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 25 : Kumamoto: Castle Town Loves Its Past with Eye on the Future
December. 27,2022
Kumamoto Castle was built by the feudal lord Kato Kiyomasa. The construction began in the late 16th century and was completed in the 17th century. Designated as a National Special Historic Site, it is also known as Ginnan Castle (ginkgo castle) because of a great ginkgo tree near the main tower. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, James Lambiasi explores the legacy of the sprawling castle, meeting local people and learning about the reconstruction efforts after the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake.
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Episode 23 : Spirited Away to Tono
November. 08,2022
Tono is the setting for the Legends of Tono, often dubbed the Grimms' Fairy Tales of the East. The book, compiled by leading folklorist Yanagita Kunio about 110 years ago, consists of the wondrous folktales Yanagita heard from Tono-native Sasaki Kizen. On Journeys in Japan, Jonathan Senior travels north to Iwate Prefecture and a remote hamlet where the pages of the Legends of Tono come to life.
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Episode 21 : With Isabella Bird: On the Road to Nikko
October. 11,2022
Isabella Bird explored Japan in 1878, a mere ten years after the country had opened its doors to the West. She was accompanied by just one young man who served as both her interpreter and attendant. Unbeaten Tracks in Japan is her highly praised travelogue of that journey. Riki Ohkanda, a media personality well-versed in Japanese culture, follows a length of the route that Isabella traveled from Yokohama to Nikko.
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Episode 17 : Tamba-Sasayama: Inn to the Heart of a Village
August. 09,2022
If you venture up north from Hyogo Prefecture's castle town Tamba-Sasayama, you will arrive in a picturesque village from another time. This is Maruyama, which until recently faced extinction, but was reborn as a village inn. On this journey, Canadian hotelier Vincent Ng explores the village, meeting its residents and discovering the story of its revival.
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Episode 15 : Iriomote: Pursuing the Elusive Jungle Cat
July. 19,2022
A father and daughter head to Iriomote, the largest of the Yaeyama Islands far away in southwestern waters. Covered 90% by subtropical jungle, its rich ecosystem earned the World Natural Heritage site status in 2021. The duo is on a quest to encounter its famous, endemic Iriomote cat. Along the way, they kayak, hike, snorkel and meet wonderful people connected to the island's nature.
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Episode 14 : Suzuka: City with a Racing Circuit
July. 12,2022
The Suzuka Circuit is one of the most famous racing tracks in all Japan. For that reason, Suzuka City (Mie Prefecture) is often known as the "City of Motorsports." The area is also a hub for engineering and manufacturing, especially in the field of motorsports. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, Jennifer Julien from France visits Suzuka and discovers that it also has a long history of traditional craftsmanship.
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Episode 13 : Yamagata: Communing with the Living and the Dead
July. 05,2022
Japan's indigenous belief called Shinto worships 8 million deities. Its imported Buddhism addresses the afterlife. Throughout the ages, people have turned to different gods for different occasions. On Journeys in Japan, we encounter rare religious objects venerated in the Murayama region of Yamagata Prefecture.
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Episode 12 : Exploring the Mudflats of the Ariake Sea in Saga
June. 28,2022
The Ariake Sea borders lies in the northwest of Kyushu, bordering on 4 prefectures: Nagasaki, Saga, Fukuoka, and Kumamoto. Its huge tidal range, as much as 6 meters, is the largest in Japan. Low tide reveals massive mudflats stretching out some 7 kilometers from the shore. This ecosystem is home to some very unusual creatures, and since the old days it has provided a rich bounty of seafood for the local people. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, we explore this unique environment, its history and culture.
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Episode 9 : Eternally Radiant Himeji Castle
May. 31,2022
Himeji Castle is the finest surviving example of early 17th-century castle architecture in Japan, with its main keep intact for 4 hundred years. For its soaring elegance and color, it is fondly called the White Heron Castle. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, we introduce not only the beauty and history of Himeji Castle, but also the culture and tradition of the town surrounding it.
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Episode 7 : Eyeing Architectural Wonders
March. 29,2022
On this episode, we look back at our architecture features and pick up some wondrous, inspiring shapes and their place in the landscape. In Hiroshima Prefecture, the Itsukushima Shrine literally sits on the ocean. In Kagawa Prefecture, an island dedicates itself to art and architecture. And in Nagoya, a merchant's residence, which inspired a world-renowned architect, has been preserved. Let's unravel their secrets.
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Episode 6 : Hearing the Silent Voice of the Bedrock
March. 22,2022
Since ancient times, people in Japan have felt a profound veneration for the bedrock of their land. Quarried and mined, this rock has been skillfully used to create the stone walls of castles and buildings. It is also the base material for statues carved as an expression of religious faith. And in some places, there is a strong belief in the spiritual power of those forms in stone. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, we travel to 4 sites — in Okayama, Tochigi, Oita and Aomori Prefectures — to discover this deep, mysterious relationship.
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Episode 4 : JAPOW Magical Backcountry Ski Tour
March. 08,2022
JAPOW. It's the incredibly fluffy and abundant powder snow that attracts skiers from all over the world. This time, we take you backcountry for floating down thrilling terrain in Hokkaido, Nagano, Niigata and Aomori Prefectures.
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Episode 3 : Matsusaka: Legacy of Samurai, Merchants, Artisan
February. 15,2022
Matsusaka City of Mie Prefecture is famous for its premium Matsusaka Beef. In the Edo period (1603-1868), it prospered as a merchant town owing to its location on the pilgrimage route to nearby Ise Shrine. Various goods, information and people concentrated here, eventually producing Japan's leading merchants. Lena Yamaguchi from Germany explores Matsusaka where traces of the castle and merchant town remain.
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Episode 2 : Hamamatsu: From Local Expertise to Global Renown
February. 08,2022
The city of Hamamatsu lies in Shizuoka Prefecture, midway between Tokyo and Osaka Prefecture. Since the old days, the area has thrived as a key point on the route connecting eastern and western Japan. Nowadays it is known as a hub for manufacturing. Many companies in Hamamatsu started off as small factories but have now grown into global brands, especially in the fields of motorcycles and musical instruments. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, we visit some of these companies, to spotlight their remarkable level of craftsmanship.
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