Gaijin Stories Japan

Jun 25 2023 6

Gaijin Stories Japan Podcast artwork

Hosts Chris and Ethan have been working and studying in Japan respectively for a few years. They share snippets from their lives in Japan while based in Fukuoka (on the far western side of the country). Join them for a sharing between friends on topics ranging from moving to Japan to starting a business, to even wacky news and events. Podcast episodes will be out every Sunday at 9.30pm Japan time.

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Is the JR Pass still worth it after the price increase?

Jun 25 2023 17 mins

Gaijin Stories Japan is back after a short hiatus! Life happened but the show must go on. Today, we cover one of the big news of 2023 in Japan, the massive price increase in the JR Pass that covers the entire Japan. Chris and Ethan share whether the new pricing for the JR Pass is still worth it, share stories about how they and their families used it in the past, as well as share

Japanese travel phrases: This and that, Toilet, It's OK

Jun 14 2023 22 mins

Wondering what are some survival phrases in Japanese when you're travelling in Japan? In this episode, Ethan and Chris talk about some of the vocabulary and phrases that work best for travelling about in Japan. You'll be surprised how much some words and phrases will get you by in Japan. Connect with us on Youtube Chris Youtube --> @ChrispytravelsJP Ethan's Youtube

Transportation around Japan, only trains or more?

Feb 06 2023 22 mins

Travelling around Japan is always a big topic. Japan boasts a world class public transportation, especially the globally renown train system that zips people from city to city and that is punctual to the second. In this episode, Chris and Ethan share their experiences travelling around Japan as residents but also share some tips for travellers looking to move around the country, fr

Record breaking udon, hidden hotsprings.... what else can you see, eat or try in Kyushu?

Jan 22 2023 22 mins

In this episode of Gaijin Stories Japan, Chris and Ethan talk about 3 of their recommended places to go for tourists coming to the western side of Japan, Kyushu. They discuss udon on a ferry, hotsprings in the middle of the forest, temple explorations and more. If you're heading to Kyushu, Japan, soon for holiday, don't miss this episode on places to visit and things to try that ar

Awkward dates aside, what else about housing?!

Jan 02 2023 17 mins

Chris and Ethan talk about a random meeting in a korean restaurant, and then touch on the remaining points to consider about getting a place to stay in Japan. They talk about the main factors they considered: budget location amenities design and size of the apartment If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave it in the comments section or even email us at gai

Apato or Mansion? Not sure about housing in Japan? Let us tell you about it!

Dec 20 2022 23 mins

In Episode 6 of Gaijin Stories Japan, Ethan and Chris talk about housing in Japan, mainly through their experiences renting different units in Tokyo to Fukuoka and Oita in the west of Japan. They talk about the different types, what kinds of fees to look out for, and share snippets of what their accommodations in Japan were like in the past few years. This episode is perfect for pe

How we got long term visas for Japan

Dec 14 2022 23 mins

Keen to work and live in Japan? Stay tuned as Chris and Ethan talk about their visa types and how they got their visas. This episode covers the visa application process, discussions on the general humanities visa and the business manager visa as well as some challenges in the application. Drop us questions or comments at [email protected] and we will answer or feature

What a small business owner aka solopreneur does in Japan

Dec 05 2022 20 mins

Starting your own business in Japan? Curious about what a small business owner in Japan does everyday? Work life integration, troubleshooting and more. After we talked about life as an English teacher in the previous episode, join us as we discuss the activities of a startup owner in Japan (Chris!) As usual, shoot us your questions and comments and we'll be happy to dis

Life you can expect as an English teacher in Japan

Nov 22 2022 18 mins

Ever wondered what life as an English teacher in Japan is like? Ethan takes the lead here by sharing about his daily life as an English teacher in Japan, talking about work hours, pay and working conditions. He also reveals a little about what he does outside of work. As an ex English teacher from a major English Conversation School based in Tokyo, with less than pleasant exp

Why move to the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen, Fukuoka?

Nov 13 2022 24 mins

Tonkotsu ramen, one of the most famous styles of ramen, originated from Fukuoka, in the western side of Japan. Famous chains like Ippudo, Ichiran, were from here. The famous portable night street stalls, yatai, also line the rivers and streets of Fukuoka. While famous for food, Fukuoka is also the financial capital of Kyushu area in Japan. Chris and Ethan shares their top reasons f