Changes to Abroad in Japan 🍿 PLUS: Walking Japan's Mountain Villages for 96 Hours | Patreon Sneak Peak

Hey guys,
Hope you're having a fine weekend so far!

Today I wanted to share a sneak peek of the upcoming Nakasendo episode with you all, without giving too much away, as well as a few changes.

As I mentioned in the previous post, Natsuki and I recently embarked on an epic four day adventure into the mountains of central Japan, traversing the historic Nakasendo route between Tokyo and Kyoto. I've visited sections of it over the years but never properly hiked it and it was rather thrilling loading everything into a backpack and hitting the trail with only Natsuki for company. Admittedly wondering the whole time, if we would end up as a bear's three course meal.

You can check out the sneak peak of the episode above or here:
🍿 WATCH: https://youtu.be/oSN3bkX6RzY

So in recent years, I feel Abroad in Japan has been missing something at times. Namely, a sense of personality. And thankfully, I think I've worked out why this might be.

Production quality has always been of paramount importance to the videos we make. I've always felt that when someone clicks on an Abroad in Japan video, they know what they're getting: namely a video where a lot of time, thought and effort has gone into every moment (along with three dozen references to Family Mart Chicken).

Whether it's scripting, filming or editing, I've always wanted to the channel to stand out.
However, I do think there is such a thing as taking production quality too far.

We all know, the essence of good Youtube videos aren't slick camera movements and top of the range wireless microphones. It's that sense of connection with the creator themselves and the personality behind it. Though we may be separated by a physical screen, you feel like you're there in the room or coming along for the journey.

My best videos are usually me whining in my apartment or studio, or the visceral experience of clutching a camera in first person while Ryotaro forces me up a cliff edge or Connor stumbles over a dodgy rope bridge on Wacky Weekend.

As time has worn out though, I've definitely gotten a bit lazy and complacent at times. So good are the camera team we work with (such as Cameraman Paul or Marcus), that in recent years I'd even go so far to say I've become a bit disconnected from the filming side of things.

I turn up, sit or stand in front of a camera, say some sentences and then move on to the next scene.

But I've noticed this means a lot of the spontaneous fun moments are subsequently missing. Or there's less visceral moments as we're not in first person, chaotically thrusting a camera into a companions face, to capture their expressions or curse words as they battle their way through the episode.

Not only that but there's a weird psychological effect in play.

I think the more production team you have along for the journey, the more things feel scripted (usually when they're not!).

Whereas when it's just the cast holding the camera (ie. myself or Connor on a wacky weekend), as a viewer you feel like the third person on the trip. It helps break down that barrier - which again is kinda cool, as you feel like you're there with us.

So in the last 3-4 videos I've shot this year, I've done my best to go back to the old ways. Clutching the camera myself. Filming the moments in between. And it's been incredibly fun.

It's seriously bloody hard work! Way more stressful to be sure. From physically carrying equipment around to backing it all up at the end of the day for hours on end.

But I think this Nakasendo episode and the upcoming Wacky Weekend have been somewhat refreshing as a result. The trips feel more personal. As do the moments in between. Best of all, as you watch it, I hope you'll feel like you're there with us, every (painful) step of the way.

And so going forward I want to really return to that style. As a creator it helps me feel a closer bond with the audience and reminds me why I fell in love with the creative process in the first place.

It's of the utmost importance to note of course, that I'm not abandoning our epic camera team.

In fact, Paul helped us shoot in Shikoku and last week in Osaka and Marcus (our editor), helped us recently film on the Okinawan island. And there are some stories that'll always benefit from having an awesome camera crew, particularly documentary form content which I'm keen to do more of next year.

Heck the last Journey Across Japan (Non-Stop North) with Paul, was nothing short of a creative partnership. Together we filmed everywhere from the Fukushima exclusion zone and offshore islands, to quaint ramen shops and snowy plains in the space of 2-3 extremely intensive weeks. A project of that obscene scale would have probably finished me off entirely without his support filming.

But there's no doubt, that the more disconnected a creator becomes from their contents production process, the more it feels impersonal and often less impactful.

And so going forward, I think we'll see more vloggy style content return to Abroad in Japan. In fact, this Nakasendo episode might just be my favourite video of 2025.

In between editing that episode, I've just got back from Yamagata where I spent a few days in my beloved hometown of Sakata, filming a special episode. I did film it by myself, though our editor Dave joined me and snapped a few behind the scenes episodes, which I've shared on this post! (And dare I say, he may have helped carry some of the equipment around, hehe).

But I think one thing about this year is I've been a bit all over the place between writing the new book, spending time at LOST Bar and launching JourneyJapan eSim. And while I don't regret doing all these things, there's no doubt I've felt like I've been getting further away from the thing I enjoy the most - namely, producing videos! It's by far, the thing that brings me the most joy in this world and I'm bloody lucky I get to do it still after all this time.

Getting out and filming things like the Nakasendo walk with Natsuki certainly reminded me of that. And with all of the hard work officially out of the way on the second book, producing Youtube videos is very much the number one priority for the months ahead and 2026 as a whole.

And before the year is out, we've got a ton of amazing videos on the road ahead.
- As well as one big, very awesome thing that I'll be able to share with you soon!

Nakasendo drops later next week - as always with a Patreon exclusive episode of bloopers, outtakes and behind the scenes to follow!

For now guys, enjoy the sneak peak and have yourself a great weekend.

And if you have any questions about the Abroad in Japan production process, please do fire away in the comments below and I'll do my best to reply!🍿

Chris