Today’s question is: What is your favorite YouTube channel about Japan?
Tell us what are the favorite YouTube channels that:
* have prepared you for a visit to Japan
* inspired you to visit certain locations
* bring about useful facts about Japan that came handy during your trip.
So are you a fan of Abroad in Japan? Do you calm yourself down by watching Rambalac’s trips? Or you search for that special railway rides. Tell us, what is your favorite YouTube channel about Japan.
**Full links only, please. Self-promos will result in outright permanent bans.** This is a one time opportunity to share your favorite YouTube channel(s), so choose wisely.
*(This post is part of a discussion series set up by the moderators of /r/JapanTravel. Please stay civil, abide by the rules, keep it PG-13 rated, and focus on the actual topic when responding to this thread. Please note that general discussions/vague questions are not usually allowed per /r/JapanTravel’s rules, and threads in the similar style will be removed.*
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30 comments
Only in Japan when John was there. I think he has seperate channel now. Also nhk japanology was fun to watch.
Currently Hannah.
Amazing scenery of Japan you don’t always see from the common tourist spots.
Abroad in Japan my most frequently binge channel. Yes he also have podcast channel in Spotify by the same name.
TAKASHii from Japan and JESSEOGN! I love their interviews with locals and tourists. Some great questions asked and interesting perspectives
Tokyo cheapo, when they aren’t trying to be quirky.
Cakes with Faces. She has also published a comprehensive guidebook for Japan travel.
Abroad in Japan and Tokyo Creative
Abroad in Japan. Even met him by complete luck when I was there last! We were both hiking Mt Takao!
Rambalac. Got me through the pandemic of not being able to visit by scratching that walking down random streets in Tokyo itch.
Abroad in Japan
Juns Kitchen
Tokidoki Traveler
Sharlemeon
Tokyo Zebra
Paolo in Tokyo
Japanology
Ramablac
– Abroad in Japan
– ~~Paulo~~ Paolo from Tokyo
– Tokyo cheapo
– Samurai Junjiro
– Cakes with Faces
Edit: and occasionally Tabieats when their videos are the out and about ones, not the hour long in his apartment ones
I like “Allison in Tokyo” videos for some cool restaurant spots, cafes, and anime goods. She has a really good one about how to find anime/game themed cafes and signing up for them that was very helpful for me when we went in November last year.
Eric & Kyde
Life where I’m from. I find that Greg is the youtuber with the most consistent quality. I also watch Abroad in Japan, Sharla, Rambalac, Tabieats, King Kogi, Internationally Me, a bunch… I stopped watching Tokyo Lens after I saw him being absolutely nasty to commenters on YT. I had known about his reputation for a while but I had never seen him unleash his demons before. His content is good, but holy crap… he can get really rabid in the comment section.
Tokyo Creative, Solosolotravel and Japan-Guide,
also food related channels, like udonsoba and japanesefoodcraftsman
I’ve enjoyed Rambalac for years but now that I’m going to Japan for the first time, I’ve branched out to some other walking video channels such as Japan Walk. Walking videos for me were both fascinating and relaxing but now there’s a research element as well. It’s getting me ready for what to expect when I exit certain train stations. For example, I’ll be staying a couple nights in Shinjuku and in one walking video they actually passed by my hotel so now I’ve seen the path to my hotel which has given me more confidence about finding my way around.
Tokyo Llama. The man is oddly relaxing
Abroad in Japan, Sharmeleon and CDawgVA. Are my main 3 but will watch the odd other people.
Recently been watching Cakes with Faces as we plan our trip in April.
Paolo from Tokyo
Virtual Japan is just great it’s literally just some guy with a camera in first person walking around Tokyo. Really immerses you in the day and night atmosphere.
I’ve kinda grown tired of the “western person shows wacky things in japan” channels, so I tend more towards home-grown channels instead.
That said, here’s some channels I usually watch when they pop up in my feed:
https://www.youtube.com/@RionIshida – I like the normal dude kind of approach. he’s not trying to impress people with expensive things
https://www.youtube.com/@Akane-JapaneseClass – She goes to a lot of every-day sort of places and shows how things work with a focus towards listening to the language. Seems like a genuinely nice person.
https://www.youtube.com/@weathernews – I’m the weird guy who liked watching the weather channel as a kid, this is basically the same thing but in Japanese, along with a collection of fun weathercasters. There’s a whole bunch of satellite youtube channels that post funny clips from this, some with added subtitles.
https://www.youtube.com/@Japanesefoodcraftsman – Shows the ins and outs of yatai culture in Fukuoka
https://www.youtube.com/@LetsaskShogo – he talks a lot about traditional japanese culture and history
https://www.youtube.com/@SHUNchanjp – i usually don’t watch “arrows pointing at things in the thumbnails” videos, but this dude is funny
https://www.youtube.com/@ImpressedCatVideo – this dude just walks around petting stray cats.
I found a few channels about travel across Japan in trains, buses and ferries during the pandemic, and now I follow folks like:
– Solo Travel Japan and Solo Travel Japan Food Tour
– Solo Solo Travel (IYKYK)
– Itsuka Japan
– Travel Alone Idea
– Rambalac
– Let’s Ask Shogo
And in unrelated/related channels, I also like to watch the video reviews of airline seats – especially Business and First Class for JAL and ANA. My faves there are:
– Ricky Zhang/Prince of Travel)
– One More Week To Go
I’ve only every watched Internationally ME, I don’t generally watch YouTubers but I find her easy to watch.
Life Where I’m From
What a great idea for a post! This is what I do at 3am when I can’t sleep, so I love all the new suggestions.
Abroad in Japan is hilarious. It’s unfortunately not kid appropriate but I have to let my child watch it anyway because it gets him really excited about our trip. Chris can be really eloquent sometimes too… and sometimes he just unleashes a bunch of F bombs 🤷♀️
Cakes with faces is nice practical stuff. I like her airport episode where she shows you all the process she goes through when she lands. She’s so positive!
Tokidoki traveller. I vibe with her chaotic energy
Abroad in Japan is overrated and cringe nowadays. Less focus on content quality and more about random irrelevant monologues that don’t tell you anything about Japan or the topic at hand.
Rion Ishida – he’s a Japanese local who can speak very good English so he will give you the best tips
Kimono Mom- not about travel but its worth watching
It used to be Abroad in Japan but since he now seems to shoehorn CDawgVA in every video his quality has gone from filmmaker standard to just another YouTuber in my opinion.
Now he knows that every video he makes will pull in a million views he has given up trying to innovate.
-King Kogi/Martina
-Abroad in Japan
-Cakes with Faces