Uncharted Japan

Exploring places most visitors never see

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Why Uncharted Japan

I’m John Haynes and my wife, Josephine is the fourth generation in her family to have been born in Japan with her great, great-grandparents having arrived in September 1861 from New York only a few years after Japan opened to the west. Her ancestors served as missionaries there when Ronin (former Samurai) still roamed the countryside.  It was very much unlike today’s Japan.  Therefore her family has a very long history retaining many contacts and the family still keeps the family home there north of Nagano.  No one of whom I’m aware in the Japan travel community online or on Youtube has such a background.  We both love Japan and enjoy sharing our experience with others.  Read on to learn more.

From The Blog

New Video By Our Friends in Germany

Just prior to our visit to the Osaka Expo 2025, we received an email from Finn-Bo Loresnzen of the Germany based indie pop band "Roast Apple" informing us they would be performing at the Germany Pavilion during the Expo.  As it turns out, we were there the same days...

Reached 5,000 Subscribers!

The other day we celebrated one year on Youtube, and today we reached another milestone.   We now have 5,000 subscribers to our Youtube channel.  Hard to imagine that on June 8, 2024, we started with zero.  I'm told most new channels don't make it to one year or never...

We’re One Year Old!

On June 8th of last year, we published our first video on our visit to Takayama.  With no experience in video production or editing, and having never uploaded anything to YouTube, we took the plunge and launched Uncharted Japan on YouTube.  Its been quite the...
Ropeway To The Top Of Kobe

Ropeway To The Top Of Kobe

When visiting Kobe, one attraction you should put on the list is the Nunobiki Herb Gardens and Ropeway.  Located a very short walk from the Shin-Kobe Station, this is a must see on a sunny day or as the sun goes down.  At the top of Mt. Rokko is the herb garden and to...

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Video Tour Of Kanazawa

Video Tour Of Kanazawa

The Uncharted Japan website is little more than a month old and the first video (on Takayama) on the Youtube Channel was posted two weeks ago, therefore though we have a great deal of experience in getting around Japan, the platform of Youtube is something quite...

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Japan’s Unique Department Store Basement Halls

Japan’s Unique Department Store Basement Halls

Most foreign visitors stick to the well known tourist sites and seldom leave the worn paths leading to them.  If you do that, you'll certainly have an enjoyable time in Japan, however, you'll also be missing out on so much more.  You don't have to venture far into the...

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