Journeys in Japan: Season 14
Season 14 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Journeys in Japan Season 13.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 14 Progress Shield
Nagoya: Exploring with Insiders
Jan 3, 2023 · 28 min
The city of Nagoya is the capital of Aichi Prefecture and the hub of Japan's third largest metropolitan region. Located midway between Tokyo and Osaka, it is not just a major econo
Ozu: Castle Town Looking to the Future
Jan 17, 2023 · 28 min
Ozu lies in the heart of Ehime Prefecture surrounded by unspoiled forested mountains. Ozu Castle stands in the center of the old town, overlooking the Hijikawa River in a district
Kyushu: On the Trail of Shoyu
Jan 31, 2023 · 28 min
Shoyu, or soy sauce, is a condiment at the heart of Japanese cuisine. In Kyushu it evolved into an array of flavors and aromas with locals pairing different types according to the
Yasugi: Discoveries Along the Iron Road
Feb 7, 2023 · 28 min
Jonathan Senior discovers Japan's iron history in Yasugi, a transport hub from long ago. He learns about the old clay tatara furnaces for producing steel blooms and visits an impre
Matsue: The World of Wagashi
Feb 14, 2023 · 28 min
Matsue, in Shimane Prefecture, is renowned as a center for wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets). Around the 18th century, more than 100 kinds of confections were created there, el
Kochi: Into the Luminous Darkness
Feb 28, 2023 · 28 min
John Moore travels into the darkness and light of Kochi Prefecture, taking in paintings by lantern and night fishing by flickering lights.
Winter Along the Mogami River
Mar 7, 2023 · 28 min
The Mogami River is one of the most important waterways in northern Japan. It runs for 229 kilometers through Yamagata Prefecture, with around 80% of the prefecture's population li
Live Long, Live Well in Northern Nagano
Mar 14, 2023 · 28 min
Nagano Prefecture, surrounded by beautiful nature, has some of the longest life expectancies in all of Japan. What's behind this? Daniel Moore, an American tour guide living in Nag
Akita, Yamagata, Niigata: The Textiles and Traditions of Winter
Mar 21, 2023 · 28 min
Akita, Yamagata and Niigata prefectures are known for their bitterly cold winter weather, with very heavy snowfall. In the old days, the people living in these areas developed warm
Sapporo: Ski Mountaineering Tradition
Apr 11, 2023 · 28 min
In Hokkaido Prefecture, the sport of ski mountaineering has a long history. Making your way up into the mountains is possible when you have skis. Climbing through the deep snow req
Rambling Around Secluded Yanbaru
Apr 25, 2023 · 28 min
Yanbaru is an area in the north of Okinawa Prefecture's main island. Covered by subtropical evergreen forest, it is home to a diverse range of native species and a unique ecosystem
Onomichi: Vistas, Cats and Steep Hillsides
May 2, 2023 · 28 min
Onomichi lies on the coast of Hiroshima Prefecture, overlooking the tranquil Seto Inland Sea. Because there is very little flat land in the town, many of residential areas are buil
Tobishima Kaido: Taking It Slow on Golden Isles
May 16, 2023 · 28 min
The Tobishima Kaido is a network of bridges linking seven Seto Inland Sea islands. The route starts in Shimo-kamagari near Kure in Hiroshima Prefecture and extends to Okamura in Eh
With Isabella Bird — Part 2: On the Road to Tsugawa
Jun 6, 2023 · 28 min
British explorer and writer Isabella Bird arrived in Japan in 1878, a mere 10 years after the country opened its doors to the West. Accompanied by just one young man who served as
On the Sugar Road from Nagasaki to Saga
Jun 13, 2023 · 28 min
The Nagasaki Kaido Road connects the port of Nagasaki Prefecture, the only point open to overseas trade during Japan's period of isolation, with Kokura in Fukuoka Prefecture. It is
Nibutani the Ainu, Living with Kamuy
Jun 27, 2023 · 28 min
The Ainu people are the indigenous people of Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan's northernmost main island. They developed their own distinct language, history and culture, which were quit
The Wild Life in One-of-a-Kind Amami
Jul 4, 2023 · 28 min
Amami Oshima Islands, designated as a Natural World Heritage site in 2021, is home to rich biodiversity, including many endemic species. For instance, the Amami rabbit is a living
Amami Oshima: Beauty in the Rain
Jul 11, 2023 · 28 min
Amami Oshima Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture receives one of the largest amounts of rain in Japan. Its rainy season, which runs from May through June, in particular, provides enoug
Owase: City of Abundant Rain
Jul 25, 2023 · 28 min
The city of Owase, in Mie Prefecture, is known as one of the rainiest places in Japan and the people living there have developed their own culture and customs relating to this dist
Discovering the Wonders of Iya Valley
Aug 15, 2023 · 28 min
Deep in the mountains of Shikoku lies Iya, which is home to a few small settlements. The steep, narrow and misty valley is the stuff of lore. In the 12th century it was a haven for
Tsuruga Castle, Where the Past Meets the Present
Sep 19, 2023 · 28 min
Tsuruga Castle in the city of Aizuwakamatsu (Fukushima Prefecture) played a decisive role in Japan's transition from the feudal samurai era to a modern society. This time on Journe
Gujo-Hachiman: Dancing the Night Away
Sep 26, 2023 · 28 min
The Gujo Odori, one of Japan's largest Bon dances, is a spectacle with the scores of revelers, as well as the live festival music and clacking geta wooden clogs. For more than 400
With Isabella Bird — Part 3: On the Road to Yamagata
Oct 31, 2023 · 28 min
British explorer and writer Isabella Bird arrived in Japan in 1878, a mere 10 years after the country opened its doors to the West. Accompanied by just one young man who served as
Koyasan: In Pursuit of Enlightenment
Nov 7, 2023 · 28 min
Koyasan, in the mountains of Wakayama Prefecture, is a sacred site of Shingon Buddhism. It was founded by the visionary monk, Kukai, about 1,200 years ago. Pilgrims and tourists al
From Ise to the Source of the Sacred River
Nov 14, 2023 · 28 min
The Miyagawa River originates in the pristine heights of Mount Odaigahara, in the center of the Kii Peninsula, and flows down to Ise Bay. Because its lower reaches run past Ise Jin
The Soaring Dragons of Chichibu
Nov 28, 2023 · 28 min
Chichibu in Saitama Prefecture is a charming, rustic spot not far from Tokyo. It is known for its hundreds of annual festivals. These include the Chichibu Night Festival, as well a
Kyushu: On the Shoyu Trail: Nagasaki – Kumamoto – Miyazaki
Dec 5, 2023 · 28 min
Soy sauce, or shoyu, is one of the essential seasonings that underpin Japanese cuisine. In Kyushu (southwestern Japan), various types of soy sauce have been developed to complement
Handa: Savoring a Canal City's Delights
Dec 12, 2023 · 28 min
Handa City, in Aichi Prefecture, is known for its brewing industry and festivals with towering floats. Jennifer Julien, a wine promoter based in Japan, delights in the city's sake
Yakushima Awakenings
Dec 26, 2023 · 28 min
Yakushima, off Kagoshima Prefecture in Kyushu, is a magical island of primeval forest, rare micro-climate and pristine nature. It is also the first place in Japan to be recognized