Japan is full of timeless traditions and hidden wonders. Zen Gaijin guides you to the lesser-known gems, making every journey unforgettable.
The beaten path into Japan through Haneda and Narita airports is populated with scores of knowledgeable pundits ready to assist first-time visitors. There are many resources (some excellent, some less so) for helping newbies navigate their first Japanese experience, one often undertaken on a whirlwind tour of the so-called “Golden Route” between Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, a trip filled to the brim with “must dos.”
With so many experts ready to guide first-timers in planning where to go and what to see, and to help them understand what to eat, where to shop and how to navigate Japan’s often bewildering culture…
Why have we - Pam Woldow and Doug Richardson -decided to throw our hats into the ring?
Because we want to operate in a different ring, that’s why. The mission of Zen Gaijin is to transcend conventional wisdom and, targeting experienced travelers, help them experience unconventional perspectives and possibilities. In short, we want to play to a different crowd.
It’s natural for first-time travelers to Japan to try to cram a quart into a pint pot—packing in as many of the country’s dazzling sights, sounds, and flavors as possible. After all, Japan is far away, and travel there often comes with a significant investment of time and money. The urge to maximize every moment is understandable, but in the rush to 'do Japan,' many travelers overstuff their itineraries. They return home with only a whirlwind impression, able to say, 'I’ve sampled Japan.' Ideally, their trip is novel, exciting, and filled with moments of breathtaking beauty. But just as often, it can feel overwhelming, chaotic, and utterly exhausting. Many first-timers return home, check the “I’ve done Japan” box, and never look back.
Zen Gaijin is for those who do look back--and return.
The challenge for repeat travelers is what next? These sophisticated travelers ask What should I do? and How should I do it? Their needs focus on finding places and experiences that are different and often hard to find―remote, local, authentic, esoteric, unique or uniquely challenging. They crave hidden gems, whether it's a quaint rural town, a uniquely charming onsen or ryokan, a local lantern festival, a whale off Okinawa, an ethnic food fair or regional market, a parade of Shinto priests, or a local musical performance. The phrase “one-of-a-kind” gets their hearts racing.
We cater to these tastes, focusing on making the most of your time. Our advice, drawn from extensive experience and research―ours and that of other seasoned travelers--is simple: Do less. Savor more. Go deep. Go slow. Seek out the undiscovered.
At Zen Gaijin, we will provide practical “how-to” tips, tactics and suggestions to make your journey smoother, easier and less frustrating. Through our numerous trips to Japan, we’ve made countless mistakes and gaffes―so you won’t have to. But our higher purpose is to identify the settings, experiences, and esoteric pleasures that can make Japan so uniquely fascinating, so endlessly rewarding.
We'll steer clear of sweeping generalities and mass market experiences, instead focusing on small satisfactions—the sophisticated nuances, the subtleties, the happy accidents, the unique take-your-breath-away moments…and sometimes even the silly stuff (of which there is a lot in Japan).
Join us on Zen Gaijin as we explore Unconventional Japan.
