A Journey Through Sanuki in Kagawa • Returning to Japan for 3 Months • Travel Award Nomination

I’ve just published a new guest guide from cultural historian and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts Graham Thomas.

Graham is the author of a number of books on Japan, and a resident of Sanuki. Over to you Graham…

“Sanuki. The name may not ring an immediate bell.

Even if I add Shikoku’s Sanuki region you might still shake your head.

While Shikoku is one of the four main islands it is the one less visited, off the usual foreign tourist’s beat, although increasingly it appears in global media (including CNN, Travel & Leisure, and the BBC) as a bucket list destination.

There are good reasons for its appearance. Read on to find out why…“

My wife and I are returning to Japan for 3 months.

It has been a long time coming for me (for a variety of personal reasons) but I’m really looking forward to getting back into The Real Japan and exploring and sharing my journey with you.

Apart from the start of the trip, we have no real itinerary planned out, just a bunch of ideas and a notes we’ve been collecting over the past few months for places we’d like to visit.

We watch a lot of the NHK World TV channel and it’s a wealth of inspiration and ideas for any Japan traveller.

I’m thinking to create a blog post about some of their shows that I think are best for ideas and inspiration on new places to discover. If that would interest you let me know. 

Anyhow, I plan on livestreaming while I’m travelling around – from new destinations and a few old favourites I’ll be revisiting.

All of which I’ll be sharing with you along the way across social media (see next item below for new ways to connect with me), the website, my YouTube channel and in these Bulletins of course.

I’m thrilled to share some exciting news!

The Real Japan has been shortlisted for the LUXlife Magazine Travel and Tourism Awards 2025. This prestigious annual awards program celebrates exceptional businesses that are innovating and driving excellence in the global travel and tourism industry.

Being nominated is a tremendous honour, especially in a year when the travel sector is experiencing remarkable growth in Japan. The awards recognise businesses that are not just succeeding, but truly transforming the way people experience travel.

For The Real Japan, this nomination reflects my ongoing commitment to providing unique, passionate and helpful practical resources, information and services that showcase the depth and beauty of Japan.

The Travel and Tourism Awards highlight businesses that are adapting to emerging trends like sustainable travel, personalised experiences, and digital innovation.

Stay tuned for more updates about the awards. Thank you for your continued support!

I don’t do drama, but there’s been a lot of drama recently about the social platform X. For me as an individual and as a content creator, there have been more and more reasons for me to engage less on the platform.

I’ve had accounts on Bluesky and Threads for some time but have only recently started posting on both on a regular basis.

So, if you’re on either, or both, of those platforms and would like to connect with me here are the links:

• Is It Rude For Foreigners To Wear Kimono? Podcast
• Abroad In Japan by Chris Broad Book Podcast
• Tokyo Meetup 13th December Facebook Event Page Updates
• Finding Peace – 5 Extraordinary Zen Meditation Experiences
• Essential Japan Travel Tips for First Time Visitors
• Japan’s Wildlife – Beyond Beauty and Into The Wild