Hilton Hotels Vs. Japan: How Offensive was Their Removed Commercial? |

Do you prefer a personal touch when it comes to hotels?
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Feat. @AbroadinJapan
00:00 Little travels / The Cup Noodles Museum
11:26 A Google Maps Betrayal
17:39 Hilton Hotels Vs. Japan
25:17 Choosing the Right Book Cover
29:12 Buying Cheap Gadgets in Japan
30:45 The World Rally Championship
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[@WabbitCrouton]

A tip for Google Maps users: When you have set a public transport route, try to set 'Wheelchair-accessible' in Options . It will then try to optimize the route including elevators or ramps. I realized it on the last day in Japan, but it helped us to take a wheeled luggage-friendly route instead of endless stairs of despair. Please do give wheelchair users the right of way.

[@katemostreicher]

This is pure gold

[@damiangrouse4564]

"Stairs of Despair" 👍

[@alysgrey9576]

I’ve definitely been betrayed by Google Maps. In Edinburgh, it claimed my hotel was just 0.5 miles from the station and the route was mostly flat. The “road” was literally a staircase from the 1800s that went up into the distance. I found another way as I wasn’t taking my luggage up that. Living in Japan Google regularly insisted that there were “roads “across overgrown fields.

[@MikeMakesUK]

Any local will tell you that no matter how short or long your journey in Edinburgh, you will almost certainly have to go up at least one bloody hill. We are a city built on hills and that doesn't count the named ones. It comes from being on an ancient volcanic range. I suspect I know the steps that you're talking about as well. The ones in the gardens, close to the National Gallery perhaps. They're not fun with heavy luggage. But yes, Google are terrible with Edinburgh sometimes. They refuse to acknowledge that my street even exists at all. Thus I frequently have to go on minor search and rescues for lost delivery drivers.

[@KleioChronicles]

If you’re Scottish you’d probably know Edinburgh is a bit infamous for being built on crag-and-tail landforms. The castle being built at the top end of one and the whole Royal Mile going down it is one such example. Edinburgh in general is always horrific to drive in in my experience, for many reasons.

[@DewyHQ]

Quite a shock to hear my Story get highlighted. I'll take Pete's advice and unleash on my inner alpha male when navigating Tokyo next. 😂 Keep up the great work boys. - Duane (the non-jetlagged Australian)

[@henoji777]

Cup noodle museum was a bit corny but had a wholesome message. I was one of the ppl who went way too hard with designing the cup 😂 made mine a ramen parody of the great wave off kanagawa I think the commercial does trivialize the culture behind ryokans, and the hard work that the staff puts into the experience, but I also get the sentiment of not wanting to be tied down to the ryokan's schedule. This happened during an overnight trip to hakone where it felt very pressured to fit everything in before the 6pm dinner (would recommend to others who visit nature for the ryokan experience to do a ryokan for 1 day but then a hotel for the rest of the stay)

[@porcorosso4330]

There are options with no meals... That said, many ryukan are further out from everything else which is why then include a meal... Because you can't really get dinner near the ryukan...

[@sheppertonstudios8253]

Nice to hear you mention Colin Mcrae Rally on the Playstation, I'm one of the track designers that worked on that series. Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@zentani67]

Big fan of Colin McRae, R.I.P., and the Colin McRae Rally & Colin McRae 2.0. You did great work!

[@kevsonkeyboard]

pebble

[@petedonaldson2698]

Codemasters Stan right here mate!! Thanks for all your hard work😂❤

[@draroking]

Best of luck for Journeys across Japan, Chris. Will be waiting for some amazing content

[@Grahzzyvtvlog]

He probably will lose his mind day 13

[@awlabrador]

I stayed at the Hilton Nagoya this past summer, and it was uniformly excellent. The breakfast buffet was extravagant and delicious, and the service was definitely top-notch and extremely polite. I’ve also stayed at ryokans in Kyoto in past years, and the service, meals, and ambience were also exquisite, and I don’t remember any rules or schedules being burdensome.

[@AndrewHadi07]

that is because you are a normal person. some people (surprisingly many that i know..) sleep when the sun is up and wake up when the sun is at it's peak.

[@daddykidsvlogs]

read that as "unfortunately excellent"...

[@dark6c159]

trashing competitor in commercial is not a thing in japan. and 0:06 that is not ryokan , thats a motel in US.

[@animalhouse8849]

@@AndrewHadi07 Your sleep schedule doesn't really have anything to do with normalcy. Kind of an odd thing to say.

[@lenagraham2093]

That's nice that at the ryokan you stayed at that you could go whenever to the onsen. The one we stayed at, the onsen time we were assigned was very strict with no flexibility, even though no one was going before or after us. Our check in was not stressful, but it is true we were given exact times for meals. It wasn't like dinner is between 6-8. It was like, dinner starts at 6 and if you're not here to be seated at 6, you miss it.

[@Bargadiel]

I can see how the hotel thing would be offensive as it's kind of making it seem like western style hotels are better than ryokans. Reminds me of political ads, why advertise by making something else look worse? Given the shakiness of the tourism industries in some small towns, I can really see it as hurtful to some ryokan, but it isn't as aggregious as some other ads for things I've seen in the states.

[@T0DD]

That's so funny, Peter is the name of Ludwig's step-dad as he said in the mentioned clip. Mr. Donaldson genuinely thought that Lud was smart enough to use an alias

[@Stormscape32]

The stairs story reminds me of exit 2 at Honjo-Azumabashi Station, weirdly also on the Asakusa Line. The first time I went to Japan back in 2017, we had to stay at a hostel for one night near that station as the accommodation we booked for the rest of the stay wasn't available for that night. We spent nearly 3 minutes dragging our luggage up the seemingly endless stair.

[@dameneko]

"Native language of Dr. Jelly" -- somehow this phrase immediately brought to mind Joey conversing with his Australian Siri!

[@kristin7146]

My experience with a ryokan was not nearly as stressful as its being made to sound here, but maybe it was just that I picked a good one. Matsuyama, the staff spoke zero English (despite what the booking site said), and we were able to run through dinner, breakfast, and futon times without a fuss. We had a private hot spring tub off our room, it was great.

[@princessjello]

Same. We did a ryokan and it was such a relaxing experience.

[@Komainu959]

Same, it was my most memorable experience and best meal in Japan and was an ultimate relaxing experience. My only regret is that because it was pretty pricey I only booked one night...I so wish I had done at least two. If advising when you're gonna eat twice and when a good time for them to take out the futon is too much then maybe you shouldn't be traveling. I know the saying of going on vacation to turn off your brain but this is getting ridiculous.

[@Zookeepersgirl]

We went to the cup noodle museum last week. It was an experience. I did spend too long decorating mine. I stood on the balcony with my husband, both having a slight existential crisis while realising we chose to go there 😅

[@perthzakugirl6288]

Can relate to the google maps giving secret road suggestions - here in Australia we have similar roads in the south west. Basically built for farmers or western power maintenance roads. Google took us down an unsealed road and there's a few down there so we were like ok I'm sure this is fine...then the gravel become dirt and the dirt became sand and then the road kinda vanished! So I had to get out and direct my husband to turn around so we didn't end up in a ditch and go back to the main road. So I learnt to stick to the main roads XD

[@kholui]

I might have had more sympathy for Chris on the matter of directions from Connor had I not seen their recent Twitch RV stream. One of the filmed challenges involved Chris directing Ludwig in a Tuk Tuk - his own instructions there were hardly stellar.

[@drucifer00]

Pete has always been my favourite UK guest.

[@Pyrominon]

The classic Tokyo station experience: Getting lost inside a train station looking for a specific exit so that you don't get lost when you leave the station.

[@ParaSytius]

On my last visit to Japan several years back, I found the electronics to be more expensive. Android tablets, cameras, and laptops for me when comparing them to UK prices tended to be about 25% more expensive. I won't even say how overpriced a Nikon lens I was checking out was when compared to the UK.

[@blinkx1070]

You could always go to a place that sells second hand goods like MAP Camera. Many Japanese do a great job keeping their possessions in good shape so you can get items that look pretty close to brand new for cheap. And don't forget to use the phrase: ”タックスフリー ありますか?”(pronounced: takkusu furi arimasuka?). Foreigners don't have to pay sales tax on many goods if they're staying less than 6 months (over 5000 yen). For North Americans: Price stickers in Japan include sales tax

[@PaulGirdlestone]

To be fair my daughters that are 17, 9 and 7 love doing all the design your own *blank kind of thing. The eldest more so to be with the younger kids. She never had siblings until she was 16 (I adopted her). They are really fun activities for families.

[@vlogkitsune6785]

Hey Chris. Awesome podcast. There appears something is not quite right with the 4k upload. The main channel has great video quality.

[@TohokuMatt]

I drive around Miyagi and Tohoku a lot and I agree, google maps is notorious at sending you down tiny side streets only for you to come out the other end and see that you could of, should have, gone straight along a large 3 lane road to a giant intersection but no you trusted google sensei so you drove through a small neighborhood instead. Those tiny roads can be dangerous because every corner is a blind corner and you can easy hit a pedestrian or another car. So always zoom out and check the route from time to time.

[@drucifer00]

Chris, your frame rate.

[@HandleToBeDetermined]

He’s conserving frames for the special

[@Pwnopolis]

Looks fine.

[@OrangeOrangesMax]

It is noticeable at the 15 minute mark. Still completely watchable though yes

[@mariotaz]

When is Chris going to add Ray Tracing?

[@fluidthought42]

​@@mariotaz That's the problem, he's trying to run rt on an AMD card.

[@ChannelSho]

I like Chris's take on how ryokans should handle the Hilton ad. Plus the attitude in which you should go into one.

[@kelvinc]

My personal experience was to book ryokans where the ryokan experience is kind of the point, compact walkable places like Miyajima and Kusatsu where there isn't as much of a nightlife. Staying at a ryokan in, say, Tokyo, where you can cram your itinerary and you can be very far from your accomodations during the day, is much riskier.

[@ItsBAndBees]

I know some of those touristy activities seem boring to you guys (you spend your time traveling and doing all sorts of crazy stuff!) but when o saw that video I was so jealous because I know my kids would love to do stuff like that. We don’t have a whole lot of little wholesome activities like that by us, unless you wanna make a candle or spend your paycheck at build a bear lol

[@AlexSDU]

As an e-hailing driver, I much preferred Waze apps than Google Map. The only plus Google Map has is the satellite image for the map, so I can check whether the road is good or not.

[@janusmcgee8909]

I watched in 144p for that authentic 2006 cell phone camera experience, for Chris’s frame rate.

[@kevinp8882]

#faxmachine This question is for Pete! Kevin from Colorado here and I greatly enjoy rock climbing and mountaineering. Does Japan have an avid rock climbing or alpinism scene that you’re aware of? If so, which prefectures are must visits for the adventurous alpinists and dirtbag climbers? Thank you Mr Donaldson!

[@Namjiook]

Hey, I have a question (I remember hearing that you were starting to pull questions from comments). I’m an American from Utah and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Part of my religion requires that I don’t consume alcohol, coffee, tea (herbal tea is ok), tobacco products, or any form of recreational drugs. I’m planning on visiting Japan upon completion of my master’s degree and was wondering if it will still be worth visiting Izakaya (for the food) and tea houses (is there any alternative drink I could have there for when I come to Japan. What are your thoughts? Also, I know that you’ve recommended meeting people at bars in Japan, but considering I don’t drink do you have other recommendations for meeting locals? I'll be excited to see all of the historical sites and hopefully see a koto or tsugaru-shamisen performance. I love the channel; I’ve been watching it for years. I thought your book was great Chris! I listened to it and thought you did a good job at recording.

[@pm7081]

Beware internet cafe's that offer overnight stay, you get your monitor and space, stay until the morning. Some even have showers. Anyway, a friend was staying in one in Osaka, we were out drinking and it was pretty cold so he went back to get a jumper from his bag. The manager was furious and kicked him out. Apparently you can't come and go like a hotel, once you're in you have to stay in until morning. A bit like From Dusk Till Dawn!

[@gewglesux]

I guess the commercial will be on YT later on.. can't seem to find it.

[@KantoCafe715]

I love ryokans. Also , ryokans are high end or low end, depending how special the occasion is and how much you want to spend, but they are accessible to all. So culture, basically.

[@dragonofparadise]

When traveling in Japan, There is a good time for the Ryokan/Onsen, a time for a hotel and a time for a Airbnb. It all depends on the situation.

[@KantoCafe715]

I totally agree. They're all different. Ryokans are the most romantic if that's what people are after.

[@aleattorium]

Me, as a Portuguese speaker, took a surprisingly long time to understand it was "ilha Madeira" lol

[@catherinekenyon7555]

😂 I thought that it was just me and my North American brain that took a good bit to interpret "Madeira". 😊

[@ratoh1710]

The "Mystery Meat" in cup noodles is pork, soybeans and vegetable extract, which is then freeze-dried.

[@Kaptime]

That Noodle CEO museum sounds like the bloody Shinra Museum in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Walk past a golden statue and photos of the CEO getting awards and the keys to the city then watch a video about him etc.

[@TheClintonio]

APA Hotels also has an advert in their rooms that mock Ryokans. It's a bit riduclous. Ryokans aren't competing with business and luxury hotels so I dislike the ads. I've been to a load of Ryokans and love them. I use business hotels when travelling on my own and Ryokans with girlfriends/friends. For example I took a little working holiday to Fukuoka for two weeks and APA was the best option if a little pricy, but when my friends came to visit I took them to Kyoto and we stayed in a nice little Ryokan. If they come again I'll take them to upmarket Ryokans too. It's important to note that the more upmarket the Ryokan the more flexible they are in my experience.

[@michaelmoorrees3585]

Even in the US, I picked up "the kid" from high school, and then drove down a public road that didn't exist on Google Maps. I'm well aware of "service roads", not intended for public use, and only used by utility companies, for infrastructure maintenance. Used them as "deluxe" hiking trails in the mountain forest. This was before the internet, so I have no clue, if Google lists these roads.

[@RadenWA]

Is mealtime really just a ryokan thing? I feel like every single hotel I have ever been to have time limit for breakfast and dinner if it’s included at all. If you don’t feel comfortable with it you can always go out to eat somewhere or bring back food from shops or konbinis. Same with onsen, you can just have a shower at your room if you really can’t be bothered with the schedule. I often stay at ryokan one week at a time and never even noticed that the schedule could be an issue at all. I don’t understand how it can be such a dealbreaker to some?

[@witchssecret]

#faxmachine Pete, hope you had a great trip to Belgrade, what did you like best? Q: Would you recommend booking small-business workshops in English in Tokyo or Kyoto, like making pottery or Sharla making a ring for Chris? Has either of you had any experience with something similar? Much love, Teodora from Belgrade

[@boblong8149]

Loved your book

[@CLU1968]

Noticed this video was hard to find shortly after posting. But current batch of UK Hilton Hotels ad also offensive, including one where all dressed in pink and only say 1 word (Can not find this ad now).

[@Terahnee]

Google Maps in Japan - We went to Iwate Children's Forest (about 1 1/2 hour drive from where we lived in Misawa). On the way home we wound up on a road with a closure really far down the road, so we had to backtrack and go a different way. Due to this we wound up using enough extra gas that we had to get gas on the way back to base. We hadn't been in Japan long, it was dark, I was tired and when we stopped for gas I didn't notice that the pump I picked was diesel.... my car was not a diesel car. And, yes, the pump is the same size in Japan, so that mistake can be made there (unlike in the states where the diesel pump won't fit in a non-diesel car). Fortunately we hadn't driven far when the car started sputtering. We called road side assistance and it wound up only being that the tank needed draining and we needed a new fuel filter, so not too bad a repair. But. BUT If Google Maps hadn't tried to get us home down a closed road we wouldn't have needed to stop for gas after a long day and with me not paying attention to colors nor being able to read the Japanese on the pump. Hah.

[@KYQ]

Momofuku Ando was from Taiwan, and took on the surname of his wife and the Japanese pronunciation of his Mandarin name when he got naturalised as a Japanese citizen!

[@Bellbebell]

Ryokan are often small businesses/family businesses. It’s less convenient, but it would be hard for them to coordinate having food ready at all hours since they likely don’t have industrial kitchen with teams or staff

[@greenmoss9079]

Crazy never thought about staying at a Hilton when I intend to explore Japan! Also there are loads of hotels 😂 All can cater for different needs! Go Japan 😊

[@CarlTippins]

Google maps is not only bad to follow in the country side, but also in the "ancient" parts of major cities. I was in the old/original part Seville Spain and Google maps INSISTED I turn into a "street" that was barely more than 2 meters wide. Not only that, it was an extreme 90 degree turn, from a VERY narrow street that also had round pillars about 15 centimeters high along the road to stop you from driving on the 10-15 centimeter wide "side walk". We would have had to pick the car up and manually turn it the 90 degrees to even head down the street Google maps wanted us to turn down! We finally asked someone if there was a landmark we could use to get were we were supposed to be in order to have Google maps redirect us onto actual drivable streets. I've also read stories of people in Death Valley (the lowest point in a desert area of California, USA) that would drive for miles/kilometers on dirt roads Google maps told them to use and then have Google maps tell them to turn right or left onto a nonexistent road. Several people have nearly died in the desert because Google maps did this sort of thing to them.

[@auberginebear]

#faxmachine question: Will you be able to still do the podcast during your 21 day Journey Across Japan? You haven't said and I feel like you'll already being doing so much by making sure you release a video every day for 21 days that I think it makes sense if the podcast goes on a hiatus during that time. Cannot wait to see the journey, hope you have fun!

[@kevinp8882]

#faxmachine

[@seidon_]

they normally record a few at once so they might have a few banked for while Chris is away

[@auberginebear]

@@kevinp8882 thank you for reminding me it needed that, have edited it.

[@kevinp8882]

@@auberginebear 😉

[@scaremeister]

thanks goodness you pronounce Asakusa properly. !!

[@CalebHSumo]

Pete referenced Limmy, my worlds collide. Chris is so paranoid about bears its crazy hahaha. Most of the bear attacks happen when people are out in the woods alone, at dusk picking food. Food which the bears also eat. Just chill dude. Especially when youre still in honshu where theres no brown bears. I do get it, but roadside with your car and when theres 2 of you, you'll be so fine.

[@RealPi]

Mystery meat in the UK would be a kebab you order on the weekend around 2 am while you're still pissed out of your skull xD.... About the Hilton ad....It's adversarial, among other things, which goes against the Japanese spirit, so I think it's sort of bad even if you look at it in that sense - apart from what you said about it which is totally true as well.

[@ville.rachael.jukarainen]

No Ludwig’s name isnt Pete. Peter is his step dad’s name and she accidentally called him that. 😂

[@hakz07]

Jonathan Noodle is a great name :D

[@Steven141]

It definitely gets shown on Formula 1 that the Japanese love.motorsports anyway, especially since the suzuka circuit is owned by Japan and is an engine supplier and one of the drivers is Japanese. Rally does look fun though

[@nicholausbuthmann1421]

DON'T EVER TRUST GOOGLE MAP'S "RURAL" ROAD SUGGESTIONS. Such stranded me in "Joshua Tree" Area Desert in a Dry Sandy Wash. Luckily a nice helpful gent and his kid's got me unstuck ! It was like living a scene in a modern day John Steinbeck Novel.

[@Taltosmaster]

Gents, just an (uncalled) advice, as someone who lives in a neighboring country and met both Bosnians and Serbians: theirs are the 2 countries you wouldn't want to mix up the most - or at least not in front of any of their residents. :D

[@gr-os4gd]

🎶 Fish-heads, fish-heads; rolly-polly fish-heads! 🎶

[@Mrshoujo]

Fish heads Fish heads Roly poly fish heads Fish heads Fish heads Eat them up, Yum!

[@thexbigxgreen]

Penguin UK have an amazing KZbin channel where they have their authors doing expert commentary videos, do you ever plan on collaborating with their channel, Chris? That would be fucking awesome!

[@y416]

In Japan, there of course is much to criticize and it is OK for Japanese to do the criticizing, but the moment an foreigner makes the same criticism it becomes an affront to Japanese society. Hilton forgot that, even if they were just trying to do something humorous. It’s pretty much the same for any country, not just Japan!

[@jd_99]

Not really - and it would be typical for your average non-Japanese Joe to think that, so well done for being an average Joe. It's simply because a western company isn't qualified to talk about service in a Japanese context, especially when it comes to small-scale Japanese hospitality in general. The only people who say stuff like the above are westerners who obviously live by western rules - even when they're in Japan - and that's why it was if not offensive, then laughable to any Japanese.

[@snarkypuppy6459]

Hilton is my company's "preferred" hotel and I have about eleventy billion rewards points that I had originally planned on using for part of our trip to Japan, but quickly changed my mind after seeing how far they are from everything we want to see. Hard agree on the breakfast. It's garbage. I bring my own, coffee too.

[@shawnt5205]

International Chain hotels are insanely expensive and upscale in japan

[@ragtagzagvee7675]

#FaxMachine i bet you not see this but have you ever think to cover more of the pop side of japan like pokemon and all the love that gos to it like the pokemon shops cafes and hotels have you ever thought of doing vids of them just to show off more of the fun side of japan and for fans for things like that

[@rcnordo4366]

The problem with the Hilton ad IMO is not that it necessarily gets the ryokan experience wrong, it suggests it is not worth having, and I can understand why that would offend ryokan operators and some Japanese people. Going to a ryokan is not a 1:1 experience as going to a luxury western hotel (no Japanese person would possibly confuse the option - generally theu also use hotels and they don’t stay at ryokans unless that is what they specifically want to do). Staying at a ryokan scratches a particular itch, which is to stay at a ryokan. Like a lot of things about Japan, it’s not necessarily the most convenient or flexible experience, but it’s culturally unique to the place and at a minimum interesting to do. You might like it, you might not, it is highly unlikely you will decide “oh I will always stay at ryokans instead of western hotels” but that’s not really the point. Ryokan owners and Hilton both know that, but Hilton crossed the line by basically trying to persuade people that ryokans are just unfun hotel resorts, which is not entirely fair or correct.

[@TheClintonio]

Disagree with you on Tokyo and Google maps Chris when it comes to say, Shinjuku, Shibuya and other large stations with mixed transport. It will tell you to go out of Shinjuku station when 90% of the time it's quicker, both due to the complexity of the station and slow people, to get out at say, Sanchome, and walk from there. Everyone, I mean even my local friends, always regret using Shinjuku station over one of the other nearby ones.

[@Komainu959]

21:10 Do NOT let this be your take on Ryokans. I honestly knew nothing about these "rules" when I booked and went to one (Yamabiko Ryokan in Kurokawa) and it was no big deal. There are basically THREE times you have to give them. Breakfast, Dinner and when they'll take your futon out. I know the saying is people love to turn off their brain on vacation...but this is ridiculous. As for the other rules like when the onsen is open, there are few if any hotels where their pool, workout room and other such amenities are open 24/7 and don't have time entry rules. The only difference is they don't bother to tell you what those rules are and you have either ask or find the info on your own. Also a Ryokan is generally a destination in and of itself. You go there specifically to enjoy the atmosphere it provides, it's not really someplace you go to and it becomes your home base for exploring the a wide area beyond perhaps the town it's in. And of course there are different types of Ryokans and some will have much more service so of course you should do your research before booking.

[@downundergrowth]

cup noodle museum fuckin rocks

[@SonicRyan1992]

The commercial sounds savage in both directions. Basically a convenient crutch for gaijins who can't handle the Japanese system Factually correct, but it's like: "What, is our ryokan not good enough for you?" & "Wow, you think we're THAT stupid?"

[@martinedingivan]

Ronaldo has a head bigger than the world imo his personality suxs great podcast guys can't wat for the trip😊

[@MsLuluwang]

Hi Chris Wishing u peace🎉 n joy this holiday season n throughout 2024. creator of cup noodle he’s actually from Taiwan not 😅Thailand

[@kito-]

Video looks a little choppy, maybe because it's 25fps?

[@nicholausbuthmann1421]

Japan's Postal System NEVER SHOULD'VE BEEN PRIVATIZED !......Peter speaking of Portugal's "Madeiras Islands" it's where "Port Wine" originates ! It's Airport looks like a Freeway Overpass due to how it had to be built !

[@sightsandsoundsofaviation]

Basically you should try to promote YOUR product and never bash your competitors. Just test them how flexible they really are...

[@janusmcgee8909]

No that’s definitely google’s fault. It doesn’t really know about elevators, whatever path it gives you tend to follow. It has also lead me up and down staircases, when there are better paths available.

[@sheilahgregg7879]

You probably should try the actual ramen museum in Shin-Yokahama. It's decorated in a WW2 decor. It's kind of cool and soooo many different styles/ flavors of Ramen to choose from. Addy is 2 Chrome-14-21 Shinyokohama, Kohoku Ward Yohohama, Kanagawa 222-0033 Japan. Got it pinned on Google maps from when I was there in 2014.

[@fredlink1036]

hay tell the museum don’t harsh on Wimpy earing his burger.

[@downundergrowth]

AKB48 selling canned farts from each member in their Onara Love range.

[@geishasniper3242]

Chris... mate... what are you drinking?? That's not a starbucks doubleshot-what is it? I need to know

[@damiangrouse4564]

"Gaggle" gets enough of my info as is...I use Apple Maps, sofar so good.

[@Fanta....]

it's a fishlight

[@rebeccataylor2049]

The guy with the fish postcard… Is he on a medication or should he be on medication that's my question? So now I'm confused about what the city was actually about is it about postcards?

[@MrBritaus]

Having travelled the length and breadth of the UK as an IT consultant I've stayed at some pretty grotty hotels in my time. Not sure how staying at the Hilton for a night can be considered a bad experience. Maybe successful You Tubers live in a rarified atmosphere and demand absolute perfection or are just hypercritical.

[@MarkSmith-pd6fk]

You've ruined your chances of eating a cup noodle 🍜 in a Hilton hotel 🏨

[@yohannessulistyo4025]

Why would anyone eat in hotel while in Japan, even if it is 5-star hotel? That is like missing 99.9999999% of the better option, which is go to the food street or traditional market and voila. The other 0.0000001% is the annoying thing that is Asakusa opening everything at 11 AM. "Flexibility" for meal is overrated and pointless. even during business trip to Japan, I never think of eating breakfast at hotel, saved the office a couple hundreds of bucks. The nearby konbinis like 7eleven or Famima always stock far superior food selection that you will want to try. Any great udon, ramen, or soba franchise are always nearby if not your favourite beef bowl restaurant. Ryokan is definitely a must-try, it is super relaxing atmosphere, complete with decadent dinner meal. When a Japanese lodging call itself a "ryokan" - a hot spring bath is expected. It is an experience on its own, but definitely not "just an accomodation". Hotels meanwhile are your accomodation - it needs to be strategically located, which in Japan means near a public transit station. In my first visit to Japan, my brother who has been there 4 times, picked APA Ginza Takaracho, located just in front of Toei's Takaracho station (exit A1, not the famed "A3") - it is all stairs exit - so quite a struggle indeed, but offers seamless connection to Haneda airport (basically anything along Toei Asakusa line). Then we stayed at AirBnB in Osaka - it is definitely a good choice, as long as you understand Japanese rules on garbage sorting and cleanliness - the price and the room size is the best. Finally it is topped by a stay in Ryokan (Tokinoryu Setsugetsuka) in Gora, Hakone - easily became the highlight of any holiday memory. Even those in Taipei's hilly Beidou district - those ryokan-style hotels are still excellent, just without that decadent dinner. They do come with the price. APA being business hotel, has excellent amenities, from pyjamas to trousers iron to shoe shine to high end toileteries - but in exchange of room size (10-11 meter square). The intention is for any business travellers to pack lightly, since the hotel provided most things. They joked that APA stands for "Always Perfect Amenity". But business hotel is not the way you should enjoy Japan. I would say, splurge a bit, and get ones that is at least 17 meter square. Any 5-star foreign hotels like Hilton or Marriott are not worth their asking price, unless you have premium membership and exchanging your loyalty points. Yes, they are a bit cheaper than Singapore, but they are totally inferior to their Southeast Asian counterpart - since they overemphasized on room size (size being premium in Japan). Everything else is a mix mash of Japanese old fashioned technology and annoyingly minimalist / modest luxury fashion that pretty much defines Japan. You'll get much better room and service in Jakarta, Manila, Bangkok, or Kuala Lumpur. Japanese toilet and its washlet being a very popular thing in Asia, means you are not missing much skipping them for local hotels. Otherwise, try to rent an apartment or AirBnB - just make sure that it is within the walking distance to public transit.

[@EllieFour]

It's like guided tours v your own itinerary. I wouldn't survive the local Japanese style accommodation. I want to holiday I don't spend thousands to be made to follow outmoded rules.

[@ltcinsane]

Geez Chris stop being so jealous of us Australians. :P

[@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi]

Google maps intentionally directs traffic into tunnels in Brisbane Australia, Why? Because they pay google to do it. Otherwise their business ie toll roads here in brisbane would fail. 1 minute saving for $7 to $15 passing through 10 plus speed seatbelt mobile phone etc cameras. nope.

[@terrapinalive6192]

Staff at some ryokans are stressed out and their manner is borderline rude

[@kristinehoya7396]

This does not compare AT ALL to being prepared for staying at a ryokan, and the commercial, but could I just throw this in: We went to Disney in Florida for our Honeymoon. We had certain expectations and discovered quickly that ... the best way to experience the "Experience" is that you MUST MUST MUST plan your breakfast and dinner. We had to make decisions about what attractions, rides, etc. we wanted to hit around the place we wanted to have around dinner. We made the mistake a couple of times thinking, aw heck, we can skip dinner, we'll get something later and discovered that after a certain time the only thing that's left if you're lucky is vending machine food. It's important to know all this before jumping in, so ... I hope folks will learn the customs of ryokan and not be shocked. Thank you as always for all you do.

[@patriciaturnham453]

Pete, you sound like my ex husband. "We're men, we don't need directions!"

[@phgamer4393]

do hiltons in japan not have real kitchens. you said microwave stuff and in american im pretty sure room service, serves restaurant level food.

[@ericng5707]

Ryokans traditionally offer an "everything at set times" experience, and that's fine for the people who understand that culture/etiquette or are actually looking for that kind of catered stay. At the same time, foreigners tend to want freedom to choose as opposed to being treated like children and being told exactly when they can eat, when they can bathe, etc. so ryokans that want to get a piece of the inbound tourism pie would do well to offer more flexibility, or at least more customization.

[@eternalinsignia]

Actually there is Ryokan which works like a hotel (albeit not 24 hours), but usually, it is darn expensive (as this kind of Ryokan usually has private onsen and private everything with a lot of employees).

[@sirmione905]

Many ryokans offer cheaper rates without meals. If there are many restaurants around, it can be an option. However, most tourists staying ryokans want to experience something unique that they don’t have back in their home countries, and the meal served in ryokan is definitely it. Usually tourists stay at several different locations while traveling in Japan, so staying at both western style hotel and ryokan would be a good idea.

[@markmcdonald6039]

Something is wrong with the audio I hear a high pitched tone during the video

[@noname-dk7ri]

日本の宿泊形式が叩かれるのは良い事だと思う。こうでもならんと、固定化された価値観は変わらない。

[@AllanAdamson]

hi I'm new here.. sort of

[@tuanld91]

I guess the agency making the ads was Western. In East Asian cultures, advertising your service by comparing it with other services should be carefully considered. Else it would come out as smearing aka "putting other down so you could look good" as some would say. Even for me the Hilton's ads seems very rude and annoying.

[@shawnt5205]

Saying partner instead of girlfriend/fiancé/wife is strange

[@nicholausbuthmann1421]

Indeed, I'm not impressed By Hilton in the least either ! Whether here in the U.S., Japan, or anywhere else !

[@wasabichips933]

Ryokan food takes an incredibly long time to prepare and it needs to be eaten fresh so it makes sense that they would ask you to decide on a soecific time. If you want to have crappy precooked meals you should just stay in a hotel.

[@KantoCafe715]

Plus fresh uncooked prawns and other shellfish , and so on. If summertime in the scorching heat of Japan, you would worry if they weren't strict with time.