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...
Izushi:  Soba Capital of Japan?

Izushi: Soba Capital of Japan?

The soba noodle is a major staple food of Japan.  Typically made from buckwheat and very often served cold, its a dish we have always enjoyed.  The town of Izushi is one of the best known places in Japan for excellent soba.  Depending with whom you speak, Izushi is...

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How To Travel Japan Without Knowing The Language

How To Travel Japan Without Knowing The Language

One reason some have not yet visited Japan that wish to do so is a lack of understanding the language.  Don't let that hold you back!  Yes, for those of us from Western countries, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, languages, etc. are very odd looking and strange sounding. ...

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A Taste of the Caribbean in Japan

A Taste of the Caribbean in Japan

Renting a car provides you with so much freedom while touring Japan, and with that often comes pleasant surprises.  Although we typically carefully plan out our schedules in order to be most efficient with our time, now and then we stumble upon something that stops us...

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