Japan Explained

Japan Explained comes from a Kyoto-based tour guide who goes by Stray Toki, and that on-the-ground perspective makes all the difference. Rather than working through a chronological timeline, each episode takes a single topic and explores it from multiple angles, weaving history, culture, food, architecture, and mythology together. A three-part deep dive into Saigo Takamori covers the real history behind The Last Samurai, while other episodes tackle the origins of sake, the cultural significance of kitsune and tanuki in folklore, the art of ikebana, and the history of the Tokaido road. Academic guests add scholarly depth, like the episode featuring Glynne Walley discussing the Edo-period epic Hakkenden. Episodes run around 50 minutes on a biweekly schedule, giving each subject enough room to develop without overstaying its welcome. What makes the show particularly valuable is how the host connects historical context to things you can still see and experience in Japan today, drawing on years of guiding travelers through Kyoto's temples, gardens, and back streets. The podcast also maintains a YouTube channel and Instagram for visual accompaniment. With 29 episodes and a 4.4-star rating, Japan Explained occupies a useful niche between pure history podcasts and Japan travel shows, offering the kind of context that makes a visit to Japan far more meaningful.