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Weird & Wonderful


Thousands of years of isolation gave Japan a distinct identity and way of life, which today manifests itself in the most unique and unexpected ways. Whether it’s a cuisine of deadly poisonous Blowfish, hotels staffed by enthusiastic Robot Dinosaurs, or a surprising and sophisticated love hotel culture, immerse yourself in Japan’s weird and wonderful cultural oddities.

Featured Content

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12 Ideas We Should STEAL from Japan

Japan gets a lot of things right. Here's 12 things worth stealing!...

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I RENTED a Japanese Convenience Store for a Day

I've officially lived in Japan for 10 long years! But it hasn't always gone according to plan....

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Inside Japan's Most BRUTAL Prison

As we reach Japan's most northern point we explore Abashiri prison and hear how one man escaped it, ride an incredible ice breaker ship and go fishing for lunch. ...

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I Survived 24 Hours in Japan's COLDEST Town

Japan's coldest town is in an isolated mountain range in central Hokkaido. We venture to the frozen Lake Akan in search of the town, explore an Ainu village and witness an epic rap battle in the snow. ...

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Riding Japan’s Most LUXURIOUS Steam Train FIRST Class in Hokkaido

Hokkaido is home to Japan's most luxurious and rarest steam train, the winter express. Only in operation several weeks of the year, we bag ourselves tickets as we continue our journey across Japan. ...

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I Stayed at Japan's BIGGEST Ice Village | -20°C in Hokkaido

I Stayed at Japan's BIGGEST Ice Village | -20°C in Hokkaido ...

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I Stayed in Japan's BIGGEST Hot Spring VS. Abandoned Ghost Town Feat. @CDawgVA

Kyushu is home to Japan's largest hot spring town of Beppu. @CDawgVA and I head off across the island on a road trip from ghost towns and Wagyu, to the stunning Takachio Gorge and a bizarre love hotel....

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I Tried Walking Across Tokyo in a Day

Tokyo is the world's largest city. We set off 25km across the city through markets, restaurants and neon lit streets to see if it's possible to walk across it in a day! ...

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Why I Left Japan for Christmas

This year marks the 10 Year anniversary of the Abroad in Japan channel. To celebrate we headed to London to prank 1,000 viewers....

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I'm Done.

I travelled to America for the first time in 14 years for the toughest challenge of my life. Big thanks to @ludwig for encouraging me to take part in the ChessBoxing!...

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I Tried Japan's HARDEST Race. 1,100m Mountain. 20 Obstacles.

Japan's Spartan race in the mountains of Niigata is considered one of the toughest races in Japan. 1,100m high with over 20 obstacles, I very foolishly attempted to run it....

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I Cycled 750km Across Japan in a Week | Ft. @CDawgVA

Connor and I set off on a 750km cycle across Hokkaido in our Wackiest Weekend yet, as we battle for 8 days straight from Japan's most northern point (Wakkanai) to the city of Hakodate in the south....

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I SLEPT in Britain's Most Haunted Prison Vs. Church | Feat. @CDawgVA & @The Anime Man

Having left Japan for the first time in 3 years, I'm back in the UK sleeping in Britain's most haunted Prison & Church with @CDawgVA & @The Anime Man of Trash Taste fame. Wacky Weekend UK!...

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I Drove to Japan's Snowiest Town | Winter Road Trip Feat. @CDawgVA

Japan's Snow Monkeys are famous the world over located deep in snow territory. On this Wacky Weekend we explore sake vending machines, venture into a creepy tunnel and meet the monkeys face to face! ...

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I Tried Japan's Most INSANE Noodle Challenge | Feat. @CDawgVA

Japan's most insane noodle challenge involves eating over 100 bowls of soba noodles. But can we do it? Only one way to find out......

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I Built a Japanese RAMEN Shop in My Apartment | STUDIO Tour

I love ramen. I love cyberpunk. And I love 1980's Japan. Combine all of these and you get the brand new Abroad in Japan studio. Come and take a look inside! Feat. @CDawgVA, Natsuki and @Premier Two....

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Inside Japan's ABANDONED Theme Park | Feat. @CDawgVA

During Japan's 1980's economic bubble, hotels and amusement parks were built throughout the country. Then in the 90's it all came crashing down, leaving the country filled with abandoned places. On Wacky Weekend, Connor, Natsuki and I exp...

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Inside Japan's WORST Hotel Room | Feat. @CDawgVA

Japan's hotels are typically amongst the cleanest in the world. This one wasn't. As Connor and I head off for a Wacky Weekend around Shikoku, we confront a terrifying bridge, a village inhabited by 350 scarecrows and the worst hotel room in J...

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Inside Japan's CAPSULE Tower | 140 TINY Tokyo Apartments

The Nakagin Capsule Tower in the heart of Tokyo is iconic, featuring 140 retro tiny apartments built in the 1970's. Sadly, the future of the capsule tower isn't looking so great and this time next year it may be lost forever. Let's go inside and take...

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24 Hours in Nagasaki | 6 Things to do in Japan's Hidden City

Nagasaki is hidden away on Japan's southern coast. We explore the abandoned Gunkanjima Island, enjoy mouthwatering street food and bring back Dr Jelly one last time....

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I Explored Japan's Largest ABANDONED Island | Why 10,000 People Disappeared

Japan has over 6,000 islands. Many are losing their populations and becoming abandoned. Ikeshima island is home to an abandoned area the size of a small city. This week in Journey Across Japan we explore this genuinely jaw-dropping island once and fo...

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I Stayed OVERNIGHT at Japan's BIGGEST Theme Park

Japan's biggest theme park isn't what you expect. This week on Journey Across Japan we explore a mysterious cave, crawl through the nation's tiniest Tori gate and go full Red Dead Redemption....

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I Tried Watching Japan's WORST TV Show of All Time

Japanese TV has a reputation for wacky shows. But Zuiikin English easily tops the list as the most ridiculous. Once you've seen it, there's no going back....

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Why This Japanese Town Eats BEARS

In Japan's northern region of Aomori, the locals regularly eat bear meat. But why's it popular and how does it taste? We travel across Aomori to try 5 dishes and uncover why it has the shortest life expectancy of any prefecture in Japan. (And...

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Why I Avoid CHRISTMAS in Japan

Christmas in Japan can feel like an alternate reality, where KFC took over the world. I reveal why I usually avoid Japan during the festive season and why you shouldn't visit in late December....

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Inside Tokyo's Most Expensive Penthouse Apartment

We go inside a luxury Tokyo apartment on the rooftop of a Shibuya tower, to see how far $25,000 a month's rent can go....

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What ¥1,000 Buys You in Japan's No.1 Dollar Store

1,000 yen can go a long way in Japan's no.1 dollar store. With stunning views of Mount Fuji, the greatest car gadgets ever devised and Japan's cutest volcano, Joey and I end our odyssey through the Japanese Alps. EPISODE 6 in our blockbuster ...

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I Spent a Day in Japan's Biggest British Theme Park

Not far from Mount Fuji is Japan's biggest British theme park; a park so large it has its own working railway! This week on Journey Across Japan we visit the most iconic viewing point of Mount Fuji, wander the streets of a British theme park and ...

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I Rented an ENTIRE Japanese Capsule Hotel | $500 Room Tour

Japanese Capsule Hotels are an experience everyone needs to have. (Only once). This week we escape from a Typhoon by staying in our own capsule hotel, and find ourselves lost in the tomb of Japan's largest pyramid (yes, seriously). EPISODE 4 in o...

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Inside a PRIVATE Japanese Hot Spring Hotel Room | 1,000 Year Old Bath

Japanese Hot Springs (Onsen) can't be beat. This week we produce a Japanese commercial in a single day, walk the streets of Takayama and hop in a private bath as we continue our Journey Across Japan. EPISODE 3 in our blockbuster 6 part series!...