to centuries old Shinto shrines.
He returned to the country nearly twenty-five years later to find some of the shine had worn off.
Its population is aging and shrinking.…When Tom Feiling lived in Tokyo in the early 1990s, Japan was a vision of the future. A place where science fiction existed next to centuries old Shinto shrines.
He returned to the country nearly twenty-five years later to find some of the shine had worn off.
Its population is aging and shrinking. Inflation is finally setting in after decades of economic stagnation. People are choosing solitude over companionship. And countryside villages are being abandoned as their last residents die off.
Japan still looks like the future, but it is a troubling future, and a warning for us all.
Tom is the author of Alone in Japan: A Journey to the Future.
We spoke about Japan’s culture of overwork, extreme forms of solitude, sex doll showrooms, and attempts to save village life and big city prosperity.
Personal Landscapes relies on the support of listeners like you to keep going. Please consider joining my Member's Club on Substack, where you'll find show notes for each episode, book reviews, reading-related videos, and more.
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.personallandscapespodcast.com/subscribemore
Join us in this encore episode as Angela Betancourt shares her must-do experiences in Tokyo, from riding the bullet train to exploring iconic spots like Shibuya Crossing and Senso-ji Temple. She also covers food options, navigating the city, and helpful tips for first-time and family travelers!
This week on Drop A Pin we are venturing to Japan, in the first of many episodes diving into this country with extremely interesting cultures and history. This week we talk about the baseball scene in Japan and how Donnie met Manny Ramirez while he was playing for the Kochi fighting dogs. We then di…This week on Drop A Pin we are venturing to Japan, in the first of many episodes diving into this country with extremely interesting cultures and history. This week we talk about the baseball scene in Japan and how Donnie met Manny Ramirez while he was playing for the Kochi fighting dogs. We then dive into their cafe culture and some of the unique wildlife Donnie has experienced in different Japanese cities.
We are also joined by legendary Hawaiian born sumo wrestler Konishiki. He was the first non-Japanese-born wrestler to reach the prestigious rank of ōzeki and was featured in Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, he tells us everything you've ever wondered to know about Sumo culture.
Timestamps:
(00:00:41) Pre Boarding (Show Start)
(00:03:49) Donnies First Trip to Japan
(00:04:41) How Donnie Met Many Ramirez
(00:16:43) Japanese Baseball Culture
(00:27:01) Japanese Trains
(00:31:21) Our Wildest Conversation Ever
(00:34:02) Convenience Store Food
(00:36:32) Tsukiji Fish Market
(00:48:18) Japanese Cafe Culture
(00:52:17) Japanese "Idols"
(01:01:08) The Deer of Nara
(01:03:46) Snow Monkeys of Nagano
(01:08:43) Konishiki Interview
(01:18:35) Day to Day Life of A Sumo
(01:26:18) Can sumo wrestlers play in the NFL
(01:31:58) How Konishiki got into Sumo
(01:40:59) Konishiki's Achievements
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Frommer's Author David McElhinney joined Pauline Frommer to discuss the culinary specialties of different Japanese regions, walking vacation opportunities that mirror the Camino de Santiago experience, ways to experience Japan's sizzling pop culture, and some strategies for saving money on a Japanes…Frommer's Author David McElhinney joined Pauline Frommer to discuss the culinary specialties of different Japanese regions, walking vacation opportunities that mirror the Camino de Santiago experience, ways to experience Japan's sizzling pop culture, and some strategies for saving money on a Japanese vacation.
Takeaways:
• Transportation in country is one of the highest costs travelers face, but buying a Japan Rail Pass may save you money. A look at its pros and cons.
• Accommodations can also take a bite out of the budget, so we discussed what capsule hotels are like, plus the more conventional but still affordable options most travelers prefer.
• Japan's culinary offerings are diverse and budget-friendly. We took a look at convenience store meals, Tokyo's Ramen scene, and the foods eaten in a region of Japan that has the most centenarians.
• Visiting off-the-beaten path Japan will get you out into some stunning nature areas, and into communities that really need the tourist business.
The Frommer's Travel Podcast was named one of the 13 best for travel by the New York Times. It is hosted by Pauline Frommer, the Publisher of the Frommer's guidebooks and Frommers.com, with new episodes issued weekly.more
The incomparable actor, presenter and activist Jameela Jamil joins Tanya Rose to share her travel secrets this week.
In this episode, Jameela tells the tale of experiencing an earthquake in Tokyo, shares why she wants to grow older in Berlin and reveals why she always checks hotels aren’t haunted b…The incomparable actor, presenter and activist Jameela Jamil joins Tanya Rose to share her travel secrets this week.
In this episode, Jameela tells the tale of experiencing an earthquake in Tokyo, shares why she wants to grow older in Berlin and reveals why she always checks hotels aren’t haunted before staying the night…
Plus, Jameela shares how the lack of culture in Los Angeles helped her find herself and discusses why it’s so important to capture every waking moment of your travels.
Don’t forget to follow @travelsecretsthepodcast and remember, you can watch all of our episodes on YouTube.
Places mentioned:
London, England
Marbella, Spain
Pakistan
Barbados
The Peninsula, Tokyo
Lake Garda, Italy
Los Angeles, United States
Shangri-La, Mauritius
Berlin, Germany
Chapters
00:00 Intro
05:44 Secret 1: Number 1 travel destination everybody should go to
09:24 Secret 2: Most unexpected travel experience
11:08 Secret 3: Most Over or Underrated travel experience
20:14 Secret 5: Best Food & Drink while travelling
What happens when your brother calls and says, "Want to meet me in Japan?" If you're Adventurer Cosette, you don't think twice. In this episode, hosts Joe Saul-Sehy and Crystal Hammond sit down with Cosette to unpack a spontaneous, unforgettable journey that crisscrossed South Korea and Japan.
Fr…What happens when your brother calls and says, "Want to meet me in Japan?" If you're Adventurer Cosette, you don't think twice. In this episode, hosts Joe Saul-Sehy and Crystal Hammond sit down with Cosette to unpack a spontaneous, unforgettable journey that crisscrossed South Korea and Japan.
From wandering Seoul's vibrant night markets and exploring the DMZ, to immersing herself in the peaceful reflection of Hiroshima and hiking snowy trails to spy on wild snow monkeys, Cosette's story is packed with cultural depth, scenic beauty, and a little chaos (including a rough flight home!). Along the way, she dressed up for Ninja class, tackled Japan's legendary Nine Bath Challenge in Shibu Onsen, and uncovered hidden gems across Kyoto and Kanazawa.
If you've ever dreamed of diving into a new country on short notice, this episode is for you. The crew also shares practical travel hacks—like how to find last-minute flight deals, why power banks are non-negotiable, and what you should really expect from Mount Fuji.
Highlights include:
• What it's like to travel internationally on a whim
• How Korean and Japanese culture differ—and surprise you
• Packing tips and tech gear that saved the day
• Memorable stops: Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Kyoto's Bamboo Forest, and Tokyo's massive crowds
• Bonus challenge: Did Cosette complete all nine hot spring baths?
Whether you're planning your first overseas trip or just dreaming of adventure from your couch, this episode reminds you: the best stories happen when you say "yes."more
Tokyo in 10: Discovering Japan’s Futuristic Metropolis One Neighborhood at a Time
This week on Travel in 10, David Brodie and Tim Johnson explore one of the most dynamic and endlessly fascinating cities in the world—Tokyo. From centuries-old temples to ultra-modern skyscrapers, Michelin-starred ram…Tokyo in 10: Discovering Japan’s Futuristic Metropolis One Neighborhood at a Time
This week on Travel in 10, David Brodie and Tim Johnson explore one of the most dynamic and endlessly fascinating cities in the world—Tokyo. From centuries-old temples to ultra-modern skyscrapers, Michelin-starred ramen counters to vending machines selling t-shirts, Tokyo is a city where every block is a new adventure.
David reflects on launching the podcast while living in Tokyo in 2005, and Tim brings his insights from a recent visit to the Japanese capital.
In This Episode
Sensoji Temple
• Tokyo’s oldest temple in the heart of Asakusa, surrounded by traditional shops and street food.
Shibuya Crossing
• The world’s busiest pedestrian intersection—Tokyo’s neon-fueled energy in one epic crosswalk.
Itoya Stationery Store
• A 12-story stationery wonderland in Ginza with a rooftop herb garden and hard-to-find writing tools.
Muji Flagship
• Explore minimalist Japanese design at its finest at this flagship Ginza location.
NHK Studio Park
• Try your hand at being a Japanese news anchor and explore the quirky world of Japanese television.
Where to Stay in Tokyo
Ritz-Carlton Tokyo
• Luxury above the clouds—beginning on the 45th floor with panoramic skyline views.
Shangri-La Tokyo
• Upscale and serene, located right at Tokyo Station for seamless access.
Park Hyatt Tokyo
• As seen in Lost in Translation, a serene luxury escape in Shinjuku.
Hyatt Centric Ginza
• Boutique vibes in a former newspaper office with nods to Tokyo’s media legacy.
Book & Bed
• Sleep in a bookstore at this quirky, capsule-style hotel for book lovers.
Can’t Miss Experiences
Tim’s Pick:
• Catch a baseball game in Tokyo—it’s a high-energy, cultural spectacle unlike anywhere else.
David’s Pick:
• Head to the Mori Art Museum for incredible exhibitions and the best city views in Roppongi Hills.
Follow & Subscribe
Listen on:
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Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links. By booking your hotels and activities through them there is no additional cost, but a small portion of your booking goes to help support this podcast.more
If you're like me, Japan is on your travel bucket list! This week Angela Betancourt joins me to share all of her tips and insider info on visiting Japan for the first time.
In this episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I reflect on the profound lessons learned from travelling the world and connecting with people from diverse cultures. Through heartfelt stories—from a Vietnamese hotel owner offering shelter during Chinese New Year to the remarkable honesty of a Toky…In this episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I reflect on the profound lessons learned from travelling the world and connecting with people from diverse cultures. Through heartfelt stories—from a Vietnamese hotel owner offering shelter during Chinese New Year to the remarkable honesty of a Tokyo subway worker—I highlight the universal kindness that transcends borders and stereotypes. He challenges divisive rhetoric and emphasizes the importance of empathy, collaboration, and understanding in building a better world. Tune in for inspiring anecdotes and insights that remind us how travel can foster compassion and unite humanity.
Lesley Downer's fascination with Japan's most famous poet took her from Tokyo's drab industrial concrete into what was then a seldom-visited part of Honshu.
It was a place of sake-drenched poetry sessions in thatched-roof highland villages, and holy mountains where m…Donate to Personal Landscapes.
Lesley Downer's fascination with Japan's most famous poet took her from Tokyo's drab industrial concrete into what was then a seldom-visited part of Honshu.
It was a place of sake-drenched poetry sessions in thatched-roof highland villages, and holy mountains where modern ascetics continued to roam between their past and future lives in search of atonement. Her book about this journey, On The Narrow Road to the Deep North, was reissued by Eland in 2024.
We spoke about Matsuo Basho’s haiku, mountain ascetics and Japan’s undiscovered north.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.personallandscapespodcast.com/subscribemore
