The 12 Best Japan Travel Podcasts (2026)

Abroad in Japan started as the podcast companion to Chris Broad's multi-award-winning YouTube channel, and it has grown into one of the most popular English-language shows about life in Japan. Chris, a British filmmaker who has lived in Japan since 2012, teams up with broadcaster Pete Donaldson to deliver a mix of sharp humor, cultural commentary, and genuinely useful travel advice. With nearly 700 episodes and a 4.9-star rating from over 1,900 reviews, this show has built an enormous and loyal audience. Episodes cover everything from capsule hotels and regional cuisine to navigating Japanese work culture and the country's quirky vending machine obsession. The tone is conversational and often laugh-out-loud funny, with Chris drawing on over a decade of personal experience living in rural Tohoku and later in cities like Sendai and Tokyo. Pete brings an outsider's curiosity that keeps the discussion accessible for newcomers. Recent episodes tackle topics like dating norms, regional dialects, and offbeat travel destinations that most guidebooks skip entirely. New episodes drop twice a week, making it easy to stay current. If you want a podcast that mixes real on-the-ground Japan knowledge with genuine entertainment, this is the gold standard.

Hosted by Miyuki Seguchi, a licensed guide with deep local expertise, Japan Experts is built specifically for people actively planning a trip to Japan. Miyuki brings a practitioner's perspective that sets this show apart from more general Japan culture podcasts. Each episode focuses on actionable planning advice: how to structure your itinerary, which train passes actually save money, when to book ryokans, and how to handle the logistics that trip-planning forums argue about endlessly. The show also features guest interviews with other Japan travel professionals who share firsthand knowledge of specific regions and experiences. At 44 episodes and growing, with new installments released twice a month, the catalog is manageable enough to listen through before your trip. Miyuki speaks with warmth and clarity, breaking down topics that can feel overwhelming for first-time visitors, from navigating Narita Airport to understanding the etiquette at an onsen. She also covers less obvious subjects like how to find vegetarian-friendly restaurants, where to experience traditional craft workshops, and the differences between visiting in cherry blossom season versus autumn foliage. The 4.4-star rating reflects a show that prioritizes substance over polish, and listeners consistently praise the practical, no-fluff approach. If you are in the active trip-planning phase and want guidance from someone who literally guides tourists through Japan for a living, this podcast belongs in your rotation.

Kevin O'Shea has been hosting Just Japan Podcast since 2014, making it one of the longest-running English-language podcasts focused on Japanese life and culture. The interview format is the backbone of the show: each week, Kevin sits down with someone who has a unique connection to Japan, from longtime expats and business owners to musicians, artists, and academics. Over 260 episodes have built up a massive library covering topics as varied as samurai history, the Japanese music scene, working as an English teacher, anime culture, and regional food traditions. Kevin's interviewing style is relaxed and curious, letting guests share stories at their own pace without rushing to fill time. The show holds a 4.8-star rating from 86 reviews, with listeners frequently praising how the range of guests keeps things fresh even after hundreds of episodes. What makes Just Japan especially valuable for travelers is the ground-level perspective: guests often share specific recommendations for neighborhoods, restaurants, and experiences that only come from actually living there. The show also touches on practical matters like navigating Japanese bureaucracy, understanding social customs, and finding your footing as a foreigner. Kevin also hosts the companion show Supernatural Japan for those interested in folklore and the stranger side of Japanese history. With a deep back catalog organized by topic, you can easily find episodes relevant to wherever you are headed in Japan.

Jason Nieling and Paul Bresin host Sightseeing Japan, a biweekly podcast that takes a wide-angle look at Japanese culture and destinations. With 173 episodes and a 4.7-star rating from 146 reviews, this show has carved out a loyal following among Japan enthusiasts and travelers. The format is simple and effective: each episode picks a specific topic and the two hosts talk it through with a mix of research, personal experience, and genuine curiosity. Topics range from the expected (cherry blossoms, ramen, temples) to the wonderfully specific (the history of Japanese vending machines, the culture of train station bentos, the geisha districts of Kyoto). Jason and Paul have an easy chemistry that keeps episodes moving without feeling rushed, and their back-and-forth often surfaces interesting tangents and details. Recent episodes have covered Hakone, Japanese castles, and the logistics of getting around rural areas. The show works well for people in the early research phase of a Japan trip because it introduces destinations and cultural concepts in a way that is thorough but never dry. At roughly an hour per episode, each installment gives you enough depth to actually learn something rather than just skimming the surface. The biweekly schedule and the size of the back catalog mean there is plenty of material to work through, and the episode titles make it easy to jump to whatever interests you most.

Japan Travel Smart is a newer addition to the Japan podcast scene, but it has quickly earned a reputation for tightly focused, practical travel advice. Hosted by Johnny, a self-described frequent Japan traveler who keeps going back, the show takes a biweekly format with episodes running around 20-25 minutes. That shorter runtime is intentional: each episode targets a specific travel skill or tip rather than trying to cover everything at once. The 4.9-star rating from 29 reviews signals strong listener satisfaction, and reviewers consistently highlight how useful the advice is for both first-timers and repeat visitors. Topics include survival tips for navigating Japan without speaking Japanese, how to use IC cards effectively, the best ways to handle cash in a country that still relies on it heavily, and strategies for visiting popular spots without fighting crowds. Johnny speaks from direct personal experience rather than aggregating information from other sources, which gives the advice a tested, practical quality. The show launched in 2024 and has put out 28 episodes so far, so the catalog is still small enough to listen through entirely before a trip. Recent re-recorded episodes suggest the host is actively refining and improving earlier content rather than just moving on, which is a good sign for quality control. If you want concise, opinionated, and field-tested Japan travel advice without wading through hour-long episodes, this podcast delivers exactly that.

Outland Japan fills a gap that most Japan travel media ignores entirely: the rural, regional, and wild parts of the country that exist far beyond Tokyo and Kyoto. Hosted by Peter Carnell, a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano, the podcast transports listeners to mountain villages, remote coastlines, and agricultural communities that rarely appear in travel guides. Peter's perspective is shaped by years of actually living and working in these areas, giving his storytelling an authenticity that armchair travel writing cannot match. With 65 episodes across four seasons and a perfect 5.0-star rating (albeit from a small number of reviewers), the show has built a dedicated audience among travelers looking for something beyond the standard tourist circuit. Episodes explore topics like snow country culture, the realities of rural depopulation, traditional crafts that survive in small towns, and outdoor adventures from hiking to river fishing. The production quality is notably high for an independent podcast, with atmospheric sound design that puts you in the setting. The show is currently on hiatus between Season 4 and Season 5, with Peter balancing production against guiding work and family life, but he has confirmed the show will return. The existing catalog is well worth exploring, especially if you are planning to venture outside the big cities. Each episode functions as both a travel recommendation and a piece of long-form journalism about a Japan that most visitors never see.

Akiko Katayama hosts Japan Eats!, a show dedicated entirely to Japanese food and food culture, produced by Heritage Radio Network. Akiko is a Japanese native, New York-based food writer, and director of the New York Japanese Culinary Academy, which gives her a dual perspective that bridges Japanese culinary tradition and the international food world. With 389 episodes and a 4.8-star rating from 69 reviews, this is one of the deepest and most authoritative food-focused Japan podcasts available. Each episode zeroes in on a specific dish, ingredient, drink, or food tradition, from the art of making dashi to the 330-year history of a single soy sauce brewery. Guests include chefs, producers, historians, and food writers who bring specialized knowledge to each conversation. The show goes well beyond sushi and ramen, covering izakaya culture, regional specialties like Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, the craft behind Japanese whisky, seasonal ingredients, and the etiquette of formal kaiseki dining. For travelers, this podcast is an outstanding pre-trip resource because understanding Japanese food culture transforms how you eat while visiting. Knowing the difference between types of tofu, how to order at a standing soba shop, or what makes Kobe beef different from other wagyu changes your experience at the table. Monthly episodes mean the catalog grows steadily, and the archive is organized well enough to find episodes about specific foods or regions you plan to visit.

Pure Life Podcast offers a distinctive take on Japan travel by telling the story through a Tokyo native's eyes. Rather than the typical expat or tourist perspective, this show gives you Japan as experienced by someone who grew up there, which changes the kinds of details and recommendations you get. With 91 episodes and a perfect 5.0-star rating, the show covers immersive itineraries, dining deep-cuts, and cultural context that goes beyond surface-level tourism. Episodes run long, often close to an hour, giving each topic room to breathe. Recent installments have mapped out detailed Tokyo itineraries that weave together food, art, and cultural experiences in ways that feel lived-in rather than guidebook-compiled. The show also ventures into international travel, but Japan remains the core focus and the strongest content. What sets Pure Life apart is the specificity of its recommendations: rather than telling you to visit Shibuya, an episode might walk you through a particular afternoon route through a specific neighborhood, naming the coffee shop worth stopping at, the gallery that most people walk past, and the dinner spot where you should sit at the counter. That level of granular, opinionated guidance is hard to find in most travel media. The show updates roughly twice a week, which means fresh content arrives regularly. For travelers who want to experience Tokyo and Japan beyond the obvious attractions, this podcast provides the kind of local intelligence that normally requires knowing someone who lives there.

Mark Kennedy hosts Real Gaijin, a biweekly podcast that examines Japan through the lens of business, culture, and the daily realities of foreign residents. With 48 episodes and new installments dropping regularly, the show stands out for its candid, no-stereotypes approach to covering how Japan is changing in real time. Mark interviews entrepreneurs, innovators, community leaders, and longtime residents who share honest stories about work culture, immigration policy, regional revitalization, and the economic shifts reshaping the country. For travelers, this podcast provides essential context that most travel shows skip. Understanding Japan's labor shortage, the boom in regional tourism, or how small towns are reinventing themselves to attract visitors gives you a much richer frame of reference when you actually visit. Episodes on tourism trends are particularly useful, covering topics like overtourism in Kyoto, the push to direct visitors toward lesser-known prefectures, and how local governments are investing in making rural areas more accessible to international travelers. The conversational interview format keeps things engaging, and Mark asks the kinds of follow-up questions that pull out the details most hosts miss. Published on Substack, the show also comes with written companion pieces for those who want to read more. If you are interested in understanding modern Japan beyond temples and cherry blossoms, this podcast provides a grounded, informed perspective that will change how you think about the country.

Tony and Ryan, both holding master's degrees in Japanese Language and Linguistics, hosted Ichimon Japan with the tagline of helping listeners understand Japan one question at a time. Over 86 episodes, the show tackled a wide array of topics, from quirky Japanese language puzzles to obscure historical events, always with academic rigor wrapped in an accessible, fun presentation. The format was built around answering a single question per episode, which gave each installment a focused structure that kept things tight. Episodes covered subjects like why Japanese has so many counting words, the history behind specific cultural traditions, how place names evolved, and the linguistic roots of everyday expressions. For travelers, this kind of background knowledge transforms a trip from sightseeing into genuine understanding. Knowing why a shrine is named the way it is, or what a particular festival actually commemorates, adds layers to the experience that no amount of photo-taking can provide. The show concluded in May 2024 with Tony and Ryan indicating the format would continue in a different form, but the existing catalog remains a fantastic resource. The 4.9-star rating from 9 reviews reflects a small but devoted audience that appreciated the depth and care put into each episode. If you enjoy learning the why behind Japanese culture rather than just the what, this podcast rewards repeat listening. The episodes are organized well enough that you can pick topics relevant to wherever you plan to travel.

Japan Travel and Friends is the podcast arm of Japan Travel, one of the largest English-language Japan travel communities on the web. Recorded from the company's headquarters in Tokyo, the show features hosts Anna, Davide, and Luca, all passionate travel experts who live and work in Japan. The casual, multi-host format gives episodes a natural conversational energy, with the hosts bouncing observations and recommendations off each other. Over 22 episodes, the show covered neighborhoods in Tokyo, seasonal travel tips, regional festivals, and what it is actually like to live in Japan as a foreign resident. The connection to the broader Japan Travel platform means the hosts draw on a network of contributors and community members, occasionally featuring guest perspectives from across the country. Episodes about specific areas like Shinagawa offer the kind of neighborhood-level detail that is hard to find elsewhere, with recommendations for specific shops, parks, and restaurants. The show also addresses practical questions that first-time visitors worry about, from how to use the train system to understanding Japanese service culture. At around 25 minutes per episode, the show is easy to fit into a commute or a walk. While the podcast has not released new episodes since early 2023, the existing catalog remains useful for trip planning, particularly the Tokyo-focused episodes. The Japan Travel brand brings credibility and a community-driven perspective that balances personal opinion with crowd-sourced knowledge from thousands of Japan travelers.

Japan Travel is the podcast produced by Japan Travel KK, a Tokyo-based company that runs one of the most comprehensive English-language Japan travel platforms. Hosted by Sebastien Duval, the community director, the show takes an inclusive approach to travel content that is refreshingly uncommon in the Japan podcast space. Episodes address the needs of diverse audiences, including families traveling with young children, vegetarian and vegan visitors navigating a cuisine that can be tricky for plant-based eaters, and wheelchair users looking for accessible experiences. Over 11 episodes, the show featured interviews with residents, tourism professionals, and travelers who brought specialized knowledge about specific regions and activities. The ski industry episode with Nathan Eden, for example, covered not just where to ski but the logistics of getting to Myoko Kogen, what lodging options exist, and how the snow country experience differs from resorts in other countries. The podcast also touched on sustainable and culturally responsible travel practices, reflecting a growing awareness in the industry about how tourism affects local communities. While the show has been on pause since late 2022, the episodes remain valuable because they address questions that most Japan travel content ignores. If you are planning a trip and have specific accessibility needs or dietary restrictions, this podcast provides practical guidance that is genuinely hard to find elsewhere. The backing of Japan Travel KK means the information comes from a team that works in Japanese tourism professionally.