The Incredibly True Story of Renting a Friend in Tokyo

Contributing writer Chris Colin travels to Tokyo to rent a friend. Sounds kitschy, right? But as he navigates his newly forged—and reasonably priced—relationships with Miyabi, Yumi, and Yusuke, Chris discovers the truth beneath the seeming wackiness. What he learns changes the way he views Japan—and his own friendships. Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week.