Japan gets under your skin. Almost every first-time visitor comes home already planning the next trip — and there's a reason for that.

In the final instalment of the Discover Japan mini-series, Jason sits down again with Charlie Orr from Inside Japan to tackle what most travel content ignores: what to actually do on your second, third or fourth visit. They dig into Hokkaido's summer wilderness, the rarely-visited southern islands of Shikoku and Kyushu, why renting a car unlocks a completely different Japan, and how returning travellers become braver, hungrier and far more willing to push past the tourist trail.

Charlie also pulls back the curtain on small group tours — explaining the real difference between a 14-person insider-led trip and a 30-person coach tour, and sharing two unforgettable examples of what a local insider adds: a hidden izakaya district tucked under Tokyo's train arches, and a Kyoto temple with a ceiling made from samurai-stained floorboards.

Key Highlights:

• Why Japan is rarely a "one and done" destination — and what keeps pulling travellers back
• The case for Hokkaido in summer vs winter (and why most people get the timing wrong)
• Shikoku & Kyushu: the southern islands missed by 80% of visitors to Japan
• When to add a rental car to your itinerary — and what paperwork you need before flying
• The real value of an Inside Japan "insider" — with two stories you won't hear elsewhere
• Small group vs large group tours: why 14 is the magic number
• How returning travellers unlock a deeper, bolder version of Japan

Who It's For: Travellers who've already ticked off Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima and want to know where to go next — plus anyone considering a small group tour and wondering what they're actually paying for.

If you've been to Japan once, you already know it won't be your last visit. This episode is the roadmap for everything that comes after.

⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to the Japan mini-series finale

00:39 – Why Japan inspires so many repeat visits

03:15 – Retiring in rural Japan & the countryside house market

05:50 – Where to go on a second or third trip

06:50 – Exploring the islands: Hokkaido in summer

07:50 – Shikoku & Kyushu — the Japan most tourists miss

09:00 – Adding a rental car to your itinerary

10:11 – Driving in Japan: the paperwork you need

11:09 – How returning travellers experience Japan differently

14:07 – Self-guided vs small group vs large group tours explained

15:00 – What an "insider" actually is at Inside Japan

15:30 – Tokyo hidden gem: the Yurakucho izakaya arches

16:30 – The Kyoto temple with a ceiling made of samurai history

18:30 – Why 14 is the magic number for group size

19:30 – Flexibility in action: adapting the itinerary on the fly

20:24 – Wrap-up and what's coming in Part 2