We Made a Japanese Commercial in 24 Hours

@Abroad in Japan

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Join Chris and Joey on day eight of their cycling journey across Japan, as they tackle a remote segment of Niigata, shop for props at Don Quijote, and film a commercial at Itoigawa Station.

1 days · 3 places · 2 experiences

Day 8 · 3 places · Niigata, Japan

Joetsu to Ichiburi: Commercial & Cycle Day

“On Joey's last day of cycling, we started in Joetsu, went to Don Quijote for props, filmed our commercial at Itoigawa Station, and finished the cycle at Ichiburi Station. It was a chaotic but accomplished day across Niigata.”

1
Don Quijote Joetsu
Discount store · Joetsu
3.6 (1,498)Open · until 1 AM
Creator's voice
Japan's biggest and greatest department store where you can buy pretty much everything and anything, especially fancy dress costumes and random props. It's the go-to place if you need equipment and props for a commercial.
MEGA Don Quijote Joetsu Interchange, 683-12 Tomioka, Joetsu, Niigata 943-0173, Japan
- Donald Trump mask — A 'Mr. Trumpu' mask that Chris jokingly says he wants for his birthday to 'make his face great again'. It's an example of the random items you can find here.
- Thong with a tap — A bizarre thong with a tap on it, which Chris highlights as an example of the truly random and unexpected items you can find in Don Quijote.
2
Itoigawa Station
Train station · Itoigawa
3.8 (1,088)
Creator's voice
A station with a train museum that houses an old train carriage and giant model train sets. It's a perfect, quiet location for filming, especially if you want an entire train carriage to yourselves.
Itoigawa Station, 1 Chome-7-47 Omachi, Itoigawa, Niigata 941-0061, Japan
- Train carriage exhibit — An old train carriage inside the museum that you can actually go inside. It feels just like being on a real train, but with the absence of passengers, making it an optimal, quiet film location.
- Giant model train sets · ¥500 — Incredibly detailed model train sets with miniature parks, beaches, people, boats, cars, trains, and towns. You can even drive a train around the track for half an hour for 500 yen.
Experience here
Driving a model train
For 500 yen, you can drive a model train around the giant track for half an hour. It's a fun, immersive experience, even if you're too busy to think about commercial ideas while doing it!
Experience · 1 place
Filming a commercial in a train carriage
We had to conceive, film, and produce a commercial for energy jelly in about six or seven hours, all while cycling 50 kilometers. The train carriage at Itoigawa Station provided an optimal, empty setting. It was probably the most ridiculous thing I've ever done, but we pulled it off, even getting a 'drone shot' using a camera on the model train set.
2
Itoigawa Station
Train station · Itoigawa
3.8 (1,088)
Creator's voice
A station with a train museum that houses an old train carriage and giant model train sets. It's a perfect, quiet location for filming, especially if you want an entire train carriage to yourselves.
Itoigawa Station, 1 Chome-7-47 Omachi, Itoigawa, Niigata 941-0061, Japan
Train carriage exhibit — An old train carriage inside the museum that you can actually go inside. It feels just like being on a real train, but with the absence of passengers, making it an optimal, quiet film location.
Giant model train sets · ¥500 — Incredibly detailed model train sets with miniature parks, beaches, people, boats, cars, trains, and towns. You can even drive a train around the track for half an hour for 500 yen.
3
Ichiburi Station
Train station · Itoigawa
4.0 (65)
Creator's voice
The final destination of Joey's 200-kilometer, four-day cycling journey across Niigata. It's located just 700 meters from the border between Niigata and Toyama prefecture.
Ichiburi Station, Ichiburi, Itoigawa, Niigata 949-0111, Japan