On Journeys in Japan, our reporter, Julian, ventures to Ishinomaki City in Miyagi Prefecture, about 400 kilometers north of Tokyo. Ishinomaki prospered as a fishery town, but recently has become known for promoting Japanese comics.

In this edition of Journeys in Japan, we visit the Goto Islands, in the East China Sea off the west coast of Kyushu, southwest of Japan. Our reporter, American actress, Haruka Orth, travels to Fukuejima, the largest of the Goto islands, to meet the people there and find out about the way they live.

This week's "Journeys in Japan" focuses on the small factories that helped to lay the foundation for Japan's postwar manufacturing prowess. Our reporter, Adeyto, visits four factories in the Greater Metropolitan Area of Tokyo, to meet craftsmen whose products are in demand all around the world, and to discover their skills and artisan spirit.

In this edition of Journeys in Japan, our reporter Ian Thomas Ash visits a number of rare temples known for their vivid colors. Setting off from the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo, he heads for a Buddhist temple in Hachioji City in the western part of the capital. Later he continues on north to Saitama, Gunma, and Niigata prefectures. All of the five temples that he visits share the uncommon in common! Ian covers about 300 kilometers on his colorful temple tour.

In this week's Journeys in Japan, we visit Toba City in Mie Prefecture, the town famous for cultured pearls.

In this edition of "Journeys in Japan", our reporter, Vincent Giry, visits Toyama Prefecture, known for its abundant snowfall. He learns how people have adapted to living in the long snowy winters-wisdom accumulated over hundreds of years.

On this edition of "Journeys in Japan," Joshua will be trying his hand at ocean activities, soothing away his stress in spa water, exploring the countryside and simply sitting on the beach.

This week's Journeys in Japan, heads 1000 kilometers north of Tokyo to the sea of Okhotsk off the northeastern coast of Hokkaido. From January to March, the area becomes a vast blanket of ice floes. The ice amassing and drifting from Siberia on the currents to Hokkaido are called "drift ice." Our traveler, JJ, enjoys the wintry splendor of ice floes and other icy pleasures in the area.

On this edition of Journeys in Japan, Haruka Orth sets out to explore the ancient Buddhist heritage found in Kunisaki in the northeast of Oita Prefecture.

Kumamoto—located in central Kyushu—is a regional economic and political hub. The city's symbol is Kumamoto Castle, rebuilt faithfully to its original state 400 years ago. Our reporter, Nelson, visits an old shopping district. He enjoys local delicacies and meets warm creative people in an emerging arts district.

The city of Matsue lies close to the Sea of Japan coast, in Shimane Prefecture. It's a place filled with history, and has a castle built 400 years ago. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, Haruka Orth explores this traditional city.

The destination of this time's journey is Cape Muroto in Kochi Prefecture, that is based at the southeastern corner of the Shikoku Main Island. Hawaiian-born Michael Rivas visited Cape Muroto in early March to get the feel of early spring.

On this edition of Journeys in Japan, our reporter, JJ, visits Kawazu and Shimoda, in Shizuoka Prefecture, in pursuit of typical Japanese spring delicacies.

In this week's Journeys in Japan, we visit Seki City in Gifu Prefecture. Seki City boasts the number one production of cutlery in Japan. At this time traveler Johan Gathright visits a city known for its cutlery industry and discovers its technical mastery and beauty.

Kobe has an attractive shopping street that streches out long underneath an elevated railway track in the central part of the city. Measuring two kilometers in length and two meters in width, the shopping street is comprised of two narrow stretches each going to the opposite directions. NHK World reporter George Bourdaniotis walks through the shopping street under Kobe's elevated railway track to bring you a lot of information.

Since ancient times people have made been making pilgrimages here to worship at Kotohira Shrine. Commonly known as Kompira-san, this shrine was thought to bring good luck, offer protection for sailors and assure abundant harvests. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, Haruka Orth explores the area around Kotohira Shrine, which seems to have changed very little since the days of old.

This week on "Journeys in Japan" we visit the Shimanto River, which is considered to be one of the country's most beautiful. It meanders nearly 200 kilometers before it finally feeds into the Pacific Ocean. Our reporter, Vincent Giry, takes in its rare beauty and enjoys outdoor pleasures along it.

No description available

No description available

No description available

No description available

No description available

No description available

No description available

This week, we visit the picturesque hills of Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture. Located about an hour's drive away from Hiroshima, Onomichi is a little known gem, riddled with maze-like alleys. Our reporter, Gow, explores its warrens and meets its easy-going residents.