Hi everyone,
I hope you're all well. I thought this might be of interest to fellow dub viewers and Duel Links fans. Emily Bauer Jenness, the dub voice of ARC-V's Bracelet Girls and Ray Akaba, who has already reprised Zuzu Boyle for Duel Links, made an interesting post on her Instagram recently. The post is in the link, but here's the text below:
"VOICE ACTORS AND ANIME FANS It’s been a really rough road for the voice over industry and for voice actors in the fight for our rights against AI technology.
I was recently asked to voice a character I originated, but I had to turn it down. Why? The company wants to retain the right to use my voice for AI technology. This means they can choose to use my voice at any time for anything. They can Clone my voice, use it for games, commercials, TV shows or movies, AI training…you name it, with no permission and no compensation. Effectively putting me out of a job.
If we knew 10 years ago what we know now, actors would have made very different choices about what rights they sign away. Well, here we are, and I am taking a stand.
I had hoped that instead of replacing me, this major company would put a clause in their contracts prohibiting AI use and protecting actors. This didn’t happen. I hope that we can work together again someday, with respect for the talent of voice actors and the art of voice acting.
Much love to my fans. Many thanks to the producers who give us fair contracts. And a big thank you to my fellow actors out there who have and continue to turn down auditions and unfair contracts."
Firstly, to address the obvious if you didn't click the link. The body of Emily's post doesn't specifically mention Yu-Gi-Oh!, Duel Links, Celina, KONAMI etc. so there's always a chance it's referring to someone else, and I certainly would hope that to be the case. However, the picture Emily used for the Instagram post IS a still of Celina. I'd say that makes it more likely than not the character she's referring to is therefore Celina and it's a Yu-Gi-Oh! project.
Which Yu-Gi-Oh! project would make the most sense? Duel Links. If you watched ARC-V you know Celina is a very logical next addition of an ARC-V character to Duel Links, and if we only get one more ARC-V character this year I think it will be her. We just got Yugo last month and he and Celina debuted around the same time in the show. Yes, some other characters did too but Yuri became more prominent much later on and for Dennis more than half of his cards are still anime only, so if they want to print more of them it makes sense to hold back on Dennis too. Yuri and Dennis make more sense as 2024 inclusions anyway IMO.
That being said, this doesn't mean Celina is coming to Duel Links very soon. We just got Shay's unlock in February and Yugo's last month. So we're probably waiting at least another few months for Celina. We still haven't had our GX slot for the year, and I think we'll get at least one more character each for ZEXAL, VRAINS and ARC-V this year, but we also don't know for definite what the September plans are. So far this year we haven't had a skipped month for an unlock. In previous years either April or May was skipped. We usually get 12-13 new characters a year, so if you think about it, if we get no skipped months this year (including an unlock event in September instead of a new world) we'd still have the same amount of new characters.
Plus, to bring things back to Celina. As someone who has interviewed cast members that worked on Duel Links, both those reprising roles and new VA's taking on roles, they usually record at least a few months in advance of a character being added. I'm sure they record sooner in Japan than the dub does as well, but they record a few months in advance for the dub. A couple I remember off the top of my head are Justin Badger recording for Antinomy in April/May 2020, who was added to DL via a roaming event that July. Noah Benjamin recorded Yuma in June/July that year, who was then added of course with the ZEXAL World launch that September. So, even if Celina is recorded we might not see her in DL for a few months at least.
Of course, that also brings things back to Emily's post. She says: "I had hoped that instead of replacing me, this major company would put a clause in their contracts prohibiting AI use and protecting actors. This didn’t happen." It sounds like, whether this is Yu-Gi-Oh!/Celina or not, she knows she will be recast. Obviously I'm not privy to details, but it doesn't mean Celina or whatever role it is has been recorded yet, but it could mean Emily was informed she'd be recast. I don't know how long it is between a cast member being contacted to reprise/an agreement being reached etc and their recording, so that's why I said I don't know if the recording is done, but it sounds like Emily knows one way or another she was (or will be) recast.
I've mostly been looking at it from a Yu-Gi-Oh! and Celina perspective but I do have a lot of thoughts on what Emily said, both Yu-Gi-Oh! wise and looking at it from beyond YGO too. First of all, Celina's one of my favourite ARC-V characters and naturally I'd love to hear Emily reprise her for Duel Links. I'll always prefer to hear the original voices reprise and, while I'm not opposed to recasts when needed and understand they sometimes have to happen, I'd always prefer the original voice reprisals. No shade to the Duel Links recasts as a lot of them have been good though.
However, this is also very different if Celina is indeed being recast. For starters, we have an amazing number of characters in Duel Links (over 90 different unlocks I think at this point) and only around 10-15 recasts which is also amazing really. However, we know why very few of the recasts happened. We've only become privy to a few of them. Cassandra Lee Morris choosing to decline reprising Yubel due to a videogame strike at the time. Eileen Stevens saying she decided to "segue out of" (move on from) non union work and become a Union VA and YGO, Pokémon etc are non-union. Sean Schemmel had a rant about being recast as Bronk (later recast as Paradox too) but nothing about why he was recast. He might not know himself as apparently he wasn't even asked to reprise Bronk. Schemmel's a Union VA too so that could've been the reason he was recast. They could risk it once with Crowler, but had to do the weird "Dr Crowler- Dr Crowler" credit where the latter should be the VA's name. Nothing definitive but I think not even trying to get Schemmel again was probably a Union reason.
However, this with Emily would be a first as it's a VA telling us in advance that they might be recast rather than acknowledging why after the fact. Certainly interesting to think about it like that. Again, it might not be Yu-Gi-Oh!/Celina related, but I suspect it is since she used Celina as the picture for the post.
My thoughts on what Emily said though are this: I think it's a good thing Emily has come out and said this. Yes, I'll be disappointed if Celina's recast but I completely support her on this. The AI technology and what it can mean for voice acting shouldn't be taken lightly. I'm not a fan as it's no substitute for actual acting and I can't even imagine how the voice actors feel. The fact that a major company wanted to put a clause in Emily's contract, KONAMI or otherwise, saying that they could use the voice for AI use in the future, plus with no compensation, is crazy to me. If it's indeed KONAMI, I at least hope it was something the higher ups were pushing and not something voice director Darren Dunstan, also a major anime actor himself of course, and his team wanted. I can't imagine how a VA like Dunstan himself would be ok with it.
Emily also said: "I hope that we can work together again someday, with respect for the talent of voice actors and the art of voice acting." I think it's a great thing Emily's still open to working with the company despite them trying to put the AI clause in. Not everyone would be, let's be honest. Maybe if it's too late for Celina they could still try and get her back for Lulu and/or Rin, but who knows? Maybe if they haven't already recorded Celina with a new dub VA replacement Emily putting the post out there might've made KONAMI want to get her back after all. If they have already recorded a new VA with Celina it's probably too late though. Would be wasting money doing another recording session after already paying the new VA.
Whether it's indeed KONAMI or a different company, trying to put AI clauses in contracts is not a good look. IMO it reeks of companies trying to find another way to save money. As Emily said herself, she wouldn't be compensated and would effectively be put out a job. Whenever they'd need new Celina dialogue, they could just use the AI to generate it. It's NOT the same as a VA recording new lines. I'm glad a well known anime VA is calling it out and warning other voice actors and fans about it. The fact that a major company would want to do this is awful IMO.
Some of you might be thinking why has this come up now when Emily reprised Zuzu a couple of years ago for Duel Links? I don't pretend to know the ins and outs of how the VA negotiations work for Duel Links, but I think there's most likely different negotiations if the reprisals are far apart like a couple of years. If a VA is voicing a couple of roles in quick succession, maybe they can do one negotiation, but I don't know. I'm sure some think it, but no, I also doubt they get someone like Emily to record Zuzu/Celina/Lulu/Rin in one session and then hold onto dialogue recordings for many years like that. No, IMO it's more likely whenever they need a VA they reach out to them again. Plus, the sessions from the VA's I've interviewed were a few hours, like 2-4. Considering on lots of lines they're probably doing multiple takes to find the best one, I really don't think they're recording multiple characters in one session. Maybe if there's a quick turnaround where the same VA is voicing characters coming to Duel Links around the same time, or also adding new dialogue on older unlocks (see DM/DSOD characters), but I doubt they're sitting on recording sessions they won't use for years.
Plus, here's another way to look at it. I might be wrong as voice actors will know it better than me, but it feels like the issues with AI technology replacing voice acting have become a lot more talked about in the last year or year and a half. I think it most likely wasn't a clause when Emily was asked to reprise Zuzu, but was a new clause added for this year when she was asked to reprise Celina or whoever the character was. That's why Emily has done the post and used a picture of Celina. Like I said, if the character is Celina it most likely was for a Duel Links recording, and now that AI is more talked about it was added as a clause.
Like I've said, I completely support Emily's stance on this and think it's a terrible a major company would try putting an AI technology clause in. KONAMI or otherwise, but I suspect it is because Emily used Celina as the picture for her Instagram post.
From a fan perspective, I also felt it was important to give fellow dub fans a heads up about this. One, because the AI thing is becoming an issue that is concerning the voice actors we like. Two, if Celina's indeed being recast I know I'd rather know in advance rather than open the game when she's added and find out she has a new VA. IMO it definitely feels different opening the game and finding out there was a recast than knowing/expecting it in advance. For example, despite preferring Paradox to Bronk of Schemmel characters it certainly surprised me less seeing Paradox recast after Bronk was. So despite it being disappointing now, if it's indeed Celina Emily was referring to (she's the character pictured in her post after all) IMO it's better to expect a recast now then only find out when she's added.
If she's indeed recast, curious to see who Celina's new VA will be. I sympathise with them especially when we already know why Emily will be recast if it's indeed Celina her post is about. I'm sure they'll do their best but yeah, knowing why Emily might be recast certainly isn't nice and I fully support Emily on her stance and sympathise with her too. The AI thing should not be a clause in any VA's contract.
I wanted to do this post, not just because of Yu-Gi-Oh!, but because I think this is also bigger than Yu-Gi-Oh! AI technology is becoming a much bigger thing and a lot of voice actors are talking about it. If you're a fan of voice actors you've probably seen some talking about it, but this is the first I've seen of a major company actually trying to include it as a contract clause.
What do you think about Emily's post though? While she doesn't name the character, Duel Links, KONAMI etc her choice of picture for her post is Celina. Certainly makes it likely she's the referred to character IMO.

Hi everyone,
I hope you're all well. I thought this might be of interest to fellow dub viewers. Emily Bauer Jenness, the dub voice of ARC-V's Bracelet Girls and Ray Akaba, who has already reprised Zuzu Boyle for Duel Links, made an interesting post on her Instagram recently. The post is in the link, but here's the text below:
"VOICE ACTORS AND ANIME FANS It’s been a really rough road for the voice over industry and for voice actors in the fight for our rights against AI technology.
I was recently asked to voice a character I originated, but I had to turn it down. Why? The company wants to retain the right to use my voice for AI technology. This means they can choose to use my voice at any time for anything. They can Clone my voice, use it for games, commercials, TV shows or movies, AI training…you name it, with no permission and no compensation. Effectively putting me out of a job.
If we knew 10 years ago what we know now, actors would have made very different choices about what rights they sign away. Well, here we are, and I am taking a stand.
I had hoped that instead of replacing me, this major company would put a clause in their contracts prohibiting AI use and protecting actors. This didn’t happen. I hope that we can work together again someday, with respect for the talent of voice actors and the art of voice acting.
Much love to my fans. Many thanks to the producers who give us fair contracts. And a big thank you to my fellow actors out there who have and continue to turn down auditions and unfair contracts."
Firstly, to address the obvious if you didn't click the link. The body of Emily's post doesn't specifically mention Yu-Gi-Oh!, Duel Links, Celina, KONAMI etc. so there's always a chance it's referring to someone else, and I certainly would hope that to be the case. However, the picture Emily used for the Instagram post IS a still of Celina. I'd say that makes it more likely than not the character she's referring to is therefore Celina and it's a Yu-Gi-Oh! project.
Which Yu-Gi-Oh! project would make the most sense? Duel Links. If you watched ARC-V you know Celina is a very logical next addition of an ARC-V character to Duel Links, and if we only get one more ARC-V character this year I think it will be her. We just got Yugo last month and he and Celina debuted around the same time in the show. Yes, some other characters did too but Yuri became more prominent much later on and for Dennis more than half of his cards are still anime only, so if they want to print more of them it makes sense to hold back on Dennis too. Yuri and Dennis make more sense as 2024 inclusions anyway IMO.
That being said, this doesn't mean Celina is coming to Duel Links very soon. We just got Shay's unlock in February and Yugo's last month. So we're probably waiting at least another few months for Celina. We still haven't had our GX slot for the year, and I think we'll get at least one more character each for ZEXAL, VRAINS and ARC-V this year, but we also don't know for definite what the September plans are. So far this year we haven't had a skipped month for an unlock. In previous years either April or May was skipped. We usually get 12-13 new characters a year, so if you think about it, if we get no skipped months this year (including an unlock event in September instead of a new world) we'd still have the same amount of new characters.
Plus, to bring things back to Celina. As someone who has interviewed cast members that worked on Duel Links, both those reprising roles and new VA's taking on roles, they usually record at least a few months in advance of a character being added. I'm sure they record sooner in Japan than the dub does as well, but they record a few months in advance for the dub. A couple I remember off the top of my head are Justin Badger recording for Antinomy in April/May 2020, who was added to DL via a roaming event that July. Noah Benjamin recorded Yuma in June/July that year, who was then added of course with the ZEXAL World launch that September. So, even if Celina is recorded we might not see her in DL for a few months at least.
Of course, that also brings things back to Emily's post. She says: "I had hoped that instead of replacing me, this major company would put a clause in their contracts prohibiting AI use and protecting actors. This didn’t happen." It sounds like, whether this is Yu-Gi-Oh!/Celina or not, she knows she will be recast. Obviously I'm not privy to details, but it doesn't mean Celina or whatever role it is has been recorded yet, but it could mean Emily was informed she'd be recast. I don't know how long it is between a cast member being contacted to reprise/an agreement being reached etc and their recording, so that's why I said I don't know if the recording is done, but it sounds like Emily knows one way or another she was (or will be) recast.
I've mostly been looking at it from a Yu-Gi-Oh! and Celina perspective but I do have a lot of thoughts on what Emily said, both Yu-Gi-Oh! wise and looking at it from beyond YGO too. First of all, Celina's one of my favourite ARC-V characters and naturally I'd love to hear Emily reprise her for Duel Links. I'll always prefer to hear the original voices reprise and, while I'm not opposed to recasts when needed and understand they sometimes have to happen, I'd always prefer the original voice reprisals. No shade to the Duel Links recasts as a lot of them have been good though.
However, this is also very different if Celina is indeed being recast. For starters, we have an amazing number of characters in Duel Links (over 90 different unlocks I think at this point) and only around 10-15 recasts which is also amazing really. However, we know why very few of the recasts happened. We've only become privy to a few of them. Cassandra Lee Morris choosing to decline reprising Yubel due to a videogame strike at the time. Eileen Stevens saying she decided to "segue out of" (move on from) non union work and become a Union VA and YGO, Pokémon etc are non-union. Sean Schemmel had a rant about being recast as Bronk (later recast as Paradox too) but nothing about why he was recast. He might not know himself as apparently he wasn't even asked to reprise Bronk. Schemmel's a Union VA too so that could've been the reason he was recast. They could risk it once with Crowler, but had to do the weird "Dr Crowler- Dr Crowler" credit where the latter should be the VA's name. Nothing definitive but I think not even trying to get Schemmel again was probably a Union reason.
However, this with Emily would be a first as it's a VA telling us in advance that they might be recast rather than acknowledging why after the fact. Certainly interesting to think about it like that. Again, it might not be Yu-Gi-Oh!/Celina related, but I suspect it is since she used Celina as the picture for the post.
My thoughts on what Emily said though are this: I think it's a good thing Emily has come out and said this. Yes, I'll be disappointed if Celina's recast but I completely support her on this. The AI technology and what it can mean for voice acting shouldn't be taken lightly. I'm not a fan as it's no substitute for actual acting and I can't even imagine how the voice actors feel. The fact that a major company wanted to put a clause in Emily's contract, KONAMI or otherwise, saying that they could use the voice for AI use in the future, plus with no compensation, is crazy to me. If it's indeed KONAMI, I at least hope it was something the higher ups were pushing and not something voice director Darren Dunstan, also a major anime actor himself of course, and his team wanted. I can't imagine how a VA like Dunstan himself would be ok with it.
Emily also said: "I hope that we can work together again someday, with respect for the talent of voice actors and the art of voice acting." I think it's a great thing Emily's still open to working with the company despite them trying to put the AI clause in. Not everyone would be, let's be honest. Maybe if it's too late for Celina they could still try and get her back for Lulu and/or Rin, but who knows? Maybe if they haven't already recorded Celina with a new dub VA replacement Emily putting the post out there might've made KONAMI want to get her back after all. If they have already recorded a new VA with Celina it's probably too late though. Would be wasting money doing another recording session after already paying the new VA.
Whether it's indeed KONAMI or a different company, trying to put AI clauses in contracts is not a good look. IMO it reeks of companies trying to find another way to save money. As Emily said herself, she wouldn't be compensated and would effectively be put out a job. Whenever they'd need new Celina dialogue, they could just use the AI to generate it. It's NOT the same as a VA recording new lines. I'm glad a well known anime VA is calling it out and warning other voice actors and fans about it. The fact that a major company would want to do this is awful IMO.
Some of you might be thinking why has this come up now when Emily reprised Zuzu a couple of years ago for Duel Links? I don't pretend to know the ins and outs of how the VA negotiations work for Duel Links, but I think there's most likely different negotiations if the reprisals are far apart like a couple of years. If a VA is voicing a couple of roles in quick succession, maybe they can do one negotiation, but I don't know. I'm sure some think it, but no, I also doubt they get someone like Emily to record Zuzu/Celina/Lulu/Rin in one session and then hold onto dialogue recordings for many years like that. No, IMO it's more likely whenever they need a VA they reach out to them again. Plus, the sessions from the VA's I've interviewed were a few hours, like 2-4. Considering on lots of lines they're probably doing multiple takes to find the best one, I really don't think they're recording multiple characters in one session. Maybe if there's a quick turnaround where the same VA is voicing characters coming to Duel Links around the same time, or also adding new dialogue on older unlocks (see DM/DSOD characters), but I doubt they're sitting on recording sessions they won't use for years.
Plus, here's another way to look at it. I might be wrong as voice actors will know it better than me, but it feels like the issues with AI technology replacing voice acting have become a lot more talked about in the last year or year and a half. I think it most likely wasn't a clause when Emily was asked to reprise Zuzu, but was a new clause added for this year when she was asked to reprise Celina or whoever the character was. That's why Emily has done the post and used a picture of Celina. Like I said, if the character is Celina it most likely was for a Duel Links recording, and now that AI is more talked about it was added as a clause.
Like I've said, I completely support Emily's stance on this and think it's a terrible a major company would try putting an AI technology clause in. KONAMI or otherwise, but I suspect it is because Emily used Celina as the picture for her Instagram post.
From a fan perspective, I also felt it was important to give fellow dub fans a heads up about this. One, because the AI thing is becoming an issue that is concerning the voice actors we like. Two, if Celina's indeed being recast I know I'd rather know in advance rather than open the game when she's added and find out she has a new VA. IMO it definitely feels different opening the game and finding out there was a recast than knowing/expecting it in advance. For example, despite preferring Paradox to Bronk of Schemmel characters it certainly surprised me less seeing Paradox recast after Bronk was. So despite it being disappointing now, if it's indeed Celina Emily was referring to (she's the character pictured in her post after all) IMO it's better to expect a recast now then only find out when she's added.
If she's indeed recast, curious to see who Celina's new VA will be. I sympathise with them especially when we already know why Emily will be recast if it's indeed Celina her post is about. I'm sure they'll do their best but yeah, knowing why Emily might be recast certainly isn't nice and I fully support Emily on her stance and sympathise with her too. The AI thing should not be a clause in any VA's contract.
I wanted to do this post, not just because of Yu-Gi-Oh!, but because I think this is also bigger than Yu-Gi-Oh! AI technology is becoming a much bigger thing and a lot of voice actors are talking about it. If you're a fan of voice actors you've probably seen some talking about it, but this is the first I've seen of a major company actually trying to include it as a contract clause.
What do you think about Emily's post though? While she doesn't name the character, Duel Links, KONAMI etc her choice of picture for her post is Celina. Certainly makes it likely she's the referred to character IMO.

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Where is the new Spider-Verse streaming? Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse online is free, which includes streaming options such as 123movies, Reddit, or TV shows from HBO Max or Netflix.
The five-year wait is finally over!! Here are options for downloading or watching Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse streaming the full movie online for free on 123movies & Reddit, including where to watch Miles Morales's latest adventure movies at home. Is Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse 2023 available to stream? Is watching Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on Netflix, HBO Max, Disney Plus, Peacock, or Amazon Prime? Yes, we have found an authentic streaming option/service.
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Miles Morales is back in the next phase of the animated Spider-Man movies.It took almost five years, but the sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is now in theaters. And Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is everything you could hope for from a follow-up — and more. It has a much bigger scale than the first film, with literally hundreds of Spider-Heroes, at least five distinct animated worlds, and a ton of heart that is going to make this sequel a huge success.
In 2018, at the height of the superhero era, Sony Pictures captured audiences with the animated superhero film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The movie followed New York City teenager Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) as he adjusted to being the latest version of Spider-Man. He eventually assisted other Spider-People living in parallel universes when they joined together to save his current timeline from being destroyed by Kingpin (Liev Schreiber), a supervillain who coincidentally is the benefactor for the controlling mega-corporation Alchemax.
While we can't thwip over to Brooklyn to hang out with Miles and his friends, we certainly can tune into Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse to figure out what is going to happen next with our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Thankfully, it's pretty easy to watch the highly-anticipated Spidey sequel that fans have been waiting five years to see. So ready to dive into the Spider-Verse and find out what Miles's journey will take him?
Given this exciting plot, it comes as no surprise that many folks will want to know how to watch and stream Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse from the comfort of their own home. While we don't have spider-webs coming from our wrists, we may have a clue about this. Here's where to watch and stream Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse online:
Here are all the ways to watch Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse. Now, read on if you want to find out if Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is streaming right now.

When Is the Release Date for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse?

Across the Spider-Verse ended up swinging into cinemas on June 2, 2023, so you can head to your favourite cinema to watch the sequel now. It hasn't received a streaming release yet, but we could expect one in the coming months.

• Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – June 2, 2023
• Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Part II – March 29, 2024

Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse is officially coming out on June 2, 2023, in the United States. If you live outside of the US, your release date may vary depending on your location.

When Will Spider-Verse 2 Start Streaming?

It hasn't received a streaming release yet, but we could expect one in the coming months. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is finally here, but when will fans be able to watch it at home on streaming, digital, Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD?
After five years since the award-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse swung into theaters and the hearts of fans around the world, the Miles Morales-led sequel has finally arrived in theaters to massive acclaim. Across the Spider-Verse continues to expand the animated franchise with a host of new Spider-People through a Multiversal group led by Oscar Isaac's Miguel O'Hara, aka Spider-Man 2099. Spider-Verse 2 comes as the first chapter of a two-part event featuring The Spot as the lead antagonist, with the story set to continue next March with the release of Beyond the Spider-Verse.

Where To Watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Online:

Yes! Just not yet. Before the streaming debut of Across the Spider-Verse, Sony will likely release the film on demand through digital outlets, followed by a full digital, Blu-ray, and 4K release. And if any film needs 4K, it’s this one.
Netflix and Sony Pictures do have a deal in place, which means Across the Spider-Verse will premiere on Netflix before the end of the year. But an exact date is hard to pin down. At the very earliest, it probably won’t happen before September or October.
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Otherwise, you’ll just have to wait for it to become available to rent or purchase on digital platforms like Amazon, Vudu, YouTube or Apple, or become available to stream on Netflix.

How can I watch Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse at home?

Yes! Just not yet. Before the streaming debut of Across the Spider-Verse, Sony will likely release the film on demand through digital outlets, followed by a full digital, Blu-ray, and 4K release. And if any film needs 4K, it’s this one.
Even though it's totally easier for us to web our way over to the couch, the film will first come out exclusively in theaters. This means it'll take a little while before you can watch it at home. But that doesn't mean it won't ever make it out into home video!
As of right now, the new Marvel movie Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse can only be watched in theaters. But it likely won't be long until the film swings its way onto one of the most popular streaming sites.
Unlike the other Spidey movies, it likely won't be on Disney+ as it's technically a Sony film and not Marvel. However, just like the first movie in the series, it will also be available on other streamers like Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, Google Play, and more to rent and own at your leisure.
The animated movie is currently being distributed by Sony Pictures, the studio behind its predecessor and both the Tobey Maguire and Tom Holland Spider-Man film trilogies. While the studio owns the films, the rights to the Spider-Man franchise are technically in the hands of Marvel Comics, which is owned by Disney.

Is Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse in Theaters?

This film is definitely on the top of a lot of people's must-watch list of the year so it makes sense that there's going to be plenty of chances to catch it on the big screen. Make sure to check your local theater's showtimes to see when you can watch it, but if you plan on going during the first couple of weeks after release, you should be safe! But like any other movie, make sure you go whenever you can because it will have to swing its way out of theaters after a few weeks.
Unfortunately, we're here to confirm that Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse doesn't have any credit scenes, despite being the first of a two-part story. There are some more gorgeous visuals to watch over the credits though, so you absolutely should stick around to watch them.

When Will Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Be on Streaming?

Yes, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is available to stream. Just not on Netflix, Disney+ or any of the major streaming services. It’s truly baffling as to why Sony let that happen when the sequel is in theaters. For now, you can stream Into the Spider-Verse on Fubo TV and Sling. Direct TV subscribers can watch it, while cable subscribers can stream Into the Spider-Verse through FX NOW.
And if you're just hoping to see Miles again or want a refresher before you watch the sequel, you can watch Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse on streaming services like Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, and the Google Play store. You can also buy it on DVD and Blu-ray, so you can always own it and never have to worry if it'll be taken off a streamer.
Still can't get enough? Well, there's also a Miles Morales video game. The story is a little bit different, but hey, we'll take any chance to hang out with our favorite Spidey. The game is available for both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, while a sequel is also in the works!

When will Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse be streaming on Netflix?

Across the Spider-Verse should be headed to Netflix before the end of the year. The most likely month for arrival is sometime around November — because Sony’s biggest movies tend to make their way to Netflix around five months after their theatrical debuts.
As we covered in 2021, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will be headed to Netflix as the service gets both Sony’s animation and live-action content via a first window deal struck in April 2021.
The deal stipulates that all Sony theatrical movies come to Netflix in the first window, which at a minimum, is 120 days after its theatrical release date. If it arrives exactly 120 days after, it’ll be streaming from September 30th, 2023.
With that said, given how big this movie is, we may see it release a few weeks after the fact. Either way, we expect the movie to be available between late September and November 2023.

Will Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Be Streaming On Netflix?

Yes, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is coming to Netflix approximately in December 2023. Based on these windows, the earliest fans could expect to stream Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on Netflix is the end of September. Or, if the Spider-Man flick were to take a page out of Uncharted's book, audiences could be waiting until late November.
In 2021, Sony and Netflix signed a five-year deal that gave the latter exclusive first-pay-window U.S. streaming rights for Sony Pictures titles after their theatrical and home entertainment windows. Fans can expect to watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on Netflix six months after the film’s theatrical release, thus in December 2023. The date seems reasonable considering that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse dropped on Netflix on June 26, 2019, six months after its U.S. release on December 14, 2018. The pay-one window usually begins about nine months after a film’s theatrical release, but it might start earlier in particular cases.

Will Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Be On HBO Max?

No, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will not be on HBO Max since it’s not a Universal Pictures movie. Last year, the company released its films in theaters and on the streamer on the same day. However, they now allow a 45-day window between the theatrical release and the streaming release.

Will Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Be Streaming On Disney+?

The good news is Across the Spider-Verse will also be available on digital VOD platforms (like YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Apple, and Vudu) sometime before it hits Netflix. and if you purchase it on one of those you’ll be able to watch it whether it’s on streaming or not.
As for how long the movie will be on the service, or which streaming service it might head to after it leaves Netflix, we’ll just have to wait and see. While it may seem surprising that a Marvel movie is headed to Netflix instead of Disney Plus, it’s important to remember that this is actually a Sony movie, not a Disney production. Because Sony doesn’t have a streaming platform of its own, it’s partnered with Netflix for exclusive initial releases on its movies. But that doesn’t mean they’ll stay there forever.
Yes, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is also coming to Disney Plus approximately in 2025. When the time comes to tune into Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on Disney+, you'll want to make sure you have access to it first. The streamer currently offers a free 30-day trial, after which you sign up for plans that start at $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year. After that, just head on over to the title page on Disney+'s official website or the Disney+ app.
Once the pay-one window runs its time and Netflix’s exclusive rights expire, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will be available on Disney Plus. The pay-one window might last as long as 18 months, which means it will be a while before Disney Plus subscribers can watch the much-anticipated sequel. Unlike in other countries, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse isn’t yet available on the Disney-owned streamer in the U.S. American fans will have to wait until 2024 to watch Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and at least until 2025 for its sequel. We will update this post once there is an official Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Disney Plus release date.

Watch Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse on Fubo TV

With over 100 live channels, Fubo TV subscribers are getting bang for their buck. There are four packages: Pro, $75 per month; Elite, $85 per month; Premiere, $95 per month; and a special Latino package for $33 per month. The Miles Morales movie will be available to watch on Fubo TV. Check out other news and entertainment channels, including FX, FS1, TLC, MTV, and Fox. Subscribers can sign up for a FREE trial and cancel anytime without penalty.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is the first-ever animated Spider-Man movie, and it is a visually stunning film with a rousing story that earned it an Oscar for Best Animated Movie. Absolutely! The following digital vendors have the animated movie for rent or purchase: Prime Video, Google Play, Apple TV, and YouTube. You don’t need any subscription to access the movie as it’s a one-time fee for rental or purchase.

Is Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Available On Hulu?

Viewers are saying that they want to view the new Marvel's animation movie Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on Hulu. Unfortunately, this is not possible since Hulu currently does not offer any of the free episodes of this series streaming at this time. It will be exclusive to the MTV channel, which you get by subscribing to cable or satellite TV services. You will not be able to watch it on Hulu or any other free streaming service.

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There are a few ways to watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse online in the U.S. You can use a streaming service such as Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video. You can also rent or buy the movie on iTunes or Google Play. You can also watch it on-demand or on a streaming app available on your TV or streaming device if you have cable.

When Will Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Be on DVD and Blu-ray?

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will likely be coming to DVD and Blu-ray around the same time as the streaming release. With theatrical films, on average, coming to streaming sooner than ever (usually ninety days after theatrical release), we'll likely see Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse get a DVD, and Blu-ray release no later than Fall 2023.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Cast and Characters

The Spider-sonas are converging across the multiverse. The unfolding journey of Miles Morales is the most visually thrilling and narratively compelling one Spider-Man has been on for the past two decades. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has taken audiences on an animated roller coaster across the Multiverse with its colorful cast of characters.
The following cast members are confirmed to provide their voice talents for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

• Shameik Moore as Miles Morales / Spider-Man
• Hailee Steinfeld as Gwen Stacy / Spider-Woman
• Brian Tyree Henry as Jefferson Davis
• Luna Lauren Vélez as Rio Morales
• Jake Johnson as Peter B. Parker / Spider-Man
• Jason Schwartzman as Jonathan Ohnn / the Spot
• Issa Rae as Jessica Drew / Spider-Woman
• Karan Soni as Pavitr Prabhakar / Spider-Man India
• Daniel Kaluuya as Hobart “Hobie” Brown / Spider-Punk
• Oscar Isaac as Miguel O’Hara / Spider-Man 2099
• Greta Lee as Lyla
• Rachel Dratch as the school counsellor
• Jorma Taccone as Vulture
• Shea Whigham as George Stacy
• Andy Samberg as Ben Reilly / Scarlet Spider

It was a long trip. This is a long post. Apologies in advance.
HIGHLIGHTS (Days 1-14 of 28) KYOTO--Kiyomizu temple; Nanzenji temple; Nijo Castle; Sanjusangendo temple; Shugakuin Imperial Villa; Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion); Fushimi Inari shrine; 184th Kamogawa-Odori geisha show HIMEJI-The castle and garden. NARA-Todaiji temple UJI-Byodoin temple IZU KOGEN--Jogasaki Coast nature trail
TOKYO, Monday 5/8
We arrived mid-afternoon at Tokyo/Haneda, right after Golden Week ended. It turned out to be, coincidentally, the day when the Japanese government officially downgraded the Covid pandemic to the level of a seasonal flu.
Fresh off a 13-hour flight and experiencing Japan for the first time, we went from touchdown to hotel check-in in something like 90 minutes, braving an almost-rush-hour crush on the Keikyu Line train from the Terminal 3 station.
Experience has taught us that meticulously planning every step of arrival in a new country is crucial to avoiding confusion, getting lost or simply wasting time.
Pre-loaded Suica cards on our smartphones led us straight to the train without standing in any lines.
We' chose the Shinagawa Station area of central Tokyo to spare our jetlagged selves another leg of indeterminate length--four or five hours at least--to reach our Kyoto base. Shinagawa is a straight shot--no transfers--from Haneda and a great place to catch a bullet train.
It was a geezer move that gave us plenty of time to familiarize ourselves with the layout and operation of one of Japan's busiest train stations.
Before crashing for the night, we'd taken care of some business by getting cash from an ATM and picking up reserved seat tickets for a post-Kyoto leg. We used a JR Railway ticket machine to print out the tickets, using QR codes emailed to us the previous month when we bought the tickets online directly from JR-East railway (we avoided costly middlemen in all our travel and entertainment purchases, something that requires planning but is easily doable from abroad). Like all our electronic machine transactions in Japan, there was an English language option on the touch-screen.
A machine also checked us in at the Prince Hotel Shinagawa, part of a modern high-rise development, chosen mainly for convenience. It's a one-block walk from the train station and was perfect for a couple jet-lagged Japan newbies. What we got, for the princely sum of $116 USD, was a spacious (by Japan standards) room on the 34th floor with a dead-on view of Tokyo Tower. Dinner was carryout sushi from the Queen's Isetan department store on the opposite side of the station, plus beer and sake from a convenience store, all consumed in the hotel room with Tokyo's skyline at our feet.
KYOTO , Tuesday 5/9
On the advice of an old Japan hand, we made Kyoto our base for the first two weeks. It worked well. We explored a fabulous city, took three day trips (Himeji/Osaka; Nara; Uji) and left town wishing we'd had time for more.
We expected our first full day to be a blur, due to jetlag, but it wasn't too bad. Following advice from this sub for first-time shinkansen travelers, we got to the station an hour early.
We bought far enough in advance on the Smart EX app to get a slight discount. We booked back row seats on the right-hand side for easy luggage storage but discovered that both our bags (including my larger one, which measures 142 cm [L+H+W]) also fit on the overhead rack. We never had luggage problems on trains during our trip.
Our train to Kyoto had great Fuji views, our first. After depositing the bags in a Kyoto station storage locker (rented with the smartphone Suica card), we made our first sightseeing stop: Toji Temple, a quick subway ride and walk away.
About picking hotels
We used triangulation to pick hotels; that is, cross-checking information from various sources to give us the best possible chance of getting a good place at a decent price. Sources included a handful of guidebooks from the public library, Trip Advisor and this sub.
Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Kyoto Premier ($221 USD per night with massive breakfast buffet, best of the trip) turned out to be a great base. We paid extra for a room facing the Kamo River, a popular gathering spot for locals, tourists and joggers. We benefited from early booking (more than six months in advance, shortly after Japan began opening up). Inflation and other factors have since raised the price of the same room by about 10 percent.
The newish (opened in 2017) hotel attracts mainly Japanese/Asian travelers who, like me, enjoyed the onsen in the basement. We also put the coin-operated washedryers to good use.
KYOTO, Wednesday 5/10
Up and out, thanks to jetlag, shortly after 5 a.m., walking deserted streets to the foot of magical Kiyomizu temple, arriving just as it opened at 6 a.m. We were back at the hotel for breakfast by 8, after walking down the picturesque, cobbled streets of Sannenzaka, shops still closed, with more tourists starting to trickle in.
About choosing sightseeing spots
I'm a sucker for ratings, assuming they're done well. So, guidebook must-sees, like DK Eyewitness's or Lonely Planet's, star ratings in the Michelin Green Guide to Japan or in the downloaded Gateway to Japan guide (a steal at $10 and in your pocket for free on Kindle app) and, finally, Japan Guide's recommendations helped guide our steps.
That's how we ended up spending the afternoon at Nanzenji, a must-see Zen temple, which, like Kiyomizu, is laid out at the foot of the mountains east of town.
Lunch this day was at Junsei, a yudofo (boiled tofu) restaurant we stumbled onto near the temple. We used wooden sticks to skim the surface of an iron vat filled with simmering soy milk, that was set before us over a gas flame.
About finding restaurants
If you've never been to Japan but lurk on this sub, you've already heard that it's practically impossible to get a bad meal. We booked a handful of places before leaving home but agree with others that you rarely need to do that to eat well. If you're determined to hit a place that's highly popular, often with deep-pocketed foreign tourists, reservations may be required.
We're foodies, up to a point, but Japan's profusion of starred Michelin restaurants was wasted on us. We've learned over the years that we seldom enjoy paying the inflated cost. Over four weeks, we ate once at a Michelin one-star, chosen for other reasons.
That said, Michelin's Bib Gourmands (good, affordable restaurants) never disappointed us. They are plentiful in Japan, especially in Kyoto and Tokyo, and worth seeking out. Most of the time, though, we picked places to eat by cross-checking Google (asking for "soba noodles" near me, for example) and Tabelog, the indispensible crowd-sourced Japanese website (we looked for places in the 3.5 range).
Non-speakers of Japanese can have a hard time making reservations. We found that we could make them in advance from abroad through services like TableCheck (and an apparently expanding number of others aimed at tourists, usually charging a fee; sometimes small, sometimes steep). On the ground in Japan, we sometimes reserved for free through Google and Tabelog (at random places which you can find on Google or Tabelog restaurant listings); they were always honored. We also asked hotel reception desks for reservation help on occasion. We went to a couple restaurants in person and booked a table for later. But the easiest and often best way to get in is simply to arrive on the early side for lunch (by 11:30 or so) or dinner (between 5 and 5:30). More than once, we walked right into a place and were seated, only to discover lots of people waiting in line outside when we left. That said, if you're looking for an above-average meal on a Saturday night, especially in a popular location, you might want to book in advance.
Konbinis (convenience stores) are cheap, good and extremely reliable sources of takeout. And though we liked what we got there (mainly onigiri), we wound up relying on them less and less as the trip went along. The same was true of department store basements, which lived up to their reputation as fantastic food sources, for locals and tourists alike. We learned that we could often eat for the same amount or less in restaurants geared to locals or foreigners on limited budgets, rather than chowing down in our hotel room.
KYOTO, Thursday 5/11
We hit Nijo Castle in the morning and Sento Imperial Palace, one of several attractions we reserved in advance through the Imperial Household Agency. All were well worth it (and free of charge). The agency website explains the rules, which vary somewhat from site to site. We also toured Kyoto Imperial Palace.
About navigation
Just as the Google Translate app (and similar devices) have broken down language barriers, several travel apps have vastly simplified the business of getting around. Google Maps was our basic navigational tool and it rarely failed us. Another app that helped work in concert with Google Maps was Navitime's Japan Travel guide. Both provide alternate routes, detailed information on trains and stations and much more. Sometimes, when we popped out of subway station, we'd check the compass app on the smartphone to make sure we were heading off in the right direction. It doesn't hurt that public transit throughout the country increasingly uses English or romaji to translate Japanese. Over four weeks, we only found one place where we had trouble deciphering the destination signs on buses (oddly enough, in Himeji, a tourist magnet).
KYOTO, Friday, 5/12
A busy day started at Katsura Imperial Villa. Like other Imperial Household venues, a guided tour (in Japanese, but with free English audio guide) is the only way to see the place and its beautiful gardens.
We also caught a kabuki for beginners show at sumptuous Minamiza Theatre--tickets purchased online in advance--after briefly stopping by bustling Yasaka-jinja shrine down the street.
Dinner was our priciest splurge: Itoh, a serene, traditional style steak house in the atmospheric Gion neighborhood. We hadn't initially planned on eating Kobe beef, since we've pretty much given up beef in our everyday lives, but we were persuaded by a family member who correctly posed the question: If not now, when? Worth the steep tab ($264), not least because our table overlooked the tiny Shirakawa canal, the service was great and now we can say we know what Kobe beef is all about. Like buttah.
KYOTO, Saturday 5/13
We were at Sanjusangendo when it opened and glad we'd gone. The display of 500 life-size, gilded 1000-armed kannon in Japan's longest wooden structure was unforgettable.
We're museum people--either you are or you ain't--and the special exhibition at Kyoto National Museum on the 850th anniversary of the founder of Shin Buddhism was well worth it. Unfortunately, like most Japanese museums, photos were prohibited inside. In this regard, technically advanced Japan lags much of the civilized world; even Old Europe has greatly loosened such restrictions in recent years. Smartphone cameras can be a nuisance to other visitors, but they are a quick and easy way of capturing what you've seen and preserving it for later study.
Lunch was at Vegan Ramen Uzu Kyoto, a Bib Gourmand and the weirdest place we ate. Expanded availability of vegetarian ramen is a promising, healthier trend, and we enjoyed it at several places in Tokyo and Kyoto. A TableCheck reservation, made well in advance, got us seats at this cutting-edge spot. Dining is at a polished black surface in a darkened room bathed by the illumination of a giant, swirling teamLab artwork. Pricey but good.
KYOTO, Sunday 5/14
We're horseplayers and enjoyed a day at recently reopened Kyoto Racecourse, capacity 120,000. Betting is easy; just stop by the information desk for instructions in English.
Dinner at Tiger Gyoza Hall was lively, inexpensive and delicious. It was the only restaurant on our trip that we visited twice; reservable on Google.
KYOTO, Monday 5/15
No place put us through more hoops than Kokedera, better known at Moss Temple. It was well worth the difficulty of getting a needed reservation; if you do it by mail from abroad--the least expensive way to go--you need a couple months head start (and an International Reply Coupon, which you have to buy online from the Swiss Postal System). We got there and back via city buses. Along the way we crossed Togetsukyo Bridge in the very congested tourist hotbed of Arashiyama. It didn't make us regret our decision to skip the area.
Afterward we visited Ninnaji temple. Ryoanji temple and its famous rock garden (where noisy fellow tourists made a Zen experience impossible) and Kinkakuji, the incredible Golden Pavilion. The place was jammed but crowd control is excellent and we're glad we made it.
KYOTO, Tuesday 5/16
Shugakuin Imperial Villa, a vast imperial property of gardens and buildings (which you cannot enter) on the northeastern outskirts, was our favorite Imperial Household Agency site. We felt fortunate to get advance tickets through their lottery but saw that same-day tickets were also available there and at other Agency sites; it would be a long way to go, however, if all tickets were gone on the day you wanted to enter. Since we made a conscious decision to visit Japan after the cherry blossom and Golden Week crowds were gone, we have no idea what things are like during busier times.
We strolled the Philosopher's Path after lunch. Perhaps if it had been a quiet early or cherry blossom time, we might have been blown away. Instead, it was a rare disappointment. It struck us as a very conventional touristy trail; nothing special at all.
On the other hand, Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion), near one end of the path, lived up to the hype. We capped the day by off by catching the procession of Aoi Matsuri, or Hollyhock Festival, one of Kyoto's three big annual festivals. The parade of hundreds of elaborately costumed people, some on horseback, highlighted by a pair of ox-drawn carts, was a hoot. What surprised us was the absence of music or any sort of percussion.
HIMEJI and OSAKA, Wednesday 5/17
A shinkansen whisked us to Himeji for a tour of the incomparable castle and impressive gardens. We took advantage of the unique Himeji Castle English Speaking Guide service, which generously provides personal tours with an area resident, in English, at no cost (book online in advance).
Lunch was at Mentetsu, a very good ramen shop at a mall located between the train station and the castle. Recommended.
We finished the excursion at Osaka's famous, crazy Dotonburi neighborhood, a cross between Times Square and Disney. Dinner was our first okonomiyaki, deliciously prepared at Okonomiyaki Mizuno (a Bib Gourmand). We're allergic to standing in line---life is too short--and we never waited more than 30 minutes for a table on our trip. They took our order at Mizuno while we were in line, and it was prepared before our countertop seats shortly after we got in. Oishī!
UJI, Thursday 5/18
Uji is renowned for its tea and Byodoin temple, best known for its elegant phoenix hall, which is pictured on the back of the 10 Yen coin. It was a great day trip, including lunch at a traditional local soba shop that served cold noodles sobayu style; you pour hot soba stock--the cloudy water the noodles were boiled in--into what's left of your soy-based dipping sauce and drink the (supposedly) healthy brew. Definitely the way to go. Mampukuji, a Zen temple, was a worthwhile stop before we caught a train back to Kyoto.
NARA, Friday 5/19
Our first day of heavy rain failed to dampen the visit to one of the best places on our trip. The town, a tourist favorite because, or in spite of, the overpopulation of overly friendly deer, is well-described elsewhere. We toured Todai-ji, with its giant Bronze Buddha, had lunch at the cute and delicious Pizzeria Trattoria Magazzino (Bib Gourmand) and checked out Kohfukuji temple, too.
KYOTO, Saturday 5/20
Fushimi Inari shrine, on almost every Kyoto must-see list, lives up to its reputation. We followed good advice from this sub and arrived early, a few minutes before 8 a.m. Already, crowds were building. We detoured from the main path through thousands of torii gates and wandered instead up an almost totally deserted sylvan trail on the south side of Mt. Inari, past bamboo groves, a few minor shrines and some houses. After about 45 minutes, we reached a set of stone stairs to the summit. From the top, we took the main path down, dodging the stream of fellow tourists as best we could and gaping at the gates and the view from the halfway point. We highly recommend this alternative way of seeing the best of two Fushimi Inari worlds.
We celebrated our last full day in Kyoto, and our 40th wedding anniversary, with a memorable kaiseki lunch at Hana Kitcho, a Michelin one-star booked weeks in advance from home. The beautifully decorated private room, attentive service, imaginative presentation, museum-quality stoneware and delicious food were certainly up to one-star standards.
The minute that advance online tickets went on sale for the 184th Kamogawa Odori, I jumped on them. The tourist-oriented geisha dance performance is held in May at a theater that overlooks the Kamo River. We were lucky to have been given seats in the front row and when one of the geishas tossed a white cloth package in my direction I snatched it. I now have an unexpected souvenir, a cloth banner autographed by the geisha herself. The fantastic show will remain in memory.
IZU KOGEN, Sunday 5/21
We left Kyoto for the Izu Peninsula and what turned out to be the best single night of our trip. Hanafubuki, a modern ryokan I learned about on this sub, was everything we could have wanted. It features 9 private outdoor onsens on beautifully landscaped property and elegant guest rooms with fluffy futons for sleeping on tatami mats. The ten-course dinner was exquisite. Breakfast, a seven-course feast that featured whole grilled horse mackerel and golden-eye sea bream, was simply amazing.
IZU KOGEN, Monday 5/22
A short walk from the ryokan is the scenic Jogasaki Coast nature trail, a rugged stretch of rocks and pounding surf. A guy I met there who introduced himself as Zeus, a Japanese native currently living in California and in town to visit his parents, compared the coastline to Monterey Bay. We could have used another night to allow us to explore the trail at greater length.
Lunch was at a great local restaurant, walking distance from the train station, Honke Maguroya, featuring local fish and top-grade tuna. The wasabi rhizome, which you grate yourself, is a tipoff to the quality of the sushi, but the prices are extremely reasonable. Recommended.
From there we headed back to Tokyo and the remainder of our trip. Highlights and a full (too full?) final report coming soon.

Hi everyone! This sub was so incredibly helpful to me in the planning process - I was deeply grateful for everything I learned, so I thought I'd post a trip report now that we're back!
About us: We're a 30s couple from the Midwest US. We're pretty experienced travelers (South America, UK/Ireland, Europe, lots of places in the US), but this was our first visit to Asia and first visit to Japan. As travelers, we love getting out on foot, local food/drink (especially street food), live music, nerd shit, weird art/vending machines. Also, my partner is a cis guy, but I am a trans masc person who is visibly trans (post-op in a few ways, but not passing/not stealth).
Dates: May 13 - May 29
What we did: Tokyo Kyoto Osaka Hakone Back to Tokyo
Tips and tricks:

• Definitely get your walking training in ahead of time! We walked 10 miles a day on the trip. We're pretty avid backcountry camping/hiking fans who regularly put in 8 - 10 miles on the trail (not to mention taking our dog for multiple walks a day in the neighborhood), so I figured we'd be good - but it was A LOT, especially since you're also trying to translate and navigate at the same time. Japan is not generally a super accessible place from a disability perspective; benches and public seating areas are not common. I found myself wishing I'd packed a collapsible seat of some kind, tbh!
• Good shoes a must! Merrell Moabs are my go-to for hiking, but for this trip I went with Nike Dunk 6 high-tops, which rocked. My partner went with Onitsukas and didn't do as well - he wound up buying inserts partway through the trip, which helped.
• Work on a little Japanese ahead of time! We came in with about a dozen words/phrases, which was honestly truly helpful. So many people are so kind and thoughtful anyway, but it was an appreciated gesture that we had planned ahead and were trying our best. Google Translate's camera feature (Google Lens) was a life-saver for translating written words on signs!
• We had a great experience with Ubigi for an eSIM. The days of purchasing an actual SIM card or even a burner device (like we used to do when backpacking in Europe) are long past. We hooked up our Ubigi eSIMs beforehand, flipped the switch when we got there, and we were golden. Just in case, we'd set up our Verizon coverage to include a Pay-As-You-Go international plan, but we didn't end up using it. We also didn't use half as much data as we thought we would - we both came home with extra GB on our Ubigi plan still. We didn't do a PocketWifi and I don't think we needed it - Ubigi did most of the heavy lifting, and free WiFi at various places did the rest.
• Fly into Haneda, not Narita - way closer to Tokyo city center.
• Get your Suica right away at the airport - our beloved Suica got us through so many things! We also withdrew some cash and split it up between us - we withdrew a few more times on the trip and it worked like a charm. (Just make sure it's an international ATM that includes your card type - not all of them do. Also, notify your bank you'll be traveling, so your card doesn't throw a flag!) We used our credit card as well - the Chase card was accepted pretty much all places CCs are, but many places remain cash-only, especially bars and restaurants.
• Had a great experience using the Friendly Limousine Airport Bus service straight from Haneda to our hotel area.
• I booked shinkansen tix ahead of time, so I got nice discounts on weekday Green Car tix for two - but I really needn't have worried, there were plenty of seats available day-of.
• Don't bother with shinkansen for Kyoto to Osaka - we wound up just hopping on a local with our Suicas and it was fine.
• Don't bother with the Romancecar from Hakone back to Tokyo - it's fastemaybe a nicer seating experience, but just hopping on a local with your Suica is an order of magnitude cheaper.
• Look things up in Japanese if using Google Translate; use Tabelog for restaurants if possible. Google Maps in English is more touristy reviews/reactions.
• Tokyo Skytree was hit-or-miss - only real letdown of the trip.
• Tokyo teamLab PLANETS was completely worth it - absolutely worth the hype in my opinion.
• Queer and trans travelers - I felt completely safe, but as a plus-size trans masc nonbinary queerdo, I stuck out like a sore thumb. I didn't feel in danger, but I was absolutely aware that I did not fit in. Stares were common, especially from older men and young kids. (Weirdly, local women seemed more friendly and curious about me!) Just be prepared for it and remember you're not in any danger physically - it's all just curiosity.
• I have to thank this subreddit for recommending Hakone, especially for the tip to book a ryokan with private onsen access. We had an absolutely beautiful experience at Yamanochaya in Hakone, which included both a private "onsen" soaking tub in our room and private 1:1 access to a larger, actual hot spring onsen on the property. I otherwise would not have been able to experience a real hot spring onsen at all, as they are gender-segregated. Thank you, /JapanTravel!

Because I'm a nerd, here's the actual breakdown!
DAY 1 ARRIVAL 📍 Flew into Haneda; made it to our hotel (lovely experience at Hotel Plaza Sunroute); had our first world-famous konbini 7/11 experience; walked around Shinjuku; went out for dinner at Ryu no Miyako Inshokugai - talk about jumping in the deep end 🍣 Onigiri and vending machine green tea; little whipped cream treats; Nagahama ramen and sesame mackerel donburi 👣 10,400 steps 🏁 4.8 miles
DAY 2 SHIBUYA 📍 Meiji Shrine and Gardens - got goshuin and omamori; Harajuku, went to 7/11; back to the hotel for a nap; Shibuya, including Don Quijote, Center Gai and Dogenzaka Street; Nonbei Yokocho for late night 🍣 7/11 (plum onigiri and corn/mayo sandwich, some kind of spam musubi situation, matcha roll); Ichiran coin-op ramen with extra chashu and a matcha tofu custard thing; banana shock smoothie at Shibuya109 in Center Gai; chicken and pork belly yakitori with beers at Morimoto; brown sugar shoju and shoju-infused Oolong tea cocktails at Tight Bar (strong recommend for this joint!); grilled squid, octopus, and okonomiyaki for afters at Tsukishima Monja Kuuya Shibuya 👣 32,000 steps 🏁 14.5 miles 😮‍💨
DAY 3 SHINJUKU 📍 Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden; Shinjuku area (including Disk Union, Disney, Onitsuka); Kabukicho and Kabukicho Tower; GODZ metal bar; Golden Gai; Omoide Yokocho 🍣 7/11 (onigiri, matcha filled roll thing, royal milk tea, tomago sushi, strawberry donut, cafe latte); many types of dango (sesame oil, soy sauce, and apricot mochi were our favs); McDonald's (weirdly good chicken sandwich with yuzu radish topping, vanilla custard chocolate pie, white grape soda); yummy little warm imagawayaki filled with adzuki bean paste + royal milk from depachika); a couple of Asahis at GODZ; simple yakitori snacks at Golden Gai (including some… mystery offal items); back to 7/11 for drunk matcha ice cream and waffle snacks 👣 28,800 steps 🏁 13.0 miles
DAY 4 ASAKUSA 📍 Went out for coffee; walked around Kinarimon Gate and Nakamise; toured Asakusa Shrine, Senso-ji Temple, surrounding Shinto and Buddhist shrines; stopped for sushi and mochi; went for a walk up Sumida River; dipped into Shoden and Imado shrines; crossed Kototoi Bridge to Tokyo Skytree; went up Tokyo Skytree; back to Senso-ji for night photos; capped off evening with gyoza 🍣 Lattes at cute puppet theater coffeeshop (espresso, dandelion tea); 7/11 for breakfast-y fuel; strawberries from a street stall at Nakamise; sushi lunch; beautiful mochi + tea dessert; grilled gyoza, soup dumpling gyoza, shoujo Oolong tea cocktail for afters 👣 25,500 steps 🏁 11.66 miles
DAY 5 JIMBŌCHŌ, AKIHABARA 📍 Train to Ichigaya - notable French-inspired neighborhood; breakfast at local French café; Yasakuni Shrine; Kanda River walk by Hosei University; Tokyo Daijingu Shrine; Jimbōchō Old Book Town; walked from there to Akihibara; hit up noodles, arcade, nerd shops (comics, TCGs/CCGs, retro video games systems, TTRPGS, etc); gachapons; hit up the bizarre rare vending machines 🍣 Vending machine coffee and milk tea; yummy French pastries (bacon and sour cream roll, quiche, sour cream raisin custard thing); had to try some avocado and cheese Doritos; cold udon with duck broth soup, curry rice for Chris; fish-shaped taiyaki with custard cream dessert treat; dope gyoza place ("weekday" version with pork and cabbage, shrimp and chili mayo, yakitori with tare, and shogayaki with onions) 👣 Forgot watch at hotel - we’ll say 10,000 steps 🏁 Guessing about 5 or 6?
DAY 6 TEAMLAB PLANETS, TRAVEL TO KYOTO 📍 Hit up teamLabs, had an amazing time exploring the exhibits - the infinite light crystal room was our fav; train to Tokyo Station; lunch at underground Ramen Street restaurants under the station - went with Soranoiro, one of the few veg/vegan ramen shops in Japan - delicious; shinkansen to Kyoto; out for nightlife in Kiyamachi-Dori and Pontocho 🍣 Quick 7/11 snacks; train snacks (pocky, coffee, little teriyaki cutlet sandwich); Soranoiro ramen bowls; killer yakitori we fried right at our table in izakaya in Pontocho (honestly probably a meal highlight of the whole trip); brown sugar shoujo; 7/11 for ice cream on the way back 👣 18,900 steps 🏁 8.63 miles
DAY 7 KINKAKUJI, NISHIKI, GION 📍 Kinkakuji Temple; bus back to Kiyamachi-dori; spent whole afternoon walking and eating street food at Nishiki Market; back to hotel for rest, laundry, rooftop drink; out for nightlife in Gion 🍣 Family Mart for coffee and doughnuts; Nishiki Market Street street food delights - seared yakitori style crab stick, little octopus chuka idako on skewers, kara-age on skewers, sea squid croquettes and beer, strawberry and adzuki bean mochi balls; mimosas and red wine; Kyoto Gion Okaru - geisha-decorated izakaya with insane curry udon bowls and beers; picked up box of mochi dango for dessert 👣 20,200 steps 🏁 9.07 miles
DAY 8 SHRINE DAY 📍 OK, this is a lot:

• Yasakajinja (we happened to be here while a young couple was having a Shinto wedding ceremony!)
• Yasui Kompira-gū (built 1170, shrine for ending bad relationships and starting new ones, has special stone that you pin your wishes to - many young girls will crawl through the stone to mark a breakup or wish for love)
• Kennin-ji (built 1202, large grounds - among the oldest in Kyoto);
• Reigen-in (part of Kennin-ji grounds, a Zen teahouse with a tea garden where they served adzuki bean buns with tea made from the actual hydrangeas of the tea garden outside!)
• Zenkyoan (boar shrine which we initially thought were cute hedgehogs)
• Kyoto Ebisu Shrine (dedicated to fishermen - we happened to be here during the shrine's annual mikoshi festival - a battalion of locals in traditional clothes, hoisting and dancing with the mikoshi around the neighborhood)
• Kodai-ji (built 1606, gorgeous grounds - we skipped the tour)
• Hōkan-ji/Yasaka Pagoda (dating back to 589 and rebuilt in 1400s, huge black 5-story pagoda featuring massive shakyamuni pole inside and reliquary of a bone of the Buddha in the foundations)
• Ryōzen Kannon (built 1955 after WW2, massive Buddha statue and active Buddhist temple)
• Of course the world-famous Kiyomizudera (built 778, enormous Kyoto-red temple with beautiful buildings spiraling up into the forest)

🍣 Hotel coffee, tea, cream puffs; adzuki bean buns with tea made from the actual hydrangeas of the tea garden at the shrine; dope bento box lunch; got takeout fast food donburi and fizzy lemonade 👣 22,800 steps 🏁 10.39 miles
DAY 9 FUSHIMI-INARI 📍 Fushimi Inari, the famous shrine of over 1,000 torii gates - super amazing (and intense!) summit of Mt Inari! Back to Nishiki Market for reward street food and drinks; back to hotel for a rooftop drink and soak; finally out for soba at Kawamichiya Ginka in Pontocho. 🍣 Snack pack on our hike (sausages, cheese, some kind of fish meat/cheese stick, and surume - sweet chewy dried squid stuff); orange smoothie; conveyor belt sushi; strawberry mochi roll; whisky highball and red wine; massive soba spreads (chicken seared with wasabi/yuzu/horseradish dipped in ponzu sauce, fried soba noodles in a rich soup, cold soba noodles dipped tsukemen-style in a really amazing umami soy sauce soup, tempura shrimp and veggies, a hot soba noodles in a clear broth soup) 👣 27,600 steps 🏁 Supposedly 12.3 miles, but that hike to summit Mt Inari was something else 😤
DAY 10 TRAVEL TO OSAKA, SHINSABASHISUJI, AMEMURA, DOTONBURI 📍 Beautiful brunch on the bank of the canal in Kyoto; local train to Osaka-Umeda; checked into Osaka hotel; walked around Shinsaibashisuji and Dotonburi a little bit; scoped out Amemura ("Ameri-mura") for dope American-inspired Japanese streetwear; wandered up and down street food stalls in Dotonbori; swung by Namba Hips (mostly pachinko); found a couple of fun little hole-in-the-wall places (little Japanese craft beer brewery, retro video games bar) 🍣 Brunch at Kawa Cafe (croque monsieur, ramen, tea and delicious apple tart); takoyaki, cheesy waffle shaped like a massive 10yen coin, sweet chili hotdogs from stands in Dotonbori; dashi gose craft beer (by Derailleur Brew Works) from Umineko, shots at Space Station bar 👣 19,500 steps 🏁 9.01 miles
DAY 11 NAMBAYASAKIJINA, DOTONBURI 📍 Morning Japanese breakfast at a wonderful little 24-hour diner; Hozen-ji (moss shrine); Kamigata Ukiyo-e Museum across the street (focusing on Osaka woodcuts celebrating Dotonburi's kabuki and entertainment history); Nambayasaka-jinja (lion head shrine); Den Den Town (Osaka's Akihabara); ended up at a cozy little kushikatsu bar which actually was playing the Tigers game (away game vs the Swallows at Tokyo); street food waffles for dessert; hit up a late-night batting cage - ended up at Round1 (a big multi-floor arcade complex) and did the rooftop batting cage! My partner won a giant plushie for me from a claw machine! 🍣 Dope traditional japanese omelette and fish breakfast; cute macarons from market stand; Family Mart for snacks before nightlife; skewers, beer, and highballs from Dotonbori kushikatsu place; ridiculous nutella, whip, and strawberry stuffed waffle from Waffle Khan 👣 29,100 steps 🏁 13.31 miles
DAY 12 KUROMON ICHIBA, OSAKA CASTLE, DOTONBURI 📍 Kuromon Ichiba Market for street food; Osaka Castle Park and Nishinomaru Gardens; toured Osaka Castle and museum all the way up to the top; subway to Tanimachi-9-chome subway station for amazing live jazz at Sub Jazz Cafe. (This was amazing! Akira "Ro" Hasegawa (sax) and Yukie Fujikawa (keys) - Ro is also the owner and was bartending on this particular night too.) Out to Don Don for killer yakiniku and beer; found our way to Oboradaren, an Tokunoshima-themed island vibes bar and music spot where there was a great live band playing fun island vibes beach rock - big crowd of 40s+ Japanese women who knew all the songs, wound up drinking passionfruit chuhai and joining them in the conga line around the bar 🍣 Oden hot pot, wagyu skewer, otoro sashimi, crab gratin in the half-shell, bracken green tea soy cakes at Kuromon Market; ice cream sandwiches at Osaka Castle; milk tea, little roast beef sandwich, and cheesecake at Sub Jazz Cafe; yakiniku-style wagyu, ribs, ox tongue, assorted mushrooms; passionfruit chuhai and red wine at the island vibes spot; taro and brown sugar boba teas 👣 23,000 steps 🏁 10.42 miles
DAY 13 KAIYUKAN, SHINSEKAI, DOTONBURI 📍 Fun trip to Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan; quick pass through Shinsekai; lunch at spot where you can fish your own catch from an indoor fishing boat pool; out for one last Dotonburi night - wound up getting konbini snacks and sitting on the waterfront talking and people-watching for hours 🍣 Not a banger food-wise, but interesting little spread at the fish-your-own place - huge prawn for grilling, kara-age, and fatty tuna nigiri for Max, tempura veggies and whitefish with doteyaki for Chris; from Family Mart, fruit smoothie, ice cup, and KitKat for Max, onigiri and lemonade for Chris 👣 19,100 steps 🏁 8.64 miles
DAY 14 TRAVEL TO HAKONE, HAKONE SHRINE 📍 Bombed to Shin-Osaka for an early shinkansen to Odawara; trained to Odawara to Hakone; dropped luggage off at ryokan, then bus to Motohakone; saw Hakone Shrine and Onshi-Hakone Park (as well as a segment of the actual Old Tokaido!); returned to ryokan for the night, where we were treated to a gorgeous 1:1 kaiseki from a Michelin-star chef, private hot spring onsen, and private in-room hot spring bath 🍣 Konbini snacks before shinkansen; snacks and coffee on train; late lunch in Motohakone (curry and soba, pork cutlet); incredible, massive multi-course kaiseki and sake for dinner, plus strawberry cake, champagne, and more sake for dessert 👣 13,900 steps 🏁 6.26 miles
DAY 15 HAKONE OPEN AIR MUSEUM, TRAVEL TO TOKYO, LAST NIGHT IN SHINJUKU 📍 Woke up in gorgeous ryokan; leisurely kaiseki breakfast with leftover cake; final soak in the private onsen; Hakone Open Air Museum - very cool; had kind of a challenging trip back but finally made it from Museum back to ryokan to bus stop to Hakone-Yumoto to Odawara to Shinjuku to the hotel 😮‍💨 Considering the last night as our real "last night" of the trip, our final night out in Tokyo was all just extra icing on the cake - went out for yakitori skewers and Asahi Superdrys in cozy alley in Omoide Yokocho, found really wonderful cake and tea dessert open late also in Omoide, hit up 🎵 Donki! 🎵 for a final round of bulk snacks and souvenirs, ended up on a late-night excursion to find Park Hyatt Hotel (featured in Lost in Translation); finished night at hotel watching the city go to sleep from our balcony 👣 22,700 steps 🏁 10.3 miles
FINAL SCORE 📸 Pics: 1,929 👣 Steps: 337,700 🏁 Miles: 153.78 (we averaged 9.6 miles per day, every day, for 16 days) 🇯🇵 “Nihongo jōzu!”: 4 (I know more proficient Japanese speakers are insulted, but it's honestly a pretty nice comment when you're at my level) 👶 Comments on how young we look/how we can’t possibly be celebrating our 10-year wedding anniversary: 3 ✨ Gratitude: Infinite.

First of all thanks for reading and I appreciate any help, tips, advice. I feel like I'm wading through mud looking for information and calling servicers.
My situation is I have 374k total loan (309k principal, 63k interest) that have been consolidated at 6.5% and in PAYE for 7 years now (residency plus COVID). In 2020 I made the decision to take a much higher paying job at a for profit and forgo PSLF. My salary won't change dramatically for foreseeable future and wife works (combined AGI 530-540k ish), so my financial hardship will definitely be over when I have to recertify. However, I was told by Mohela that with my current income and family size etc that my payments will increase to $1,300ish at that time (This doesn't make sense to me but I clarified it with them multiple times, see question 4 below). And I don't expect those income and dependent numbers to change drastically over the next few years other than maybe having another child. My understanding is that at recertification time, since I no longer have PFH, 10% of the initial loan amount (10% of 309k) from the 63k interest will capitalize making my interest accruing amount moving forward something like 340k. So it became clear that if I stay in PAYE and pay the minimum amount of 1300/mo until the loans are forgiven 13yr from now, I will certainly have a large tax bomb at the end. Now I'm trying to find the best situation moving forward and balance the benefits of paying more off earlier to reduce total amount paid towards the loan vs keeping payments low, preserving lifestyle, investing elsewhere, and eating some degree of a tax bomb at the end (as long as I can predict and plan for it).
I have approx 100-150k cash that I could put towards principal this summer. I'm under the assumption that I would be best off applying at least some of that to principal and then even if I keep payments very low it would make the tax bomb more palatable.
Where I'm struggling is finding any sort of calculator that lets me input different iterations of starting balances for the loan (i.e. the total 340k vs if I paid it down to 275k or 240k immediately), so I can see how that would play out in terms of forgiven amount after 13 more years of repayment with different monthly amounts. It seems like all calculators/simulators online error out when I say I have a giant loan and only am paying 1300/mo because that would obviously not pay the loan off completely over the term. They don't show me the balance at the end, which is kind of what I'm interested in.
Now I have a lot of assumptions in here and if I'm wrong or misled on anything please feel free to correct. Probably the biggest assumption is that Mohela knows what they're talking about and my payments would actually be $1300/mo for as long as my family situation and combined income stays the same, which again still doesn't make sense to me because I thought it capped at the standard 10yr repayment number (closer to like $4k/mo). I also have some specific questions that if anyone has any insight to I would be very appreciative:

1. When the 10% of initial loan balance capitalizes from interest and I'm left with something like 32k interest (63k current interest minus 10% of 309k), does that amount just sit there forever until it's paid off or forgiven? Like it will never go through another capitalization event or grow in any way?
2. Am I misunderstanding the fundamentals of the PAYE program? I entered in 2016 at the start of residency. So whatever balance I have left by 2036 as long as I make my monthly payments should be forgiven, correct? And that entire forgiven amount counts as gross income in that year?
3. With all this information does anyone think I would be better off in a different program for any reason? I've sort of had my blinders on to other programs and refinance options until I can figure out the best way forward in PAYE first, but once I have that I would also like to compare with other options. Two years ago I was planning on just refinancing but with sofi quoting me at 6.2% x10yr I figure keeping payments low and staying in IBR at least leaves more doors open for the time being.
4. Does the $1,300/mo after the PFH is removed amount seem crazy low to anyone else? The information I gave them is family of 3 with a live in au pair (I was told this counts as additional dependent). Combined AGI approx 530k, file jointly. Wife has no loans.

Sorry this ended up being so long!

I couldn't describe my excitement right now. This thing is life changing. As a blind guy who's into geography, ships, planes and more, what GPt is able to come up with is truly astounding. I've never thought to pay for GPT plus, but when this use came to mind today and it proved more than successful, I unhesitatingly paid.
Here's an example of a description of Alaska.
Imagine a vast expanse of land stretching out before you, surrounded by ocean waters. This is Alaska, a state located in the northwest corner of North America. Though you cannot see it, I will do my best to describe its geographical shape to you.
Alaska is shaped like a giant peninsula, similar to an outstretched arm with an open hand. It juts out from the mainland of North America towards the Arctic Ocean in the north and the Pacific Ocean in the south. The state shares its eastern border with Canada and its western border is largely defined by the Bering Sea.
Starting from the bottom of the "hand," if you will, the state narrows down into a long, slender landmass called the Alaska Panhandle. It's like a finger pointing southeast, nestled between British Columbia, Canada, and the Pacific Ocean. The Panhandle is characterized by numerous fjords, islands, and rugged mountain ranges.
Moving upwards, you'll encounter the mainland of Alaska, which gradually widens. As you travel up the arm, you'll notice that it broadens into a much larger landmass. The state boasts breathtaking mountain ranges, including the iconic Alaska Range, where you'll find the highest peak in North America, Mount Denali (formerly known as Mount McKinley).
Continuing further north, Alaska starts to curve to the west. It begins to resemble a wide, curved forearm as it reaches the Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean. Along the western coast, you'll find a series of coastal plains, rolling tundra, and scattered islands that stretch towards the Aleutian Islands.
The Aleutian Islands are a chain of rugged, volcanic islands that arch westward, forming a curved line that seems to reach out into the ocean. These islands are like the fingertips of the outstretched hand, extending into the waters of the Pacific and separating the Bering Sea from the North Pacific Ocean.
Alaska's vast size and diverse landscapes make it a truly remarkable place. From its majestic mountains and glaciers to its coastal plains and remote islands, it offers a unique and awe-inspiring geographical shape that is unlike any other state in the United States.

Link to images
2018 Mac Mini:
Intel Core i7 8th Gen 3.2GHz 6-core, 32gb RAM, 128gb SSD. Purchased in March of 2019, has been in a server rack since, running as a Plex server. Cosmetically and functionally it's basically brand new.
Asking $550 (or best reasonable offer) and I'll cover shipping with insurance to anywhere in the continental US.
Magic Keyboard w/TouchID and Magic Mouse combo:
The Keyboard is only a few months old, the mouse is about a year. Both are in exceptional condition, and I am including two Brande new lightning cables. One is actually the braided cable.
Selling as a set only for $125 plus shipping. Will entice reasonable offers.
If anyone wants to buy the keyboard/mouse with the Mac Mini, I'll do the entire package for $650 shipped. Fair warning though, the TouchID will not work on Intel Macs, but the rest of the keyboard will work fine.
8x 6Tb Hard drives:
This is the third time I'm posting these, maybe I should come to terms with the fact nobody wants them, but this is my last attempt. 7 of the drives are Seagate Enterprise 7200RPM with about 17k hours on them. 1 drive is a Western Digital Black 7200RPM with about 48k hours on it.
Selling for $30 each, or $200 for all 8, plus shipping.
If anyone is near York County PA, I'm willing to meet up for the swap.
DM me with any questions.

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Server Info
* 2x Starter Pack
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* Voting Rewards & Patron Rewards
* Active Admins/Mods & Community support
* No Wipe Cluster
* Cave Flyer Disable
* All Stroyline & DLC Maps, including an overhaul modded map (3 mo. cycle)
* Max Player Level- 190
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* Server restarts every day at 0200 PST / 0500 EST / 0400 CT / 0300 MT / 1000 BST / 0900 GMT.
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​
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​
Plug-ins
* Dino Tracker
* Cross Server Chat
* Suicide (Incase character is stuck)
* Tidy dams (No need to grab everything off a beaver dam, just what you need)
* Tribe Enforcer
* Auto- Decay (2 days- no tribe, 30 days-with tribe)
​
ModPack
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* Dino Storage V2
* Awesome Spyglass
* Ark Additions: The collection
* CKF: Remastered & Science Fiction
* MX-E Ark Shop
* Eco's RP Decor
* Eco's Tek Decor
* RR: Garden Deko & more *New ver.*
* RR: Home Deko & more
* RR: Pegasus
* RR: SeaHorse
* MarniMod: Hairstyle
* Variants of Caballus
* S-Dino Variants
* Paleo Ark: Legends Expansion
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MOD PACK LINK::
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​
[Join Our Discord](https://discord.gg/bFXbjrGhNd) for more information about our server, we are a growing community of people who does prefer rates that are not game breaking, similar to vanilla but with quality-of-life improvements. We highly encourage those returning veterans & new beginners to the game to join our servers, our admins/moderators have more than 5k hours into ark officials & are an open encyclopedia to our community. Our community is very helpful & active, either going through the map as story mode or just surviving, you'll find folks around to help out. This is a paradise for both Role-players and builders, not to mention breeders! We invite you to join us to help mold our community & the cluster as a whole to its best version.

[Join our discord](https://discord.gg/bFXbjrGhNd)
​
Server Info
* 2x Starter Pack
* Ingame Shop
* Voting Rewards & Patron Rewards
* Active Admins/Mods & Community support
* No Wipe Cluster
* Cave Flyer Disable
* All Stroyline & DLC Maps, including an overhaul modded map (3 mo. cycle)
* Max Player Level- 190
* Max Wild Dino- 150
* Server restarts every day at 0200 PST / 0500 EST / 0400 CT / 0300 MT / 1000 BST / 0900 GMT.
* Dedicated hardware for lag-free experience
​
Rates (Boosted on Fri.-Sun.)
* 2x Harvesting
* 2x Exp
* 4x Taming
* 20x Maturation
* 5x Weight
* 10x Fortitude
​
Plug-ins
* Dino Tracker
* Cross Server Chat
* Suicide (Incase character is stuck)
* Tidy dams (No need to grab everything off a beaver dam, just what you need)
* Tribe Enforcer
* Auto- Decay (2 days- no tribe, 30 days-with tribe)
​
ModPack
* Structures Plus S+
* Dino Storage V2
* Awesome Spyglass
* Ark Additions: The collection
* CKF: Remastered & Science Fiction
* MX-E Ark Shop
* Eco's RP Decor
* Eco's Tek Decor
* RR: Garden Deko & more *New ver.*
* RR: Home Deko & more
* RR: Pegasus
* RR: SeaHorse
* MarniMod: Hairstyle
* Variants of Caballus
* S-Dino Variants
* Paleo Ark: Legends Expansion
​
MOD PACK LINK::
Website: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2778065026
Steam App: steam://openurl/https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2778065026
​
[Join Our Discord](https://discord.gg/bFXbjrGhNd) for more information about our server, we are a growing community of people who does prefer rates that are not game breaking, similar to vanilla but with quality-of-life improvements. We highly encourage those returning veterans & new beginners to the game to join our servers, our admins/moderators have more than 5k hours into ark officials & are an open encyclopedia to our community. Our community is very helpful & active, either going through the map as story mode or just surviving, you'll find folks around to help out. This is a paradise for both Role-players and builders, not to mention breeders! We invite you to join us to help mold our community & the cluster as a whole to its best version.

Company Name	Title	City
Grasse & Associates	Journeyman Plumber	Saint-Louis
Lifepoint Rehabilitation	Occupational Therapist (OT) PRN	Cape Girardeau
Five Guys	Crew Member - Starting at 15.00	Chesterfield
City Year	Academic Tutor & Mentor (Entry Level, Paid, Full-time)	Excelsior Springs
Five Guys	Diner Manager	Fenton
Fabick Cat	Technician - Utility Worker	Fenton
Fabick Cat	Rental Technician - Field Service	Foristell
UniFirst	Route Service Manager - UniFirst	Kansas City
Lee's Summit Medical Center	RN	Lees Summit
Lee's Summit Medical Center	Registered Nurse (RN)	Lees Summit
City Year	Academic Tutor & Mentor (Entry Level, Paid, Full-time)	Napoleon
Five Guys	Crew Member - Starting at 17.00	O'Fallon
Five Guys	Shift Lead - Starting at 15.75	Saint Charles
Five Guys	Shift Lead - Starting at 17.00	Saint Louis
Bethesda Health	Registered Nurse (RN)	Ballwin
Bethesda Health	Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)	Ballwin
Bethesda Health	RN	Ballwin
Belton Regional Medical Center	Registered Nurse (RN) - Hiring Now!	Belton
Belton Regional Medical Center	Clinical Nurse Coordinator Med Tele	Belton
BAYADA Home Health Care	Adult and Pediatric Home Care, LPN	Blue Springs
The Bungalows At Branson Meadows	Dietary Aide	Branson
BAYADA Home Health Care	Pediatric Home Care, LPN - Weekends	Branson
University of Missouri Columbia	Assistant Professional Practice Professor	Centralia
UnitedHealth Group	Patient Access Representative - SLU Hospital - Saint Louis, MO	Chesterfield
UnitedHealth Group	Associate Patient Care Coordinator (SSM) St. Mary's Hospital - Saint Louis, MO	Chesterfield

Hey guys, here are some recent job openings in mo. Feel free to comment here or send me a private message if you have any questions, I'm at the community's disposal! If you encounter any problems with any of these job openings please let me know that I will modify the table accordingly. Thanks!

So I'll try to keep this brief and focused but I have a couple issues that I'm having trouble finding specific answers to online even with all the calculators and simulators out there...
My situation is I have 374k total loan (309k principal, 63k interest) that have been consolidated at 6.5% and in PAYE for 7 years now (residency plus COVID). I am no longer in residency and my wife works, so my financial hardship will definitely be over when I have to recertify. However, I was told by Mohela that with my current income and family size etc that my payments will increase to $1,300ish at that time (I thought this seemed quite low but I clarified it with them multiple times, see question 4 below). And I don't expect those income and dependent numbers to change drastically over the next few years other than maybe having another child. My understanding is that at recertification time, since I no longer have PFH, 10% of the initial loan amount (309k) from the 63k interest will capitalize making my interest accruing amount moving forward something like 340k. So it became clear that if I stay in PAYE and pay the minimum amount of 1300/mo until the loans are forgiven 13yr from now, I will certainly have a large tax bomb at the end. Now I'm trying to find the best situation moving forward and balance the benefits of paying more off earlier to reduce total amount paid towards the loan vs keeping payments low, preserving lifestyle, investing elsewhere, and eating some degree of a tax bomb at the end (as long as I can predict and plan for it).
I have approx 100-150k cash that I could put towards principal this summer. I'm under the assumption that I would be best off applying at least some of that to principal and then even if I keep payments very low it would make the tax bomb more palatable.
Where I'm struggling is finding any sort of calculator that lets me input different iterations of starting balances for the loan (i.e. the total 340k vs if I paid it down to 275k or 240k immediately), so I can see how that would play out in terms of forgiven amount after 13 more years of repayment with different monthly amounts. It seems like all calculators/simulators online error out when I say I have a giant loan and only am paying 1300/mo because that would obviously not pay the loan off completely over the term. They don't show me the balance at the end, which is kind of what I'm interested in.
Now I have a lot of assumptions in here and if I'm wrong or misled on anything please feel free to correct. I also have some specific questions that if anyone has any insight to I would be very appreciative:

1. When the 10% of initial loan balance capitalizes from interest and I'm left with something like 32k interest (63k minus 10% of 309k), does that amount just sit there forever until it's paid off or forgiven? Like it will never go through another capitalization event or grow in any way?
2. Am I misunderstanding the fundamentals of the PAYE program? I entered in 2016 at the start of residency. So whatever balance I have left by 2036 as long as I make my monthly payments should be forgiven, correct? And that entire forgiven amount counts as gross income in that year?
3. With all this information does anyone think I would be better off in a different program for any reason? I've sort of had my blinders on to other programs and refinance options until I can figure out the best way forward in PAYE first, but once I have that I would also like to compare with other options. Two years ago I was planning on just refinancing but with sofi quoting me at 6.2% x10yr I figure keeping payments low and staying in IBR at least leaves more doors open for the time being.
4. Does the $1,300/mo after the PFH is removed amount seem crazy low to anyone else? The information I gave them is family of 3 with a live in au pair (I was told this counts as additional dependent). Combined AGI approx 500-520k. Wife has no loans.

Sorry this ended up being so long and thanks for reading!

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Job Overview: • Monthly Salary: 2.6 million KRW – 3.2 million KRW (depending on work experience) • Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:00am- 6:00pm / Tuesday, Thursday: 9:00am-6:45pm • Level: Kindergarten - Elementary • Number of Positions: 1 Position • Contract Duration: Full-Time for one year Benefits and Compensation Package: • One-way airfare provided if the applicant is flying from abroad. • Free Single Furnished Housing or housing allowance provided. • Pension bonus. • Paid vacation plus National Holidays. • Fixed, scheduled teaching blocks. • Severance Bonus: Upon completion of 12-month contract. • Medical Coverage Provided. • No internet/telephone lessons. • No split shifts.
Qualifications: Be a native English speaker and a teacher Hold a minimum bachelor’s degree from an accredited university from English speaking countries Have a clean criminal record from your country Enthusiasm for teaching with an outgoing personality Willingness to cooperate and be a part of a growing team The ideal applicant: The ideal applicant holds a degree in Education, English, Communications, or Linguistics. It is best if he/she has some teaching experience, or at least experience working with young children. He/she is a blend of 3 main ingredients: love, discipline, and intelligence. Korean children are a bit more fragile han their Western cousins, and a little love goes a long way. We used to describe this quality as gentleness, but found that teachers can appear gentle without giving themselves to students, so we emphasize that the teachers must really care for the students. Discipline is required not only to keep up our tight schedule, but also to keep your students disciplined (while still remaining gentle!). There are so many reasons why intelligence is required, but we hope most are obvious. He/she knows that this is a job and not a vacation, despite being far from home. Many people make EFL a career, and we expect such dedication. Above all else, he/she must love being around children because that is what it’s all about. Additional required qualities are self-motivation, inquisitiveness, punctuality, a desire for learning, and professionalism. If you are interested in applying for one of these positions, please submit your resume and recent photo to:
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This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 83%. (I'm a bot)

This year's victims succumbed to the perennial risks of climbing Everest - three Sherpas died in a serac or ice fall, and the others fell ill like Mr Kennison.
The high number has renewed scrutiny on overcrowding after a record number of climbing permits were issued in Nepal, and deepened concerns about the impacts of climate change on the mountain.
Having so many people puts pressure on "Traffic jams" on the climbing route, Garrett Madison of US-based Madison Mountaineering company told Reuters news agency.
Adrian Ballinger of US-based Alpenglow Expeditions, which leads climbers from the China side, said some companies from the Nepal side have been taking climbers to Everest even if they do not have enough experience to navigate the death zone.
Everest expeditions are a major source of income for Nepal, whose government is often criticised by some Western climbers for allowing anyone who can pay the $11,000 fee for a permit to go up.
Speaking last month, he said a team of doctors and government officials would be stationed at the Everest base camp for the first time to manage climbing activities throughout the season.

Summary Source FAQ Feedback Top keywords: climbs^#1 Everest^#2 year^#3 summit^#4 Nepal^#5
Post found in /worldnews.
NOTICE: This thread is for discussing the submission topic. Please do not discuss the concept of the autotldr bot here.

Hello, I would like to seek fellow redditors opinions, input and recommendation on how I could better finetune my itinerary better. There's only so much I can think of, and plan as an individual, but with everyone's input and comments I can further refine and enhance the travel experience before I set foot into Japan. Do forgive me in advance for the theorycrafting wall of text.
I know it may be difficult to review the itinerary, so to make the review easier I have broken the itinerary down into specific sub-groups e.g. Shikoku, Kinki etc. Specific questions that I have are bolded.
Thank you in advance for taking your time to provide your opinions!
-------------
Baseline information

• 32M, average fitness, solo traveller
• Public transport only (challenge); I have a driver's license but I have not drove a car for god knows how long so I would prefer not to test it against the green hills of Shikoku
• Interest: anime (select few), experience autumn/nature, visiting secluded spots, and just trying random stuff
• JP language skill: rudimentary at best (N4), but I will not shy away from speaking in simple, broken japanese or use a translator to communicate. Reading/interpreting kanji is not a problem (in general).
• Visit history: Visited twice (once to Hokkaido for ~8 days, and once toKyoto and Osaka for 8 days
• Will probably travel around with a (slightly) oversized luggage at ~166cm (A+B+C), that’s the only one I have with me. This will be a problem on the Shinkansen (but hopefully not so much on sightseeing trains/limited expresses).
• Will be visiting during (almost) peak autumn at 11 November, and will depart on the 16th of December
• Jet lag is unlikely to be a problem (1h time difference), but nevertheless I will maintain a low tempo on the first day to acclimatize to the environment
• Only thing firmed as of now is the air ticket, everything else is up in the air.
• I like planning/min-maxing to some degree, though I recognize that I may not fulfill all objectives during the trip and I am totally ok with that [its just a guideline or framework to give the holiday some structure, that’s all.] FWIW, I personally like traveling at a high tempo pace like some japanese travel show do (e.g. ローカル路線バス乗り継ぎの旅)

​
Specific goals/objective:

1. Experience Shikoku in autumn (specifically the views at Iya Valley) and in other prefectures (thus making nature sightseeing more of a priority this time round)
2. Experience Kanazawa for anime stuff
3. Experience the Shimanami Kaido in full (including any sightseeing spots in between the 6 island chains)
4. Bonus - try as many sightseeing trains as possible.
5. Bonus - if weather, time and schedule permits, try skiing as an option in Nagano.
6. Bonus - stay in as many onsen ryokans as possible, without breaking the bank.

​
Locked-in prefectures [i.e. I will definitely go to those prefectures no matter what]:

1. Shikoku (as per above objective)
2. Hiroshima (because its on the opposite end of the Shimanami Kaido)
3. Kanazawa (for anime related reason)
4. Tokyo (that is my starting and end point so it has to be included by default)

All other prefectures are basically float i.e. I am open to consider dropping said itinerary for something else based on your suggestion that aligns with my preferences/interest. Most of the other locations I added are prefectures that are often next to each other, or well-connected (apart from the initial Tokyo Kagawa jump via Sunrise Seto/Shinkansen).
​
Wait-list prefectures (prefectures that I want to go, but I don’t think I can realistically fit in without dropping other locations):

1. Snow skiing at Nagano (depending on how cooperative the weather is in early-ish December (would 2 days be sufficient?))
2. Ehime, Kochi expansion [spend 1-3 more days]
3. Izu Peninsula (~2 days, via Saphir Odoriko)
4. Nagoya + lower Nagano (Kiso Valley) (~3 days)
5. Ishikawa expansion [1 extra day at Kaga]

I am open to dropping a few days in Tokyo/Osaka etc to make that trade off [currently kept 3 days free for further development]. Alternatively, if the planning can be better optimized based on your inputs I might be able to do one of those without compromising on the base set. I would like to hear your opinion on what locations you would drop in the itinerary to make time for one of the above.
​
General planning philosophy:

1. My itineary adopts a breadth approach (cover as much area as I can humanely possible without rushing/touch-and-go) as opposed to depth (i.e. spending much more time within Shikoku than what I allocated); though I would be open to considering more days at selected locations if you have strong recommendations. My thought is to experience how different autumn is at various parts of the country (if possible), and maybe winter too (to a certain degree).
2. Due to the nature of my travel, I note that luggage logistics is a critical consideration when moving between prefectures; my thought is to park that luggage at the next hotel as quickly as possible so that I can free myself for sightseeing within the vicinity, or leave the luggage at the hotel after I check out until I am ready to travel to the next location. I will need to send (quite a fair bit of) emails to the hotels to confirm on this prior to booking.
3. I will attempt to minimize transit time between prefectures to no more than 2~3 hours a day to avoid having excessively long transport days (except the initial Tokyo Kagawa jump).
4. Because of the long trip, I will also need to factor a bit of downtime at night for administrative stuff (e.g. catching up a little bit on work, laundry etc).

---------
Shikoku (~7 days)
Specific thoughts while planning:

1. I will need to exploit Limited Express trains as much as possible to minimize downtime between the 4 prefectures. Fortunately, for the most part these train frequencies are almost hourly, thus missing one train isnt too deadly consequence-wise.
2. The transfer between Kochi and Ehime [Matsuyama] is oddly quicker via express bus as opposed to trains (!)
3. For Kochi, my opinion is that it is best explored on car instead of public transport [it’s a really wide prefecture]; I feel that 1 day may not do it justice, but it is probably adequate for exploring the city centre as a whole.
4. There's a fair bit of uncertainties while planning this leg so I would deeply appreciate any advice you may have.
5. This current iteration is unable to weave in the Shikoku Mannaka Sennen Monogatari sightseeing train [四国まんなか千年ものがたり] ; if you people think its something not to be missed do let me know and I will reshuffle my timetable as such.

Day 0: Tokyo Kagawa (Sunrise Seto) [Saturday, 11 Nov]

• Touch down at Narita at 1720hours
• Transfer to Tokyo Station via NEX or Skyliner
• Settle administrative matters at the Midori-no-Maruguchi (e.g. get all the booked tickets etc from JR Pass, for Shinkansen and all other sightseeing trains) at Tokyo Station.
• IF Sunrise Seto ticket is obtained via the JR West portal booking, chill till 2200 and take Sunrise Seto to reach Kagawa (Takamatsu) at 0700 the next day. Try to snag the ticket online (likely via the japanese portal since there's no option to buy Solo Deluxe through the english/international website. Otherwise, compromise and go for Single)
• IF Sunrise Seto ticket is NOT obtained, proceed to take the furthest possible Shinkansen westwards (probably Okayama) and rest for the night.

Day 1: Kagawa (Takamatsu) [Sunday, 12 Nov]

• Chill around Takamatsu. Drop luggage at coin locker OR the hotel (near JR Takamatsu ideally)
• Look at whats left of Takamatsu Castle en route to the port.
• Day trip to Naoshima or Teshima to visit the art museums (Chichu Art Museum, Lee Ufan Museum etc).
• Ritsuin Garden in the evening (closes 1830)
• Find an eatery with Sanuki Udon for dinner if possible.

Day 2: Kagawa (Kotohira) Tokushima (Iya Valley) [Monday, 13 Nov]

• Morning trip from Takamatsu to Kotohira (either via JR or Kotoden). Visit Kotohiragu [includes inner shrine] and Kanamaruza Theater
• Return to Kotohira to pick up luggage, transit to Oboke via Limited Express Shimanto [Takamatsu Tadotsu Oboke]
• Retire at a local hotel around Oboke. If time permits, take the chance to explore around Oboke Gorge itself.

​
Day 3: Tokushima (Iya Valley) [Tuesday, 14 Nov]
[Post-research note: I realized that there is NO public transport to Mount Tsurugi on a weekday. I will have to rent a taxi direct to Mount Tsurugi, make the 'climb', then thereafter take the taxi down to the other attractions. I am inclined to just go full hog on the private taxi and rent it (almost the whole day, probably 7~8 hours for 4300yen/hour) to save the trouble.
Otherwise, I will need to hike downhill which can be rather rough since its just a single lane road (looking at nearly 10++ km) so I think it wise not to penny pinch in the interest of both time and safety.]
Spend the day at Iya Valley.

• Take a taxi after breakfast to zip to Mount Tsurugi and speedrun it to the mountain peak (aka using the chairlift to speedrun a good chunk of the mountain) about 2.5 hours ~ 3 hours as per the Iya Valley guide
• Taxi from Mount Tsurugi chairlift down to Oku-Iya Niju Kazuraashi and cross it (~1 hour estimate)
• Taxi down to visit the mannequins/scarecrows at Nagoro Village (~3km downhill from Oku-Iya). (~1 hour estimate)
• Check out the Peeing Boy Statue (~0.5 hour estimate [its just looking at the statue that is overlooking the entire gorge is it not?])
• Cross the outer vine bridge Iya-no-Kazurabashi (~1 hour estimate)
• Taxi back to Oboke, and retire for the day (~0.5 hour estimate, thus looking at about ~8 hours taxi rental total, with some leeway for lunch break)

​
Day 4: Tokushima (Iya Valley) Kochi (Kochi) [Wednesday, 15 Nov]

• Transit from Iya Valley [Oboke] to Kochi via Limited Express Shimanto (again) after breakfast. (~1 hour transit)
• Park luggage at hotel [ideally near JR Kochi Station], then proceed to mill around Kochi, visiting places such as Kochi Castle [高知城] and Harimaya Bridge[はりまや橋]
• Transit to Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum [高知県立坂本龍馬記念館] via local bus which is also near Katsumatsura Beach incidentally. Chill at Katsumatsura Beach in the evening
• Return to JR Kochi, dinnesupper at Hirome Market (ideally to try out Kochi's speciality seared bonito). [is visiting the market more preferable during lunch OR dinner?]

​
Day 5: Kochi (Kochi) Ehime (Imabari) [Thursday, 16 Nov]

• Complete any remaining items in Kochi in the morning, then transit to Imabari via train (Kochi Tadotsu Imabari), via Limited Express Shimanto (yet again!) and Ishidzuchi**[TBC: this might be better done via highway bus instead which is faster at ~2-3 hours]**
• Drop luggage at Imabari for the next 2 days, either at Sunrise Itoyama OR Cycle no Ie. [both are well positioned for the Shimanami Kaido, and are also one of the selected hotels eligible for the Sagawa luggage transfer.] Ideally done just around lunch time, so that there's still the better half of the day to explore Imabari.
• Spend the remainder of the day visiting Imabari Castle (closes 1700) and Towel Museum (slightly out of the way) (closes 1800) [TBC: I note this place is quite out of the way from Imabari itself, even the JP website suggests taking a taxi (!) there from the nearby train station. Might have to drop this).
• Attempt to try some Ehime-related food specialties e.g. Taimeshi (Sea Bream), Ehime oranges, Champon for the next 2 days

​
Day 6: Ehime (Matsuyama / Imabari) [Friday, 17 Nov]

• Take the Limited express train Ishidzuchi to Matsuyama day tripping. (~1h one-way).
• Explore Matsuyama Castle, and the nearby Matsuyama Ropeway Shopping Street
• Visit Shiki Memorial Museum
• Visit Dogo Onsen [and attempt to soak in the waters if possible].
• Also consider looking at Ishiteji (石手寺) beside Dogo Onsen.
• Bonus: Subject to train schedule, if possible, attempt to secure tickets for the Iyonada Sightseeing Train (伊予灘物語), Futami leg [双海ふたみ 編] , and also visit JR Shimonada Station (JR下灘駅) at the same time.
• Bonus: visit Yawatahama Port where the movie Suzume took reference from,
• Return to Imabari via the same Limited express Ishidzuchi and retire for the night.

Day 7: Ehime (Imabari) Hiroshima (Shinamani Kaido) [Saturday, 18 Nov]
I am of the opinion that 1 day in Shimanami Kaido is adequate if I attempt just the main route which is about 80km [as a test run, I did 70km and finished it within 6-7 hours with lunch breaks included]. For now I will plan for two full days, however should I truncate it down to one day later, I will add an extra day to either explore Matsuyama or Okayama.
​

• Start off at Sunrise Itoyama [watch the sunrise, have breakfast here, cafeteria opens at 0700, rental opens at 0800] OR Cycle no Ie. Do paperwork to send luggage over to the next accomodation via Sagawa.
• I will (probably) follow the recommended 'extended' route on Cycle no Ie's website and do the following:
  • Take the west coast for Oshima (~13km) and cross to Hakatajima, with possible stop on:
    • Mount Kiro Observatory Point [I am aware that there's a steep incline so this would be contingent on my physical/mental status by then].
    • Nagahama Beach
• Take the coastal route for Hakatajima (~17km) and cross to Omishima and enjoy the coastal scenery
• Take the coastal route (again) for Omishima (~41km) (or lesser depending on how I'm feeling at that point) , with possible stop on:
  • -TBC: Okunoshima (there is apparently a ferry route to the well-known rabbit island via Omishima port. Not sure if anyone else have tried this particular route and if this is a better approach than going through Tadano-umi (though I would acknowledge that there's historical stuff to visit in nearby Takehara), and I would not be able to buy rabbit food in advance).[Based on Google Earth estimate, its about 3km for the entire island loop - seems doable within 2 hours to tour the poison gas museum with a bike and pet some rabbits).
  • Oyamazumi Shrine Treasure Museum
• End the day at WAKKA (Omishima) OR Guesthouse NEST / Soil Setoda (Ikuchijima) just beside Kousanji / The Hill of Hope (closes 1700). If possible, visit before closing, otherwise defer to next day.
• Try the ice cream at Dolce at Ikuchijima if possible.
• Bonus: if for some reason I am still ahead of time at this juncture (<1500), proceed to finish Innoshima and Mukaishima, then take a ferry to backtrack to Wakka/Soil Setoda or cycle back (last boat is ~1700) and rest; however, the next day I will zip straight to Onomichi via ferry after breakfast.

--------
Hiroshima + Yamaguchi (~4 days)
Specific thoughts while planning:

1. Onomichi is a pretty good base to jump to Okayama to explore Okayama, Kurashiki or Tomonoura with the Shinkansen accessibility, but it is impossible to cover them all within a single day. If I finish the Shimanami Kaido within a single day or finish it early on the second day, I will have that extra time to visit those.
2. There's another sightseeing train etSETOra from Onomichi to Hiroshima but it only operates on Monday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday. For now the schedule could fit the train timetable pretty nicely.
3. Would anyone suggest visiting Miyajima in the morning or in the evening? This would help me determine the order for the Kintaikyo Bridge/Miyajima day trip. Watching the sunset at either destination is pretty good in my books.

​
Day 8: Hiroshima (Shinamani Kaido Onomichi) [Sunday, 19 Nov]

• Continue from Ikuchijima towards Innoshima and Mukaishima (~18km) via the western coast route after breakfast, with possible stops on the following areas:
  • Innoshima: Innoshima Flower Centre, Shimanami Beach [open to more suggestions]
  • Mukaishima : there seems to be a lot of brunch places like Willows Nursery etc, soak the view at Mukaishima Rest Park [TBC: open to more suggestions]

Ideally reach Onomichi just around lunch or earlier. Chill for the rest of the day, and if I'm still up for it, explore Onomichi, including but not limited to:

• Exploring the cat alley
• Visit the exhibits at Onomichi City Museum of Art
• Consider walking to Senkoji and Onomichi Hondori Shopping Street
• Look into trying Onomichi-style ramen.

Retire at a guesthouse/hotel near JR Onomichi that I have forwarded the luggage to.
​
Day 9: Hiroshima (Onomichi, Takehara+Kure OR Tomonoura OR Okayama) Downtown Hiroshima) [Monday, 20 Nov]

• Mill around Onomichi in the morning (if not done yesterday), with a side trip to EITHER Takehara/Kure OR Okayama/Kurashiki OR Tomonoura (choose one):
  • Takehara: stroll along the historical townscape [and look if they have any Tamayura-related merch], Okunoshima (if not done during the Shimanami Kaido leg / Kure: look into trying Kure curry/Niku-jaga and visit the Yamato Museum
  • Okayama: Okayama Castle (zip via Shinkansen) / Kurashiki : Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
  • Tomonoura: stroll along the townscape during the day (zip via Shinkansen, transfer to local bus)
• Return to Onomichi (no later than 1400), board the etSETOra sightseeing train at 1437, and zip to Hiroshima. Enjoy the sunset along the coastline.
• Retire for the night at Hiroshima proper, probably near JR Hiroshima OR the bus terminal. If time permits, take a gander along the streets and see what takes me from there.

​
Day 10: Hiroshima (Downtown Hiroshima) [Tuesday, 21 Nov]
Spend the day surveying Hiroshima proper.

• Peace Memorial Park (平和記念公園) and Atomic Bomb Dome
• Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims (国立広島原爆死没者追悼平和祈念館)
• Hiroshima Castle
• Orizuru Tower (おりづるタワー)
• Shukkeien (縮景園)
• Optional: Mazda Museum / Kure (if not done the previous day)
• Try to source for Hiroshima-specific food: Okonomiyaki, Dandan Noodles

​
Day 11: Hiroshima (with a day trip to Yamaguchi) [Wednesday, 22 Nov]

• Daytrip to Yamaguchi [Shin-Iwakuni] to visit Kintaikyo Bridge via Shinkansen. Also stop by the nearby Iwakuni Castle.
• Try Tonosama Sushi at Iwakuni if possible.
• Take the local train back to Miyajimaguchi and take the boat to Itsukushima.Take the time to stroll around the island and perhaps watch the sunset at the torii gate.
• Exit back to Hiroshima via boat to Hiroshima Port direct, and transit back to hotel.

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Shimane + Tottori (4 days)
Specific thoughts while planning:

1. Matsue becomes the main jump point for Shimane just because of the subsidized highway bus from Hiroshima, and ease of access towards Tottori later. There's no direct train between Hiroshima and Izumo/Matsue (!).
2. Tottori is really wide size-wise, to the point that it feels more efficient to have two separate hotels in two nights (Kurayoshi/Misasa Onsen + downtown Tottori) rather than one hotel for two nights (i.e. downtown Tottori). Could be just me making excuses to get into an onsen ryokan however.
3. Is there anything interesting at Yonago (Tottori) that I should take note of? Based on my initial survey nothing in particular pops up (other than the Tottori Prefectural Flower Park).
4. Skipping Tottori Castle since it doesn’t seem to be interesting at first glance. Any other interesting things to at Tottori downtown (or nearby)?

​
Day 12: Hiroshima Shimane (Matsue) [Thursday, 23 Nov]

• Make good use of the 500yen highway bus from Hiroshima to Matsue. (3.5 hours transit). Fortunately the frequency is not too bad (7-8 buses per day, looking at 0800 departure or later); if there are still outstanding places to visit in Hiroshima I will visit them in the morning.
• Check in at a hotel near JR Matsue, and proceed to trawl around Matsue with whatever daylight is left. (TBC: am considering taking a few stops down to Tamatsukuri Onsen 玉造温泉 or Matsue-shinjoko Onsen instead of the typical hotel. Does anyone have any positive experiences there?)
• Attempt to spend the afternoon at the Adachi Museum of Art. Local train to Yasugi, transfer to free shuttle.
• Chill off in downtown Matsue for the night. Prowl for Shimane-specific food such as Naniwa Zushi (浪花寿司), Shijimi clams (しじみ), Izumo soba, Izumo Zenzai (出雲ぜんざい).
• Bonus: visit the Tottori Prefectural Flower Park for the winter Hanakairo Flower Illumination at Yonago at night [which is just beside Matsue. Free shuttle bus at Yonago bus terminal].

​
Day 13: Shimane (Izumo / Matsue) [Friday, 24 Nov]

• Day trip from Matsue to Izumo. (JR Matsue JR Izumo, swap to Ichibata local rail to Izumotaisha-mae)
• Take a stop at Izumo Taisha, as well as the nearby Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo (島根県立古代出雲歴史博物館)
• After lunch, return to JR Matsue and proceed to Yushien Garden (由志園) via bus. Enjoy the sunset over the garden.
• Stop by Matsue Castle on the way back.

​
Day 14: Shimane (Matsue) Tottori (Kurayoshi) [Saturday, 25 Nov]

• Transfer from Matsue to Kurayoshi in the morning via Super Matsukaze Limited Express (~1h).
• Settle down luggage at Misasa Onsen, then proceed to hike up Mitokusan Sanbutsuji Temple (三仏寺). Cater extra time just in case I have to wait for another fellow to pop up to climb in pairs. Estimated climb time excluding wait is about 2-3 hours both ways?
• Excess time to be spent sauntering Misasa Onsen and its nearby area such as the Nijisseiki Pear Museum [二十世紀梨記念館（なしっこ館)] and Kurayoshi Historical Quarter.
• Retire at Misasa Onsen for the night. Bonus: watch the constellations at night at Misasa Onsen on a Monday/Wednesday/Friday, 2100JST. Current plan does not fall within those 3 weekdays
• Bonus: take a short detour to Conan Town (postnote: not a big fan of the show).

​
Day 15: Tottori (Kurayoshi Tottori) [Sunday, 26 Nov]

• Transfer from Kurayoshi to Tottori (~35minutes transfer) in the morning, and proceed to tour around Tottori.
• Drop luggage, take a local bus to Tottori Sand Dunes, and visit the nearby Sand Museum.
• Transfer northwards to Uradome Coast via local bus and spend the remainder of the day there. Watch the sunset over the coast.
• Return to downtown Tottori, stroll around and call it a night.

​
-----------
Hyogo, Kyoto, Osaka , Nara, Mie (10 days)
Specific thoughts while planning:

1. Kinosaki Onsen is intentionally designed to be a slow-paced leg to recover [and also to make time to enjoy the onsens].
2. The limited express train between Kinosaki Onsen and Osaka stops by Himeji thus I thought of resting a night there instead of doing day trips via Osaka.
3. Osaka itinerary does look sparse but that is in large part because I have already visited most of them in the past. Nevertheless, I would like to experience how different it is in autumn compared to summer [based on those few destinations that I loved going previously].
4. I have kept one float day to decompress, OR shift to any of the other prefectures (TBC).
5. There are (multiple) special limited express train by Kintetsu; they're not covered by JR pass but nevertheless I would love to ride on those as an experience. The Kintetsu pass covers the basic fare only but based on my preliminary cost estimate, it is still worth getting it.
6. Is it feasible to compress Himeji and Kobe to a single day?
7. The itineraries for Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Mie are flexible since they're literally beside one another - makes it particularly easy to shift around base on ground situation.

​
Day 16: Tottori (Tottori) Hyogo (Kinosaki Onsen) [Monday, 27 Nov]

• Settle any outstanding sightseeing spots in the morning if required in Tottori, then transfer to Kinosaki Onsen via the Sanin Line.
• Make a pitstop at Amarube ('Sky Station') and marvel at the engineering work.
• Deposit luggage at the ryokan (or put in the coin locker), and stroll around and enjoy Kinosaki Onsen [after all its an onsen town].
• Try to hit as many of the 7 external onsens that are usable. Retire for the night here.
• Optional: go up the ropeway and oversee Kinosaki Onsen in the evening (last ride up ~1630)
• Optional: take a short hike up to Onsenji Temple.

​
Day 17: Hyogo (Kinosaki Onsen + Northern Kyoto (Amanohashidate) day trip) [Tuesday, 28 Nov]

• Optional: take a (very) early start to the day to Takeda Castle Ruins and witness the 'floating castle' effect in the morning (<0800).
• Day trip to Amanohashidate via ToyookaKyotango Railway. Do the funny bend-down pose on the bench at Amanohashidate View Land, and see how it feels like looking at the world inverted.
• Cross the sandbar and look from the other side (Nariaiji Temple / Kasamatsu Park)
• Select one of three additional side-trips:
  • EITHER take a local bus up to Ine to look at the Funaya + sightseeing boat,
  • OR local rail down to Maizuru to look at the Maizuru World Brick Museum + eat at the Michi-no-eki;
  • OR reverse to Toyooka spend time in the city itself e.g. Izushi Castle Town
• Return to Kinosaki Onsen, and continue experiencing the remainder of the onsens. Retire for the night here. Optional: ride the Aomatsu sightseeing train back to Toyooka.
• Optional: Take a trip to Ankokuji Temple (安国寺) in the evening. Likely to visit post-peak autumn which means less than ideal viewing conditions.

Day 18: Hyogo (Kinosaki Onsen Himeji) [Wednesday, 29 Nov]

• Transit from Kinosaki Onsen to Himeji via Limited Express Hamakaze (~2 hours).
• Deposit luggage at the hotel or the coin lockers at the station, then proceed for sightseeing.
• Walk along the Miyuki Street Shopping District which is en-route to Himeji Castle.
• Himeji Castle sector : Himeji Castle (姫路城), Kokoen (好古園)
• Take a local bus at Himeji Castle to go to Mount Shosha and hike up Engyōji Temple (圓教寺)
• Optional : Stroll along Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History and/or Himeji City Museum of Art which is beside the castle, OR Shosha Handicraft Museum which is just at the foot of Mount Shosha
• Optional: Make a detour to the Japan Toy Museum near Koro station (~30 minutes from JR Himeji). Closes 1700.
• Look for Hyogo-specific food: Kobe beef, steamed pork buns, sobameshi, himeji oden, etc

Retire at Himeji for the night.
Day 19: Hyogo (Himeji Kobe) Osaka (Dotonburi) [Thursday, 30 Nov]
Day trip to Kobe, before continuing further down to Osaka.

• Check out from Himeji, transit further down to Kobe for another stop before Osaka. Place luggage at the holding facility within the Shinkansen station.
• Take a visit to the Earthquake Memorial Museum (人と防災未来センター) to look at the devastation wrought by the 1995 earthquake.
• Stroll along Kobe Harborland (神戸ハーバーランド) and Meriken Park (メリケンパーク) , look at the Kobe Tower since its closed till 2024 for renovation, and look at the damage caused by the earthquake
• Optional: Head westwards to Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art.
• Optional: Hit up the ASICS Sports Museum (アシックススポーツミュージアム)
• Look at the engineering feat that is the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge and the nearby Akashi Kaikyo Bridge Exhibition Center at Maiko. (Suzume no Tojimari)
• Return to Shin-kobe, pick up luggage, and transit to Shin-Osaka via Shinkansen, and then to Dotonburi/Shinsaibashi. End the (long) day in Osaka.

Day 20: Osaka [Friday, 1 Dec]
Osaka Nostalgia (acid) trip, speedrun edition: revisiting places that I want to go again

• Day trip to Mino Park and revisit the waterfall (I loved visiting it previously) via the Hankyu line in the morning.
• Zoom down to the Osaka Aquarium after lunch and walk around it (Minoo Umeda Honmachi Osakako Station).
• From there, race towards Abeno Harukas and watch the sunset/nightview at Abeno Harukas.
• Bonus: revisit Sumiyoshi Taisha if time permits.
• Spend whatever time remains at night at Nipponbashi Denden Town (shops close at ~2000) and Dotonburi (some stores are still open near midnight) and/or Shinsekai (新世界).

Day 21: Osaka (Nara day trip) [Saturday, 2 Dec]
Spend a day in Nara.

• Zoom from Namba to Nara via Kintetsu (note: non-JR)
• Explore Todaiji Temple, Kokufuji Temple, Isuien Garden and Kasuga Taisha.
• Optional: pass by Naramachi (奈良町) on the way back.
• Take the Kintetsu line down to Mount Yoshino. [TBC: subject to whether I am too early or late for the koyo.Based on last year's prediction I am about 1-2 weeks too late. Might swap this out to a Uji day trip instead in Kyoto.). Spend time walking around the Shimo Senbon and Naka Senbon and experience the autumn.
• Transfer back to Osaka. Bonus: take the Blue Symphony back to Osaka instead of the typical train. (non-JR)

Day 22: Osaka (Mie day trip) [Sunday, 3 Dec]
Day trip to Mie.

• Take the Iseshima Liner from Tsuruhashi Station (near Namba/Dotonburi) to Ise. Bonus: take the Hinotori from Osaka to Tsu, then transfer to Mie. (non-JR)
• Hit up Ise Jingu (伊勢神宮) [both inner and outer] and Okage Yokocho (おかげ横丁)
• Try to eat Matsuaka Beef or Ise Udon for lunch.
• Head westwards to Futamiokitama Shrine (二見興玉神社) / Meotoiwa Rocks; and if further time permits, go to Toba for the Ama Viewing Platform.
• Take the returning Shimakaze Limited Express train back to Osaka (note: only one train at 1630; if this train is missed, change to normal express trains). (non-JR)
• Retreat back to Osaka for the night. Consider doing any other night activities in Osaka if time, and body permits.

Day 23: Osaka ('north' Kyoto day trip) [Monday, 4 Dec]
(north) Kyoto day trip.

• Take a stop at the Kyoto Railway Museum. Optional: also consider heading to To-ji Gojunoto first if I reach Kyoto way early before 10am.
• Walk back to Kyoto station, and take a bus northwards to Kyoto Manga Museum.
• Hop on the bus direct from the Manga Museum to Kinkakuji. [bus 15]
• Select one of two side-trips:
  • EITHER head westwards to Arashiyama (note: already visited once in the summer but I still think it nice to visit in autumn/winter this time round). Bonus: experience sunset along the Togetsukyo Bridge.
  • OR head eastwards to Higashiyama (closes 1700), Philosopher's path etc (did not visit these in my past trip here so there's the 'new' factor, but it is going to be a physically taxing day. Also, most likely will reach here nearing evening i.e. closing time thus there's a limit to how much I can visit realistically).

Whichever choice, return back to Osaka for the night. Look out for Kyoto-specific food such as Yudofu, Saba Sushi, Warabi Mochi, Nishin Soba (にしんそば) etc.
Day 24: Osaka ('south' Kyoto day trip) [Tuesday, 5 Dec]
(south) Kyoto day trip edition (mainly Uji and Fushimi).

• Zip from Osaka to Kyoto via Keihan to Uji Station.
• Spend the better half of the morning in Uji.
• Visit the Byōdō-in and the nearby Tonoshima and Tachibana Island.
• Hike up to the Daikichiyama Observation Deck to oversee Uji as a whole. On the way down, explore Ujigami Shrine.
• Take the chance to buy some Uji tea as gifts to relatives. Have lunch along the Omotesando Road.
• Head further northwards to Fushimi, and do another hike up Fushimi Inari. (Note: visited once in the past but I liked the experience thus I would like to do it again.) Bonus: if its done in the evening.

Head back to Osaka and retire for the night. Consider doing any other night activities in Osaka if time, and body permits.
Day 25: Osaka (wildcard) [Wednesday, 6 Dec]
Spare day to do whatever I feel like doing OR reallocate this to another prefecture. Intentionally left blank for later planning
-------------
Kanazawa, Gifu+ (4 days)
Specific thoughts while planning:

1. Is it likely for the skiing season to open around 9~10 December at Shiga Kogen or Nozawa Onsen? Would very much like to try skiing for fun, but am uncertain if the snow condition would be satisfactory by then. Some of the skiing website indicates that these two destinations are usually the first to open. I would like to seek advise on this if possible [never skiied before].
2. As an additional question to point 1, is 2 days adequate just to get a flavor on skiing?
3. Kanazawa is a pretty solid jump point to Shirakawago/Takayama via express buses (~1 to 2 hour one way).
4. My initial planning considered going to Kurobe Gorge (Toyama) but apparently the railways are closed from December onwards. Please correct me if I am mistaken.
5. Another sightseeing train in Kanazawa that I can fit in nicely in my current plans (花嫁のれん), runs on Mon/Fri/Sat/Sun.

Day 26: Osaka Ishikawa (Kanazawa (Kanazawa cityside)) [Thursday, 7 Dec]

• Zip from Osaka to Kanazawa via Limited Express Thunderbird in the early morning (~3hours; ideally the 0740 or 0810 service). Drop luggage at the hotel near JR Kanazawa and explore the cityside.
• Have lunch at the Omicho Market (近江町市場), OR at Higashi Chaya District.
• Stroll around Kanazawa Castle (金沢城, Kanazawajō) and the nearby Kenrokuen (兼六園) / Seisonkaku Villa (成巽閣, Seisonkaku) .
• Consider visiting one or more of the nearby museums if possible:
  • D.T. Suzuki Museum OR
  • National Crafts Museum OR
  • 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
• Optional: Head southwards to Myoryuji Temple + Nishi Chaya District.
• Optional: Head northwards to Higashi Chaya District (if not done for lunch).

Any outstanding spots not completed today, to be rolled over to the next 2 days (if possible).

• Retire in Kanazawa for the night. Be on the lookout for Kanazawa-specific food: Gold-leaf ice cream, oden, hanton rice
• Optional: have a stay at Yuwaku Onsen for at least one night for anime-related reasons. (Hanasaku Iroha)

​
Day 27: Ishikawa (Kanazawa cityside) / Gifu (Shirakawago, Takayama) [Friday, 8 Dec]

• Day trip to Shiwakawago and Takayama via Nohi bus (non-JR, ~1h). Grab the morning bus express bus to Shirakawago and explore the place in the morning. Experience early snowfall (?) there. Optional: visit Ainokura on the way towards Shirakawago.
• Take another express bus down to Takayama for lunch (~1h travel time).
• Explore what Takayama has to offer. Stroll along the old town near the bus terminal and visit the Takayama Jinya. If time permits, stroll along the Higashiyama Walking Course.
• Optional: pay a visit to Hida Folk Village.
• Return to Kanazawa via Hida Limited Express to Toyama Shinkansen to Kanazawa, OR take the same Nohi express bus directly back (non-JR).
• Retire at Kanazawa for the night. Last express bus from Takayama to Kanazawa is 1630, arrive at 1845. Alternatively, head northwards to Toyama via JR and transfer to Kanazawa.

​
Day 28: Ishikawa (Kanazawa cityside / outskirts) [Saturday, 9 Dec]
Side trip to Wakura Onsen / Nanao for anime-related sightseeing. (Insomanics after Class, Hanasaku Iroha)

• Zoom from Kanazawa up to Wakura Onsen/Nanao via Limited Express Noto Kagaribi. Do some sightseeing related to Insomanics after Class and Hanasaku Iroha.
• Do some train spotting with two anime along the Noto Railways. Stop at Nishigishi station for some sightseeing. (non-JR)
• Return to Kanazawa in the evening from Wakura Onsen via the sightseeing train Hanayomenoren [花嫁のれん, last train 1630).
• End the night at Kanazawa.

Day 29: Ishikawa (wildcard) [Sunday, 10 Dec]
Spare day to do whatever I feel like doing OR reallocate this to another prefecture. Intentionally left blank for later planning
--------------
Tokyo (~6 days)
Specific thoughts while planning:

1. Specific interest to target: anime/vtuber stuff, music (piano in particular), bookstores etc.
2. This is the point in time I should go ham on souvenier purchase if I have not done so. I'll probably get an extra cardboard box or duffel bag to lug with me to the airport to store extra stuff.
3. Would like to seek recommendation on where I should set my base for the 5~6 days here. For now I am planning to pit at Ginza, subject to availability and cost. My thought is that as long as its along the Yamanote line everything rolls I suppose.
4. Hard pass on Golden Gai on the Shunjuku leg (I do not drink).
5. There's way too many to list in terms of what I would like to do in Tokyo, but I have listed items that are of particular interest to me first within the available time frame. If you have strong opinions on specific locations do let me know.

Day 30: Ishikawa (Kanazawa) Tokyo (Ginza) [Monday, 11 Dec]

• Zip from Kanazawa to Tokyo via the Hoririku Shinkansen in the morning (just north of two hours). (TBC : If I can optimize my schedule better, I can try squeezing two days here for a stop at Nozawa Onsen / Shiga Kogen (Nagano) for a short ski experience).
• Deposit luggage at one of the Ginza hotels (TBC: subject to cost; might swap for another location later on)
• Explore ('south') Tokyo with the remainder of the day.
• Marvel at the architecture that is the Tokyo Station and its surrounding.
• Visit the Imperial Palace.
• Head south towards the Mori Art Museum (closes 2200)
• End the night with a stop at Tokyo Tower (closes 2230).

Day 31: Tokyo (Shibuya, Shinjuku and Nakano) [Tuesday, 12 Dec]
Explore ('west') Tokyo, namely Shibuya, Shinjuku and Nakano.

• Start off with an early day visit to Meji Shrine / Yoyogi Park.
• Head up to Shinjuku. Spend the remainder of the morning and lunch exploring Kabukicho, Hanazono Shrine and Omoide Yokochō (ideally have lunch here). Also make a pit stop at Kinokuniya's flagship store at Shinjuku.
• Head northwards to Nakano Broadway and trawl for anime goods for several hours (closes ~1900)
• Head south down back to Shibuya and experience the crossing in peak night condition. Walk around and soak in the atmosphere. Optional: stop by the Ishibashi music store at Shibuya (closes 2000).
• Cap off the night and look at the night view at Shibuya Sky (closes 2230). Zip back to the hotel at Ginza.

Day 32: Tokyo (Akibahara, Asakusa and Sky Tree) [Wednesday, 13 Dec]

• Kick off the day with a morning visit to Asakusa (i.e. Sensoji).
• Transit over to Tokyo Skytree to watch the Tokyo cityscape in the day.
• Trawl around Akibahara for the afternoon. (Animate, Sega claw machines, etc).
• Also stop by Ochanomizu for sightseeing (Suzume no Tojimari)
• Zip back to the hotel for the night. If time permits, stop by the two flagship music stores along Ginza: Yamaha Ginza and Yamano Ginza. Also, visit Itoya Ginza (stationary store).

Day 33: Tokyo (Kamakura day trip OR Ikebukuro) [Thursday, 14 Dec]
EITHER take a day trip Kamakura, OR explore northern Tokyo (Ikebukuro)
Kamakura leg:

• Make a detour to Used Tyre Market Sagamihara Store to experience the retro vending machines. Then head southwards to Enoshima.
• Look at the giant Buddha statue and stroll along Hasedera.
• Take the Enoden to Enoshiima and explore the island.
• Take the JR back to Ginza and retire for the night.

Tokyo (Ikebukuro leg):

• Visit Otome Road for otaku related stuffs.
• Trawl the usual suspects such as Bic Camera etc.
• Make a stop at the Mejiro Gardens.
• Visit the Waseda International House of Literature (The Haruki Murakami Library) at Waseda University.

Day 34: Tokyo (wildcard) [Friday, 15 Dec]
Spare day to do whatever I feel like doing OR reallocate this to another prefecture. Intentionally left blank for later planning
​
Day 35: Tokyo Home [Saturday, 16 Dec]

• Contemplate life at the hotel, doing whatever I feel like for the morning and early afternoon. Bonus: have an early breakfast at Tsukiji Market in the morning if staying at Ginza.
• Clear any last minute administrative matter (if any), or do (very) last minute sightseeing/buying. Most likely limited to Ginza and Akibahara.
• Get a nice lunch omakase to cap it off if possible. (taking recommendations if anyone has one, ideally meat/beef centric instead of just sushi).
• Head off to Narita from Tokyo Station via NEX just after lunch at 1430 1530 to Narita, flight at 1830.

END
---------------------
If you're still reading up to this point, here's my own personal ramblings/thoughts on JR pass usage:
I have thought of two ways of doing this for the first 21 days:
a. easy-mode : just get 21 days JR global pass before the price hike at 60450 yen, OR b. hard-mode: get a 7 day JR global pass (to cover the NEX fees, the basic fee on the Sunrise Seto to Shikoku, as well as limited express trains within Shikoku) (29650) + 5 days for JR Okayama Hiroshima Yamaguchi Area Pass (15000) + 4 days for JR Sanin Okayama Area Pass + 5 days for JR Kansai Wide Area Pass (10000) for a total of 59230.
The initial conclusion was to go with option A since that reduces the administrative burden, but I realized the individual passes do have its own perk which truimphs over the global JR pass. For instance, the Sanin Okayama Area Pass provides a (minor) discount for the Adachi Museum of Art; the Kansai Wide Pass covers the Kyotango route between Kinosaki Onsen and Amanohashidate which the global JR pass does not cover, JR Okayama Hiroshima Yamaguchi Area Pass covers JR buses within Hiroshima for free, therefore I am inclined to go with the hell option (option B) as it stands.
For the remaining 14 days, I could also get the global 14 day JR pass at 47250 yen but it is not worth it at all, because I will be relying largely on Kintetsu for the Osaka/Kyoto/Nara/Mie leg which the JR pass most certainly does not cover.

• For the Osaka/Nara/Mie/Kyoto leg, I intend to make good use of a mix of both local metro and the Kintetsu rail pass for 5 days (4900). If I do exploit Kintetsu's limited express train to its fullest, I should be able to save money by buying the pass. The Osaka Amazing Pass at 2600yen a day does not make financial sense for me this time round, given how little I am exploring within Osaka.
• For the Osaka Kanazawa, Shirakawago and Takayama leg, the preferred pass of choice is the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass over the global JR pass, in large part because this pass fully absorbs the Nohi highway bus fees (which can rack up quite a lot at ~8000yen for a return trip between Kanazawa and Shirakawago/Takayama). Also this absorbs the Thunderbird fee. One major issue with my current plan is that it does not cover Wakura Onsen nor the sightseeing train.
• For the final Kanazawa Tokyo leg, the preferred choice is the Horuriku Arch Pass that covers the direct Shinkansen back to Tokyo, and the NEX fees to Narita when I depart from Tokyo. Will only break even with the pass at best unless I make a stop at Nagano.

So all in all, there's quite little incentive to get the global JR pass after I worked out my schedule, apart from the initial 7 days for the Sunrise Seto jump which the All Shikoku Pass will not cover.
Through the hodge-podge of multiple area passes, it works out to around 102890 yen for the whole trip of 35 days, contrast with 107700 yen for a 21 + 14 global JR pass. While there's a minor cost saving doing the hard way which sweetens the deal, the additional minor perks associated with the area passes sells it for me, as I would had to pay more out of pocket to cover non-JR pass buses/rails and such which would add up to much greater cost than I would had anticipated. Also, if I did this trip post-price hike in October, the calculus becomes a no-brainer: avoid the global JR pass like the plague.
-----
Thank you very much for your opinions, suggestions and advice in advance!

So when you think of cities with high culture and vibrant music scenes on the east coast, what springs to mind? Obviously New York. Thanks to Drake, we all know about the growing music scene in Toronto. You prahbahbly musta tawt a Bawstan tew. Maybe Montreal or Philadelphia or even Baltimore crossed your mind.
Hah. Baltimore.
Time to check your cultural bias, pal. You passed over a quiet little city on the south shore of Lake Ontario, nestled in the Genesee River valley. It has a history as a hotbed of Abolitionism and Women’s Rights. It is the home of Eastman Kodak, Xerox, Bausch & Lomb, Western Union, Ragu and other innovative companies. It has a lively music scene, great nightclubs, world-renowned universities, thriving museums, arts & culture festivals, and live theatre. It is a true cultural gem that many folks overlook.
Yep. You bet your ass I am talking about Rochester, New York.
Since we know that Stoner Rock can come from anywhere, it should be no surprise that Rochester has produced one of the leading bands in this genre. This week we are going to check out a band you are going to want to listen to. If you know them, you love them. If you haven’t heard of them, you are going to thank me.
This week’s band is KING BUFFALO.
About Them
Hold on a sec. King Buffalo? Not King Rochester?
To be fair, King Rochester sounds like the villain in a Disney movie. Kinda hard to imagine that on a T-Shirt. King New York sounds like a particularly obnoxious Yankees fan (and yeah, finding a Yankees fan that isn’t obnoxious is a tough go). King Albany sounds like a car made by Kia.
But King Buffalo? That just works.
Our heroes didn’t start out together. King Buffalo were made up of members of two other Rochester area bands.
Randall Coon and Scott Donaldson were playing together in Velvet Elvis. That five piece band played heavy rock with space-based themes in the early 2010’s. Sean McVay and Dan Reynolds were in another band called Abandoned Buildings Club (side note: kinda neat that their initials were ABC), who had a pure psychedelic rock vibe. When both VE and ABC appeared to be having limited success, the four musicians decided to merge their talents into one band. Coon had handled vocals and guitar in Velvet Elvis and Donaldson had been rock solid on drums. McVay had done vocals and guitar in Abandoned Buildings Club and Reynolds had anchored the sound with his bass. All the pieces were there for a classic Beatles-esque lineup.
So out of the wreckage of ABC and VE, KB arose. The four members gelled so well that they were able to record their first demo - aptly titled Demo - in just two days. Their sound was immediately compared to tourmates and close friends All Them Witches. But where ATW were bluesy and sludgy, King Buffalo had produced songs full of space. Oh, there were heavy riffs for sure - but there were passages of music that were contrastingly lighter and further apart. The best example of these contrasts can be found in the more than 11 minutes of Providence Eye. The first six and a half minutes come at you at a lulling pace, enveloping you in the moment. You get swept up in the rolling riffs. But then the drop happens and you suddenly realize the song has been building to this peak. The tempo picks up and you ride a relentless rollercoaster until you hit the Black Sabbath-inspired outro, which takes you home. It is an emotional experience. The two other tracks - In Dim Light and Pocket Full of Knife are smaller essays on the same theme.
It was clear right from Demo that King Buffalo had some serious talent. But if you have listened to the band you will notice that one thing is starkly different on Demo than from any of their other releases: the vocals. Randall Coon was the lead vocalist on these recordings. If you play them up against anything since by the band they stand out. Our very own QotSA may have successfully had multiple vocalists on multiple tunes, but King Buffalo was destined to have Sean McVay take over the mic. Shortly after 2013’s Demo, Coon left the band to do a solo project called Skunk Hawk.
King Buffalo stood at a crossroads: did they look to replace Coon, or should they carry on as a Power Trio? The choice for them was obvious. McVay, Reynolds and Donaldson knew that they had fantastic potential together. They decided they didn't need anyone else.
Side note: Regular readers of these write ups know that All Them Witches just went through this exact crisis in 2019. What I didn’t share then is that ATW are close friends with KB. I would not be surprised to learn that ATW had some serious conversations about their lineup with the boys from KB before they, too, decided last year to pare down to just three members.
To re-christen their new lineup, in 2015 King Buffalo went in on a split EP with Swedish band Lé Betre (I mean, hooking up with a Swedish partner is a dream of mine, so I see the appeal.) They re-recorded their standout tune Providence Eye with McVay on vocals, as well as two new tracks - Like a Cadillac and New Time. New Time opens their side of the EP with an infectious, descending riff that hooks you immediately. It is clear from the lyrics - No wasting around, it’s a new time - that they had moved on from Coon. Like a Cadillac follows up and is a three and a half minute jam that leaves you wanting more. The re-recorded version of Providence Eye closes out their side of the split EP and leaves no doubt that they are in charge. It is a tighter, heavier version, and the amazing outro is so low down that it will make you want to rob your own house.
With their lineup now set, it was time to put together enough music to tour on. In 2016, King Buffalo released Orion. Here you can witness the melding of their influences into something majestic and fantastic, and it is here that they really develop their signature style.
To explain this style, you need to understand basic song structure.
Most pop songs tend to go verse - chorus - verse - chorus - bridge - chorus - chorus. Sure, you could add in a solo for the bridge, or a detailed intro or outro, or another verse - but this is a tried and true formula. Some variation of this dominates the pop charts to this day.
Not with King Buffalo songs. These guys are the masters of the drop, and you hear it in most of their tunes. QotSA fans are no strangers to that long build and release; it is an integral part of tunes like The Evil Has Landed, God is in the Radio, Song For The Dead, and I Appear Missing. One of the sickest drops ever recorded happens in the middle of the Them Crooked Vultures tune No One Loves Me & Neither Do I. It is where the music turns around, and a new riff takes over, often along with a pace change. It is then that you realize that the song has built to this climactic moment, and you are engulfed by the music.
King Buffalo does this better than anyone else, and you hear it clearly articulated, again and again, on the album Orion.
Take the song Kerosene for example.
A rolling bass riff from Reynolds establishes the song right out of the gate. Donaldson produces punchy drum beats with cymbal crashes at the end of each phrase. McVay’s slide guitar rounds out the intro. McVay’s vocals - very Ozzy like, if Ozzy had any semblance of self-control - frame the first verse, which ends in a fuzzy, heavy riff with crashing cymbals. This same pattern is repeated a second time and the drop is teased at just past three minutes in, but does not happen quite yet. The listener’s anticipation builds as the airy, soaring solo from McVay calls out in contrast to the rolling bass. After the guitar solo bridge, the band goes right back into the chorus. But then it happens: THE DROP. Just past 5 minutes in, the song takes a complete and abrupt turn for a totally different riff that is at the same time heavier and brand new, and yet has been there all the while.
What King Buffalo does brilliantly is subvert your musical expectations.
The standard structure is V-C-V-C-B-C-C.
Kerosene is V-C-V-C-B-C-DROP-OUTRO. Just when you subliminally expect something the same, you get something different.
The entire album is like that. Orion hardly sounds like a debut. It is a mature and deliberate soundscape built by talented musicians who are making significant choices about their art. Songs like Drinking From The River Rising open with an expansive and elastic topography, but drill down to the molten lava of heavy riffs and distorted fuzz. Sleeps On A Vine begins with one of the most zen riffs you’ve ever heard and ends in a tumultuous and heavy sonic assault that is pure controlled chaos. Every song on the album is a study in contrasts that leaves you with auditory whiplash and a burning desire for more.
They are that good.
King Buffalo were able to tour on their new material, and did so extensively. They played clubs and larger venues, often with friends and fellow Stoner Rockers All Them Witches and other bands like The Sword and Elder. In 2017, the released the EP Repeater as a follow up. It is just three songs (The vinyl ad reads, All songs on one side! No need to flip!) but it is a heck of a musical journey. The title track off the EP is 13+ minutes long and is one huge build. When the fuzz finally drops after almost 8 minutes, it is a true cathartic moment. It sneaks up on you, and is so welcome when it hits - especially after McVay’s repetition that “Every Day is the Same* - that you intrinsically understand how great it is when things finally change for the better. Too Little Too Late is an instrumental tune that is both enveloping and expansive. It is a terrific bridge to the final track, Centurion, which is an unbelievable groove. Centurion has three minutes of set up leading to an unreal fuzzy drop that is so dirty it will get you evicted from your apartment.
The influence of their touring with All Them Witches can also be seen on their next full length release, 2018’s Longing To Be The Mountain. Ben McLeod from ATW produced the album. ATW, The Sword and Elder are all thanked in the liner notes. The album picks up right where Repeater leaves off, with KB experimenting with long form songs like Morning Song and the title track, and shorter jams like Sun Shivers, Cosmonaut, and Quickening. Reynolds and McVay pepper the songs with synthesizer sounds that add colour and texture to the overall compositions. Donaldson drums with impeccable precision to provide each song with a safe mooring to return to, driving the guitars forward at the same time as he holds the rhythm in check. This is most clearly evident in Eye Of The Storm. The result is a rich tapestry of expansive and flowing music full of heavy jams and storytelling that will leave the listener wanting more. Their signature build-to-sonic-explosion style does not let fans down.
The success of Longing To Be The Mountain allowed for extensive touring across North America and Europe. It also led to appearances at bigger gigs, like at Rockpalast and the Stoned & Dusted desert rock event in 2019. Anyone that has seen any of their live work knows that King Buffalo are simply hypnotizing on stage. Reynolds’ bass work is reminiscent of Geddy Lee with his complex and flowing style. Donaldson brings controlled power to the drum kit, and is ready to cut loose when the drop comes. And McVay has become a true front man, comfortable with the lead voice on guitar and the microphone.
Their next release, Dead Star, dropped in 2020 and generated all kinds of buzz in the Stoner Rock scene. Of course, the tour planned to support it got axed when the entire world went into lockdown. But the (short album? EP?) is simply fantastic. Red Star Pt. 1 & 2 continues their long form examination and has everything you’d expect from them. Echo of A Waning Star is a lament of just over 3 minutes that is near-perfect. Ecliptic sounds like the soundtrack to a John Carpenter movie and is a complete jam with serious cool 1980’s vibes. Dead Star, the title track, is almost Radiohead-esque in its evocative and regretful take on death and decay.
But the standout track has to be Eta Carinae, which has one of the greatest musical drops and turn-arounds you will ever hear. The entire song pivots just past four minutes in and becomes a 70’s anthem worthy of Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath. If you listen to no other tune here today, you have to check it out. It will absolutely get stuck in your head.
The band dropped their first live record, Live At Freak Valley, in 2020. This is a really nice retrospective/greatest hits album kinda deal. What stands out is just how fucking tight the band is live. With some bands, live versions veer wildly from the recorded ones - and not at all in a good way. This record is the opposite. You can clearly hear on Orion and Kerosene that KB are just that good live.
In the wake of the global pandemic, King Buffalo decided to musically capture the moment in time. They decided to release a trifecta of albums. 2021 saw them drop The Burden of Restlessness and then Acheron. The third record in this trio is 2022’s Regenerator. It is really important to consider all three records in this Triptych at the same time, for they are a sonic cycle.
TBOR is a descent into despondency. Acheron is about hitting rock bottom, and being in Hell. Regenerator is about finding a way to claw yourself back into the light. Each album stands on its own, but together they form a sweeping epic journey that we can all relate to.
TBOR is an album where the protagonist gradually loses the will to exist. There is a cry of deep frustration in Burning, a not-so-subtle reference to a plague in Locusts, a study in being confined indoors in Silverfish, and an outright statement that our hero is sinking in Loam. In fact, the lyrics tell us: “Still I press my face into the ground/I’m waiting for the hammer to fall.”
It is not a happy album.
Just when you think things have to get better, we get the 4-track jam of Acheron. In this record, our hero has fallen to his lowest point. He has descended to Hell. The title track - the first one on the album - makes this clear, when it says: “Waking up under the ground/Silver asleep on my tongue.”
Just in case you didn’t get the classic reference, Acheron is the river one must cross in Greek mythology to get to the underworld. Souls going to Hell had coins placed in their mouth to pay Charon, the ferryman, to take them across the river to Hades. So our hero did sink into the Loam in the last album, and finds himself in Hell. This theme is reinforced in Zephyr, who was the Greek God of the West Wind, and Shadows, which references what the Greeks used to call dead spirits - Shades. And just in case you had any doubt, the final track on the album is Cerberus, named after the three-headed dog that guards the gates of Hades.
What is even cooler about Acheron is how it was recorded. Instead of a studio, they recorded the album underground in a cave.
Now that is commitment.
The final album in this cycle is 2022’s Regenerator. While the first two records were about descent, despondency, and hitting rock bottom, this record is about regaining hope and optimism, and finding a way to come back. We hear this clearly in the lyrics of the record’s final track, Firmament, which says: “Out of the loam I rise, embraced by the etheThe river below relieves my hands of silver” - clearly calling back to the tracks Loam and Acheron. And in case you didn’t know, in Greek mythology the Firmament means the Sky or the Heavens.
Our hero has left Hell behind, and ascended into Heaven.
References to positive mythology are all over this album, from the album art to the tracks Mercury and Avalon. It is a total jam. But the best song on the album might just be Mammoth. If you don’t like the guitar on this song, you and I can’t be friends.
I got a chance to see KB perform last year when they toured with Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats. They are fucking tight. They were the opening act, but were the absolute highlight of the show. I want everyone to hear this band because they really are something special.
Go check them out.
Links to QOTSA
We know that QotSA front man Josh Homme and Kyuss invented Stoner Rock in the 1990’s. They were the genre-defining band. King Buffalo (and other bands like All Them Witches) have picked up this proverbial torch and are now bringing the sound to the next generation of fans. King Buffalo drummer Scott Donaldson is known to be a huge QotSA fan. Perhaps he saw them live when they played in Rochester in 2014 in support of ...Like Clockwork.
It is also sometimes easy to forget that Josh was not the only architect of the low desert sound. Original Kyuss Drummer and co-founder Brant Bjork wrote many Kyuss tunes and continues to be a leader in the music scene today. King Buffalo have played with Bjork at festivals three times: Freak Valley Festival, Black Deer Festival and the aforementioned Stoned & Dusted. There is also a planned collaborative project between Bjork and King Buffalo that may be coming our way soon.
The future is bright, my friends.
Their Music
Providence Eye
In Dim Light
Pocket Full of Knife
King Buffalo songs from the Split EP with Lé Betre
Kerosene -- live in 2016
Drinking From The River Rising
Orion - entire album on Genesee Live
RepeateCenturion -- Recorded Live in the Quarantine Sessions put out by the band
Live at Rockpalast in 2019 - includes songs from LTBTM
Longing To Be The Mountain - Quarantine Sessions
Quickening -- everything is cool until the snake head pops out. Red Star Pt. 2 -- the official video
Ecliptic
Eta Carinae
Dead Star - Full Album
Silverfish
The Knocks
Loam
Hours
Acheron
Shadows
Mammoth
Firmament
Show Them Some Love
/KingBuffalo - C’mon, everyone -- there are just over 500 subscribers. Those are rookie numbers. You gotta pump those numbers up.
Previous Posts
Tool
Alice in Chains
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Rage Against The Machine
Soundgarden
Run the Jewels
Royal Blood
Arctic Monkeys
Ty Segall
Eagles of Death Metal
Them Crooked Vultures
Led Zeppelin
Greta Van Fleet
Ten Commandos
Screaming Trees
Sound City Players
Iggy Pop
Mastodon
The Strokes
Radiohead
All Them Witches
ZZ Top

Heart Signal 4 (하트시그널4) is finally here after 3 years.
Episode 4 Discussion for Heart Signal 4 over in /koreanvariety subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/koreanvariety/comments/144zibw/heart_signal_4_episode_4_230609/
Synopsis:

Cupid returns for a fresh assault on the hearts of a new group of romance-ready singletons. The group has never met before, but must live together in Signal House. The house rules encourage flirty behavior, but forbid housemates from directly telling anyone that they like them. Instead, they must express their feelings via text message. But there’s a twist: All texts to housemates are anonymous – meaning recipients have to guess who is trying to make a love connection with them.
Watching events unfurl in the house is a celebrity panel of love experts. These include returning romance fans Yoon Jong Shin, Kim Ea Na, and Lee Sang Min, all veterans of previous “Heart Signal” seasons. And joining this trio this time around is a fresh crop of star pundits, including OH MY GIRL member Mimi, Kang Seung Yoon of WINNER, and leading psychiatrist Kim Chong Gi.
This variety TV show series is the follow-up to 2017’s “Heart Signal.” A second series was released in 2018. And this was followed up with Season 3 in 2020.
“Heart Signal 4” is a 2023 South Korean reality TV/variety show that was produced by Park Cheol Hwan.

Cast

Lee Jumi (이 주미)
Kim Jiyoung (김 지영)
Kim Jimin (김 지민)
-
Shin Mingyu (신 민규)
Han Gyeore (한 겨레)
Yoo Jiwon (유 지원)
Lee Hushin (이 후신)

Panelists

Kim Eana
Lee Sangmin
Yoon Jongshin
Kang Seungyoon (from WINNER group)
Kim Mihyun or Mimi/미미 (from OMG group)
Kim Chonggi (psychiatrist)

Subtitles

Subtitles
Stream	Viki
Stream	KOCOWA
Stream	VIU Singapore
Stream	VIU Hong Kong

Viki should have the English subtitles available around say 9PM Eastern Daylight Time/New York Time.
For VIU and KOCOWA, it seems they're a bit delayed, several hours later after Viki.
For VIU access, you'll probably have to use VPNs set to Singapore/Southeast Asia to view their catalog.
Oh and Heart Signal 4 (and earlier seasons) is also apparently available on Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, et cetera, but as usual there's some region restrictions.
Accessing Kdramas, Korean variety shows, and so on (basically Viki, VIU, Disney+, Netflix, etc.): https://www.reddit.com/koreanvariety/comments/10fpzhx/overall_thoughts_on_love_catcher_in_bali/j5cmhaw/ and https://www.reddit.com/koreanvariety/comments/13bmtin/anyone_know_where_can_i_watch_the_below_korean/jjbtnuz/

Past Threads

Episode	Subreddit Thread
Episode 1	koreanvariety, heartsignal
Episode 2	koreanvariety, heartsignal
Episode 3	koreanvariety, heartsignal
Episode 4	koreanvariety, heartsignal

Heart Signal Youtube channel or 하트시그널 라비티비 channel: https://www.youtube.com/@channelA-heartsignal/videos
Heart Signal 4 teasers and clips playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFIYUdSkjiCAuWe006VqSTFfaE7rgIHNy
Heart Signal 4 production stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46UmvFNwi9Q
Heart Signal 4 Episode 1 commentary with Heart Signal 2 Jaeho and some other people: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRuQmQUKLvQ
Heart Signal 4 Episode 2 commentary with Heart Signal 2 Youngjoo and Jaeho, and some other people: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAFSWmQJkhk
Heart Signal 4 Episode 3 commentary with Heart Signal 2 Youngjoo and Jaeho, and some other people: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU511y8l3uw
Gaheun (Heart Signal 3 and Friends) and Jaeho with the Heart Signal 4 house: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86F9hZ-7nxc
Jangmi (Heart Signal 2 and Friends) and Jaeho with the Heart Signal 4 house: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAcupLirqOk
Heart Signal 4 Official BGM Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8djlZk6ZeM0
Heart Signal 4 Official BGM Playlist 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avMPSuhEqak
Heart Signal 4 Official BGM Playlist 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIyRyZxwJnA
For Heart Signal, the original Korean version and some seasons of the Chinese version should be on Viki.
Season 2 of both the Korean and Chinese versions are considered the best, and now some people also really like the 5th season of the Chinese version.
The upcoming 6th season of the Chinese version just wrapped up filming, it should be available soon, maybe a few more months or so.
Heart Signal 1 (Korean Version): https://www.viki.com/tv/35675c-heart-signal
Heart Signal 2 (Korean Version): https://www.viki.com/tv/36949c-heart-signal-2
Heart Signal 3 (Korean Version): https://www.viki.com/tv/36950c-heart-signal-3
-
Heart Signal 1 (Chinese Version): https://www.viki.com/tv/36228c-heart-signal-chinese-version
Heart Signal 2 (Chinese Version): https://www.viki.com/tv/36654c-heart-signal-2-chinese-version
Heart Signal 5 (Chinese Version): https://www.viki.com/tv/38812c-heart-signal-5-chinese-version
With the Chinese version of Heart Signal, it's available on the WeTV/Tencent Video website (has English subs), and also their WeTV/Tencent Video channels on Youtube for free but without proper English subs.
Through the Tencent Video Youtube channel you'll have to use auto-translate from Chinese/Mandarin or maybe say Thai, Vietnamese, etc. So for English subs you have to check their own WeTV/Tencent Video/etc. website.
Viki has the 1st, 2nd, and 5th seasons of the Chinese version of Heart Signal, so you'll have to look for the 3rd (心动的信号S3) and 4th season (心动的信号S4) elsewhere. Like use auto-translate/etc. with the Youtube episodes, or check their actual WeTV/Tencent Video website.
Heart Signal 3 (Chinese Version), Episode 1 and playlist (has Thai and Vietnamese subtitles, use auto-translate to English/any desired language): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywBixGNlkYs&list=PLMX26aiIvX5reBhNMq0rNZHoDa_aGblAs
Heart Signal 4 (Chinese Version), Episode 1 and playlist (these episodes on Youtube for the 4th season don't even have automatic captions/subtitles (no Thai/Vietnamese/Chinese/etc. subs either), so go on WeTV/Tencent Video's website or some places (like Bilibili, etc.) for other subtitles): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWNF5cxAap0&list=PLb8w8KsDSK1wtxaCeyEAMXCHxsCYJLK4A
If you don't want to wait for Viki/VIU/KOCOWA/etc. subtitles (and to get ahead of spoilers), you guys can watch the raw Episode 4 on this Channel A (채널에이방송영상) channel (appears like an hour or so later): https://www.youtube.com/@user-sh4gc2fu9i/videos
They regionally restricted it right after Episode 2, lol, so a VPN set to Korea will probably unlock it. This was the link to Episode 2 of Heart Signal 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0IHJ44sQdg
That video for Episode 2 (from the Channel A (채널에이방송영상) channel) has no English/etc. subtitles, but with auto-generated Korean, you can use auto-translate to English/any desired language (it worked two weeks ago): https://www.reddit.com/koreanvariety/comments/13q991t/heart_signal_4_episode_2_230524/jlgihm0/
This is the link to Episode 3 of Heart Signal 4 from the Channel A (채널에이방송영상) channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSS5o-ExEA8
Oh and if you want to watch it live (there's advertisements and other shows around the Heart Signal 4 episode stream), then you can also visit the Channel A website: https://www.ichannela.com/com/cmm/onair.do
Note the release schedule in Korea: like UTC+9, Korean Standard Time, 10:50PM every Friday. That just translates to around 9:50AM New York Time/Eastern Daylight Time. So make sure to tune in around that specific time as otherwise you'll miss the episode release and get like a different thing, lol.
New Japanese dating show called "Is She the Wolf" on Netflix later this September 2023, it's kinda like Love Catcher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc8Q4T0HFkQ and https://www.reddit.com/terracehouse/comments/13y0vbp/new_netflix_series_is_she_the_wolf_looks_like_it/jmkhyea/
For fans of EXchange/Transit Love (환승연애), there's now Love Transit, the Japanese version of EXchange/Transit Love, it should be available on Amazon Prime Video Japan this June 15, so like 1 more week. And it'll have fewer episodes, so wonder how the runtime or episode length will be as that's key for the emotional investment with the show.
Trailer for EXchange/Transit Love (Japanese/일본 Version), called Love Transit (ラブ トランジット), from the Prime Video JP - プライムビデオ channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGyWTew58-U and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrL5Mc3CuxQ

Heart Signal 4 (하트시그널4) is finally here after 3 years.
Synopsis:

Cupid returns for a fresh assault on the hearts of a new group of romance-ready singletons. The group has never met before, but must live together in Signal House. The house rules encourage flirty behavior, but forbid housemates from directly telling anyone that they like them. Instead, they must express their feelings via text message. But there’s a twist: All texts to housemates are anonymous – meaning recipients have to guess who is trying to make a love connection with them.
Watching events unfurl in the house is a celebrity panel of love experts. These include returning romance fans Yoon Jong Shin, Kim Ea Na, and Lee Sang Min, all veterans of previous “Heart Signal” seasons. And joining this trio this time around is a fresh crop of star pundits, including OH MY GIRL member Mimi, Kang Seung Yoon of WINNER, and leading psychiatrist Kim Chong Gi.
This variety TV show series is the follow-up to 2017’s “Heart Signal.” A second series was released in 2018. And this was followed up with Season 3 in 2020.
“Heart Signal 4” is a 2023 South Korean reality TV/variety show that was produced by Park Cheol Hwan.

Cast

Lee Jumi (이 주미)
Kim Jiyoung (김 지영)
Kim Jimin (김 지민)
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Shin Mingyu (신 민규)
Han Gyeore (한 겨레)
Yoo Jiwon (유 지원)
Lee Hushin (이 후신)

Panelists

Kim Eana
Lee Sangmin
Yoon Jongshin
Kang Seungyoon (from WINNER group)
Kim Mihyun or Mimi/미미 (from OMG group)
Kim Chonggi (psychiatrist)

Subtitles

Subtitles
Stream	Viki
Stream	KOCOWA
Stream	VIU Singapore
Stream	VIU Hong Kong

Viki should have the English subtitles available around say 9PM Eastern Daylight Time/New York Time.
For VIU and KOCOWA, it seems they're a bit delayed, several hours later after Viki.
For VIU access, you'll probably have to use VPNs set to Singapore/Southeast Asia to view their catalog.
Oh and Heart Signal 4 (and earlier seasons) is also apparently available on Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, et cetera, but as usual there's some region restrictions.
Accessing Kdramas, Korean variety shows, and so on (basically Viki, VIU, Disney+, Netflix, etc.): https://www.reddit.com/koreanvariety/comments/10fpzhx/overall_thoughts_on_love_catcher_in_bali/j5cmhaw/ and https://www.reddit.com/koreanvariety/comments/13bmtin/anyone_know_where_can_i_watch_the_below_korean/jjbtnuz/

Past Threads

Episode	Subreddit Thread
Episode 1	koreanvariety, heartsignal
Episode 2	koreanvariety, heartsignal
Episode 3	koreanvariety, heartsignal
Episode 4	koreanvariety, heartsignal

Heart Signal Youtube channel or 하트시그널 라비티비 channel: https://www.youtube.com/@channelA-heartsignal/videos
Heart Signal 4 teasers and clips playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFIYUdSkjiCAuWe006VqSTFfaE7rgIHNy
Heart Signal 4 production stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46UmvFNwi9Q
Heart Signal 4 Episode 1 commentary with Heart Signal 2 Jaeho and some other people: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRuQmQUKLvQ
Heart Signal 4 Episode 2 commentary with Heart Signal 2 Youngjoo and Jaeho, and some other people: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAFSWmQJkhk
Heart Signal 4 Episode 3 commentary with Heart Signal 2 Youngjoo and Jaeho, and some other people: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU511y8l3uw
Gaheun (Heart Signal 3 and Friends) and Jaeho with the Heart Signal 4 house: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86F9hZ-7nxc
Jangmi (Heart Signal 2 and Friends) and Jaeho with the Heart Signal 4 house: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAcupLirqOk
Heart Signal 4 Official BGM Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8djlZk6ZeM0
Heart Signal 4 Official BGM Playlist 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avMPSuhEqak
Heart Signal 4 Official BGM Playlist 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIyRyZxwJnA
For Heart Signal, the original Korean version and some seasons of the Chinese version should be on Viki.
Season 2 of both the Korean and Chinese versions are considered the best, and now some people also really like the 5th season of the Chinese version.
The upcoming 6th season of the Chinese version just wrapped up filming, it should be available soon, maybe a few more months or so.
Heart Signal 1 (Korean Version): https://www.viki.com/tv/35675c-heart-signal
Heart Signal 2 (Korean Version): https://www.viki.com/tv/36949c-heart-signal-2
Heart Signal 3 (Korean Version): https://www.viki.com/tv/36950c-heart-signal-3
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Heart Signal 1 (Chinese Version): https://www.viki.com/tv/36228c-heart-signal-chinese-version
Heart Signal 2 (Chinese Version): https://www.viki.com/tv/36654c-heart-signal-2-chinese-version
Heart Signal 5 (Chinese Version): https://www.viki.com/tv/38812c-heart-signal-5-chinese-version
With the Chinese version of Heart Signal, it's available on the WeTV/Tencent Video website (has English subs), and also their WeTV/Tencent Video channels on Youtube for free but without proper English subs.
Through the Tencent Video Youtube channel you'll have to use auto-translate from Chinese/Mandarin or maybe say Thai, Vietnamese, etc. So for English subs you have to check their own WeTV/Tencent Video/etc. website.
Viki has the 1st, 2nd, and 5th seasons of the Chinese version of Heart Signal, so you'll have to look for the 3rd (心动的信号S3) and 4th season (心动的信号S4) elsewhere. Like use auto-translate/etc. with the Youtube episodes, or check their actual WeTV/Tencent Video website.
Heart Signal 3 (Chinese Version), Episode 1 and playlist (has Thai and Vietnamese subtitles, use auto-translate to English/any desired language): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywBixGNlkYs&list=PLMX26aiIvX5reBhNMq0rNZHoDa_aGblAs
Heart Signal 4 (Chinese Version), Episode 1 and playlist (these episodes on Youtube for the 4th season don't even have automatic captions/subtitles (no Thai/Vietnamese/Chinese/etc. subs either), so go on WeTV/Tencent Video's website or some places (like Bilibili, etc.) for other subtitles): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWNF5cxAap0&list=PLb8w8KsDSK1wtxaCeyEAMXCHxsCYJLK4A
If you don't want to wait for Viki/VIU/KOCOWA/etc. subtitles (and to get ahead of spoilers), you guys can watch the raw Episode 4 on this Channel A (채널에이방송영상) channel (appears like an hour or so later): https://www.youtube.com/@user-sh4gc2fu9i/videos
They regionally restricted it right after Episode 2, lol, so a VPN set to Korea will probably unlock it. This was the link to Episode 2 of Heart Signal 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0IHJ44sQdg
That video for Episode 2 (from the Channel A (채널에이방송영상) channel) has no English/etc. subtitles, but with auto-generated Korean, you can use auto-translate to English/any desired language (it worked two weeks ago): https://www.reddit.com/koreanvariety/comments/13q991t/heart_signal_4_episode_2_230524/jlgihm0/
This is the link to Episode 3 of Heart Signal 4 from the Channel A (채널에이방송영상) channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSS5o-ExEA8
Oh and if you want to watch it live (there's advertisements and other shows around the Heart Signal 4 episode stream), then you can also visit the Channel A website: https://www.ichannela.com/com/cmm/onair.do
Note the release schedule in Korea: like UTC+9, Korean Standard Time, 10:50PM every Friday. That just translates to around 9:50AM New York Time/Eastern Daylight Time. So make sure to tune in around that specific time as otherwise you'll miss the episode release and get like a different thing, lol.
New Japanese dating show called "Is She the Wolf" on Netflix later this September 2023, it's kinda like Love Catcher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc8Q4T0HFkQ and https://www.reddit.com/terracehouse/comments/13y0vbp/new_netflix_series_is_she_the_wolf_looks_like_it/jmkhyea/
For fans of EXchange/Transit Love (환승연애), there's now Love Transit, the Japanese version of EXchange/Transit Love, it should be available on Amazon Prime Video Japan this June 15, so like 1 more week. And it'll have fewer episodes, so wonder how the runtime or episode length will be as that's key for the emotional investment with the show.
Trailer for EXchange/Transit Love (Japanese/일본 Version), called Love Transit (ラブ トランジット), from the Prime Video JP - プライムビデオ channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGyWTew58-U and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrL5Mc3CuxQ