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PODCAST · society

Walking Tour of Japan

Walking Tour of Japan is a podcast built to enhance how you experience one of the world's most captivating countries. By combining storytelling with location-based insights, we help you connect more deeply with the places you visit — before your trip, during it, or from the comfort of home. Our mission is to make exploration more meaningful, flexible, and accessible for everyone.

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed May 12, 2026 · Source feed

  1. 6

    Nakafurano, Japan: Farm Tomita and the Furano Lavender Fields - Hokkaido's Purple Valley Grown from a Near-Failed Gamble

    Step into the valley that turned a near-failed rice farm into one of Hokkaido's most photographed landscapes. This episode of Walking Tour of Japan takes you through Farm Tomita in Nakafurano, where a family's stubborn 1950s gamble on lavender - a crop nearly wiped out by cheap synthetic fragrance oil in the 1970s - grew into the rolling purple hillsides and rainbow-striped flower fields that now draw over a million visitors a year. Walk the historic Traditional Lavender Field up to its panoramic viewpoint over the Furano basin and the Tokachi mountains, wander the famously photogenic striped Field of the Flower People, and step inside the farm's working distillery where lavender oil is still extracted the same way it was decades ago. Along the way, we cover where to eat on the farm grounds and at the nearby Furano Cheese Factory, known for its wine-infused cheddar and wood-fired pizza, plus two easy add-ons for your itinerary: the artisan log cabins of Ningle Terrace and the strikingly blue waters of Biei's famous Blue Pond.Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  2. 5

    Kiyomizu-dera: Kyoto, the Cliffside Temple of Pure Water

    Kyoto: Kiyomizu-dera - Climb the historic Higashiyama slopes of Kyoto to Kiyomizu-dera, a UNESCO World Heritage temple founded in 778 AD around a sacred spring. This episode walks you through the vermilion Niomon Gate and past its three-storied pagoda, out onto the temple's legendary wooden stage - built without a single nail and famous for the Japanese saying about taking a "leap of faith." You'll drink from the three blessing-streams of the Otowa Waterfall, pass the matchmaking stones of a hillside shrine, and learn the history behind a temple that has burned down and been rebuilt again and again for over a thousand years.Along the way, we recommend where to refuel: hand-whisked matcha at GOKAGO, fresh fried donuts at loose kyoto, matcha soba noodles at Menkuroudo, and traditional sweets at Kasagiya. We also point you toward nearby Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka, Kodai-ji Temple, the Yasaka Pagoda, and the streets of Gion for the rest of your day in Higashiyama.Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  3. 4

    Tokyo Tower - The Postwar Icon Built From Melted-Down Tanks

    Tokyo Tower isn't just a photo op - it's a 333-meter monument to a country rebuilding itself from the ground up, part of it literally forged from melted-down tanks left over from the Korean War. In this episode of Walking Tour of Japan, we start at the base of Foot Town and climb through the tower's history, its earthquake-defying engineering, and its glass-floored Main Deck and mirrored Top Deck elevator, before looking down on centuries-old Zojoji Temple and, on a clear day, Mount Fuji itself. Along the way, we point you toward a laid-back craft beer stop at RISE & WIN Brewing Co. KAMIKATZ TAPROOM, comforting Japanese plates at RED Shokudo inside Foot Town, and an elegant tofu kaiseki experience at Tokyo Shiba Tofuya Ukai - plus nearby detours to Zojoji Temple, Shiba Park, and the art-filled Roppongi district.Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  4. 3

    Shirakawa-go, Japan: Inside Ogimachi's UNESCO Gassho-Zukuri Village, a Mountain Hamlet Built for War, Silk, and Snow

    Cross the swaying Deai suspension bridge into Ogimachi, the largest hamlet of Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage village hidden in the mountains of Japan's Gifu Prefecture. In this episode of Walking Tour of Japan, we walk beneath the village's famous gassho-zukuri farmhouses, steep thatched roofs built without a single nail to shed the region's heavy snow, and step inside the grand Wada House to uncover the secret trade that built this valley's fortune: silkworms raised in the rafters and gunpowder fermented beneath the floorboards. Along the way we visit the rare thatched-roof Myozen-ji Temple, the Shirakawa Hachiman Shrine and its autumn sake festival, and climb the mountain trail to the Shiroyama Viewpoint for the postcard panorama of the entire village.After the walk, we share where to eat, including Soba Wakimoto for handmade buckwheat noodles and Hida beef, the tatami-mat dining room at Hakusuien, and the family-run Shiraogi. We also point you toward nearby detours worth adding to your trip: the Gassho-zukuri Minkaen open-air museum, the quieter Gokayama hamlets of Ainokura and Suganuma, and the historic old town of Takayama.Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  5. 2

    Ryōzen-ji: Naruto, Japan - the Start of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage – Where a Thousand-Year Journey Begins

    Begin the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage where over a thousand years of henro have started before you - at Ryozen-ji, temple number one, in the coastal town of Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture. In this episode of Walking Tour of Japan, we step through the temple's Niomon Gate to trace the story of the monk Kukai, later honored as Kobo Daishi, and the 1,200-kilometer circuit of 88 temples that grew from his life and teachings across the island of Shikoku. Along the way, we visit the temple's pagoda, main worship hall, and Daishi Hall, learn how pilgrims outfit themselves for the road ahead, and explore the layered history of Mount Oasa, sacred to both ancient mountain worship and Buddhist tradition. We also share tips on when to visit, how much of the pilgrimage to attempt, and where to eat nearby - including Ichifuji, Funamoto Udon Taima, and Monzen Ichibangai Kaze - plus other nearby sites worth your time, including the Naruto Whirlpools, the Otsuka Museum of Art, and Oasahiko Shrine.Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  6. 1

    Shuri Castle: Naha Okinawa - The Red-Lacquered Heart of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Rising Again from the Ashes

    Step inside one of Japan's most distinctive landmarks on this episode of Walking Tour of Japan, as we climb the hill in Naha to explore Shuri Castle - the vermillion-red palace of the seafaring Ryukyu Kingdom. We walk the full ceremonial approach, from the iconic Shureimon gate once printed on the 2,000-yen note, past a sacred World Heritage stone gate, through the welcome gate and its shisa guardians, alongside the dragon-spout Ryuhi spring, and up through the inner gates to the striped main courtyard. We stand before the Seiden main hall - destroyed by fire in 2019 and now in the midst of an extraordinary public reconstruction, with its exterior unveiled in 2025 and full reopening planned for autumn 2026 - and take in the sweeping sea view from the eastern viewing platform.Along the way we share where to eat nearby: classic Okinawa soba at Shuri Soba and Ukaji Soba, refined Ryukyuan cuisine at Sui Dunchi, casual taco rice at PICO by the monorail, and traditional sweets and tea at the Shuri Castle Teahouse. We also point you toward nearby gems including the historic Kinjo-cho stone-paved road, the royal mausoleum of Tamaudun, the garden villa of Shikina-en, and the centuries-old Ryutan pond.Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  7. 0

    Todai-ji Temple: Nara, Japan - The Great Buddha Hall and the Eighth-Century Bronze Giant of Nara Park

    Stand face to face with the Great Buddha of Nara on this immersive walking tour of Todai-ji, the Great Eastern Temple - one of the most astonishing structures ever raised by human hands. We begin among the sacred bowing deer of Nara Park and pass beneath the towering Great South Gate, guarded by a pair of fierce wooden kings carved by Japan's most legendary sculptors. Inside the Great Buddha Hall, once the largest wooden building on Earth, we come face to face with a fifteen-meter bronze Buddha cast from nearly all the copper in an eighth-century nation - born of plague, famine, and an emperor's desperate prayer for peace. We'll circle the ancient lotus-petal pedestal, find the lucky pillar with a hole the size of the Buddha's nostril, admire the twelve-hundred-year-old octagonal bronze lantern, and climb the quiet hillside path to a hall with sweeping views over the city and the setting of a dramatic spring fire ceremony.Along the way you'll get our picks for where to eat nearby: a thatched-roof teahouse in the park known for hot udon and matcha sweets, a shop serving Nara's signature persimmon-leaf kakinoha-zushi, a refined restaurant offering wagyu beef beside a garden, and a charming all-you-can-eat pickle-buffet spot near the temple grounds. We also point you toward other sights worth your time - a serene Edo-period strolling garden famed for its borrowed scenery, an atmospheric forest shrine lined with thousands of moss-covered lanterns, and the vast park and its sacred deer.Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  8. -1

    Mount Aso: Inside the World's Largest Caldera, the Active Volcano and Grasslands of Kyushu's Aso-Kuju National Park

    Descend into the world's largest active volcanic caldera on this episode of Walking Tour of Japan, as we explore Mount Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu. Inside this twenty five kilometer wide basin, nearly one hundred thousand people farm and live alongside a still-venting volcanic crater, grazing cattle across grasslands kept green for over a thousand years through deliberate, traditional burning. The walk takes you from the nearly two thousand year old Aso Shrine, rebuilt after the devastating 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, to Komezuka, a perfectly cone-shaped hill tied to a legend of famine and generosity, and on through the sweeping grasslands of Kusasenri before climbing to Daikanbo, the caldera's most celebrated viewpoint, where the Five Peaks of Aso form a silhouette known locally as the sleeping Buddha. Along the way, you'll hear where to warm up with a locally roasted coffee, where to try the region's prized red beef over rice, and which nearby destinations - including the hot spring village of Kurokawa Onsen and the cool forests of Kikuchi Gorge - are worth adding to your itinerary.Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  9. -2

    Shinjuku Golden Gai - Inside Tokyo's Last Postwar Bar Alley

    Step into Shinjuku's Golden Gai, a six-alley pocket of postwar Tokyo where nearly three hundred tiny bars - some seating only five people - have survived bulldozers, economic collapse, and eighty years of change. In this episode, we trace the neighborhood's path from black-market rubble and red-light district to creative haven for writers and filmmakers, and finally to today's mix of longtime regulars and curious travelers from around the world. Along the way, we point you toward a beloved 24-hour ramen counter known for its dried-sardine broth, and Kameya, a fast and friendly stand-up soba counter in nearby Omoide Yokocho. We'll also guide you to Hanazono Shrine, the yakitori alleys of Omoide Yokocho, the neon spectacle of Kabukicho's Godzilla head, and the calm greenery of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden - everything you need for a full night, and a quiet morning after, in this corner of Shinjuku.Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  10. -3

    Exploring Matsushima Bay – Pine Islands, Ancient Temples & One of Japan's Greatest Views

    Matsushima Bay in Miyagi Prefecture is one of Japan's officially recognized Three Most Scenic Views - a bay scattered with over 260 pine-covered islands that has inspired poets, monks, and travelers for more than a thousand years. In this episode, we explore the bay on foot, beginning at the iconic Godaido Hall on its tiny islet, the oldest surviving example of Momoyama architecture in the Tohoku region. From there we walk the ancient cedar-lined approach to Zuiganji, a National Treasure Zen temple rebuilt in 1609 by the great samurai lord Date Masamune, and tour its gold-leaf painted rooms and storied museum. Next door, Entsuin reveals one of the most surprising secrets in Japanese history: a sealed Buddhist mausoleum hiding Western roses, crosses, and playing card symbols - traces of a seventeenth-century diplomatic mission to Rome. We finish at the historic Kanrantei Tea House, perched at the water's edge with views across the islands, and take the long red bridge out to Fukuurajima Island for a panoramic sweep of the entire bay.For food, we recommend Santori Chaya for local conger eel and fresh oysters with bay views, and the seasonal Oyster Shack for charcoal-grilled all-you-can-eat oysters from late October through mid-March. The Kanrantei Tea House offers matcha and seasonal sweets in a genuinely historic setting.Nearby sites covered in this episode include the city of Sendai, the UNESCO World Heritage temples of Hiraizumi, and the Shiogama Seafood Market.Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  11. -4

    Sapporo Snow Festival: Japan's Legendary Winter Celebration of Ice and Snow

    Every February, the city of Sapporo transforms into one of the world's most extraordinary winter spectacles. In this episode of Walking Tour of Japan, we explore the Sapporo Snow Festival - a celebration that began in 1950 when a group of high school students built six snow sculptures in a city park, drew fifty thousand visitors, and accidentally launched a tradition that now attracts more than two million people from around the world each year.We start at the eastern end of Odori Park, taking in the full scope of the festival from the observation deck of the Sapporo TV Tower before walking the entire 1.5-kilometer length of the park, past the massive snow sculptures built by Self Defense Force engineers and international teams, through blocks of smaller competition pieces, and into the evening illuminations that transform the park after dark. We then continue into the Susukino district, where translucent ice sculptures glow under colored lights in one of Japan's most vibrant entertainment neighborhoods.Along the way, we cover the full history of the festival - from its post-war origins and early growth to its national recognition in 1959 and worldwide fame following Sapporo's 1972 Winter Olympics. We share practical tips for making the most of your visit, including the best times of day to come, what to look for in the international competition sculptures, and how the projection mapping shows work after dark.For food, we recommend Ganso Ramen Yokocho for Sapporo's signature miso ramen in a lively alley of tiny shops, Jingisukan Daruma for the city's beloved grilled lamb barbecue served with a decades-old house sauce, and Soup Curry Garaku for the warming, spiced broth dish that originated right here in Sapporo. Nearby sites include the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building, the Sapporo Clock Tower, Tanukikoji Shopping Street, and Nijo Market.Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  12. -5

    Tsukiji Outer Market: Tokyo's Famous Seafood Market and Culinary Heart

    Step into the bustling lanes of Tokyo's Tsukiji Outer Market - one of the most vibrant and historic food destinations in all of Japan. In this episode of Walking Tour of Japan, we explore the storied streets of a place that has fed Tokyo for nearly a century, from its origins as reclaimed land in the Edo period to its rise as the world's most famous fish market, and its remarkable reinvention after the wholesale auctions moved to Toyosu in 2018. We wander past stalls piled high with gleaming seafood, pause to watch vendors slice tamagoyaki straight off the grill, and discover the rhythm of a market that still wakes before dawn. Along the way, we visit Namiyoke Inari Shrine, the small but deeply significant guardian of the market, and explore the Tsukiji Uogashi fresh market building where the energy of the old inner market lives on. We share the best time to arrive, the hidden alleys most visitors walk past, and the practical tips that will make your visit unforgettable. For places to eat nearby, this episode covers Sushizanmai for around-the-clock sushi, Tsukiji Uogashi's standing counters for fresh nigiri and kaisendon, Edo-Jidai for traditional Edomae sushi, and the market's legendary tamagoyaki stalls. For nearby sites, we highlight Hamarikyu Gardens, Tsukiji Hongan-ji Temple, Ginza, and Toyosu Market. Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  13. -6

    Osaka Castle - A Warrior's Fortress at the Heart of Japan

    Step inside one of Japan's most iconic landmarks on this episode of Walking Tour of Japan. Osaka Castle has stood - and fallen, and risen again - at the heart of this great city for more than four centuries, and every stone in its massive walls carries a story. We begin at Otemon Gate and move through the park's vast grounds, tracing the layered defensive design built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the peasant-born warlord who unified Japan and built the greatest fortress of his age. Along the way, we explore the newly opened Toyotomi Stone Wall Museum, climb the main castle tower through eight floors of feudal history and armor, and emerge onto the observation deck for panoramic views across modern Osaka. We cover the full arc of the castle's turbulent past - from Hideyoshi's ambitious construction in 1583 to the devastating Siege of Osaka in 1615, the Tokugawa reconstruction, and the remarkable 1931 rebuilding funded by public donation. The tour concludes at Hokoku Shrine and the Cherry Blossom Gate, where the city's enduring connection to its most celebrated historical figure is still felt today.For dining after the tour, we mention Okonomiyaki Fuku near the park for classic Osaka griddle dishes, Tokumasa Udon near Morinomiya Station for celebrated curry udon, and The Garden Oriental Osaka for a more atmospheric meal in a historic garden setting. Nearby sites covered in the episode include the Osaka Museum of History, Shitennoji Temple, and Himeji Castle.Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  14. -7

    Dotonbori: Osaka - Neon, Street Food, and the Soul of Japan's Kitchen

    Step into the electric heart of Osaka on this immersive audio walking tour of Dotonbori -- the city's legendary canal-side entertainment district where neon never sleeps and the food is always extraordinary. In this episode, we trace the story of a neighborhood born from an ambitious 17th-century canal project and transformed over four centuries into Japan's most famous food street. Walk with us past towering mechanical crabs, the glowing Glico Running Man, and sizzling takoyaki stalls, then slip down a cobblestone alley to find a moss-covered temple hidden just steps from the chaos. From the history of kabuki theater and kuidaore culture to the unwritten rules of kushikatsu and the best time to catch the neon at its most spectacular, this tour brings Dotonbori to life in your ears. Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  15. -8

    Senso-ji Temple -- Tokyo's Ancient Soul and Japan's Most Visited Sacred Site

    Step inside Tokyo's oldest temple on this immersive audio walking tour of Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa. In this episode of Walking Tour of Japan, we guide you through the iconic Thunder Gate, down the centuries-old Nakamise shopping street, past the towering Hozomon gate, and into the sacred main hall where a hidden golden statue has been venerated for nearly 1,400 years. Along the way, you'll hear the legendary origin story of two fishermen and their miraculous catch, discover how samurai warlords and shoguns shaped this remarkable site, and learn the customs that draw over 30 million visitors every year. We'll also share the best times to visit, the quiet corners most tourists miss, and our top recommendations for things to do, see, and eat in the surrounding Asakusa neighborhood. Whether you're planning your first trip to Japan or simply want to feel transported, this episode brings one of the world's great sacred sites to life. Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  16. -9

    Higashi Chaya District - Kanazawa, Japan's Most Enchanting Geisha Quarter

    Step inside the lantern-lit streets of Kanazawa's Higashi Chaya District -- Japan's largest surviving geisha quarter -- where two-hundred-year-old wooden teahouses line stone-paved lanes and the arts of the geisha world still live and breathe today. In this episode of Walking Tour of Japan, we wander the atmospheric alleyways of the eastern chaya district, duck inside the crimson-lacquered interior of a working teahouse, brush our fingers across centuries-old latticework, and discover how this city once shaped by a powerful feudal clan became the unlikely keeper of Japan's most refined cultural traditions. We also explore the glittering world of Kanazawa gold leaf, pause at a museum frozen in 1820, and find the quiet spots most visitors walk right past. Whether you are planning a trip or traveling from your couch, this is one walk you will not forget. Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  17. -10

    Arashiyama Bamboo Grove – Kyoto's Most Iconic Forest Walk

    Step inside one of Japan's most iconic landscapes -- the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Kyoto. In this episode of Walking Tour of Japan, we explore the towering Sagano bamboo forest, where ten thousand Moso stalks rise twenty-five meters overhead to form a breathtaking green corridor. We begin at the entrance near the ancient Nonomiya Shrine -- a sacred site connected to imperial princesses and the world's first novel -- then move deep into the grove, pausing at hidden corners most visitors rush past. Along the way we uncover the Heian-period aristocrats who first fell in love with this valley, the fourteenth-century Zen master who shaped itsspiritual character, and the Hollywood-era film star who spent thirty years building a secret hillside villa at the forest's edge. We also share practical tips for experiencing the grove at its most magical, and point you toward the best places to eat and explore in the surrounding Arashiyama district. Whetheryou're planning your trip or walking the path right now, this is your guide to one of Japan's most unforgettable places. Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  18. -11

    Atomic Bomb Dome – Hiroshima: A UNESCO World Heritage Site and Symbol of Peace

    In this episode of Walking Tour of Japan, we explore one of the world's most powerful and moving landmarks — the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima. Standing on the banks of the Motoyasu River, this haunting UNESCO World Heritage Site is the only structure left near the hypocenter of the world's first atomic bombing on August 6, 1945. Once the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, its skeletal steel frame and crumbling walls have been preserved exactly as the blast left them — a stark and unforgettable witness to history. We walk the surrounding Peace Memorial Park, pausing at the Children's Peace Monument, the Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims, the eternal Flame of Peace, and the deeply moving Peace Memorial Museum. Whether you are planning a trip to Hiroshima or simply want to experience this profound place through sound, this episode brings it to life — step by step, story by story. We also share the best places to eat and explore nearby, from Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki to fresh local oysters on the river. A must-listen for any traveler heading to Japan.Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠NorthStarTravelers.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  19. -12

    Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) — Kyoto's Most Iconic Gilded Temple

    Step inside one of Japan's most breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Sites with this immersive audio walking tour of Kinkaku-ji — the legendary Golden Pavilion of Kyoto. In this episode of Walking Tour of Japan, we guide you step by step through the ancient grounds of this Zen Buddhist temple, tracing over 600 years of history from the grand ambitions of a shogun to a devastating act of arson and a remarkable rebirth. Discover the meaning behind each floor of the gilded pavilion, the secrets of the Mirror Pond, hidden features most visitors walk right past, and the powerful story that inspired one of Japan's greatest novels. We also share practical tips for getting the most out of your visit, plus recommendations for nearby temples, shrines, and places to eat. Whether you're planning your first trip to Kyoto or returning for another look, this episode brings the Golden Pavilion to life in a whole new way.Visit ⁠⁠⁠NorthStarTravelers.com⁠⁠⁠ to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  20. -13

    Shibuya Crossing: Walking Tour of the World's Busiest Intersection in Tokyo

    Step into the electric heart of Tokyo with this immersive audio walking tour of Shibuya Crossing — the world's busiest pedestrian intersection. In this episode of Walking Tour of Japan, your guide leads you through the full Shibuya experience: from the legendary loyalty of Hachiko the dog and the dramatic 1973 debut of the scramble crossing, to the towering neon billboards, the hidden alley of Nonbei Yokocho, and the breathtaking aerial view from Shibuya Sky. Along the way, discover the history behind one of Tokyo's most iconicdistricts, practical tips for making the most of your visit, and the best places to eat, drink, and explore nearby — including the rooftop park of Miyashita Park and the ramen haven of Ichiran. Whether you're planning your first trip to Japan or a seasoned traveler looking to go deeper, this episode brings Shibuya to life one step at a time. Keywords: Shibuya Crossing Tokyo, Japan travel podcast, Shibuya walking tour, Hachiko statue, Tokyo tourism, Japan travel guide, Shibuya Scramble Crossing, things to do in Tokyo, Japan audio guide, Walking Tour of Japan podcast.Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NorthStarTravelers.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  21. -14

    Fushimi Inari Taisha – Kyoto: Thousands of Vermilion Torii Gates and the Sacred Mountain of the Fox God

    In this episode of Walking Tour of Japan, we explore Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto - one of Japan's most iconic and deeply spiritual sites. Founded in 711 AD, this ancient shrine at the foot of Mount Inari is the head of more than thirty thousand Inari shrines across Japan and is dedicated to the god of rice, sake, foxes, and prosperity. We walk through the famous Senbon Torii - thousands of blazing vermilion gates that wind up the forested mountain - and discover the history behind those gates, the fox guardians who line the path, and the centuries of wishes written into every stone and inscription along the way. We climb through the inner sanctuary, past the mysterious heavy-light wishing stones, up to the panoramic Yotsutsuji viewpoint halfway up the mountain, and for those with the energy, all the way to the quiet summit shrine at the top.Along the way we share tips on the best time to visit, a hidden bamboo grove most tourists miss, and the quieter upper trails where the true spirit of the mountain reveals itself.After the tour, we recommend three places to eat nearby: Vermillion Cafe for specialty coffee and light meals right outside the shrine entrance, Kendonya for hearty soba and udon just down from the Keihan station, and Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu for satisfying beef cutlets across the street from Kendonya.We also highlight three nearby sites worth visiting while you're in the area: Tofuku-ji, one of Kyoto's finest Zen temples with stunning rock gardens and spectacular autumn color; Daigo-ji, a UNESCO World Heritage site with a centuries-old five-story pagoda and famous cherry blossoms; and the Fushimi sake district, where you can tour breweries, taste some of Japan's finest sake, and explore the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum.Visit ⁠NorthStarTravelers.com⁠ to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  22. -15

    Kenroku-en — Kanazawa's Garden of Six Perfections

    Step inside one of Japan's three most celebrated gardens on this immersive audio walking tour of Kenroku-en in Kanazawa. In this episode of Walking Tour of Japan, we stroll through 25 acres of ponds, stone lanterns, ancient tea houses, and centuries of history — all brought to life as if you're walking the mossy paths yourself. Whether you're planning a trip to Kanazawa or dreaming of one, this episode reveals the hidden stories, seasonal wonders, and quiet corners that make Kenroku-en one of Japan's most extraordinary places to visit.Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.

  23. -16

    Walking Tour of Japan

    Walking Tour of Japan is a podcast built to enhance how you experience one of the world's most captivating countries. By combining storytelling with location-based insights, we help you connect more deeply with the places you visit — before your trip, during it, or from the comfort of home. Our mission is to make exploration more meaningful, flexible, and accessible for everyone.To see our full list of shows to destinations around the world as well as gear recommendations visit us at www.NorthStarTravelers.com

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Walking Tour of Japan is a podcast built to enhance how you experience one of the world's most captivating countries. By combining storytelling with location-based insights, we help you connect more deeply with the places you visit — before your trip, during it, or from the comfort of home. Our mission is to make exploration more meaningful, flexible, and accessible for everyone.

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Walking Tour of Japan

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Walking Tour of Japan have?

Walking Tour of Japan currently has 23 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Walking Tour of Japan about?

Walking Tour of Japan is a podcast built to enhance how you experience one of the world's most captivating countries. By combining storytelling with location-based insights, we help you connect more deeply with the places you visit — before your trip, during it, or from the comfort of home. Our...

How often does Walking Tour of Japan release new episodes?

Walking Tour of Japan has 23 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

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You can listen to Walking Tour of Japan on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Walking Tour of Japan?

Walking Tour of Japan is created and hosted by Walking Tour of Japan.
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