S1 E • Episode 0

S1 E1 • Furano, Hokkaido

Furano, located just about in the center of Hokkaido Prefecture is becoming a popular destination for foreign skiers. The purple lavender fields in summer turns into pure white snowfields in winter. Furano ski resorts offer quality powder snow which is perfect for skiing and attracts skiers from around the world.

Première diffusion : 30 mars 2010

S1 E2 • Naoshima, Kagawa

Naoshima has gathered global attention as a center of contemporary art. Some 30,000 tourists now visit this island from Japan and abroad every year.

Première diffusion : 6 avril 2010

S1 E3 • Kamakura, Kanagawa

Eight centuries ago, a samurai warrior seized power and set up his capital here. Today on "journeys in japan", our reporters search out the samurai spirit that's been passed down since ancient times.

Première diffusion : 13 avril 2010

S1 E4 • Tsukuba, Ibaraki

Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture, at the foot of Mt. Tsukuba. In 1963, under a national policy, the city was opened up as a place for research on advanced technology. It's now home to 300 research institutes.

Première diffusion : 20 avril 2010

S1 E5 • Oshino village, Yamanashi

In this episode of "journeys in japan", our reporter, Adeyto, visits Oshino Village in Yamanashi Prefecture, in the northern foothills of Mt. Fuji., Japan's highest mountain.

Première diffusion : 27 avril 2010

S1 E6 • Fukuoka city, Fukuoka

Fukuoka facing the Genkai Sea has been geographically and historically a city open to East Asia. It still maintains links with many Asian countries-- from Port of Fukuoka, there is a ferry which runs between Fukuoka and Busan in the Republic of Korea.

Première diffusion : 4 mai 2010

S1 E7 • Tottori sand dunes, Tottori

The Tottori Sand Dunes skirt the Sea of Japan in the southwestern part of Japan. The dunes were created naturally over 100,000 years by sediments carried from the mountains down the river and eventually blown up onto the shore.

Première diffusion : 11 mai 2010

S1 E8 • Northern Izu peninsula, Shizuoka

Suruga Bay, the deepest bay in Japan, extends 2,500 meters below sea level. It's famous for its rich variety of seafood.

Première diffusion : 18 mai 2010

S1 E9 • Toyokawa, Aichi

In this week's journeys in japan, we visit the Toyokawa Inari in Aichi Pre, one of the largest Inari temples in Japan.

Première diffusion : 25 mai 2010

S1 E10 • Himeji, Hyogo

Renowned for its beauty, this fortress is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and draws numerous tourists every year, both from Japan and around the world.

Première diffusion : 1 juin 2010

S1 E11 • Toyama city, Toyama

Toyama is a city surrounded by tall mountains and has a population of 400,000. It's a place where unique businesses have sprung up since the days of old.

Première diffusion : 8 juin 2010

S1 E12 • Naruto, Tokushima

The sea off Naruto City has a strong current that flows at about 20 kilometers per hour and forms natural whirlpools that can reach a diameter of 30 meters. For this reason, fish that are tossed about in the currents are known in Japan to be tasty.

Première diffusion : 15 juin 2010

S1 E13 • Miyazu city, Kyoto

The pine-studded sandbar spans Miyazu Bay, facing the Sea of Japan in northern Kyoto. The accumulation of white river sand over thousands of years sculpted this impressive strip of land, which has been the subject of significant poems and paintings for more than 1000 years.

Première diffusion : 22 juin 2010

S1 E14 • Yonezawa city, Yamagata

A historic city with a warrior legacy - Yonezawa in Yamagata prefecture. For years, it flourished as a castle town and was a home to many samurai.

Première diffusion : 29 juin 2010

S1 E15 • Geo-touring in Kyushu

"Geoparks", created by UNESCO's initiative in 2004, are aimed for people to learn more about the Earth and for invigorating local economies by using the parks for tourism.

Première diffusion : 6 juillet 2010

S1 E16 • Mino city, Gifu

Mino-city in Aichi Pre, the town famous for the Japanese traditional paper, "Washi".

Première diffusion : 13 juillet 2010

S1 E17 • Minabe, Wakayama

Minabe produces more ume fruit than anywhere else in Japan - 30,000 tons every year. The type of ume grown in the area is called Nanko-ume. They are particularly large and flavorful, and are considered the highest quality in Japan.

Première diffusion : 20 juillet 2010

S1 E18 • Sendai & Matsushima, Miyagi

Sendai is the biggest city in northeastern Japan. It's also the hometown of Kumiko Mori, a popular singer and entertainer who appearis frequently on stage and TV. Matsushima, a coastal area known since ancient times as one of the three most beautiful places in Japan and one that Date Masamune loved.

Première diffusion : 27 juillet 2010

S1 E19 • Nara, Nara

Nara was established as the capital more than 1000 years ago. It was the country's first major administrative center and was called Heijo-kyo.

Première diffusion : 3 août 2010

S1 E20 • Sekita mountain range, Nagano

The Sekita mountain range, soaring 1000 meters above sea level, straddles Nagano and Niigata Prefectures. Hikers can now walk along it on the "Shin-etsu Trail".

Première diffusion : 14 septembre 2010

S1 E21 • Uchiko, Ehime

Surrounded by mountains and blessed with abundant nature it is situated almost at the center of Ehime prefecture. The town flourished along with the production of vegetable wax in the latter part of the 19th century.

Première diffusion : 21 septembre 2010

S1 E22 • Ashikaga city, Tochigi

Tochigi Prefecture is situated in the most northern part of the Kantō region, and is a prefecture that is inland, not facing the coast. Though only 70 kilometers away from Tokyo, it is an area that still retains a lush mountain landscape.

Première diffusion : 28 septembre 2010

S1 E23 • Karatsu, Saga

The area, which looks out to the sea, is blessed with a warm climate. People here have long enjoyed marine sports. A legendary French diver had strong ties with the sea of Karatsu.

Première diffusion : 5 octobre 2010

S1 E24 • Izu-Oshima, Tokyo

Izu-Oshima, the largest of the seven islands in the Izu chain, lies 120 kilometers south of Tokyo. It was formed by volcanic action, and the volcano in the center of the island is still active.

Première diffusion : 12 octobre 2010

S1 E25 • Hita city, Oita

Hita City in Oita Prefecture is a quiet town with a population of about 70-thousand, located in northern part of Kyushu in southwestern Japan. It is surrounded by many mountains, including the Aso-Kuju and the Hiko mountain systems.

Première diffusion : 19 octobre 2010

S1 E26 • Aizu, Fukushima

Aizu-Wakamatsu developed as a major castle town in feudal times and has remained the main city of Aizu until this day.

Première diffusion : 26 octobre 2010

S1 E27 • Shimanami kaido, Hiroshima

The Seto Inland Sea located in western Japan is the country's largest inland sea. There is a road which runs across the inland sea and connects a chain of small islands. It is known as Shimanami Kaido.

Première diffusion : 2 novembre 2010

S1 E28 • A passion for industrial structures

Exploring people's passion for industrial structure tours: this time in Kanagawa, Gunma, Nagasaki prefectures

Première diffusion : 9 novembre 2010

S1 E29 • Kure, Hiroshima

Kure is a 30 minute train ride from Hiroshima. The port town has a population of 250-thousand. The historic shipbuilding town still turns out large tankers and other vessels. It's a major marine transportation hub in the Seto Inland Sea with hundreds of ships going in and out of the port daily.

Première diffusion : 16 novembre 2010

S1 E30 • Hachimantai, Akita

Because of Japan's volcanic terrain, natural hot springs are found throughout country. Known as onsen, they are one of the highlights of any visit to Japan. There are more than 3,000 onsen in Japan.

Première diffusion : 23 novembre 2010

S1 E31 • Iya valley, Tokushima

Until about 40 years ago, it was cut off from the rest of the island, and people living there had little interaction with other communities. This allowed the traditional customs and lifestyle to remain unchanged for centuries.

Première diffusion : 30 novembre 2010

S1 E32 • Yakushima, Kagoshima

Yakushima is located 60 kilometers off Kagoshima Prefecture, in Japan's southern main island of Kyushu. It's blanketed in lush forest, and has mountains that soar nearly 2,000 meters above sea level.

Première diffusion : 7 décembre 2010

S1 E33 • Kanazawa city, Ishikawa

99% of the gold leaf in Japan is made in this city. Gold has been adding color to Japan's traditional culture. At this time travelers are going to find out how gold is processed into a thin foil to make gold leaf.

Première diffusion : 14 décembre 2010

S1 E34 • Koyasan, Wakayama

Koyasan was registered as a World Cultural Heritage site in 2004. It draws more than 1-million tourists every year. Temple stays, called shukubo, are proving popular with visitors from overseas.

Première diffusion : 21 décembre 2010

S1 E35 • Ishinomaki city, Miyagi

Ishinomaki prospered as a fishery town, but recently has become known for promoting Japanese comics. Manga City-Ishinomaki was developed in homage to local manga legend, Shotaro Ishinomori (1938-1998), through the joint efforts of fans and fellow artists.

Première diffusion : 11 janvier 2011

S1 E36 • Goto islands, Nagasaki

In this edition of "journeys in japan," we visit the Goto Islands, in the East China Sea off the west coast of Kyushu, southwest of Japan.

Première diffusion : 18 janvier 2011

S1 E37 • Industrial artisan craftsmanship

This week's "journeys in japan" focuses on the small factories that helped to lay the foundation for Japan's postwar manufacturing prowess.

Première diffusion : 25 janvier 2011

S1 E38 • Colorful temple tour!

In this edition of "journeys in japan," our reporter Ian Thomas Ash visits a number of rare temples known for their vivid colors.

Première diffusion : 1 février 2011

S1 E39 • Toba city, Mie

It was in Japan that the first pearls were successfully produced from farmed oysters. The coast around Toba is heavily indented. This kind of topography, known as a ria coastline, is perfect for oyster cultivation.

Première diffusion : 8 février 2011

S1 E40 • Himi, Takaoka and Gokayama

In this edition of "journeys in japan", our reporter Vincent Giry visits Toyama Prefecture, known for its abundant snowfall.

Première diffusion : 15 février 2011

S1 E41 • Miura peninsula, Kanagawa

On this edition of "journeys in japan," Joshua will be trying his hand at ocean activities, soothing away his stress in spa water, exploring the countryside and simply sitting on the beach. Miura is so close to Tokyo - but it's full of places to relax, and people who know how to do that.

Première diffusion : 22 février 2011

S1 E42 • To the Land of Drift Ice

This week's "journeys in japan," heads 1000 kilometers north of Tokyo to the sea of Okhotsk off the northeastern coast of Hokkaido. From January to March, the area becomes a vast blanket of ice floes.

Première diffusion : 8 mars 2011

S1 E43 • Mystical Kunisaki: a journey back in time

Since ancient times, the Kunisaki Peninsula in Kyushu has been a center of religious worship. For centuries, the local people here have carved statues out of the rock and stone as an expression of their Buddhist faith.

Première diffusion : 26 avril 2011

S1 E44 • Old meets new in Kumamoto

Kumamoto-located in central Kyushu-is a regional economic and political hub. The city's symbol is the Kumamoto Castle, rebuilt faithfully to its original state 400 years ago.

Première diffusion : 3 mai 2011

S1 E45 • Matsue, Shimane

The city of Matsue lies close to the Sea of Japan coast, in Shimane Prefecture. It's a place filled with history, and has a castle built 400 years ago.

Première diffusion : 10 mai 2011

S1 E46 • Cape Muroto in early spring

The destination of this time's journey is Cape Muroto in Kochi Prefecture, that is based at the southeastern corner of the Shikoku Main Island.

Première diffusion : 17 mai 2011

S1 E47 • Izu peninsula, Shizuoka

On this edition of "journeys in japan," our reporter JJ visits Kawazu and Shimoda, in Shizuoka Prefecture, in pursuit of typical Japanese spring delicacies.

Première diffusion : 24 mai 2011

S1 E48 • Seki city, Gifu

In Seki city, Japanese sword making has a long history, dating back to about 780 years ago. The technique and skills of sword making have been passed down across the centuries in Seki.

Première diffusion : 31 mai 2011

S1 E49 • Kobe, Hyogo

Kobe has an attractive shopping street that streches out long underneath an elevated railway track in the central part of the city. Measuring two kilometers in length and two meters in width, the shopping street is comprised of two narrow stretches each going to the opposite directions.

Première diffusion : 7 juin 2011