053. Ben's Japan deep dive: bullet trains, 7-eleven sandwiches & a bag search.

This week we go long: a special-edition deep dive into Japan, with Ben just back and Richard about to go. In ~35 minutes we:•     Set the scene on Ben's 16-day trip — a work convention, a side hop to Seoul, and about eight days of free time.•     Tackle temple (and Japanese garden) overload — and Ben's confession that he only actually made it to one temple.•     Investigate the 7-Eleven fruit sandwich, and why you can eat well from a Japanese convenience store all day long.•     Reframe the Shinkansen: it's not a plane, it's public transport — be at the door or end up 100km down the line.•     Unlock the transit card already hidden in your iPhone (Suica / iCoca in Apple Wallet) and Ben's top-up-to-zero trick.•     Rank the top three highlights: a very thorough airport bag search, a whiskey distillery, a knife shop, and an RC-car mecca in Akihabara.•     Notice what works differently: running-water soundtracks in toilets, heated seats everywhere, polite walking 'overtakes', and a lift rated for 15 people at 66kg each.•     Wander off-map through a Kanazawa ramen bar, a samurai district, and the bar from Lost in Translation (cover charge and all).•     Answer the big one — would Ben go back? (Yes, just maybe not Tokyo.) Plus a reminder that a weak yen and a Wise card make for smart timing.Send us a text by clicking hereJoin the WhatsApp inner sanctum for early access to all episodes as they drop and share feedback straight to us! Only 48million more subscribers to catch Real Madrid!Email us through [email protected] a rating or review if you think we are worthy.