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.
-
- Cast:
Episode 28 : Handa: Savoring a Canal City's Delights
December. 12,2023
Handa City, in Aichi Prefecture, is known for its brewing industry and festivals with towering floats. Jennifer Julien, a wine promoter based in Japan, delights in the city's sake and sushi, as well as its Handa Dashi Float Festival. It's a spectacle of thirty-one floats that come together once every five years.
Watch Now
Stream in HD
Episode 27 : Kyushu: On the Shoyu Trail Nagasaki – Kumamoto – Miyazaki
December. 05,2023
Soy sauce, or shoyu, is one of the essential seasonings that underpin Japanese cuisine. In Kyushu (southwestern Japan), various types of soy sauce have been developed to complement different dishes. From one region to the next, each sauce has its own tradition and use. This has led to the creation of numerous sauces across the region, including new kinds of shoyu featuring a range of ingredients.
Watch Now
Stream in HD
Episode 26 : The Soaring Dragons of Chichibu
November. 28,2023
Chichibu in Saitama Prefecture is a charming, rustic spot not far from Tokyo. It is known for its hundreds of annual festivals. These include the Chichibu Night Festival, as well as one that features rockets. In the Yoshida Ryusei Festival, which takes place in October, locals handcraft rockets that are launched high in the air and release colorful decorations or firework clusters on the way down. We meet the people who are passing down this special tradition.
Watch Now
Stream in HD
Episode 25 : From Ise to the Source of the Sacred River
November. 14,2023
The Miyagawa River originates in the pristine heights of Mount Odaigahara, in the center of the Kii Peninsula, and flows down to Ise Bay. Because its lower reaches run past Ise Jingu (the Grand Shrine of Ise), the river is also often known as the "River of the Gods." The Miyagawa is also renowned for its water quality, which is among the clearest in the country. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, Peter Skov hikes through the spectacular Osugidani valley, before arriving at the source of this sacred waterway.
Watch Now
Stream in HD
Episode 24 : Koyasan: In Pursuit of Enlightenment
November. 07,2023
Koyasan, in the mountains of Wakayama Prefecture, is a sacred site of Shingon Buddhism. It was founded by the visionary monk, Kukai, about 1,200 years ago. Pilgrims and tourists alike stay in shukubo temple lodgings, some of which even feature luxury rooms. Visitors enjoy shojin vegetarian cuisine, meditation sessions and walks through the forests, as well as a famous cemetery. On this journey, British photographer Alfie Goodrich explores the tangible, and intangible, treasures of mysterious Koyasan.
Watch Now
Stream in HD
Episode 22 : Gujo-Hachiman: Dancing the Night Away
September. 26,2023
The Gujo Odori, one of Japan's largest Bon dances, is a spectacle with the scores of revelers, as well as the live festival music and clacking geta wooden clogs. For more than 400 years, it has been held for 30 nights from July to September in Gujo-Hachiman, a village located deep in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture. The main event is the all-night dance for four days starting on August 13. French actor Robin Barde explores the deep culture of the festival and dances the night away.
Watch Now
Stream in HD
Episode 21 : Tsuruga Castle, Where the Past Meets the Present
September. 19,2023
Tsuruga Castle in the city of Aizuwakamatsu (Fukushima Prefecture) played a decisive role in Japan's transition from the feudal samurai era to a modern society. This time on Journeys in Japan, architect James Lambiasi visits the castle and other remarkable sites, meeting local people for whom Aizu's history still remains alive in their hearts.
Watch Now
Stream in HD
Episode 20 : Discovering the Wonders of Iya Valley
August. 15,2023
Deep in the mountains of Shikoku lies Iya, which is home to a few small settlements. The steep, narrow and misty valley is the stuff of lore. In the 12th century it was a haven for fugitive Heike clan warriors who easily slipped away in the rugged terrain. Over the years, the community has seen its population shrink and age. But a decade ago, Iya became a popular destination for overseas visitors. We visit Iya to find out why and search for hints for regional revitalization.
Watch Now
Stream in HD
Episode 18 : Amami Oshima: Beauty in the Rain
July. 11,2023
Amami Oshima Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture receives one of the largest amounts of rain in Japan. Its rainy season, which runs from May through June, in particular, provides enough water to sustain its lush nature, including rare species of plants and animals, all year round. In this episode of Journeys in Japan, outdoor writer from Sweden Janni Olsson enjoys Amami's rainy season as she engages in activities not available elsewhere and learns about the island's culture.
Watch Now
Stream in HD
Episode 17 : The Wild Life in One-of-a-Kind Amami
July. 04,2023
Amami Oshima Islands, designated as a Natural World Heritage site in 2021, is home to rich biodiversity, including many endemic species. For instance, the Amami rabbit is a living remnant of ancient hares, found only on Amami Oshima and Tokunoshima islands. In this episode of Journeys in Japan, actor Michael Keida heads deep into the forest in search of the subtropical island's rare plant and wildlife. And he meets people who share their knowledge of the forests and sea.
Watch Now
Stream in HD
Episode 15 : On the Sugar Road from Nagasaki to Saga
June. 13,2023
The Nagasaki Kaido Road connects the port of Nagasaki Prefecture, the only point open to overseas trade during Japan's period of isolation, with Kokura in Fukuoka Prefecture. It is known as the Sugar Road for the many confections inspired by mainland Asia and Europe that spread along it. Aliza Ahmed Khan, who is from Pakistan, explores this rich world.
Watch Now
Stream in HD
Episode 13 : Tobishima Kaido: Taking It Slow on Golden Isles
May. 16,2023
The Tobishima Kaido is a network of bridges linking seven Seto Inland Sea islands. The route starts in Shimo-kamagari near Kure in Hiroshima Prefecture and extends to Okamura in Ehime Prefecture. Osakishimo-jima's Mitarai district prospered as a port of call for Kitamaebune merchant ships, and retains the townscape from the Edo period. The island is also famous for its citrus farming, which dates back over 100 years. Britain Tom Miyagawa Coulton, who lives in Osakishimo-jima, takes us around the islands steeped in history.
Watch Now
Stream in HD
Episode 11 : Rambling Around Secluded Yanbaru
April. 25,2023
Yanbaru is an area in the north of Okinawa Prefecture's main island. Covered by subtropical evergreen forest, it is home to a diverse range of native species and a unique ecosystem. In 2021, it was listed as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site. In this journey, a father-daughter pair visits villages scattered across Yanbaru and meet locals who share a strong bond with their land.
Watch Now
Stream in HD
Episode 9 : Akita, Yamagata, Niigata: The Textiles and Traditions of Winter
March. 21,2023
Akita, Yamagata and Niigata prefectures are known for their bitterly cold winter weather, with very heavy snowfall. In the old days, the people living in these areas developed warm textiles to help them survive the harsh conditions. They wove fabrics that incorporated fluffy fibers from wild plants or the down of wildfowl. And they developed unique quilting techniques to make their cotton clothes thicker and more robust. They also took advantage of the snow to bleach their fabrics. On this episode of Journeys in Japan, Sheila Cliffe explores the textiles and clothing from Japan's "Snow Country."
Watch Now
Stream in HD
Episode 8 : Live Long, Live Well in Northern Nagano
March. 14,2023
Nagano Prefecture, surrounded by beautiful nature, has some of the longest life expectancies in all of Japan. What's behind this? Daniel Moore, an American tour guide living in Nagano, explores his adopted turf to discover the secrets to longevity in one of the country's snowiest regions.
Watch Now
Stream in HD
Episode 6 : Kochi: Into the Luminous Darkness
February. 28,2023
John Moore travels into the darkness and light of Kochi Prefecture, taking in paintings by lantern and night fishing by flickering lights.
Watch Now
Stream in HD
Episode 4 : Yasugi: Discoveries Along the Iron Road
February. 07,2023
Jonathan Senior discovers Japan's iron history in Yasugi, a transport hub from long ago. He learns about the old clay tatara furnaces for producing steel blooms and visits an impressive castle ruin. His trip also takes him to artisan studios for crafting swords, incense and iron candle stands.
Watch Now
Stream in HD
Episode 3 : Kyushu: On the Trail of Shoyu
January. 31,2023
Shoyu, or soy sauce, is a condiment at the heart of Japanese cuisine. In Kyushu it evolved into an array of flavors and aromas with locals pairing different types according to the dish. As you move south, shoyu tends to become sweeter. In this journey, we travel 350 kilometers, from north to south, to discover the depth of shoyu.
Watch Now
Stream in HD
Episode 2 : Ozu: Castle Town Looking to the Future
January. 17,2023
Ozu lies in the heart of Ehime Prefecture surrounded by unspoiled forested mountains. Ozu Castle stands in the center of the old town, overlooking the Hijikawa River in a district of traditional residences and other historical buildings. This time on Journeys in Japan, American actor Charles Glover visits Ozu and discovers that it is possible to stay the night inside the castle donjon (main keep) — the only place in Japan where this is possible.
Watch Now
Stream in HD
Seasons
Similar titles
Thailand: Earth's Tropical Paradise
Go beyond Thailand's beaches to discover a sacred kingdom of awe-inspiring beauty. This series takes in the towering limestone cliffs, the paddy fields, the hidden temples and the teeming city of Bangkok, before visiting the forests of the north where ancient tribes practice time-honoured traditions and tigers still stalk the forests. Thailand: Earth’s Tropical Paradise reveals a land that is worlds away from the familiar tourist trails.
Ugly Delicious
Star chef David Chang leads friends on a mouthwatering, cross-cultural hunt for the world's most satisfying grub. All the flavor. None of the BS.
Searching for Soul Food
Follow rock star celebrity chef Alisa Reynolds as she discovers what soul food looks like around the world. As she seeks out the food, she also explores the stories, the people, and the traditions of each place she visits, bringing her own flavor right along with her.
Seasoning the Seasons
This program visits places across Japan to introduce the charms of their local daily life and festivals fostered by the nation's long history.
The Ganges with Sue Perkins
Sue Perkins undertakes an epic, personal journey to the source of India's Ganges river in the Himalayas, meeting hermits and holy men to understand the sacred nature of this river.
Japan: Earth's Enchanted Islands
Japan's landscapes range from snowy mountains to subtropical warmth. They are full of wildlife - and animals' and people's lives often cross as they adapt to these extremes.
Lenny's Britain
Comedian Lenny Henry sets out on a journey to discover what makes us laugh and what role humour plays in our lives
Long Way Round
In 2004 Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman embarked on an epic challenge to bike 20,000-miles across 12 countries and 19 time zones in just 115 days. Watch as two friends ride around the world together and, against all the odds, realize their dream.