Tokyo Hangout

Tour guide Mike is an absolute TREASURE TROVE of knowledge when it comes to travelling around Japan. A professional tour guide with over a decade of experience, he's now the owner of the Landmark and Legends tour company. Originally from Canada, he decided to stay in Japan as soon as he stepped off the plane, being struck by the country's many idyllic scenes.We sat down in his Yokohama office to discuss his favourite travel spots, hidden Japanese tourist traps, the worst possible itinerary you can make, the do's and don'ts of behaviour while here, but also his life in Tokyo, as well as his undying love of exploring the Land of the rising sun.

I met my beautiful Japanese Kaz on a film set in Tokyo. Since then he has finished his studies in the US, participated in an exchange program in Prague, and returned to Japan where he got his first job.We met up after work in Shibuya to have a lovely conversation about his experiences in Eastern Europe, the differences between the lifestyles abroad and in Japan, the reasons why people in Tokyo are so damn stylish and finally, what kind of compliments are appropriate between friends in Japan.

My friend David is an accomplished filmmaker who's been living, working and teaching in Japan for over ten years. In this unfiltered and honest chat, we sit down in a cafe in Tokyo to chat about his career beginnings as a Manga assistant and graphic designer, his first steps into the complicated world of Japanese film business, as well as the recent deluge of YouTubers and influencers operating from Japan. Obviously we can't get past such timeless topics as the expat experience, loneliness and how to get friends in Tokyo.

Eric Margolis is a journalist, writer and book editor living in Nagoya. He's also an absolute treasure trove on everything relating to contemporary Japan. In this wonderful conversation we talk about how he landed in Japan, learned perfect Japanese (N1!) and became a translator, as well as his writing on the anime industry, the sacred nature of trees and the complicated dynamics of dating in Japan. We also can't get past best his recommendations for best Japanese novels, his love of Japanese architecture, music and nature, and finally, his tips on making meaningful relationships friends in Japan.

My dear friend Akane is a young professional living in Tokyo. She's also a fencer and an experienced traveller who's been to over 66 countries. We meet up in Shinjuku to have a chat about her experiences as an exchange student in Alaska and Illinois, her high school life in Japan, her career in Tokyo, the desire to live in Europe and her love of fencing. I also try to plug my home country of Slovenia consistently and whenever I can.

Years ago Paul moved from Germany to Japan, where he quickly established a successful business selling antique Japanese swords, scabbards and "tsuba-s" (sword mountings). We met up in a café in Ginza on a rainy day for a super pleasant chat about his beginnings in Germany, relocating to Japan, learning the ropes of selling antiques, the history of Japanese swords... and missing home.