When wanting to learn about Japan either before going or just because you are interested in Japan there are many ways to learn. One of these ways, and a widely popular way, is through videos on YouTube. YouTube as a platform offers a wide variety of videos and from many different people and as such also many different perspectives. In this blog we will focus on Youtubers, people who make videos on YouTube, who make travel related videos in Japan. When planning a trip to Japan it is nice as a tourist to know where one should or shouldn’t go. What destinations will live up to expectation or exceed them or maybe be a let-down. Furthermore, it would be amazing to find hidden gems that maybe travel websites deo not know about. Through videos by Youtubers you can often learn about this, get recommendations, tips & tricks and much more.
Each youtuber though they all focus on travel have different focus areas in regards to travelling in Japan, such as food, hotels, culture and more, as well as the way they explain varies. Some do daily vlogs, some do more of a documentary style, challenge style etc. They travel all around Japan from the Okinawa islands to the south to the most northern part in Hokkaido.
Now then let us introduce you to some of these Youtubers that we recommend.
First up is Abroad in Japan. Abroad in Japan is the YouTube channel of Chris Broad from the UK and the channel has over 2.5 million subscribers. Chris has been making videos since 2012 when he came to Japan as an English teacher. His videos started with off mainly focusing on various topics on Japanese culture but over time have developed more so into traveling all across Japan with a focus on different places to go, the accommodation and food you can find. The videos are very frank and funny and with a healthy dash of British sarcasm, as well as some insight into Japanese culture. Abroad in Japan became an even bigger channel when Chris made a series called ‘Across Japan’ where he did a two-month cycle across Japan with daily challenges/missions as well as other Youtubers as guest appearances who joined him in the cycle. He has afterwards had some spinoffs of this series. He also has a few documentaries on his Channel one of which is on the Fukushima area after the 2011 earthquake and Tsunami.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/c/AbroadinJapan
Next up is Rachel & Jun. This Channel is run by the Japanese/American couple Jun and Rachel. On this channel you can find a lot of videos on their daily lives in Japan as well as videos pointing out differences in culture and what might shock foreigners coming to Japan. Aside from their daily lives with their cute cats they also have many videos on trips around Japan to both less known places and famous ones. Their Channel became more popular with a travel video they made when they visited the Zao Fox Village in Miyagi prefecture. They offer many tips and guides that are easy to follow for foreigners as Rachel herself is an expat.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/c/RachelandJun
Third up is Paolo from TOKYO which is run by Paolo since 2016. Paolo has a lot of different videos but shows a lot in the travel and culture category. He especially has a focus in Tokyo as the name suggests and have shown many places in the city as well as culture such as what a day in the life of various types of jobs in Japan is like. He also has many top tier lists for manners, food, activities etc. Link: https://www.youtube.com/c/PaolofromTOKYO
Next recommendation is Sharla in Japan. Sharla has lived in Japan for many years as well as she started out in university in Japan as an exchange student. She has many daily vlogs where she brings her subscribers along with her on small daily trips when she wanders around as well as travelling around Japan. Sharla does not only post videos but also often streams so you are along live and she interacts with her subscribers. Sharla is also vegan and shows and talk about how easy or difficult it can be to find vegan food in Japan and gives great recommendations.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/c/SharlainJapanChannel
Lastly before a few honourable mentions we would like to talk about Tokyo Creative Travel. Tokyo Creative is unlike the other channels not a specific Youtuber but rather a company that works with local governments in Japan and help promote the various municipalities to tourists who are interested in going to Japan. Tokyo Creative is a team of Youtubers and often also invite other Youtubers to collaborate in videos. Many spots in their videos might also not have been spots tourists would necessarily have thought to visit themselves.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/c/TokyoCreativeTravel
Of course, there are many, many more Youtubers that we could cover but this was our small selection we recommend but we also have some honourable mentions.
Tokyo Lens - https://www.youtube.com/c/TokyoLens Life where I’m From - https://www.youtube.com/c/LifeWhereImFrom Tokidoki Traveller - https://www.youtube.com/c/TokidokiTraveller TabiEats - https://www.youtube.com/c/TabiEats Currently Hannah - https://www.youtube.com/c/CurrentlyHannah Micaela - https://www.youtube.com/c/Ciaela
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