Borderless Visit, known as Nagomi Visit until 2025, has received media coverage in Japan and abroad since 2011, with more than 100 appearances in TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, books and websites. Coverage includes BBC World News, NHK, German public television and radio, The Japan Times, Time Out Tokyo and Japan’s major newspapers.
The program also received The Japan Foundation Prizes for Global Citizenship for 2017 and a prize at the 4th Japan Tourism Awards in 2018. Most of these stories showed the same simple scene: travelers and a local family sharing an ordinary home-cooked meal and talking at the same table. Some details in these older articles, such as prices and booking rules, are no longer current.
Media coverage at a glance
Coverage started in November 2011 with a Nikkei MJ article that described the idea as a homestay with a meal but no overnight stay. It grew quickly from 2013 to 2018, when travel media in Japan and abroad began to report on meals with families in Tokyo and other cities.
- 2011 to 2012: first newspaper coverage, Spanish TV and talks for travel and food groups
- 2013 to 2014: Japanese TV, The Japan Times, the BBC and newspapers in Denmark and New Zealand
- 2015 to 2016: many NHK, TBS and TV Asahi programs, radio interviews and inflight magazines
- 2017 to 2018: a high school textbook, TV in France and Germany, and two awards
- 2019 to 2024: online media, guidebooks and German public radio
The complete list by year is at the end of this page.
Japanese television and radio
The program appeared on Japanese TV and radio many times, from a full documentary to short news features.
BS Fuji, Table of Dreams (June 2013)
The first major TV appearance was a 30-minute episode of Table of Dreams on BS Fuji. It aired on June 29, 2013, with a rerun on July 6. The whole episode was about the program, and the crew filmed for 4 days with hosts, guests and the team.
The episode followed a French couple who loved anime. It also followed a solo traveler from the United States.
One host was shown preparing a meal for 5 artists and designers from Italy, who first came to know Japan through animation. The dishes included inarizushi, which is sushi rice in fried tofu pouches, braised pork belly and salted umeboshi plums. Before the episode aired, the show shared short previews on its Facebook page. One preview described the dining table as a place where people from different backgrounds connect.
NHK and other TV networks (2014 to 2018)
NHK covered the program in news programs such as Shutoken Network, Ohayo Nippon and Hirumae Hotto, and in E-tele programs about welcoming visitors to Tokyo. TBS, Fuji TV, TV Asahi, Yomiuri TV and TV Tokyo also showed meals with host families in their news and lifestyle programs.
TV Tokyo, Why Did You Come to Japan? (October 2017)
Why Did You Come to Japan? is a popular TV Tokyo show that follows travelers from abroad on trips away from the usual tourist routes. In October 2017, an online original episode featured the program. After seeing it, some viewers in Japan decided to become hosts themselves. In August 2018, the program appeared again on Why Did You Come to Japan? Z on BS Japan.
Radio interviews
The team spoke about meals with travelers on many radio programs, including J-WAVE, NHK Radio Shinyabin, Bunka Hoso, Nippon Broadcasting System, Radio Nippon, KBS Kyoto and FM-FUJI. In 2015, listeners of a J-WAVE program helped the team make a welcome video for travelers.
International TV and radio
Travel programs in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Thailand and Malaysia also featured meals with host families in Japan, each with a different focus.
BBC World News, The Travel Show (April 2014)
The Travel Show on BBC World News began its segment with traditional Japanese food, which had recently received UNESCO heritage status, and with small restaurants where locals eat. The presenter then pointed out that a meal in a restaurant is different from a meal in a family’s home. This led into the part about the program.
The segment showed a meal with a host family from start to finish. The program’s chief operating officer at the time also explained the idea behind it. A clip of about 5 minutes that covers this part was published on the BBC programme page.
Voyage et bonnes manières, France (December 2017)
The French TV show Voyage et bonnes manières, which is about travel and manners, included the program in its Au Japon episode. At first the team was worried about the theme. It had always told guests not to worry too much about mistakes with Japanese table manners.
So the episode did not focus on rules, and showed what an ordinary meal at home in Japan is like. A host family in Tokyo helped with the filming.
German-language TV and radio (2018 and 2024)
The program appeared in a Tokyo episode of the public TV travel series Reisen in ferne Welten in January 2018, and on the Bayern 2 radio program radioReisen in December 2024. Read more in Borderless Visit in German media.
Spain, Thailand and Malaysia
In 2012, the Spanish channel LA SEXTA filmed for its program El Intermedio. Thai TV featured the program in Daisuki Samurai Japan in 2015, and Malaysian TV in Miss Astro Chinese International Pageant 2016.
Newspapers, magazines and online media
Print and online media described the program in their own words, often for travelers and sometimes for people living in Japan.
Japanese newspapers
The Nikkei MJ, Yomiuri, Mainichi, Asahi, Nikkei and Tokyo Shimbun newspapers all covered the program, as did several regional newspapers in 2015. The Mainichi Shimbun ran a half-page feature with color photos on August 13, 2014, with interviews with both hosts and guests.
Guests said that when people sit down and eat together, they start to see how much they share. This is true even when they look different on the surface. Hosts said that meeting guests showed them how many interesting people there are in the world. Practicing another language also gave many hosts more confidence.
English-language news in Japan and abroad
In February 2014, The Japan Times described the program as a rare glimpse of the Japanese dining table, and Japan Today reported on visitors tasting Japanese culture through home-cooked meals. The New Zealand Herald and the Danish newspaper Politiken followed in July 2014. Epicurious in the United States interviewed the team in 2017.
Time Out Tokyo (2013 and 2018)
Time Out Tokyo first introduced the program in December 2013. In March 2018, it explained the meaning of the old name in an article about the program. According to the article, nagomi is another reading of the kanji 和. This character refers to things Japanese, and it can also mean to bring together.
As a verb, the word describes the relaxed feeling of being with good friends. The article noted that this is the feeling the program hoped to create.
Travel and English-language magazines
Several magazines introduced the program to travelers and to people living in Japan:
- Tokyo Weekender (October 2013 and May 2018) wrote a piece on the program. The team hoped more foreign residents would step outside their usual circles.
- Metropolis (February 2014 and January 2018) presented it to foreign residents as a way to see everyday Japan beyond tourist spots.
- The Swiss International Air Lines inflight magazine (November 2014) listed it as one of ten reasons to visit Tokyo.
- Inflight magazines of Scoot, Jetstar and TransAsia Airways also introduced it between 2014 and 2016.
- GEO Saison (September 2017) described lunch or dinner at a local home, where the main attraction is often the feeling of belonging a little.
Books and guidebooks
American food writer Matthew Amster-Burton described joining a meal with a host family in his book Pretty Good Number One: An American Family Eats Tokyo (2013). A Japanese edition followed in 2014. In 2020, the Danish guidebook Turen går til Japan included the program in its tips for travelers.
An NHK World feature about Japanese food (2016)
NHK World interviewed the program’s chief operating officer at the time about the program and Japanese food. One question asked about the beauty of Japanese food, and the team took a few days to answer it.
The answer appears in the NHK World article. Japanese food has more variety than many people expect, and many of its stories are still waiting to be discovered. It also said that home cooking keeps changing, even when the basics stay the same.
Awards and recognition
The program received The Japan Foundation Prizes for Global Citizenship for 2017 and a prize at the 4th Japan Tourism Awards in 2018. Its work was also used as an example in a Japanese high school textbook in 2017. The details are in Borderless Visit awards and recognition.
Talks, panels and workshops
The team also shared its experience at events for travel, food and community groups:
- 2012: a panel for FEW, a network of foreign women in Japan, and a seminar talk
- 2014: a panel at the Minato International Dialogue, held by Minato City
- 2018: a talk at a training session for volunteer guides held by Saitama Prefecture
- 2019: a talk at the tourism committee of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- 2020: a disaster-prevention map workshop for visitors held by Shibuya City
- 2023: a workshop on diversity and inbound tourism at Kyoritsu Women’s University
Full list of media coverage, 2011 to 2024
The tables list every appearance recorded by the program, newest first. Titles of Japanese programs and publications are shown in romanized form.
2024
| Date | Media or organization | Type |
|---|---|---|
| December 6 | Bayern 2, radioReisen, Bavarian Broadcasting, Germany | Radio program |
| July 26 | Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), German website | Article on women traveling alone |
| June 16 | trpstr.de, Germany | Travel tips for a first trip to Japan |
2023
| Date | Media or organization | Type |
|---|---|---|
| December 5 | Kyoritsu Women’s University | Workshop on diversity and inbound tourism |
| May 25 | Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), German website | Online article |
2022
| Date | Media or organization | Type |
|---|---|---|
| October 26 | Benesse Holdings, Benesse Children’s Future Support Project | Activity profile |
2020
| Date | Media or organization | Type |
|---|---|---|
| May 18 | JAMMIN charity brand | One-week charity T-shirt collaboration |
| March 7 | Abenteuer und Reisen, Germany | Travel magazine |
| March 3 | Turen går til Japan, Politiken, Denmark | Travel guidebook |
| January 29 | Shibuya City | Disaster-prevention map workshop for visitors (as a partner group) |
2019
| Date | Media or organization | Type |
|---|---|---|
| December 13 | Woman Excite | Online article |
| December 13 | livedoor NEWS | Online article |
| October 4 | Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tourism Committee | Talk by the founder |
| June | Zoom Japon, France | Magazine |
2018
| Date | Media or organization | Type |
|---|---|---|
| November 19 | Shareable | Online article |
| October 22 | Yahoo! Japan News | Online article |
| October 10 | Lifehacker (Japan) | Online article |
| October 6 | Saitama Prefecture, follow-up training for volunteer guides | Talk by the founder |
| August 23 | 4th Japan Tourism Awards | Award, Area category of the Domestic and Inbound field |
| August 14 | BS Japan, Why Did You Come to Japan? Z | TV program |
| June 11 | NHK, Shutoken Network | TV news program |
| May 28 | TV Tokyo, Yojigoji Days | TV program |
| May 14 | Nippon Broadcasting System, Abe Ryo no NGO Sekai Isshu! | Radio interview |
| May 11 | NHK, Ohayo Nippon | TV morning program |
| May | Tokyo Weekender | English-language magazine |
| April 27 | Wochi Kochi Magazine, The Japan Foundation | Web magazine interview |
| April 24 | NHK, Hirumae Hotto | TV program |
| April 18 | Nikkei (online edition) | Newspaper |
| April 8 | J-WAVE, Sunrise Funrise | Radio interview |
| March 20 | Time Out Tokyo | Online article |
| March 1 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan | Report on the Japan Foundation award ceremony |
| January 30 | Metropolis | English-language magazine |
| January 25 | Tokyo Shimbun | Newspaper report on the Japan Foundation award |
| January 23 | NHK, Shutoken Network | TV news report on the Japan Foundation award |
| January 23 | The Japan Foundation | The Japan Foundation Prizes for Global Citizenship (2017) |
| January 6 | Reisen in ferne Welten – Tokio, German-language public TV | TV documentary |
2017
| Date | Media or organization | Type |
|---|---|---|
| December | Voyage et bonnes manières, France | TV travel program |
| October 16 | TV Tokyo, Why Did You Come to Japan? (online original) | Streaming program |
| September | GEO Saison, Germany | Travel magazine |
| July 14 | Japan Travel and Tourism Association, Kanko to Machizukuri | Magazine interview |
| May to June | JAL inflight entertainment, NHK Wonders of Japan | Inflight video |
| March 7 | NHK, Radio Shinyabin | Radio interview |
| March | Shin Katei Sogo, high school home economics textbook (Taishukan Publishing) | Textbook |
| January 19 | Epicurious, United States | Online interview |
2016
| Date | Media or organization | Type |
|---|---|---|
| December 1 | NHK World, Japanese Food Special Features | Online feature |
| November 16 | Radio Nippon, SABON Japan presents Ashita Radio! | Radio interview |
| October 23 | Astro, Miss Astro Chinese International Pageant 2016, Malaysia | TV program |
| September 24 | Asahi Shimbun, Ima Kodomotachi wa | Newspaper |
| September 16 | TV Asahi, Super J Channel | TV news program |
| September 14 | Japan Travel | Online article |
| September 13 | NHK World, Newsline | TV news program |
| September 12 | NHK World, Newsroom Tokyo | TV news program |
| August 15 | Nonbiru, Pal System | Magazine |
| August 4 | NHK, Shutoken Network | TV news program |
| June 27 | Entre, Recruit | Magazine interview |
| June 1 | Jetstar Magazine, Australia | Inflight magazine |
| April 12 | Shibuya no Radio, Shibuya Community & Social | Radio interview |
| March 31 | NHK E-tele, 2020 Tokyo Minna no Oen Keikaku | TV program |
| February 10 | FM-FUJI, Pump Up Radio | Radio interview |
| January 4 | The Huffington Post Japan | Online interview |
| January 3 | NHK E-tele, Tokyo Omotenashi Keikaku | TV documentary |
2015
| Date | Media or organization | Type |
|---|---|---|
| December 7 | Bright TV, Daisuki Samurai Japan, Thailand | TV program |
| November to December | TransAsia Airways, Renaissance, Taiwan | Inflight magazine interview |
| November | Mitsui Life Insurance, Vector Life | Magazine |
| October | Japan Association of Dallas, Howdy Dallas, United States | Newsletter interview |
| September 18 | TBS, Asa-Chan! | TV morning program |
| September | Sotetsu Kawaraban, Sagami Railway | Booklet interview |
| August | WAttention | Online article |
| August | Hokkaido Airport, Harmony | Company magazine |
| August | My Eyes Tokyo | Online interview |
| July | Minato City, Tokyo, International Plan for 2015 to 2020 | City plan |
| April 8 | J-WAVE, Acoustic County Tokyo Good Design | Radio feature |
| March | NHK News Web | Online news |
| March | J-WAVE, Wonder Vision | Radio interview |
| March | WAttention Tokyo and WAttention Tokyo Taiwan Edition | Magazine |
| March | Lets Living, Kurashi How Institute | Magazine |
| January 30 | Bunka Hoso, Fukui Kenji Gumoni | Radio interview |
| January 28 | Yomiuri TV, Kansai Joho Net ten. | TV news feature |
| January 1 to 3 | Regional newspapers: To-o Nippo, Kanagawa Shimbun, Nagasaki Shimbun, Chiba Nippo and Fukui Shimbun | Regional newspapers |
| January (February issue) | AEON Card, mom | Member magazine |
| January (February issue) | Iki Iki | Magazine |
2014
| Date | Media or organization | Type |
|---|---|---|
| November 1 | Swiss Magazine, Swiss International Air Lines | Inflight magazine |
| October 25 | Minato City, Minato International Dialogue | Panel with the founder |
| October 1 | Pouch | Online article |
| September 1 | BBC Good Food Magazine India | Magazine |
| September 1 | TBS, Ippuku! | TV program |
| August 25 | KBS Kyoto Radio, Shofukutei Kohei no Hokkahoka Radio | Radio interview |
| August 20 | The Sushi Times | Online article |
| August 18 to 22 | J-WAVE, Jam the World | Radio interview |
| August 14 | Fuji TV, Mezamashi TV | TV morning program |
| August 13 | Mainichi Shimbun | Newspaper |
| July 26 | Politiken, Denmark | Newspaper |
| July 4 | The New Zealand Herald | Newspaper |
| June 11 | Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) | Online article |
| June 3 | X-Knowledge, Japanese edition of Pretty Good Number One | Book |
| May 19 | The Japan Journal (English and Chinese) | Magazine cover and feature |
| April 19 | BBC World News, The Travel Show, UK | TV travel program |
| March 1 | Scoot Magazine, Singapore | Inflight magazine |
| February 20 | Metropolis | English-language magazine |
| February 19 | Japan Today | Online news |
| February 11 | The Japan Times | Newspaper and website |
| January 29 | Discover Nikkei | Online article |
| January 5 | Yomiuri Shimbun | Newspaper |
2013
| Date | Media or organization | Type |
|---|---|---|
| December 5 | Time Out Tokyo | Magazine |
| November 19 | Nikkei View, United States | Online article |
| October 23 | Tokyo Weekender | English-language magazine |
| July 1 | Tokyo International Communication Committee newsletter | Newsletter |
| June 29 | BS Fuji, Table of Dreams | TV documentary |
| June 14 | Nonbiru, Pal System | Magazine |
| April | Pretty Good Number One: An American Family Eats Tokyo | Book |
| February 18 | alterna | Social business magazine |
| February 18 | Yahoo! News | Online article |
2012
| Date | Media or organization | Type |
|---|---|---|
| November 8 | Jiyu Daigaku (Freedom University) blog | Profile of the founding team |
| March 24 | Apparel Concier | Seminar talk |
| March 20 | SQUARE | Travel industry magazine |
| February 9 | FEW, network of foreign women in Japan | Panel |
| February | LA SEXTA, El Intermedio, Spain | TV program (filming) |
2011
| Date | Media or organization | Type |
|---|---|---|
| December 12 | Tenkai Japan | Collaboration on Japanese food content |
| November 28 | Nikkei MJ | Newspaper |
Borderless Visit today, and what has changed
Across these stories, the same points come up. The food is what a family normally cooks, sharing the table matters more than perfect manners, and conversation can work even when language levels differ. This is close to what many travelers mean by a real Japanese experience.
Borderless Visit (formerly Nagomi Visit) is a cultural exchange program that connects travelers with local Japanese host families for a home-cooked lunch or dinner. Guests share the meal at the host’s home, typically for 2 to 3 hours.
The program started in 2011. In June 2013, at the time of the first TV documentary, it had about 70 hosts and had welcomed over 220 groups from 35 countries. Records from 2013 to October 2026 show 5,432 visits to host families’ homes in 39 prefectures, with guests from 82 countries and regions.
Prices, payment methods and booking rules mentioned in older articles have changed, so check the current booking steps before you plan.
The TV crews and journalists have moved on to other stories. The meal they filmed and wrote about is still at the center of the program: lunch or dinner at home, with people who live there.
