Planning the Best Japan Trip Ever with Brandon Presser

All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins

Chris Hutchins

Business, Education, Investing, Society & Culture, Places & Travel, Self-improvement

4.7 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 8 February 2023

⏱️ 104 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

#101: Travel writer Brandon Presser joins Chris to discuss all things Japan. They cover why they both love the country so much, what makes it worth a visit, where you should go, what you should see and do, and all the incredible foods you should be trying (including their favorite spots to eat at). Brandon Presser (@brandpress) is a freelance travel writer who has lived in Japan twice, written 3 books on the country and has traveled there in all but one of the last 20 years. Aside from Japan, he's also written 50+ travel guidebooks, contributes to numerous travel publications and recently released his latest book: The Far Land. Full show notes at: https://allthehacks.com/japan-brandon-presser Partner Deals Inside Tracker: 20% off personalized wellness & nutrition plans backed by science goodr: Free shipping on $75 stylish Snow G Goggles Kubera: 14 day trial of the world's most modern wealth tracker for $1 Athletic Greens: Free 1 year supply of Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs Selected Links From The Episode Brandon Presser: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Website Tokyo Sites: Meiji Shrine | Shibuya Crossing | Imperial Palace | Four Seasons Hotel (Imperial Gardens view) | Team Labs Planets | 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Neighborhoods: Shimokitazawa | Kichijōji | Daikanyama | Nakameguro | Jiyūgaoka | Odaiba Dine/Drink: Maisen | Kagari Ramen | Kikanbo | Rokurinsha | Min Min | Savoy (Azabu Juban) | Tama | Tatemichiya | Haritts | Sushizanmai | Deus ex Machina | Bar Trench | Bar Tram | Bar Benfiddich | Breakfast Club | Bear Pond Espresso | 7-Eleven snacks Accommodations: Aman | Hilton Tokyo | Grand Hyatt Tokyo Shopping: Omotesando | Tsukiji Outer Market (shopping & dining) Kyoto Sites: Kiyomizu-dera Temple | Yasaka Pagoda Neighborhoods: Gion | Sanjō Dine/Drink: Pizzaria Napoletana Da Yuki | Bar Rocking Chair | Yugen | Ippodo Tea | Monk | House of KI NO BI | Yasai Hori Accommodations: Park Hyatt Kyoto Shopping: Secondary Destinations Kyushu (volcanoes, hot spring culture) Ōita Prefecture Beppu (Stay: Intercontinental) Yufuin Shikoku (small villages, farming/rural) Hokkaido (natural destination, skiing) Niigata (Design Hotels: Satoyama Jujo) Transportation Suica Card Yamanote Line Miscellaneous information Ratings/Reviews: Tabelog The 10 best Japanese convenience store souvenirs Full Show Notes Introduction (00:00) Why Japan? (01:31) Japan: Post-pandemic and post-olympics (04:12) How to plan for your first visit to Japan (07:50) Destinations outside of Tokyo and Kyoto (09:52) The best time of year to visit (12:12) Is it beneficial to have a guide? Can people get by using English? (13:51) Understanding the rating/review system (15:20) Japanese people and culture (17:43) Culture: Meeting & getting to know the locals (21:49) Tokyo: How to geographically think about the city (24:59) Transportation and the Suica pre-paid transportation card (29:07) Tokyo: What to eat, drink, do (33:21) Misnomer: Tokyo is expensive (36:17) Dining in Tokyo (36:47) Dining etiquette: Tipping (37:57) Dining etiquette: Meal times (38:58) Segmented dining (40:23) Food specialties (41:18) Restaurant/bar/cafe recommendations (42:46) More things to see and do in Tokyo (49:28) Nightlife scene (59:03) Is Japan family-friendly? (1:01:13) Kyoto (1:04:02) What to know about visiting Kyoto (1:07:29) Working with high-end travel planners/Access to personalized luxury cultural experiences (1:09:44) How the hotel industry has changed due to the pandemic (1:12:57) Top things to see and do, and where to stay (1:16:51) Kyoto: What to eat, drink, do (1:20:12) Specific types of foods to try (1:22:51) Other things to see and places to explore in Kyoto (1:24:53) Etiquette: Be engaging and show appreciation (1:25:53) Beyond Tokyo and Kyoto: Emerging destinations and interesting places (1:27:07) Shopping in Japan (1:36:21) Osaka (1:36:50) Seto Inland Sea (1:38:45) Where to find Brandon online (1:40:18)

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, and welcome to another episode of All the Hacks, a show about upgrading your
0:05.4	life, money, and travel.
0:07.0	If you're new here, I'm your host, Chris Hutchins, and one of the areas I love optimizing
0:11.4	the most is travel.
0:12.7	I've been to 60 plus countries, and on every trip, I love meeting locals, trying to understand
0:17.1	their culture, having authentic experiences, and most of all, I love finding a way to eat
0:21.7	all the best foods a place has to offer.
0:24.1	And hands down, one of my favorite travel destinations in the world is Japan, so I wanted
0:28.6	to do another travel episode on just traveling there.
0:31.5	And while I've been there four times, there is no one better to join me than my previous
0:35.4	guest, Brandon Presser, who's been there every year for the past 20 years, except 2021,
0:41.0	including spending a month there last November.
0:43.7	He's also lived there twice, and he's written three books on the country.
0:46.8	He is a true expert on Japan, but he's also been to over 100 countries and written
0:51.8	well over 50 guidebooks, so he is actually an all around travel pro as well.
0:56.4	We're going to talk about why we both love the country so much, what makes it worth a visit,
1:00.2	where you should go, what you should see and do, and my favorite, all the incredible foods
1:04.7	you should be trying, and our favorite spots to eat them.
1:07.6	I hope that by the time you finish this episode, whether you've never been to Japan,
1:11.1	have a trip on the horizon, or have been before, you're going to be inspired to go there soon,
1:15.8	and have a ton of amazing new things to check out when you get there.
1:19.0	So let's get into it right after this.
	...

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