Journeys in Japan - Season 17

First aired: 1/6/2026 3 episodes
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Episodes

Episode 1

1. Hiking the San'in Coast: Hyogo-Kyoto

Aired: 1/6/2026

The 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.

Episode 2

2. With Isabella Bird - Part 7: On the Road to Ise

Aired: 1/13/2026

British 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.

3. Noto: Lighting a Torch for the Future

Aired: 2/10/2026

Two 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.