#1: Welcome to the first episode of Rewarding Routes! I’m John, and my mission is to make traveling to Japan possible year after year without breaking the bank by using credit card points and miles to turn everyday spending into flights and hotels.

In this episode, I share how my love of travel began. Back in 2016, my wife (then girlfriend) and I packed our bags for a one way trip to Manchester. That adventure took us across Europe, Asia, and a year living in Australia. It completely changed my life and showed me how much I loved exploring new cultures. The one regret? We couldn’t make it to Japan it was too expensive at the time.

After returning home, I went through a slump, but in 2019 I got a job with an airline, keeping travel in my life. When the world shut down in 2020, I dove into personal finance, budgeting, and paying off debt. That’s when I discovered the world of points and miles through a YouTube video. At first it felt too good to be true, but in 2022 my wife and I proved it works: we booked a five-night Hawaii trip with Hyatt and Southwest almost entirely on points, paying just $11.20 in taxes. That win showed me what’s possible.

Since then, I’ve focused on using points and miles to unlock the trips that matter most to us especially Japan. We finally made it in 2023, visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Miyajima Island. The culture, food, and kindness of the people completely pulled us in. In 2025, we returned, this time adding South Korea to the trip, and it only deepened my obsession. My long-term goal? Visit all 47 prefectures of Japan.

On this podcast, I’ll share:

How to earn and redeem points and miles.
How to plan meaningful itineraries, not just tourist checklists.
Deep dives into Japan’s culture, food, and hidden gems.
Stories from my travels and conversations with other travelers.

Japan doesn’t have to stay a “dream trip.” With the right strategies, it’s possible for anyone to go and to keep going back.

In the next episode, I’ll dive into the basics of points and miles and how to use them responsibly to start building your own rewarding route.