Journeys in Japan: Season 4
Season 4 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 3.
- 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 4 Progress Shield
Exploring Yatsugatake's Nature and Jomon Legacy
Jan 8, 2013
On this edition of "Journeys in Japan" we visit the southwestern foot of Yatsugatake, a chain of mountains extending 30 kilometers from north to south on the border of Nagano and Y
Winter Bliss in Takayama
Jan 22, 2013
Our destination is Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture. Our reporter Charles Glover discovers the city's traditions by sightseeing on foot.
Zen and the Samurai Spirit: Kamakura
Jan 29, 2013
The city of Kamakura lies just south of Tokyo. From around 800 years ago, it was the capital of the samurai generals who ruled Japan. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, Rosa Yum
Namahage New Year's Rite
Feb 5, 2013
On this "Journeys in Japan" our reporter Deborah Ten experiences the rings in the New Year in northern Japan. She visits Oga Peninsula, in Akita Prefecture, to see an unusual New Y
Pure Mt. Fuji: A Winter Journey
Feb 19, 2013
This week we journey to the foot of Mt. Fuji in winter to discover the area's majestic nature.
Honjima: Treasure House of the Seto Inland Sea
Feb 26, 2013
Honjima is one of the Shiwaku group of islands in the Seto Inland Sea, between Japan's mainland Honshu and Shikoku. On this edition of "Journeys in Japan", radio DJ Chris Glenn exp
Sanriku Coast: Abundant Sea Part 2
Mar 12, 2013
The Sanriku Coast of northeastern Japan is a beautiful area with stunning scenery. It was devastated by the great earthquake and tsunami of March 2011. But life is gradually return
Ice Monsters and Warm Hospitality: Zao
Mar 19, 2013
During the full moon, a special Moonlight Walk is held, giving visitors a chance to walk through the ice monsters.
Discovering Tottori Crafts
Mar 26, 2013
Tottori is a major folk craft center in Japan. On this trip, our reporter Dario Ponissi travels across Tottori Prefecture from east to west to discover the world of Shoya Yoshida's
Nature's Beauty in Microcosm
Apr 2, 2013
Since ancient times, formal gardens have offered a distinctive expression of Japan's traditional aesthetic. Often featuring lush greenery, bodies of water and seemingly random arra
Spring Colors of Ibusuki
Apr 9, 2013
In this episode, photogravure artist Peter Miller travels to Ibusuki City, a hot spring town at the southern tip of Kyushu, in search of spring.
A Spiritual Journey in Oita
Apr 16, 2013
Oita Prefecture, in southwest Japan, is an area with beautiful natural scenery and many sacred sites. It also boasts a remarkable number of Buddhist statues, in out-of-the-way rura
Jazzy Kobe
Apr 23, 2013
Our destination is the cosmopolitan city of Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture. Actor Charles Glover discovers its unique culture of jazz. In fact, the city is considered the birthplace of t
Minami-Boso: Seaside Trip With Children
Apr 30, 2013
Close to Tokyo but far from the city, there are great places to visit in Japan if you're traveling with young children. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, the Koivumaa family fr
The Soulful Rhythms of the Amami Islands
May 7, 2013
The Amami Islands are subtropical. Blanketed in dense forests and surrounded by emerald waters, they are located about 400 kilometers from Kagoshima Prefecture in southern Kyushu.
Textiles from a Royal Tradition
May 14, 2013
In the old days, the islands of southwestern Japan (present-day Okinawa Prefecture) formed an independent nation, called the Kingdom of Ryukyu. A vibrant culture flourished in thos
Ishigaki Island: Living in Harmony with the Ocean
May 21, 2013
Surrounded by pristine water and coral reefs, Ishigaki Island lies at the far southwestern tip of Japan, around 1,900 kilometers from Tokyo. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, T
Kamakura Tradition: Spring in the Ancient Capital
May 28, 2013
The historic city of Kamakura lies about 1 hour south of Tokyo by train. At the end of the 12th century, Kamakura was chosen to be the administrative capital by the samurai warlord
Peach Trees and Rural Retreat: Kofu Basin
Jun 4, 2013
The Kofu Basin, in Yamanashi Prefecture, lies north of Mt. Fuji. In mid-April, when peach flowers blossom, the landscape becomes a carpet of pink. On this edition of "Journeys in J
Tateyama Peak Experience
Jun 11, 2013
In this edition of Journeys in Japan, musician JJ enjoys the beautiful snowy scenery of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, one of the foremost mountain resorts in Japan.
The Rhythms of Ainu Life: Lake Akan
Jun 18, 2013
The indigenous Ainu lives in Hokkaido, Japan's most northern main island. Our reporter, Shakuhachi player John Kaizan Neptune, visits the shores of Lake Akan to experience Ainu cul
Tohoku Haiku Journey: Following Basho's Footsteps
Jun 29, 2013
Haiku are brief poetic snapshots that encapsulate in a few words the essence of a moment, be it the beauty of nature or just a scene from daily life. This form of poetry, born in J
Hakone and Izu: Classic Hotel Stays
Jul 2, 2013
Mt. Fuji was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013. Hakone and Izu are popular resorts near the majestic mountain. Our reporter, American actor Charles Glover, enjoys hist
Osaka Art Power
Jul 9, 2013
Osaka is a vibrant city, full of warm people. But that is only one aspect of Japan's 3rd largest city. This edition of Journeys in Japan explores Osaka through its art. Our travele
Oki Islands
Jul 16, 2013
The Oki Islands lie in the Sea of Japan off the coast of Shimane Prefecture. For countless centuries, people have lived here along with their cattle, and they have developed a very
Living with Horses: Hidaka
Aug 13, 2013
The Hidaka area on the southwestern coast of Hokkaido is famous for its racehorses. This is where many of the most famous Japanese racehorses were born, raised and trained. On this
Tsugaru Soul Music - Tsugaru Shamisen
Aug 20, 2013
Japan's Tsugaru Shamisen is taking off in North America and Europe today. Fans of the lute-type instrument are captivated by its dynamic sound, produced by striking thick strings w
Setouchi Triennale: Art-Island Hopping
Aug 27, 2013
The Seto Inland Sea is surrounded by 3 of Japan's 4 main islands - Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. An international art festival called the Setouchi Triennale takes place on several of
Ise Jingu: Man, Gods and Nature
Sep 3, 2013
Ise Jingu (Grand Shrine of Ise) is one of the most important and most revered Shinto shrines in all Japan. Founded over 1,300 years ago, it lies in the east of Mie Prefecture, surr
Wonderful Yakushima
Sep 17, 2013
Yakushima was registered as an UNESCO World Natural Heritage site 20 years ago. Though small, the island has mountains rising more than 1,000 meters. Elevation differences have cre
Japan's Porcelain Legacy - Arita & Imari
Sep 24, 2013
In the 17th century, porcelain known as Imari ware was exported from Japan to Europe despite the country's isolation policy. An elegant style called Kakiemon especially astonished
Life on the Lake: Kasumigaura
Oct 1, 2013
Kasumigaura is the 2nd largest lake in Japan. Just an hour and a half by train from central Tokyo, Lake Kasumigaura is also considered one of the 100 most beautiful places in Japan
The Festival for the Wind
Oct 15, 2013
For over 300 years, people in the town of Etchu-Yatsuo, in Toyama Prefecture, have held a festival in early September. The 11 local communities get together to hold a traditional f
Deep Into Traditional Japan: Gokayama
Oct 22, 2013
Deep in the mountains of Toyama Prefecture, not far from the coast of the Sea of Japan, lies the Gokayama region. The traditional architecture and culture of the villages in this a
The Land of Fire: Kumamoto
Oct 29, 2013
Kumamoto Prefecture is known as the "Land of Fire", with the active volcano Mt. Aso as its icon. Since ancient times, people have feared the volcano, yet at the same time learned h
Kagura: Dancing Beyond Time
Nov 12, 2013
Kagura is a ritual dance of Shinto, the indigenous faith of Japan. Since ancient times, it has been offered to the gods in thanks for the blessings of nature. In the Iwami region o
Iga Ninja Forest
Nov 19, 2013
The word "Ninja" is known around the world. But the truth remains shrouded in mystery. This episode of Journeys in Japan features Iga in Mie Prefecture, the birthplace of famous cl
Nostalgic Kawagoe
Nov 26, 2013
Kawagoe City in Saitama Prefecture, famous for the Kawagoe Festival with its dazzling floats, is only 30 minutes away by train from the center of Tokyo. On this journey, our travel
Celebrating Akita Cedar
Dec 3, 2013
The cedar trees that are found on the mountainsides of Akita Prefecture, northern Japan, have long been prized for their timber. The slopes where they grow, in the basin of the Yon
Continuing the Thread of Tradition: Kiryu
Dec 10, 2013
Kiryu City of Gunma Prefecture is renowned for its textile industry. Kiryu Ori is produced using Jacquard looms for intricate, as well as colorful, kimono and obi sash designs. Mod
The Miniature World of Bonsai: Omiya
Dec 17, 2013
The traditional art of bonsai recreates intricate scenes of nature in miniature, often called "living art". The Omiya Bonsai Village is one of Japan's biggest centers for bonsai. I
Mesmerizing Islands at the Crossroads
Dec 31, 2013
The Goto Islands in the East China Sea, comprise over 140 islands. The influence of diverse cultures has formed a unique architectural landscape and way of life.