Journeys in Japan

Shiiba, one of Japan's three great unexplored regions, is hidden in mountains over 1,000 meters tall. The people in this secluded village have preserved their traditional landscapes and ancient practices like slash-and-burn farming, hunting, as well as mountain worship. In this winter journey, Canadian traveler Vincent experiences Shiiba's living traditions, including its mystical Kagura ritual dance.

Kyushu is a region where the traditional skills of kenjutsu – Japanese swordsmanship – remain deeply embedded, with more dojo (practice halls) for kendo than anywhere else in Japan. In this episode, American actor BT travels through Kyushu to learn the spirit of the samurai. He tries his hand at yabusame (horseback archery), visits a workshop of traditional samurai armor, and learns the skills of iaido (wielding and cutting with an actual sword).

Roughly hewed, smiling statues of deities and Buddhas... A monk named Enku is believed to have sculpted some 120,000 in Gifu Prefecture, which are beloved to this day. We discover the stunning nature and culture of this area by following in the monk-sculptor's footsteps. We see where he practiced shugendo—rigorous mountain spiritual training; and where he stopped to create his charismatic statues. Actor Jonathan Senior travels to places associated with Enku to learn about his enduring legacy.

The Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train connects Tokyo with Toyama, Ishikawa and (since March 2024) Fukui Prefecture. This region along the Sea of Japan has its own distinctive history and culture. Until the late 19th century, Hokuriku was the hub for a vital trading route plied by sailing ships known as kitamaebune. Besides carrying cargo from Hokkaido all the way to Osaka, these vessels also stopped at ports along the way, introducing a range of foods and culture from afar. In the first of two episodes on the Hokuriku region, Kyle Card visits Takaoka (Toyama Prefecture) and Kanazawa (Ishikawa Prefecture), to explore the traditional food culture that blossomed in the region thanks to the kitamaebune traders.

The Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train connects Tokyo with Toyama, Ishikawa and (since March 2024) Fukui Prefecture. This region along the Sea of Japan has its own distinctive history and culture. Until the late 19th century, Hokuriku was the hub for a vital trading route plied by sailing ships known as kitamaebune. While carrying cargo from Hokkaido all the way to Osaka, these vessels also called at ports along the way in Hokuriku. In the second of two episodes, Kyle Card visits Kaga City (Ishikawa), where he discovers the wealth amassed by the owners of the trading ships. And he explores the development of Tsuruga Port (Fukui) from the days of kitamaebune to a modern international shipping hub.

For centuries, Daruma dolls have been popular in Japan as talismans to bring good fortune. The largest producer of Daruma dolls in Japan is Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, where there are about 40 workshops. The nearby city of Kiryu has a different good-luck charm: decorated rakes that are sold at fairs. A famous local specialty is Himokawa udon: the noodles are cut extra-long and wide as a wish for longevity. Euan Craig is an Australian potter and longtime Gunma resident. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, he digs deep into the history and culture of these talismans and meets some of the people who produce them.