Journeys in Japan
TV-G
8.8
2010
Documentary
Journeys in Japan provides an eye-opening look at the many unique places to visit in Japan. English-speaking visitors travel the length of the country, exploring the culture, meeting the local people, visiting historic sites and offering travel hints rarely found in guidebooks.
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Episode 28 : Michinoku the Legend of Gold
December. 14,2021
This time, we trace Japan's legend of gold. The precious metal was actually first mined in Michinoku -- an old name for northern Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures -- in the 8th century Nara period. A photographer visits Hiraizumi and its golden Konjikido, meets a gold leaf artisan, ducks into an old mine and even pans for gold.
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Episode 26 : Northern Alps for All Seasons
November. 16,2021
The Northern Alps, which extend some 150 kilometers, are the most popular among climbers in Japan. Many of its peaks tower more than 2,000 meters with 10 topping 3,000. Along the ridgeline alpine views rarely identified with Japan stretch out. Due to strong seasonal winds, climbers can enjoy nature that changes dramatically through the seasons. And, along with the show's director, that's just what we do this time on Journeys in Japan.
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Episode 25 : Shinto Rituals: Linking Communities and Deities
November. 02,2021
Since ancient times, Shinto rituals have been held at sacred sites across Japan, bringing people together and creating bonds between the participants through their shared faith. Many of those rituals are held in the autumn. Moreover, the 10th month of the lunar calendar (November in the Gregorian calendar) is a time when the many deities of Japan are said to gather for their annual conference. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, we take a deeper look at the diverse and vibrant rituals of Shinto, meet some of the people who take part in them, and discover the deep bonds that link those participants.
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Episode 24 : Oki, Iki, Tsushima: Frontline Islands in the Stream
October. 26,2021
Japan has about 6,800 islands that are larger than 100 meters in circumference. More than 500 of them are classified as "remote border islands." On this episode of Journeys in Japan, we revisit 3 of them -- the Oki Islands, Iki, and Tsushima -- to explore their culture, traditions and distinctive history on Japan's frontline.
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Episode 23 : Hokkaido: Catching the Northern Lights
October. 19,2021
On Journeys in Japan, photographer Alfie Goodrich framed his lens on Hokkaido Prefecture's Muroran and Rausu in 2019. Muroran is an industrial city that flourished on steel. Though it fell on some hard times, it is coming back with events targeting youth culture fans. Rausu is a sliver of a town nestled on the Shiretoko Peninsula -- a World Natural Heritage Site. It is famous for its untouched nature and wildlife, as well as its prized kombu kelp.
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Episode 22 : Legacies of Samurai Culture
October. 05,2021
When people think of the samurai they imagine fearless warriors skilled in the martial arts. But that's just one side. In this episode, we look at how elite samurai promoted artisanal culture and works of art even outside Edo (old Tokyo) and Kyoto. We trace their footsteps in Kyushu, Ishikawa Prefecture, Yamagata Prefecture and Aomori Prefecture.
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Episode 21 : Creative Solutions Spark Rural Revival
September. 28,2021
Across Japan, communities highlight their distinctive charms to attract visitors. On this episode of Journeys in Japan we revisit 3 locales that have come up with creative ways to put themselves on the map, becoming known not only in Japan but around the world.
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Episode 20 : An Ode to Live Music
September. 21,2021
With the world pandemic, music venues across the globe have gone silent. So this time on Journeys in Japan, American actor Charles Glover takes us back in time to get lost in live music. He revisits Kobe, the city of jazz, Tsugaru, the heart of the shamisen and Osaka, the place for the blues. And he gets the word from local musicians about the current situation in their area.
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Episode 18 : Ishinomaki: A Decade On - Remembering and Moving Ahead
August. 17,2021
Located on the coast of Miyagi Prefecture, Ishinomaki City long flourished through fisheries. The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake ravaged the city, leaving 4,000 people dead or missing -- making it one of the worst hit areas. Richard Halberstadt from Great Britain was a victim of the disaster. Now as the director of the city's information center on March 11, he conveys the reality of that time to visitors. On Journeys in Japan, Richard and his friends take us on a tour of recovery. Looking back, they're passing on the memory of the earthquake and tsunami.
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Episode 17 : Summer Festivals to Celebrate Around Japan
August. 10,2021
Festivals are an essential element of summer in Japan. Held around the country, some feature music and dancing, others spectacular lights or massive floats. On this special episode of Journeys in Japan, Shizuka Anderson introduces 4 of the largest, most exuberant summer festivals that have been featured in previous shows. Each has its own history and local traditions that often date back centuries. What they all share in common is the passion and intensity of their local communities.
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Episode 16 : Lifting the Spirit through Architecture Nikko Okinawa Osaka
August. 03,2021
On Journeys in Japan, we've discovered the history and culture of many places through their architecture. On this episode, we revisit Nikko, Okinawa Prefecture and Osaka Prefecture, to take a close look at significant buildings and how they connect with the people.
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Episode 13 : Toba Islands: Life and Love in a Traditional Community
July. 13,2021
The Ise-Shima National Park is one of Japan's most popular sightseeing areas, but not so many people visit the islands that lie offshore from Toba City. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, Ogawa Niki visits 2 of those islands. In Toshijima he explores the back alleys of a fishing town, where the distinctive tradition and local culture remain strong. And in Kamishima he discovers the setting for a novel that has become one of Japan's most popular love stories.
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Episode 10 : Minami Shinshu: A Solo Alps Journey
June. 08,2021
Outdoor guide Daniel Moore gets a taste of deep mountain life on a drive around Minami Shinshu in southern Nagano Prefecture. On his way he stays in an abandoned old post town, hikes with a hunter, visits a master wood artisan, camps under a blanket of stars, shoots down the Tenryu River in a traditional boat and sips tea high up on a farmer couple's terraced slope.
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Episode 8 : Eye on Nagoya: A City's Identity through Architecture
May. 11,2021
Nagoya is in Aichi Prefecture in central Japan. While it is sometimes compared unfavorably to Tokyo, Kyoto Prefecture and Osaka Prefecture, there is more to the city than meets the eye. It's a fascinating place steeped in history. From the ancient Atsuta Jingu, a shrine with deep ties to the Imperial Family, to contemporary buildings we explore renowned architecture old and new to reflect on the culture of Nagoya.
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Episode 5 : Frozen Beauty at Dawn and Dusk: Hokkaido in Midwinter
February. 23,2021
Hokkaido Prefecture in mid-winter is a frigid land of snow and ice, where temperatures can drop below minus 20 degrees Celsius for weeks on end. But this is the perfect time to see wildlife and natural phenomena that can only be glimpsed at this time of year. And, of course, it's a paradise for winter sports and other outdoor activities. This episode is presented by Bill Sullivan, the narrator for Journeys in Japan. He loves Hokkaido and the great outdoors. Right now, he can't make any trips, due to the coronavirus pandemic. But he hasn't stopped making travel plans. So this time he introduces 3 places and activities that are on his wish list, all in Hokkaido.
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Episode 2 : Tsu: A Path to the Heart
January. 26,2021
Tsu in Mie Prefecture prospered as a castle town during the Edo period (1603-1868). Situated close to Ise Jingu, one of Japan's most significant Shinto shrines, it has been a crossing point for pilgrims since ancient times. Tsu is known for its appealing post town architecture, as well as its historic shrines and temples. Dance performer, and local resident, Yuko tours the sacred sites while holding a wish for the pandemic's end in her heart.
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