Gaijin Stories Japan is back after a short hiatus! Life happened but the show must go on. Today, we cover one of the big news of 2023 in Japan, the massive price increase in the JR Pass that covers the entire Japan. Chris and Ethan share whether the new pricing for the JR Pass is still worth it, share stories about how they and their families used it in the past, as well as shared about alternatives for the Japan JR Pass. If you prefer listening to the podcast on Youtube, feel free to subscribe to our channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Oon6MtBik7HERb7qBiUjA @gaijinstoriesjapan --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gaijin-stories-japan/message

Wondering what are some survival phrases in Japanese when you're travelling in Japan? In this episode, Ethan and Chris talk about some of the vocabulary and phrases that work best for travelling about in Japan. You'll be surprised how much some words and phrases will get you by in Japan. Connect with us on Youtube Chris Youtube --> @ChrispytravelsJP Ethan's Youtube --> @iisansan Our podcast on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@gaijinstoriesjapan --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gaijin-stories-japan/message

Travelling around Japan is always a big topic. Japan boasts a world class public transportation, especially the globally renown train system that zips people from city to city and that is punctual to the second. In this episode, Chris and Ethan share their experiences travelling around Japan as residents but also share some tips for travellers looking to move around the country, from the luxurious Shinkansen to the leisurely but interesting ferries. If you have any question or comments about getting about in Japan, feel free to leave a comment or question and we will definitely address it in future episodes. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gaijin-stories-japan/message

In this episode of Gaijin Stories Japan, Chris and Ethan talk about 3 of their recommended places to go for tourists coming to the western side of Japan, Kyushu. They discuss udon on a ferry, hotsprings in the middle of the forest, temple explorations and more. If you're heading to Kyushu, Japan, soon for holiday, don't miss this episode on places to visit and things to try that are not on your typical tourism map. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gaijin-stories-japan/message

Chris and Ethan talk about a random meeting in a korean restaurant, and then touch on the remaining points to consider about getting a place to stay in Japan. They talk about the main factors they considered: budget location amenities  design and size of the apartment If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave it in the comments section or even email us at gaijinstoriesfuk@gmail.com We'll be on a new year break, so happy holidays to everyone else too! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gaijin-stories-japan/message

In Episode 6 of Gaijin Stories Japan, Ethan and Chris talk about housing in Japan, mainly through their experiences renting different units in Tokyo to Fukuoka and Oita in the west of Japan. They talk about the different types, what kinds of fees to look out for, and share snippets of what their accommodations in Japan were like in the past few years. This episode is perfect for people looking to stay in Japan and renting places who are not sure about what to look out for. Stay tuned for the next episode where more will be shared about what to consider when finding a place to live in Japan. Enjoy! PS. As always, we welcome comments and questions and we will feature them in future podcasts.  Please feel free to contact us at gaijinstoriesjapanfuk@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gaijin-stories-japan/message

Keen to work and live in Japan? Stay tuned as Chris and Ethan talk about their visa types and how they got their visas. This episode covers the visa application process, discussions on the general humanities visa and the business manager visa as well as some challenges in the application. Drop us questions or comments at gaijinstoriesjapanfuk@gmail.com and we will answer or feature them in future episodes. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gaijin-stories-japan/message

Starting your own business in Japan?  Curious about what a small business owner in Japan does everyday?  Work life integration, troubleshooting and more. After we talked about life as an English teacher in the previous episode, join us as we discuss the activities of a startup owner in Japan (Chris!) As usual, shoot us your questions and comments and we'll be happy to discuss them in future podcasts. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gaijin-stories-japan/message

Ever wondered what life as an English teacher in Japan is like? Ethan takes the lead here by sharing about his daily life as an English teacher in Japan, talking about work hours, pay and working conditions. He also reveals a little about what he does outside of work.  As an ex English teacher from a major English Conversation School based in Tokyo, with less than pleasant experiences, Chris also shares his side of the story. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gaijin-stories-japan/message

Tonkotsu ramen, one of the most famous styles of ramen, originated from Fukuoka, in the western side of Japan. Famous chains like Ippudo, Ichiran, were from here. The famous portable night street stalls, yatai, also line the rivers and streets of Fukuoka. While famous for food, Fukuoka is also the financial capital of Kyushu area in Japan. Chris and Ethan shares their top reasons for choosing to stay in Fukuoka, as well as share some interesting things about the prefecture and city. If you want to leave us a voice message, feel free to do so here (https://anchor.fm/gaijin-stories-japan/message) and we might include your questions and interesting / wacky comments in our future podcasts. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gaijin-stories-japan/message

Have you been to Japan as a tourist and loved your experiences there? Thinking about moving to Japan? In our inaugural podcast, Chris and Ethan give 3 personal reasons each on why they decided to make the leap of faith and move to Japan from Singapore and America respectively. They also share some snippets of life in Japan over the years for both work and school. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gaijin-stories-japan/message