Ainori was the show I didn't know I was missing in my life.

If you like travel, romance, and drama, this is the show for you.

Don't be turned off by how staged the first episode may make everything seem. The commentators and the graphics make the show seem really overplayed, but the interactions between the participants themselves, and not to mention the delicious restaurants and beautiful sights they visit, are 100% real.

I've laughed and cried watching this, and I wish I could follow all the participants on instagram to keep up with their lives after the show.

One of my favorite aspects of the show that wasn't necessary but was definitely a nice touch was the attention they spent on the culture of each of the countries they visited. Participants often visit a local family or organization and learn not only about those peoples' lives, but about a crucial aspect of the culture in which they are visitors. It's endearing to see how the show treats its hosts, and also interesting from a non-Japanese perspective to see the little ways in which Japan is compared to, for example, Thailand.

If you have some time to binge watch and want to get some pointers for your next Southeast Asia trip while following budding romances, this is the show for you.

One last thing - I'd like to point out how the commentary on this show got it right. In Terrace House, for example, I often found myself skipping the commentary sections of the episodes as I found them to drag on or to be too off-focus. In Ainori, however, the commentary never lasts for more than a minute or two, and very rarely strays from the topic at hand. Big ups for that.