I Got Lost in Kyoto with only a Paper Map 

Well guys, I hope you enjoy watching Pete and I get soaked through for your entertainment. We finally made it to Kansai though! Over the next few videos we'll plunge into Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe - four videos I've been editing all through the last week, so I can release them all over the course of the next 10 days together. For those of you who don't know the story of how I met Pete, we actually met last year whilst Natsuki and I were filming "Natsuki: The Movie" in London. As a viewer of the channel, Pete had been following our journey around the UK and spontaneously invited us both in for an interview on Absolute Radio. A few months later he visited Japan and I showed him around Tohoku, and since then we've become good friends, ultimately leading us to start the Abroad in Japan Podcast in February this year. AND EVERY SINGLE Thursday since, we haven't missed a single episode! In this week's episode, I discuss why I'm getting a tattoo next year and what it is! You can listen to the Podcast on iTunes, Spotify and pretty much everything, but here's a quick link to the Abroad in Japan Podcast: hyperurl.co/nhgr30 Thanks guys, I hope you enjoy the video!

"Pete, Kyoto isn't even on the map." "What am I looking at, then?" 👏🏼👏🏼Iconic.😂😂

Ooooo that transition into the shrine🤤👌🏻 10/10

"It's quite ironic because you just finished Leg 2 and two of my legs are finished." LOL nice one, Pete.

"whats does the shrine look like?" "it's red" "ok" Lmao

"See you tomorrow guys." Ok, see you in a week!

Pete's outfit is every under-prepared Brit on holiday 😂

That drone was a good purchase. The shots you get from it are fantastic

My friend ran into B-road while they were both in Kyoto. I’ve never been more jealous.

To be fair, the only people who still use paper maps are also the only people who'd buy a pornographic magazine at a corner store.

The episode where I fell in love with Pete. He had me at "A fish stole my hat." ♥️😍

How did we do it?? Honestly, your experience is pretty much how it went back in the 90s... frustration, arguing, and a small bit of crying. if there's another experience with paper maps, I don't know what it is.

I love Pete at the end "I want a cup of tea" A true Brit that will go to no end, rain or shine in any part of the world just to get a cup of tea.

You should kayak around Japan Chris!

Watching all of these in a row has been so fun to do during quarantine. Getting to see so many places and watch Chris’ ridiculous side quests are truly entertaining.

ah that makes my day. finally a chris video again.

The public demands more Pete In Japan content! was great to see you two interact together in video form after listening to your voices for so long on the podcast! Still as englishly snarky and sarcastic as I’d hoped it would be.

"it's like map reading with Mr. Bean" me: almost shoots milk out my nose

That video had the perfect length, I needed exactly 15 minutes and 53 seconds to eat my pizza. ... #PizzaForChrisToo

My dad always forced me to read paper maps over GPS. Most of the time it's a redundant skill, but when wild hiking with no phone signal, the contour lines in particular have genuinely been a life-saver. For example, last summer I was at the peak of England's highest mountain when my phone completely died on me. Reading my backup paper map saved me from an extremely uncomfortable and dangerous night in the mountains, and an embarrassing phone call to the mountain rescue team. In short, though I'm unlikely to use it, I will always take a back-up map, just in case disaster strikes!

Pete is an absolute legend. I should probably check out that podcast.

Yes finally I've been waiting for this.

First time watching funny Pete in a video after listening to you two on the podcast nonstop during the pandemic. Good chemistry going on either way. Keep it up!

*kid goes into shop to buy map* Kid: mommy whats this? Kids Mom: i needed the money allright

feels like I've waited forever for this video... damn.. I'll feel so empty after all the cycle vids are done... but then chris desperately needs a break and we can't do that to him... lol.

Man, you just brought back some great memories of my trip to Kyoto; we were several miles from our hotel and had to navigate back without phones (they had died) at 1 in the morning one night, and spent the stroll walking through back alleys and talking about how glad we were that it wasn't America, as we would have probably died if we had tried that in Chicago. Also had vending machine beer on the way back, so all in all I gotta say Kyoto is a great place to get lost.

Chris-the production quality and your editing skills are incredible! Love the music at 5:52, was blown away by the underwater transition to the shrine, and your drone shots are 🔥🔥🔥🙌👏👏👏👍 seeing your improvement from when you started your channel is mind blowing. Also-as someone born in 1989, i also have no idea how my parents or anybody got around back in the 80’s-90’s without internet or cell phones....My dad still gets paper maps from AAA for road-trips

I like Pete. He takes normal and throws it out the window.

Hey Chris! I can't wait till Pete gets to come back to Japan to hang out in person again. I enjoy listening to your banter on the Abroad in Japan Podcast.

With Pete joining it got saturated with so much British humour 😂

I am studying in Yorkshire now Mr B road!!!

How is it possible that every guest on this journey pulls off the orange helmet of doom and crazyness better than Chris?

”Pete in Japan, we’re going for a drink” Gold, need to see it happen. Give that man his own Japan vlog-show

I've been listening to the podcast more than watching Chris' videos and I'm glad on finally seeing "England's top Japan enthusiast" Mr Pete Donaldson :)

There were some really beautiful drone shots during this episode. It may only be a few seconds of video, but it really helps pull you into the journey. Glad you were cycling on a beautiful day.

That transition at 7:26 and drone shots, its these kinds of quality edits that justifies Chris's delay in uploading vids, keep up the good work boi

PETE IN JAPAN. WE’RE GOIN FOR A DRINK

You used to fold the map to only show the area you were in and re-fold when you got near the edge...and you did used to remember the main routes to where you wanted to go and used the map when you were closer to your destination

We actually knew how to read maps back then! It helped to know what road was coming up next and watch for it, instead of just travelling blindly. I'm really looking forward to the next few videos, as I'm coming to Kyoto next summer for language school. If you have a chance, please pedal past Kyoto Minsai school!

You know Chris is in deep shit when he starts making sarcastic jokes about navigating with the stars. lolll. good luck

You’re damn right I dropped everything I’m doing to watch this.

I'd been wondering the same damn thing why was Pete handling the map in the first place if he couldn't read Japanese🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 hilarious and that went on for 7hours. Now that's definitely Abroad in Japan😆

When I was younger (I'm only 32!), I would actually sit down at home with a map first, figuring out every street and turn. That way, you'd only need the map to know how far the next turn is, or if you've missed a turn. Doing it on the fly was never fun/successful

4:04 Pete saying "and pornography'' is absolutely one of my favourite moments of this journey hahahaha Amazing work as always Chris!

before google maps you'd plan out your route much more, you made yourself more fixpoints and if you really got lost, you had to ask locals for the way.

I love how you somehow always manage to exceed my already high expectations with your videos, I feel spoiled and the rest of youtube is not good enough for me anymore.

More Pete in Japan! This episode was absolutely hilarious!

7:24 that transition legitimately startled me

Pete is absolutely hilarious. He’d be awesome to hangout with

First movies from the 80's, now technology from the 90's. Can not wait for the 'music from the 00's episode".

Yay! Finally it's Pete's turn to join in. Love the podcast.

Chris keep it up, not long to go now mate. You've got it in you to power on, insanely impressed💪

The Dutch used to have a really good trade relationship with Japan during the Sakoku era.

Actually, in the year 2006, when my friend and I were backpacking across 3 South American countries. Back then, we didn’t have iPhones and only used maps. My friend and I had different tasks, and she took the task of guiding us. I had just assumed my friend could properly read a map. However, when started going in circles in a Brazilian small town, I realized something was wrong with my friend’s internal GPS./map reading skills. So, for the rest of the journey, I read the map and we never got lost again. I firmly believe that some people have better spacial (3 D) view/internal GPS than others. Nobody taught me how to read a map but it is pretty easy to follow one intuitively. I never imagined reading a map could be so hard for other people.

How am I supposed to know what a shrine looks like It’s red 😂😂

“I want a cup of tea.” Brilliant

4:10 : "and Pornograpy!" This is already starting out way better than expected XD

I grew up with maps. Mostly, I would look for map books that have water resistant pages. It would get a little tricky. If the map was for a particular trip, I would mark the route and mark off progress at landmarks so that, if I got a little lost, I would have a rough idea by references.

"I didn't bring any food!" *Then STARVE*

Honestly suprised you’re still going, because I would definitely have given up by now. Keep up the good work

back in the 90's (i was in a very famous TV show) we used paper maps. First you should fold the map up so that you are only looking at a smaller area, making sure it is the area you are in. I would then plot out my route sometimes I would use a highlighter to draw it or make little side notes (south on 141, left on 30) stop often to confirm you are still on the correct route. When reading the map failed I'd really on the the kindness of strangers to show me where I was on the map.

The most British video of Abroad in Japan so far.

"How do i know, how the shrine looks like?" Chris "it's look red" Oke

Love this series - really feels like tuning into the TV with every episode. Music, character, presentation, you seem to have it all figured out so well for this project.

I am grateful that Chris is taking his time with these videos and getting them out vs. destroying himself trying to get a video out frequently. Congrats on the one million :)!

My family drove across the US using only paper maps twice. Went to a number of tourist destinations in each state and even when we had to take an off-route we managed. We knew the direction we were heading so we kept heading that way when we were lost and eventually got us where we needed to go. One night, 3 am roughly, we got lost in the backwoods of Kentucky, after two hours we managed to find a highway and get back where we needed to be. We saw it more as an adenture and even if we got lost there was always something worth seeing.

YESSSSS I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR PETE!! So happy you uploaded Chris, your new videos make my day so much better. I swear this series is like a weekly documentary on the BBC. Keep up the amazing work Chris and team!

7:32 transition is so cool!!

*British accent* PORNOGRAPHY! I can't be the only one who thought that was hilarious

Surprisingly Pete does even better on video than he does on the podcast, would definitely watch Pete in Japan.

A new coming of age ritual, send your kids to buy maps from the store *wink wink

"Contrary to popular belief you're not dead" haha

My favourite episode so far! Hadn't seen/heard of Pete before as I'm not following the podcast but damn he's a fun guy :D

In California we had these amazing indexed map books called Thomas Guides! You would look up a street name in the index and it would give you a page number and grid coordinates to find the street on the map. Life-saver! My dad gave me one when I got my license and bought me a new one whenever an updated version was published.

This is probably the meanest challenge in the dispenser!

Pete's accent is even better than yours Chris! *lol*

i love the 10:00 part with the rain and the lights from the streets, reminds me of Blade runner ^^

It's so weird watching Pete here having listened to him on Absolute Radio for years... lol

We visited all 48 contiguous states without Google Maps or GPS, using just a map book. Both children had fun as navigators on these trips, that took place when they were grew older from ages 6 to 13. This is even finding all the sights we wanted to visit. Map reading is a good skill.

7:15 / 9:49 I love these shots. So beautiful.

Loving the cinematography from 9:52 to 10:18!

It's so surreal seeing Chris go from filming in a flat in Japan to going on a bike journey with the radio DJ I listen to! Honestly what I love about this channel the most is how it has evolved over the years but Chris is still himself and seeing this is just a brilliant reminder to us all that if you have a dream and are willing to put in the hard work, great things will happen!

"I want a cup of tea" Doesnt get any more british than this!

I went to this shrine on accident with a friend. We were trying to figure out the bus stops and ended up there. It was quite lovely, but I was so tired I didn't fully appreciate it. Seeing this video makes my accidental journey to Yasaka Shrine somehow more meaningful in retrospect. We also eventually made it to Kinkakuji and got photos before the sunset. I'm glad that we had google maps!

Some of these shots are masterfully done, especially at 9:51. Absolutely incredible work here Chris.

"The fish stole my hat!" what a great introduction :D

I really enjoy your videos, nice to see Pete too! I began listening to the Podcast when you metioned it in a video!

I was freezing cold. My boiler broke earlier. Then this dropped. Now I'm fuzzy and warm inside!

I love rain at night stunning shots

Lake Biwa and its surroundings really reminds me of southern Chile. Lakes, mountains and a lot of vegetation.

I used to use paper maps all the time when I was growing up. My family moved around a lot. I actually had maps of individual states, and the routes that we planned to take were marked with yellow highlighter before we set out. It was easier for my parents to listen to my directions so that they could pay attention to the roads. Sometimes, I miss paper maps.

Incredible production values and so entertaining! Really enjoyed this one and can't wait to see the next instalment!

"You know exactly who this is chris?" "Your mum? *smashes gift* "Chris your the real monster" Absolutley gold

That is where I did the JET Program! Seeing you guys cycle through my old stomping grounds sure brings back memories! keep up the good work!

5:00 That moment when you understand the channel's name after 5 years

We've been waiting years for this upload.

If I had a choice I'd move to Shiga. Still inaka but close enough to take the train to Kyoto or Nagoya.

Thanks Chris for another great video!! Worth the wait.

This video is probably my favorite abroad in Japan video, it’s such a good video

Love the synthwave vibes at 9:51 tbh.