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Remi Shimazu

I'm a Los Angeles-based travel and lifestyle content creator who loves sharing travel tips, guides, and itineraries for Japan, LA & beyond. I also occasionally share my latest reads in a bookish newsletter. Sign up to receive letters from my travels and be the first to know when new content is released.

life in california vlog
Featured Post

Not a Japan video (for once) 🌴

Hey Reader, New video is up, and it's a little different than usual. For most of you, this channel = Japan. But today I'm sharing what life actually looks like back home in California when I'm not traveling: a road trip, a nail appointment, a block party in LA, and a few thoughts on what's coming next for this channel. Watch it here If you've been waiting on the Japan travel guides from my spring trip, don't worry — they're still coming (end of July/August). In the meantime, this is the start...

Remi's Reads | For all things books

Hi Reader, Some of you might remember Remi's Reads — my short-lived booktube channel from way back. Well, the name's back... just in a new format. I've started writing reading wrap-ups and reviews under "Remi's Reads" over on Patreon. Less filming, more writing, and honestly, a lot more room to actually dig into what I'm reading instead of cramming it into a video. My latest post is up now: the 2026 Mid-Year Book Tag — a look back at what I've read so far this year (favorites, surprises, a...

Hey Reader, I’m back from Japan, and I have a lot to catch you up on. 🩵 One of the reasons this last trip was so memorable was because I got to spend a week of it with my family. It was some of their first times visiting Japan, and not only that, part of the trip would be dedicated to going back to where our family was from in Wakayama. Wakayama is huge, so we hired a van to take us around everywhere for a day. Our day was a mix of sightseeing spots and exploring areas that our family...

Hey Reader, I’ve been in Japan for the past few weeks. And until now, you're one of the first ones to know exactly what I've been up to. No posts. A few(?) stories. No check-ins. Just me, my camera, and whatever city or town I happened to be in that day. If you’ve followed along with me for a while, you already know how I get when I’m in Japan. My phone basically becomes a GPS, a camera, and not much else. The moments I’m not actually traveling between places, I’m sitting somewhere...

Hey Reader, One of my favorite things to do in Japan is to find unique trains to ride. Exploring by train makes it easy to discover areas I might not have visited otherwise — and this Tokyo itinerary is built entirely around one of the city's most charming and underrated lines. Explore a quieter side of Tokyo with this 1-day solo itinerary along the Toden Arakawa Sakura Tram Line. From fox shrines to thick udon noodles, discover hidden gems off the beaten path. In this video, you’ll see how...

Hey Reader, Whenever I visit Tokyo, I always leave a day or two in my itinerary to take a few day trips outside the busy city. I’ve found that these little trips allow me to experience Japanese history and culture more fully. Below are seven places that are all doable as day trips — trust me, I’ve done them myself! And I have vlogs and guides that share my experience for each. Here are my favorites! See which one matches your travel style. 🩵 Perfect Day Trips (about 1 hr each way) Kawagoe — a...

Hey Reader, I’ve always wanted to visit Hakone and was curious whether a day trip from Tokyo was possible to do without rushing. In this new video, you’ll see how my day went (places visited, route, etc.) and get travel tips based on my experience. Hakone Day Trip from Tokyo: 1-Day Japan Travel Itinerary Watch Now More Hakone Guides Below are additional Hakone travel guides available for this video: 🩵 Blog Guide — Hakone Day Trip from Tokyo: 1-Day Japan Travel Itinerary This blog guide...

Hey Reader, Planning a trip to Japan is exciting — and a little overwhelming. Whether it's your first time or your fifth, there are so many tickets and reservations to sort out before you even board your flight. Beyond the basics (flights, hotels, and train passes), some of Japan's most beloved attractions require advance booking — think Tokyo Disney Resort, Ghibli Park & Museum, the Pokémon Cafe, and more. Spots fill up fast, so this isn't something you want to leave to chance. Before you...

Hey Reader, After becoming a frequent traveler to Japan, I’ve learned that most peaceful trips don’t happen by chance. They come from preparation, planning, and calming habits that help me feel grounded no matter where I am. Travel insurance is one of the things that helps me feel grounded because I know I’m prepared for the unexpected. SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance Essential is designed specifically for travelers and remote workers. It’s really flexible — you can buy it even after your trip...

Hey Reader, Yikes. I cannot believe how long it’s been since my last upload!! But I’m back with a new Japan travel vlog to a brand-new area I’ve never been to before — Karuizawa. I was so pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to do a day trip here from Tokyo. I didn’t feel rushed at all with this itinerary. Watch New Video Again, I’m so sorry for the delay in uploads! But I hope that you enjoy this new video. 🤍 For full travel itinerary details from this video, check out this blog post,...