Document 72 Hours

We visit "Yomotsu Hirasaka" in Shimane Prefecture. It's a place linked to the underworld, referenced in Japanese mythology. For 3 days, we spoke with those drawn to this special place.

With betting tickets in hand, customers at a no-frills bar near a motorboat racing stadium in Fukuoka, ride the ups and downs of the exciting races. For three days, we followed their fortunes.

At Shirakaba Pass in Nagano Prefecture, many are gathered here to watch hawks as they migrate to Southeast Asia. We find out what these watchers feel as they gaze at the hawks overhead.

A large parking lot and hearty servings make a 24-hour restaurant a haven for truckers in Okayama Prefecture. For three days, we spoke to diners taking a break before hitting the road again.

A beloved old chairlift on Mt. Myoken in Hyogo Prefecture. People flock here before the facilities close permanently in December 2023. What do the visitors feel as they ride the lift one last time?

The menu at a 24-hour Chinese restaurant in western Tokyo includes ramen, gyoza dumplings and a wide range of set meals. For three days, we asked customers why they come here to fill their bellies.

On the east side of Lake Biwa there's something simply known as "the bench." What goes on in the minds of visitors as they take a seat? We spent 3 days by this lakeside bench.

A community garden in Okayama City is a popular spot for people from all walks of life to try their hand at farming. For three days, we watched the produce and relationships they grew here.

A discount women's clothing store in Ueno, Tokyo. The shop attracts customers for many reasons. We spent 3 days listening to their stories.

A drugstore in Tokyo's busy Shinjuku district sells medicine, cosmetics and snacks around the clock. Why do people shop there? For three days and nights near the end of 2023, we asked them.

Kerosene home delivery is a key lifeline for residents of Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture. For three days in midwinter, we followed trucks delivering this heating oil and spoke to people who rely on this service.

In the mountains of Fukushima Prefecture, there's an ice cream shop that people go to, even during winter. This shop has been with the locals for 3 decades. We spent 3 days listening to the stories of visitors.

A 24-hour laundromat in Osaka Prefecture is a vital part of daily life for residents from all walks of life. For three days, we asked customers why they wash and dry their clothes there.

A 24-hour supermarket in Osaka Prefecture is known for its brightly colored exterior and very cheap bento meals and prepared foods. For three days, we talked to people filling their shopping baskets here.

There's a soba joint in Akita City that opens late at night until lunch the next day. All kinds of people come for drinks and food. Amidst the late March snow, we document this midnight soba shop.

An electronics retail store in Yokohama, Japan, has six floors filled with home appliances. For three days in spring, we asked customers what they came to buy in this season of new beginnings.

A ferry takes 16 hours to sail between Niigata Prefecture and Otaru, Hokkaido Prefecture. For three days, we asked passengers why they take this leisurely mode of travel when faster options are available.

A 24-hour gas station with prices that entice drivers from both near and far. From a couple who travels and sleeps in their car to a professional driver, join us as we listen to customers' stories.

A huge "danchi" housing complex in Chiba is home to 7,000 households. Built in the 1960s, this complex is a community in itself. For three days, we asked residents about what life is like there.

Gum, chocolate, candy and snacks are crammed into a penny candy shop in Akabane, Tokyo. What is the store's enduring appeal to customers of all ages? Explore the answer over three summer days.