Giveaway Time! • Japan’s Wildlife • Essential Japan Travel Tips • Tokyo Gaming Culture • New Podcast

It’s time for another The Real Japan Giveaway!

There’s never been a better time to plan your dream trip to Japan.

And here’s the perfect prize to help make that happen!

This Japan Travel Kit contains all the inspiration, guides and resources you need to plan your dream trip to Japan – Worth $89 / £69.

The Japan Travel Planning Kit includes:

• A copy of my eBook Planning A Trip To Japan (Expanded 2nd Edition)
• A copy of my eBook How To Travel In Japan When You Don’t Speak Japanese (Updated 2nd Edition)
• A copy of the Audiobook edition of How To Travel In Japan When You Don’t Speak Japanese
• Hiroshima City Guide Google Map (Updated Version 2.0)
• Hiroshima 1, 2 and 3-Day Itineraries and Travel Guide

1st Prize:
1 x Japan Travel Kit (5 Resources) – worth $89 / £69

2 x Runner Up Prizes:
1 x Planning A Trip to Japan eBook (2nd Edition) – worth $14.25 / £10.99 each

Deadline for entries: Midnight Wednesday 6th November 2024 (PDT) / 7am Tuesday 7th GMT / 4pm Tuesday 7th JST

Simply click the button below to be in with a chance to win:

GOOD LUCK! 🍀

I’d really appreciate it if you could help spread the word by sharing my giveaway.

Caring is Sharing ❤️

Essentials for planning your first trip to Japan include understanding the customs, navigation, getting to grips with the Japanese language and unique experiences the country has to offer.

As you prepare for your first visit to Japan, you’ll want to familiarise yourself with the local language, currency, and transportation options. Doing so in advance of your departure can make a huge difference in your preparedness and confidence.

This guide is designed to help you navigate the basics of travelling in Japan, ensuring you make the most of your adventure while feeling well-prepared and excited for all the incredible sights and interactions that await you.

Warning! This guide is a bit of an epic. I suggest sitting in a comfy chair and having a drink to hand for this one!

Beyond the cliche of Japan’s dazzling cities lies a hidden treasure: its diverse wildlife.

From stunning national parks to rare species in lush landscapes, it’s a nature lover’s paradise.

Yet, Japan’s wildlife isn’t just serene beauty; it has a wilder side, highlighting the delicate balance between human development and natural habitats.

In this guide we’ll take a look at Japan’s wildlife, unveiling both its beauty and its untamed spirit, and how the country tries to balance progress with preserving its animals and natural heritage.

It includes the Sankebetsu brown bear incident attack of 1915 and my personal encounters with wild boar in Japan…

Tokyo gaming culture is a vibrant fusion of past and future.

In this new guide we take a look into the city’s diverse gaming scene, from classic arcades to immersive VR experiences.

Discover popular gaming festivals, mobile gaming hotspots, and social gaming cafes that all contribute to make Tokyo Japan’s centre of gaming.

I’ve included details on where you can book your own gaming adventures, whether you prefer retro consoles or cutting-edge technology.

Plus, a Tokyo gaming FAQ section to answer all your questions.

In this latest episode of my podcast we take a deep dive into my most popular guide: Japan Without Japanese: How To Travel In Japan When You Don’t Speak Japanese.

It provides practical advice on how to navigate public transportation, including using the Shinkansen bullet train, local buses, and taxis. It also suggests ways to communicate with locals, such as using phrasebooks, apps, and tourist information offices.

In it, I emphasise that pre-planning key connections, booking accommodation, and using a Suica pre-paid travel card will make travelling easier.

The guide also encourages readers to embrace the experience of interacting with the people you’ll meet during your travels and recommends resources for booking activities and tours.

Finally, and FYI, I’m in the process of upgrading a lot of the technology powering therealjapan.com, so over the next few days and weeks you may see the site looking a little different in a few places from usual.

There shouldn’t be any issues with the functionality of the site, just the appearance. (At least that’s the plan!)

Some of the differences will gradually disappear, but I’m also using this as an opportunity to revisit some of the design and layout of the site, so some things may change over time too.

I’ll be introducing more exciting features on the site 🤩 once all the technical upgrades have been completed. I’ll keep you posted!

• 9 ​Highest Rated and Unforgettable Day Trips in Japan
• 5 Fascinating Japanese Culture Lessons Films Teach Us
• Deep Dive Podcast: Fukuoka Sumo Tickets Best Seats & Experiences
• Return of The Real Japan MeetUp – Tokyo in December!
• Travel Planning Services Availability Update