Planning your first trip to Japan? In this episode of the Jason Boull Travel Podcast, Jason Boull is joined by Japan specialist Charlie Orr to help first-time visitors plan with confidence — from the best starter route (Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima and beyond) to how easy Japan really is to navigate, why rail travel is a joy, and smart tips like luggage forwarding to travel light. You’ll also learn key cultural etiquette (including onsen rules and tattoo considerations), plus how to avoid common pitfalls like overcrowding and trying to do too much.

Ready to make Japan happen without stress? Boullies Travel will build your personalised Japan itinerary, keeping it smooth, realistic, and packed with the experiences that matter most to you.

Takeaways

• Japan is a destination that offers endless discoveries.
• Engaging with locals creates lasting travel memories.
• Navigating Japan is easier than many think, even without Japanese language skills.
• Tokyo feels like a collection of towns rather than one city.
• Food tours can help travelers discover hidden culinary gems.

In Part 2, Natalie’s Sri Lanka nightmare continues — and this is where her instincts as a mum take over.

With her children in the back seat and the “replacement driver” swerving through the darkness, Natalie makes a split-second decision: she has to get them out of the car safely without escalating the situation. She talks through how she engineered a stop at the only service station for miles, moved luggage fast, kept the children calm, and made urgent calls until someone finally agreed to come and collect them.

Once Natalie reaches her hotel, the trip transforms. She shares the unexpected joy of Sri Lanka — surfing lessons, coastal villages, turtles, incredible food, and the warmth of local people — alongside the reality of travelling with children and why she’d do parts of the itinerary differently next time.

Jason and Natalie then unpack the real lesson: not that travel is unsafe — but that support, preparation, and trusted local partners can make all the difference when something goes wrong. Natalie also shares what she’s planning next (including Thailand), and what’s coming up for Rejuvenate, including expansion plans and the launch of an academy.

Natalie from Rejuvenate Skin Experts joins Jason to share her journey from training in beauty nearly 20 years ago to building one of Cardiff’s leading skin clinics — and why her career became a passport to travel the world.

But this episode takes a sharp turn when Natalie reveals what happened on a spontaneous family trip to Sri Lanka. After landing late and realising she hadn’t arranged transport for the long journey south, Natalie and her two children got into a taxi for what she thought was a straightforward transfer.

Instead, deep into the night on a remote jungle road, the driver fell asleep at the wheel — and the car crashed.

Natalie describes the shock of the impact, the fear of standing on a pitch-black roadside with two children, the confusion of not being able to communicate, and the unsettling reality that even the police offered no meaningful help. Just when she thinks rescue has arrived, a replacement driver turns up… and Natalie’s instincts immediately tell her something is seriously wrong.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Rejuvenate Skin Experts

01:49 Natalie's Journey into Skin Health

04:03 Identifying Market Gaps in Beauty

07:00 The Importance of Specialization and Care

08:58 Challenges of Entrepreneurship

10:46 Natalie's Travel Background

13:54 Spontaneous Travel to Sri Lanka

17:35 The Journey Begins: From Airport to Adventure

20:54 A Terrifying Car Accident