Sightseeing Japan

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Welcome to Sightseeing Japan! Join hosts Jason Nieling and Paul Bresin as they explore the land of the rising sun. New podcast episodes are released each week covering a range of topics, from geisha to vending machines and everything in between.

Jason Nieling and Paul Bresin


    • Sep 12, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 48m AVG DURATION
    • 105 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Sightseeing Japan

    101. Can I Go To Japan Yet?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2022 81:30


    Topics Covered:-Announcements-Can I go to Japan yet? -Japan Travel subreddit -Japan National Tourism Organization -Kyushu Journeys (travel agency)-Tourism industry-Abe assassination-The idol who married her fan-The man who married Hatsune Miku-Nuclear power in Japan-Listener mail

    100. The City of Kyoto

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2022 97:39


    Kyoto is a city bursting at the seams with temples, shrines, and history. It served as the capital for over 1,000 years and is the perfect destination for visitors that want to get in touch with the culture of ancient Japan. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the many things to do and see in Kyoto!

    99. The Tea Ceremony

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2022 67:17


    The Japanese tea ceremony is one of the three classical Japanese arts of refinement. This method of preparing and serving matcha involves a set of prescribed movements, a specific setting, and specialized tools, among other important considerations. Join Jason and Paul as they explore this ancient art form!

    98. Tofukuji

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2022 46:41


    Tofukuji is one of the five great Zen temples of Kyoto and is one of the city's most popular temples for tourists. Join Jason and Paul as they explore this historic site and discuss the many things to see and do there!

    97. Dogs

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2022 75:08


    Dogs are popular pets in Japan and have been for thousands of years. Join Jason and Paul as they learn about Japan's six native dog breeds and what role they have played in Japanese culture over the years!

    96. The City of Kobe

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2022 69:19


    Kobe is a city in the Kansai region that is famous for producing some of the best beef in the world, as well as for its sake tradition and international culture. Join Jason and Paul as they learn about the many things to see and do (and eat) in Kobe!

    95. Idols

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2022 90:37


    In Japan, the term “idol” refers to attractive young entertainers who primarily sing, act, dance, and model, among other things. Join Jason and Paul as they explore this unique aspect of modern Japanese society!

    94. Amusement Parks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2022 92:56


    Japan is home to hundreds of amusement parks and theme parks, many of which offer experiences that can't be had anywhere else. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the most popular and unusual parks in the country!

    93. The Chugoku Region

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2022 64:46


    The Chugoku region is located on the westernmost part of Honshu, Japan's largest main island. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the many things to see and do there!

    92. Yakuza

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2021 82:56


    Yakuza are members of organized crime syndicates that have been active in Japan for hundreds of years. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the dark underbelly of Japanese society!

    91. Sake

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2021 68:09


    Sake, or nihonshu, is a rice-based alcoholic beverage that has been enjoyed in Japan for over a millennium. Join Jason and Paul as they learn all about how sake is made, its cultural significance, and just what makes it so delicious!

    90. Flower Arranging (Ikebana)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2021 40:24


    Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging, is considered to be one of the three classical Japanese arts of refinement. Join Jason and Paul as they learn all about the techniques and styles of this ancient practice!

    89. Tokyo

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2021 69:51


    Tokyo is the world's biggest metropolis, the capital of Japan, and one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. Join Jason and Paul as they explore this megacity and discuss the many things to see and do there!

    88. Halloween Special - Stories and Studies of Strange Things

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2021 62:16


    Welcome to the Halloween Special! Join Jason and Paul as they share some old Japanese ghost stories from Lafcadio Hearn's “Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things”, published in 1904.

    87. Sensoji Temple

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2021 48:35


    The Sensoji Kannon Temple in Asakusa is Tokyo's oldest temple and an extremely popular tourist destination. Join Jason and Paul as they learn about this beautiful and historic spiritual site!

    86. Seaweed

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2021 58:18


    Various types of seaweed are used in all sorts of Japanese foods, from sushi to soups to okonomiyaki to desserts. Join Jason and Paul as they learn about this versatile ingredient!

    85. Bullet Trains (Shinkansen)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2021 66:33


    Japan's bullet trains are famous around the world for their speed, efficiency, and masterful engineering. Join Jason and Paul as they explore what makes the Shinkansen so amazing!

    84. The Shikoku Region

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2021 68:54


    Shikoku is one of the main islands of Japan and has a unique history, beautiful natural scenery, and a traditional feel. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the Shikoku region of Japan!

    83. Masks

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2021 39:55


    Masks have a long history in Japan and are used in everything from festivals to traditional theatre. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the many different types of Japanese masks!

    82. Miso

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2021 45:56


    Miso is a fermented soybean paste that has played an important role in Japanese cuisine for hundreds of years. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the history, production, and uses of this delicious and healthy food!

    81. Karaoke

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2021 61:38


    Karaoke originated in Japan and has become a hugely popular pastime. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the history of karaoke and the reasons that its popularity has spread all over the world!

    80. The City of Nikko

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2021 54:08


    Nikko is a popular tourist destination for domestic and international tourists due to its natural beauty, important temples and shrines, and relaxing onsen. Join Jason and Paul as they explore this historic city!

    79. Working and Studying in Japan

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2021 70:04


    Japan is a great place to visit as a tourist but there are also other ways to visit if you'd like to stay for an extended period of time. Join Jason and Paul as they discuss various ways to work or study in Japan!

    78. Whisky

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2021 0:54


    Japan built its whisky industry based on techniques imported from Scotland and they now produce some of the most sought-after whisky in the world. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the delicious world of Japanese whisky!

    77. More Folklore

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2021 51:00


    Ancient Japanese folktales can help provide insight into Japan’s philosophies and culture. Join Jason and Paul as they share and discuss two popular stories that have been passed down through the centuries!

    76. Robots

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2021 83:11


    Japan is a world leader in the development of robotics and artificial intelligence. Join Jason and Paul as they learn how these innovative technologies could change the future of Japanese society!

    75. The Chubu Region

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2021 61:23


    The Chubu region is located in central Honshu between the Kanto and Kansai regions. It is characterized by rugged mountains and also contains an important symbol of Japan, Mount Fuji. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the amazing things to see and do in this oft-overlooked region of Japan!

    74. Arcades (Game Centers)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2021 67:58


    Video game arcades are ubiquitous in Japan where they are known as “game centers”. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the history of this innovative industry and learn about the many amazing games that can be found at Japanese arcades!

    73. Soy Sauce

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2021 44:40


    Soy sauce is a fermented liquid condiment that plays an extremely important role in Japanese cuisine. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the history, production, and uses of this versatile product!

    72. The City of Kamakura

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2021 51:17


    Kamakura is a city steeped in history and tradition and is now a popular tourist destination. Join Jason and Paul as they explore this former capital of Japan and learn about the many things to see and do there!

    71. Osorezan

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2021 42:54


    Osorezan, or “Dread Mountain”, is an active volcano with a Buddhist temple in its caldera. It is one of Japan’s three most sacred places and is believed to be one of the gates to the underworld. Join Jason and Paul as they explore this other-worldly pilgrimage destination!

    70. Kawaii

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2021 64:03


    The concept of kawaii, meaning “cute” or "adorable", is a prominent aspect of modern Japanese culture. Join Jason and Paul as they dive deep into the world of kawaii culture!

    69. Valentine's Day and White Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2021 38:18


    Valentine’s Day is a relatively new holiday in Japan, and they celebrate it in their own unique way. They even created a companion holiday called White Day! Join Jason and Paul as they explore the customs and traditions surrounding these celebrations!

    68. Denim

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2021 63:27


    Did you know that Japanese denim is widely considered to be among the best in the world? Join Jason and Paul as they learn about what makes Japanese denim so great!

    67. Mochi

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2021 38:41


    Mochi is a popular rice-based food in Japan that has been considered sacred since ancient times. Join Jason and Paul as they learn about how it is made, its cultural significance, and the many types of dishes that can be made with mochi!

    66. The Tohoku Region

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2020 63:18


    The Tohoku region of Japan, consisting of six prefectures in northeast Honshu, is known for its mountains, winter sports, onsen resorts, and natural scenery. Join Jason and Paul as they explore what there is to see and do in the Tohoku region!

    65. Pachinko

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2020 49:57


    Pachinko is a pinball-like game that is extremely popular in Japan both as a recreational game and as a gambling device. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the bright and noisy world of Pachinko!

    64. Shirakawa-go

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2020 44:14


    Shirakawa-go is a quaint mountain village nestled in the Japanese Alps that is known for its beautiful views and a unique architectural style called gassho-zukuri. Join Jason and Paul as they discuss the many things to see and do in this picturesque village!

    63. 2020 Tokyo Gubernatorial Election

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2020 64:16


    The 2020 Tokyo gubernatorial election was described by the media as “a circus” due to the attention-seeking antics of some of the candidates. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the factors that made this year’s election so unusual!

    62. Halloween Special - Oni and Tengu

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2020 76:57


    Oni and tengu are two of the most recognizable youkai (monsters) in Japanese folklore. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the rich mythology behind these mysterious beings!

    61. Tattoos (Irezumi)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2020 60:51


    Japanese tattooing, or irezumi, is an advanced art form with a distinctive style that incorporates intricate designs, recurring motifs and a great deal of symbolism. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the colorful world of Japanese tattoos!

    60. Folklore

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2020 62:56


    Ancient Japanese folktales can help provide insight into Japan’s philosophies and culture. Join Jason and Paul as they share and discuss two popular stories that have been passed down through the centuries!

    59. Toilets

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2020 49:07


    Japan produces some of the most technologically advanced toilets in the world. Join Jason and Paul as they explore these amazing feats of engineering!

    58. Animal Islands and Villages

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2020 40:55


    Japan has many places where you can have unusual encounters with various types of animals. Join Jason and Paul as they explore Japan’s animal islands and animal villages!

    57. Wasabi

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2020 39:11


    Most people are familiar with wasabi as the green paste that is served with sushi, but did you know that it is actually very rare to see real wasabi outside of Japan? Join Jason and Paul as they learn all about this mysterious condiment!

    56. Koi

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2020 39:19


    Koi are recognized around the world as symbols of Japan and are commonly found in Japanese gardens. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the history and culture behind these beautiful fish!

    55. Kiyomizu-dera

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2020 41:39


    Kiyomizu-dera is one of Kyoto’s most famous Buddhist temples and one of the most recognizable sights in Japan. Join Jason and Paul as they explore this historic landmark!

    Announcement - New Schedule

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2020 1:44


    Changes in our lives and our schedules have necessitated a change to the podcast schedule. Starting on August 3rd, new Sightseeing Japan episodes will be published every two weeks instead of every week. Thank you for your understanding!

    54. Kyushu Journeys (Interview)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2020 57:10


    Find Kyushu Journeys online:https://www.facebook.com/kyushujourneyshttps://www.instagram.com/kyushujourneys/https://www.kyushujourneys.com/

    53. Funerals and Cemeteries

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2020 43:55


    Though Japan is a more secular society than it used to be, its customs surrounding death still incorporate many Buddhist and Shinto ideas. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the customs behind Japanese funerals and cemeteries.

    52. The City of Osaka

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2020 45:25


    Osaka is one of the largest cities in Japan and was traditionally considered the country’s economic hub. Join Jason and Paul as they explore the sights, sounds, and tastes of this bustling metropolis!

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