Season 17
15 episodes · Jan 6, 2026
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S17E1Hiking the San'in Coast: Hyogo-Kyoto
Jan 6, 202628mThe San'in Kaigan Geopark Trail is a 230-kilometer-long course connecting the Sea of Japan coastline along Tottori, Hyogo, and Kyoto prefectures. It is a designated UNESCO Global Geopark. On the second half of his journey, Canadian actor Kyle Card explores the dynamic landscapes shaped by the separation of the Japanese archipelago from the Asian continent, as well as the culture and way of life that developed in the region.
S17E2With Isabella Bird - Part 7: On the Road to Ise
Jan 13, 202628mBritish explorer and writer Isabella Bird arrived in Japan in 1878, just 10 years after start of the Meiji Era. "Unbeaten Tracks in Japan" is her highly praised account of her journey deep into Japan's hinterland. After traveling from Yokohama all the way up to Hokkaido, Bird then made her way to Kansai, where she visited Kyoto, Nara and Mie Prefectures. As a student, Rachael Aoki studied in Kyoto at a university that Isabella visited during her stay. In this episode, Rachael retraces Bird's steps from the Nara deer park to the Ise Jingu Shrine, with a stop at Hasedera Temple en route.
S17E3Noto: Lighting a Torch for the Future
Feb 10, 202628mTwo years ago, on New Year's Day of 2024, a massive earthquake hit the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, leaving over 200 dead and wrecking thousands of homes and other buildings. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, Kyle Card visits two of the worst-hit areas, to meet the people of Noto and see how they are starting to bounce back from tragedy and devastation. In Wajima, he meets people from the city's iconic Morning Market, who are working vigorously at a temporary location. And he meets with artisans who are keeping alive the traditions of Wajima-nuri lacquerware. He also visits a Buddhist temple, Soji-ji Soin, which suffered significant damage, and sees how the priests are restoring this essential pillar of the community. He then travels to Suzu City on the far tip of the peninsula, where he is astonished by the changes he finds to the natural landscape.
S17E4Akan: The Sacred Winter World of the Ainu
Feb 17, 202628mAkan, in eastern Hokkaido, is renowned for its breathtaking winter landscape with majestic volcanic mountains and ice-blanketed lake. The area is home to an indigenous Ainu community, which has long protected its distinctive traditions and culture. Kit Nagamura gets to know some local Ainu people and discovers their deep ties to the natural world.
S17E5Hokkaido: Voices from the Northern Land
Feb 24, 202628mThrough the generations, Hokkaido has been home to people from diverse backgrounds, who have developed their livelihoods and established distinctive cultures in each area. Confronting the harsh natural environment of this vast northern island, the inhabitants have poured their feelings — joy, anxiety, prayers and wishes — into songs that are cherished to the present day. Those songs continue to bring local communities together through shared memories and values. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, British photographer Alfie Goodrich visits areas of Hokkaido that are home to the following songs: Esashi Oiwake, Soran Bushi, Tokachi Uma-uta, Hokkai Bon-uta and the Upopo songs of the Ainu people. Through this soundscape so deeply rooted in each community, he explores Hokkaido's history, culture and local traditions.
S17E6Kushimoto: Life at the Water's Edge
Mar 17, 202628mDean Newcombe discovers Kushimoto, the southernmost town on Japan's main island. Thanks to the warm Kuroshio Current that flows northward in the Pacific, the town is blessed with a warm climate and a bountiful sea that supports a diverse ecosystem. It is home to a significant number of seafood species and a thriving fishing industry. He checks out bluefin tuna aquaculture and a boat festival, gets close to sea turtles and kayaks out to sea to take in stunning rock formations.
S17E7Northern Yatsugatake: Adventures in Snow Hiking
Mar 24, 202628mScenic northern Yatsugatake in Nagano Prefecture is an outdoor lover's paradise just two hours from Tokyo. It's defined by a series of peaks rising above 2,000 meters. Novice mountaineers can enjoy snow climbing safely if they travel with a guide and proper equipment. This time Michael Keida, who is new to mountaineering, traverses the area on cross-country skis, snowshoes and with crampons to fully explore the snowy mountains.
S17E8Kokuto Okinawa island sweetness
Apr 14, 202628mKokuto is Okinawa's traditional form of sugar, which is made simply by boiling down sugarcane juice, a method first introduced from China about 400 years ago. Despite Okinawa's turbulent history, the skills have been passed down through the generations, and artisan kokuto continues to play an essential role in the life and culture of the prefecture. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, Michael Keida visits the island of Ie-jima, as well as Okinawa's main island, to explore the enduring appeal of this home-grown source of sweetness and the deep roots of Kokuto culture.
S17E9Toyama MINGEI: Beauty in the Everyday
May 12, 202628mArchitect James Lambiasi discovers the living culture of mingei folk craft in Toyama, north-central Japan. James visits a 92-year woodturning artisan in the town of Shogawa, a nearby ironware workshop, and a museum displaying traditional medicine peddlers' tools. He stays in a restored farmhouse and enjoys its displays of work by prominent mingei figures, as well as contemporary pieces. All in all, he sees how mingei still permeates the spirit of local communities.
S17E10Tsuruoka: Gastronomy Rooted in Tradition
May 26, 202628mTsuruoka lies on the Sea of Japan coast of Yamagata Prefecture. In 2014, it was named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, the first of its kind in the country. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, American chef David Wells visits the Tsuruoka area to observe how the local people are keeping alive their food culture, protecting their heirloom crops and continuing traditional practices — such as a 400-year-old slash-and-burn farming method that creates a sustainable cycle linking the mountain and forests with the rivers and sea. David also climbs a peak in the sacred Dewa Sanzan area, where he is served dishes prepared from the wild plants that grow on the slopes. And he is introduced to the spirit of uketamau — reverence for nature, gratitude for its bounty, and acceptance of things as they are.
S17E11Komatsu: Stone Stories
Jun 16, 202628mKomatsu, a castle town just west of Kanazawa, was forged by stone and time. Born from ancient underwater volcanoes, its stunning gorges and surreal, massive quarries create a landscape like no other. This Japan Heritage site boasts traditional stone architecture and other masterful crafts like porcelain—legacies rooted in the earth. Discover the soul of Komatsu with American actor Charles Glover.
S17E12Maze: A Museum without Walls
Jun 23, 202628mNestled in an upland area of Gero City (Gifu Prefecture), the village of Maze is renowned for its breathtaking mountain views, especially in the Nishimura district. Home to around 130 people, this community is also the venue for a unique form of green tourism known as the "Satoyama Museum." Cheryl Sakurai visits Maze to view its remarkable beauty and to meet the residents. She also tries her hand at angling, enjoys the local cuisine, takes in a traditional festival and immerses herself in the simple charm and warm hospitality of this rural community.
S17E13Tokunoshima: Bull Sumo on Subtropical Island
Jun 30, 202628mTokunoshima is a small, semi-tropical island located southwest of Kyushu. Home to many rare species of flora and fauna, it is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also famous for its association with sumo wrestling, having produced many professional sumo wrestlers. Not only that, it has a culture of bull sumo, where massive bovines go head-to-head. The whole island gets swept up in the excitement of rousing, non-blood tournaments, which take place three times a year. American actor BT explores this and more.
S17E14Kihoku: A Wonderful Waterside World
Jul 7, 202628mThe Choshi River is just 17 kilometers long but it's become known throughout Japan as the "Miracle River." Thanks to the crystal-clear quality of its water, it draws visitors to the town of Kihoku, in the south of Mie Prefecture, Central Japan. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, American DJ George Cockle explores Kihoku's watery wonderworld, enjoying a range of water-related activities. He canoes on the Choshi River, kayaks to islands along the scenic coast of Kii no Matsushima and explores the atmospheric back streets of Uomachi, a tranquil, old-fashioned fishing port.
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Okayama: Traditions of the Seto Inland Sea
Aug 4, 202628mSince the earliest times, the people living on the coast of The Seto Inland Sea have developed methods for catching the abundant seafood in those waters, some of which are still practiced today. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, Michael Keida visits Okayama Prefecture to discover those traditions, while exploring the abundant biodiversity and enjoying the seafood that is fundamental to Japanese food culture.