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...
Christmas Lights:  Japanese Style!

Christmas Lights: Japanese Style!

During December, the larger cities of Japan go all out when it comes to Christmas lights.  Over here, they call them Winter Illuminations and generally run from mid November through mid January.  Some of them, such as those of Nabana no Sato run into Spring.  Its an...

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Go Fly A Kite!  In Japan!

Go Fly A Kite! In Japan!

Kites are a big deal in Japan, and nowhere is this more apparent than just outside the city of Niigata.  The Shirone River runs through the area and is the site of the largest Kite Battles in Japan.  The tradition dates back to the mid Edo Period and as the story...

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JR Rail Pass Giveaway Winner!

JR Rail Pass Giveaway Winner!

This week we had the privilege of showcasing Uncharted Japan at the Southeastern US/Japan Conference.  This is an annual conference in which seven southern states come together to foster business relationships with their Japanese counterparts.  Included in the list of...

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