Every season of Seasoning the Seasons ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best seasons of Seasoning the Seasons!

Kariyasu, kuchinashi, and moegi -all are Japanese words for colors. The Japanese language has a lot of words for expressing subtle tints. Many have their origin in Kyoto and are still very much alive in the speech of the former capital. Historians suggest the Japanese did not make such rigid color distinctions in ancient times but the change began when imports arrived from China and Korea, and the Japanese sensitivity to color then blossomed as a variety of new tints were produced here as well.

Kyoto: Coloring the Season

Kakunodate is the "Little Kyoto" of Tohoku, a castle town and popular tourist destination where the streets are lined with traditional-style buildings dating from the Edo Period (17th to mid-19th century). We meet people who adhere to the old ways of life, such as descendents of an old samurai family who still dwell in the Ishiguro Manor, a centuries old samurai house now open to public, and a lady descended from the Satake Kita clan that once ruled Kakunodate. The town is liveliest during the autumn festival when great floats are made to clash against each other in the parade. The bearers need power, courage and skill to triumph. We recorded the lives and traditions of samurai, merchant, farmer and lordly families on a 6 month sojourn in a place where distinctive old customs are still very much alive.

Kakunodate: Stories of Old Families

The folklorist, Kunio Yanagita, wrote his "Tono Monogatari" (Tales of Tono) about a century ago. The book related how mysterious beings such as the kappa river goblins, the zashikiwarashi child spirits, mountain gods and ghosts had their willful way, reporting the events as eye-witness accounts and present-day happenings. It led its readers - mostly dwellers of the plains facing the first waves of modernization - to the psychological heart of the humble Japanese people, hemmed in as they were by mountains and rivers. Today, though, 100 years later, what has become of those old beliefs in the amazing creatures and gods described in the book? We follow the lives of people in Tono for a year, from their faith in the tutelary Oshirasama gods made from staves of mulberry wood to the rites of the Bon Festival of the Dead, rediscovering the old Japanese ways of thinking and reverence for the things that surpass human powers.

Spirited Away to Tono

Towers that reach to the skies. Towering tourist attractions around the country have precursors in the stupas of Buddhism. Since the late nineteenth century, they have been built as windows on the new age and symbols of local pride. The Japanese still love towers that pierce the heavens. We report on the people and local stories of Japan's towers, including the Tokyo Sky Tree that opens on May 22nd, 2012, discovering insights to the Japanese people's religious belief, love of their birthplace and also construction skills.

Japanese Towers, Memories Past and Present

The beautiful islands of Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture are known as one of the three great scenic spots of Japan. The view of the more than 260 islands dotting the placid waters was left amazingly unspoiled even by the Great East Japan Earthquake last year.

Matsushima: Islands of Beauty and Prayer

Suwa was a center of culture in Japan in the Jomon period before rice cultivation arrived. It is said that in those ancient times, too, people transported many great tree trunks for erection at their sacred places in much the same way as we see at the Suwa shrines today. The environment was harsh and life and death so close for the people of Jomon times. Their spirit lives on in Suwa today. We introduce people who preserve a faith at the roots of Japanese prayer.

Suwa: A Celebration Down Through Time

With its glass-like translucency, the River Niyodo on Shikoku is renowned for possessing the clearest water in Japan. 124km long, it has its source in the highest mountains of Western Japan and, swelled by many tributaries, flows out eventually into the Pacific Ocean. The river supports rich plant- and wildlife and has also nurtured a distinctive river-based culture for the people who live among the sounds of the flowing water. On the upper reaches, there are cherry blossoms in spring and then the fishermen arrive when the sweetfish season opens in early summer. The children love to leap into the water from the highest possible boulders. Nearer the mouth, there is a town that flourished making tengujoshi, the very thinnest Japanese paper (washi) of all. We meet a young craftsman who has inherited the techniques from his forebears and still proudly makes paper beside the Niyodo today. Crystal-clear waters and riverine scenery... we depict the people and places of this great river.

Niyodo River: Living with Japan's Clearest River

Mt. Fuji is Japan's highest peak at 3776m. Its magnificence and beauty have impressed the Japanese over the millennia. Climbers flock there each night once it has been formally opened for climbing in July each year and walk up to witness the dawn at the summit. Mt. Fuji is more than a symbol of beauty to the Japanese - it represents the greatness of nature and is also an object of mystical faith. In stunning pictures, we introduce the various faces of Mt. Fuji through the four seasons, the sacred, ethereal scenery and the words of people whose lives have revolved around the mountain over the years. Discover the allure of the mountain that has gripped the minds of Japanese people for thousands of years.

Mt. Fuji

The Awa Odori dance is the highlight of the 4-day Obon Festival of the Dead in Tokushima, Shikoku, in August each year. About 100,000 people join in the dancing and 1.3 million come to watch this most popular of all Bon dances in Japan. The dance's original purpose, of course, is to honor the souls of the dead, but it has also developed as a thrilling affirmation of the joys of life, and both the costumes and music are highly distinctive. We remember back to the people who started dancing again in the post-war ruins in the cotton kimonos of summer that had somehow survived the flames, meet a woman who has elevated the dance into the realm of art, and also youngsters dancing for the first time this year. The video images capture the full festive passion.

Awa Dance: Obon Festival with 100,000 Dancers

Kamakura, like the two old capital cities of Nara and Kyoto, also served at one stage as the nation's political center. Minamoto no Yoritomo chose Kamakura as the seat of Japan's first shogunate or military government in the 12th Century. It very much retains the flavor and ideological legacy of the warrior class. We go on a tour of the place that laid the spiritual foundations and led to the flowering of Japanese culture, showing why it continues to attract so many visitors. The itinerary includes the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, a spiritual pillar for the warrior class; the Great Buddha, which is Kamakura's most famous landmark; and Kenchoji Temple, an important center of Zen Buddhism.

Kamakura - Samurai and Zen

Miyajima, an island 30 km around in the Seto Inland Sea, is known as one of the 3 most beautiful spots in Japan. It has been thronging with more than 3.4 million tourists a year ever since the Itsukushima Shrine was registered as a World Heritage Site. Worshiped as a sacred isle since ancient times, this is a place of rich nature, food culture and other diverse customs and traditions.

Itsukushima, Island of the Gods

Our theme this time is traditional crafts. The Japanese have a long history of making good handicraft use of natural materials. From pottery and woodwork to textiles and metalwork, the Japanese have employed fire, water and sometimes also the wind to create everyday utensils that are beautiful and easy to use. Muneyoshi Yanagi, the father of the Japanese folkcraft movement, called Japan "a land of the hand" and described handicrafts as one of the forces which "provide enormous power for the preservation of Japan". The program follows the handicraft theme in paper, knives, lacquer, ship's chests, abaca cloth and other fields to depict the power of Japan's traditional crafts as well as the climate that nurtured them.

Hand-Made in Japan

The Japanese fascination with dolls extends through Neolithic clay figures to Girls' Day festival dolls, puppets and now cartoon character figurines as well. The dolls embody diverse local traditions and beliefs, serving as prayers for good health and rich harvests, or for the repose of the dead, as expressions of awe and respect for the deities, and as toys or ideal figures. The Girls' Day festival dolls represent the Emperor's court gathered for a wedding in Kyoto. This nationwide custom is a prayer for the healthy growth of girl children. In puppet theater, Bunraku and Ningyou-joruri flourished in Osaka during the Edo Period, which lasted from the 17th to the mid-19th century. The puppets express all the subtlety and feelings of real human beings and it takes years of practice to master the puppetry techniques. What do dolls mean to the Japanese people? We look back over this fond, beautiful and extraordinary history.

Dolls Bearers of Dreams

Rice is special to the Japanese. Since rice cultivation arrived here millennia ago, it has molded Japanese society, the landscape and religious beliefs. That history is reflected in archaeological sites and other remains across the country and in everyday lifestyles today. This is a journey to aspects of the Japanese mind that have been nurtured by rice farming. We also meet people who still dedicate their efforts to this beloved crop today.

Tracing Rice in Japan

The blowfish is an expensive delicacy in Japan that has been eaten here for thousands of years, judging from the presence of blowfish bones in prehistoric remains. The flesh is firm with almost no fat and mostly ignored in other countries. The fish is also highly toxic and even a slight error in preparation can kill. The Japanese, though, have come to love the quintessential flavor of its white meat and also the aesthetic of dining so close to death. Fugusashi - blowfish slices served raw - is a representative way to serve the fish. The chef slices the firm flesh extremely thin to obtain the perfect texture. The chefs of Shimoneseki City have developed special techniques for this through friendly rivalry with each other. Another is the fugunabe hotpot. The collagen which makes the flesh so firm becomes tender with boiling in this highly savory repast. We examine the development of Japan's food culture through the lens of the quest for the most delicious preparation of this white fish.

Blowfish - A Secret Taste from the Deep

Kyoto is a treasure house of Buddhist statuary. The many statues there include 37 designated national treasures and 416 important cultural properties, second only in number to those of Nara. Jizo, the bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, is especially closely entwined with the people's lives in Kyoto and small roadside shrines housing Jizo statues can be seen all over the city. Local residents sweep in front of the shrines each morning and it is only normal here for people to pause and hold their hands together in prayer as they pass by on their way to school or work. The city has grown with the images and those images provide the people with precious moments of tranquility. This is the story of how much the statues to which they pray mean in the daily lives of Kyoto people.

Millennium Guardians The Buddhist Statues of Kyoto

Areas of Japan experience the heaviest snowfall in the world. The people there have come up with various ways to spend those cold, silent, fearful winter nights when human companionship becomes so important, not to mention dishes born in the freezing weather that now rank among the representative Japanese flavors. What did they think, feel and create on those long, snow-bound nights? Join us for a wide-ranging look at the snowy nights of Japan.

Nights of Snow

The stark, beautiful, volcanic mountains of Zao are a natural wonder of the Tohoku region. They have brought great blessings to the local population and also fostered fierce endurance. The striking Okama crater, frozen trees of winter, hot springs and other natural glories draw 1.2 million people annually to their famed resorts. The cool air of late autumn is meanwhile perfect for drying persimmons. We also introduce the fabulous ski slopes leading through those frozen trees, depicting the distinctive attractions of the people and their customs and the stunning scenery.

Ice Monsters: The Mountains of Zao

Osaka's Ikuno district has one of Japan's largest Koreatowns - one in every five Ikuno residents is an ethnic Korean and the town is full of Korean delicacies, too. We visit an old barbeque restaurant renowned for its cooking smoke. We also have a look at extraordinary pork dishes handed down over the years, review the history which gave birth to this community, and follow a day in the life of an old woman who crossed the sea to Japan and has been making kimchi pickles for family and friends ever since. The people of this town exude a warmth which reaches across all ethnic barriers.

Koreatown: Ikuno, Osaka

Tales of the Tokyo Night. Some 15 million people are said to come and go daily in the great Tokyo metropolis. Evening is a particularly brilliant time and the Japanese people have loved the unique space created by those bright lights, so different from the daytime, ever since modernization began in the city back in the 19th century. We converse with a taxi driver who watches over fond lovers, feel the bonds that grow between inebriated customers as they drink beneath naked lights, and meet a lighting designer who produces those big city effects, touching the hopes, dreams and tensions of the Tokyo night.

Tokyo by Night

Cherry Blossoms... People wait eagerly for their blossoms, love the famous scenes of cherry trees in bloom, sense the transience of things as the petals flutter down and then look forward to them just as eagerly again the following spring. Why are the Japanese people so attached to these flowers which announce the coming of spring? A man is so enthusiastic that he gives up his job to follow the blossoms on their half-year, south-north path up the archipelago. A thousand-year old cherry tree, worshipped as a tutelary god, has been treasured over many generations in a humble mountain village. And so it goes on... Every Japanese person has a special, personal recollection of the blossoms. From when the first trees bloom in Okinawa until the last flower in Hokkaido, we follow the cherry blossom front as it moves north across Japan, visiting famous viewing sites in each Prefecture. We hear, too, the stories of Japanese people and their cherry blossoms along the way.

Following the Sakura - A Journey of Cherry Blossoms in Japan

Tokyo's old downtown district, where the TOKYO SKYTREE tower was opened last year, has always been a welcoming place for strangers and novelties. It also retains an old human warmth and vitality, not to mention great food at cheap prices. Those downtown flavors, too, produce chance encounters and bond people across the generations. Join us for a trip to old Tokyo in the springtime to enjoy the treats of the season and the particular downtown friendliness.

Tokyo in Springtime - The Taste of Tradition

The Randen is the Kyotoites' pet name for a little, well-loved streetcar service. The Keifuku Electric Railroad's Arashiyama and Kitano Lines are more than a 100 years old and have a combined length of only 11km. The Randen was originally built to carry Kyoto residents to the western capital's famed beauty spot of Arashiyama. Besides the scenic delights of Arashiyama and Sagano, it also passes many famous Buddhist and Shinto treasures now listed as World Heritage sites, including the Ninnaji Temple in Omuro and much-acclaimed stone garden of Ryuanji. Above all, the Randen is loved for its popular flavor. We take a trip through western Kyoto on the little Randen at the most dazzling and invigorating time of the year, from the time of cherry blossoms into the season of new leaves.

Spring in Kyoto - A Trip on a Little Local Train

The Asakusa district has a long history. It grew up around Senso-ji Temple, and still retains much of the flavor of Tokyo back in the days when it was still known as Edo.

Asakusa Celebration and Devotion

Japan has many sorts of flower garden. They are a place of relaxation, solace and encouragement through the changing seasons. One lone gardener spent half a century planting flowers across a broad wasteland. Another has sown a floral oasis in a gap in a concrete jungle. Garden visits are also a time to reflect on precious moments in their creators' lives and those of their families. With glorious images, the program addresses the Japanese people's feelings and sense of beauty through how they view flowers.

Japan in Full Bloom - The Flower Gardens

Konpira-san, the Kotohira-gu Shrine in Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku, is a place to pray for anything from good health to success in exams or love and draws 3 million visitors a year. It stands on Mt. Zozu, a peak once revered by seafarers of the Seto Inland Sea, and became a holy place for everyone during the Edo Period. It is also a place of culture and entertainment with a collection of artworks by Maruyama Okyo, Itoh Jakuchu and other famous painters and Japan's oldest extant kabuki theater, Kanamaru-za. We discover the varied history of the Kotohira Shrine, a place of both faith and desire, through its rituals and customs.

The Shrine of Konpira-san - Answering Everyone's Prayer

The Chugoku mountains of western Japan were the setting for various stories about the Japanese gods in Japan's ancient chronicle, the Kojiki, which was compiled 1,300 years ago. The people there also preserve the ancient kagura dances for the gods. We visit the villages to discover some examples, including a secret kagura that is presented only once every few years just for the villagers' own eyes, a mysterious kagura staged only once in 33 years in order to send the spirits of their dead to the afterlife, and a colorful new kagura which makes the young go wild. This is a glimpse into the world of the people of the Chugoku mountains, who still live close to their gods.

The Forest of Myths

The mountain hinterlands of Shikoku are dotted with tiny, almost hidden communities. One such place is the Iya Oboke district of Tokushima Prefecture, where the houses cling to the mountainside on a steep slope with an altitude difference of 400m from top to bottom. The people there cultivate fields where the potatoes they dig up could almost roll down the hillside. They feed spring water to their homes and provide for most of their own needs from the blessings of the fields and mountains. Time passes quietly. We discover the people who have built their life on this steep mountainside over the years and the beauties of their four seasons.

Iya - Living in the Mountains

Listed as a Natural Heritage site, Shiretoko is a treasure trove of flora and fauna. A remote land, closed by snow and ice in winter, it was embraced by pioneers who came to find new lives on land wrestled from nature. This program showcases the beauty of Shiretoko's transition through the seasons, and offers a glimpse of the lives of those who have reached a hard-won yet delicate accord with nature.

Wild Shiretoko - World Heritage Site

Kusatsu has the largest natural spring water flow of any spa in Japan. It is popular among tourists, attracting 2.7 million visitors annually. Waters are extremely hot and strongly acidic. For centuries, people have traveled to Kusatsu to benefit from the water's medicinal properties. The town which developed around the spa, includes numerous inns for long-term recuperation. Even today, people still follow the rules of jikan-yu, a unique bathing method introduced in the Edo Period. Our story focuses on the spa water, natural surroundings and people of Kusatsu.

Kusatsu: A Town that Warms the Body and Soul

Only an hour away from Tokyo, Shonan is a popular place where people like to visit and live. For over a century, Shonan has been the best seaside resort and birthplace of public beaches in Japan. From the first generation of Shonan Boys (American culture fans), the "Taiyo-Zoku" generation inspired by a 1956 novel and film, to the surfing generation, Shonan has remained a subject of admiration. Meanwhile, this episode will also show Shonan's cultural side with vacation homes and the Imperial Villa, rich blessings from the sea, and its religious facet in Enoshima.

Shonan: Good Vibrations on the Beach

At the center of Naha City lies Kokusai Street, a symbol of modern Okinawa Prefecture as it was one of the first areas to reemerge after the grueling battles of the war. Stretching for 1.6km, the street was in fact once called "The Miracle Mile." Originally a black market bordering the American-occupied zone, it became Okinawa's busiest shopping street, with 500 souvenir shops and restaurants. This episode focuses on the street's history and source of its prosperity: the diversity and dynamism of Okinawa.

The Miracle Mile - Kokusai Street, Okinawa

On summer nights, the residents of Gujo Hachiman throw themselves into the o-bon dance. Dances are held on 33 nights from July to September, but for 4 nights during o-bon, everyone dances until dawn. In the evening, dancers gather in the narrow streets of the old castle town, forming a circle around festival floats carrying drummers, singers and shamisen players. The Gujo Hachiman O-bon dance is for dancers not spectators, and no one comes along just to watch. Locals and visitors, young and old, all dance through the night. We travel to Gujo Hachiman to enjoy this 400 year old tradition.

Gujo Hachiman 400 Years of All-night Dancing

Sakurajima, an active volcano. Each year, around 900 eruptions occurs. Yet despite the risks and the ash falling each day, Sakurajima is a special place in the hearts of the 600,000 people living nearby in Kagoshima City. Sweet potatoes were brought in to use volcanic soil. Fishermen hunt shrimps 200 meters below the sea surface. Through hardship, the residents have built a special existence there. Our program covers the people who live next to Sakurajima, with its violence and its blessings.

Sakurajima: Volcanic Island

Located in the center of Honshu, Japan's main island, the Kiso region is known for its countless towering Hinoki, or Japanese cypress trees, some of them more than 300-years-old. The Japanese cypress trades at high prices for building timber, with its condensed high-quality wood grain. Since time immemorial, the people of Kiso have enjoyed the blessings of the mountain, and have offered thanksgiving to the mountain gods. This is an untold story that follows the relationship between the Japanese and the mountains.

Kiso: The Forest of the Japanese Cypress

With awe-inspiring shrines and temples ranked as a World Heritage Site, Nikko is a sacred place. Its history dates back 1,200 years, but it was not until the creation of Tosho-gu, a shrine dedicated to shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, that it began to flourish. By the early 19th century, Nikko grew popular with foreign visitors, and even Albert Einstein and Helen Keller stayed here at Japan's oldest resort hotel. This episode introduces the people who still maintain the glory of Nikko's traditions.

Nikko: World Heritage and Mountain of Prayer

Tohoku is at the northern end of Honshu. Autumn is the region's richest season. Forested hillsides are a blaze of red and yellow and trees bear bountiful fruit. Salmon swim upstream to return to their spawning grounds. Fields are full of golden rice with their stalks bent over, laden with grains. Local people are thankful for the bounty of the sea and the forest as they celebrate the fruits of their year's labor. We see how the autumn unfolds in Tohoku, where, following the Great East Japan Earthquake, people are awed by and yet grateful for the power of nature.

Autumn in Tohoku

Since it opened up its harbor in 1859, Yokohama has been the gateway to Japan. Along with beautiful scenes of Yokohama, we tell the story of Japanese people living in a city with strong foreign influences. There is a ship pilot who knows Yokohama Harbor like the back of his hand. The first to greet vessels from far-flung nations, he is sometimes called "a diplomat without a title". And this story of Yokohama even includes things such as the storied, grand cruise vessel "Hikawamaru", sailing international lines and symbolizing the Showa Era, eventually pressed into service during World War II.

Yokohama - A Harbor Town Full of Spirit

In this episode of Seasoning the Seasons, we go on a journey of fireworks all over Japan, contemplating their beauty and the story behind their creation. A collection of the latest fireworks that take place in Oomagari, Akita Prefecture. Young fireworks artists selected from all over Japan come to outdo each other with elaborate ingenuity. The grandson of the pyrotechnician who made the famous firework "Magic Botan" in Shizuoka Prefecture takes on the challenge to further enhance the technique inherited from his grandfather.

Fireworks

The Yoshino and Kumano regions lie in the 200km-long ranges of the Kii Mountains in the southern Kii Peninsula. Here, raw nature - deep forests, gigantic trees, awe-inspiring waterfalls and rocks - forms a truly extraordinary landscape. Crisscrossing them are the ancient Kumano pilgrimage routes, and Shugendo, an ascetic faith that follows rigorous mountain training, was born here. This episode depicts this primordial land and the mystic culture that continues to enchant people.

Kumano Pilgrimage Routes

Nara, with a history of 1,200 years, is Japan's first capital city. The city is home to many temples, even older than the city itself, where people pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation. In addition to shrines protecting the whole country, there are also smaller deities that guard individual villages. In Nara, the ancient capital, Shinto and Buddhism are interwoven into daily life, and someone, somewhere is always putting their hands together in a quiet prayer. We see how various aspects of religion are infused into the fabric of the city.

Nara: An Ancient Capital Filled with the Sound of Prayer

Close to the Asian continent, Karatsu has long been early to adopt mainland culture. Its bright, open atmosphere is still going strong, supported by the many blessings of the Genkai Sea. At the "Karatsu Kunchi" festival, 14 yama parade floats walk majestically through the town. On this program, we introduce viewers to the people and ocean of Karatsu.

Karatsu

In Japan, there are 6 breeds of dogs that are protected species. These are the Hokkaido Dog, the Akita Dog, the Kai Dog, the Kishu Dog, the Shikoku Dog and the Shiba Dog. Bones of dogs unearthed from 3,000-year-old ruins have been found with proof of a proper burial. It seems even back then, dogs were already part of the lives of humans, like today. Many belief systems towards dog unique to the locality remain in various parts of Japan. In this episode, we visit the origins and locales associated with these dogs, and look at the bond between the Japanese and dogs.

Life with Japanese Dogs

Izumo is an abode of gods, home to many of the deities that appear in Japan's ancient legends. Japan's oldest history books, which mix legends and history, state that Izumo is the location of Japan's birth. Izumo is also home to various aspects of Japanese culture. With footage from this sacred place of mystery and romance, we show you the beauty of Izumo.

Izumo - Abode of the Gods

Udon noodles are loved in Japan as an easy, tasty, everyday dish. In Japan, farming centers on rice, but throughout Japan's history, various other cereals have also been harvested. During the winter, when there was no rice farming to do, farmers allowed themselves a little luxury by pounding wheat to make udon. Today, udon has become a delicious, satisfying everyday dish. We look back through Japanese history, tracing the story of the unique know-how and preparatory techniques behind this delicious dish.

Udon Noodles - A Wheat Delicacy

When going on a trip, packing a lunch box to take was the standard. In 1885, the first lunch box was sold at a train station. Called an "ekiben", there are now all kinds of them sold in stations all over Japan. The contents of the small ekiben lunch box reflect a place and a time, and are filled with the flavors of that region, the emotions of the person who made it, and the memories of a journey. We look at both the ekiben, much loved by Japanese people, and at a wonderful ekiben culture.

Ekiben - A Box of Flavor and Feeling

Located 100km north of Kyoto, the region of Echizen faces the Sea of Japan. Long and cold winters come to Echizen, but winter is also the season for much delicious cuisine. The quintessential taste of winter in Echizen is the "Echizen Crab". People get passionate about this particular crab. Only male snow crabs landed in this region are given the title of Echizen Crab. We take a look at a number of delicious foods only available in Echizen during winter. Much enthusiasm surrounds these unique local gastronomical delights.

Echizen - Taste of Winter

In the west of Saitama Prefecture, nestled among 2,000 meter tall mountains, lies Chichibu. Whether entering or leaving, you must cross mountains and passes. Within the looming mountains, in a small basin, lies a place with unique culture and customs, said to hold festivals more than 300 times a year. 10 million people visit Chichibu each year. Though it's just 80 kilometers from Tokyo, you wouldn't know it from entering its surreal environment. We pass the beauty of this world along to you through dazzling footage.

Chichibu - Home of the Mountain Gods and Festivals

When the Meiji era started, Japan advanced forward to build itself into a modern state. It was architecture that gave form to that enthusiasm. Schools, government offices and houses modeled after the West. In each one nested the dreams and ideals of the architects and the people who lived in them. Soon many architectural masterpieces with a style unique to Japan were produced. In this episode we take a look at the architectural masterpieces and the stories of those who built them throughout the Meiji, Taisho and Showa eras, and shed light on the traces of the dreams of the Japanese.

Modern Architecture: Giving Form to Dreams

In Tohoku, the winter is long and harsh. People cannot avoid the cold weather, they simply learn to survive it. Our program shows how the region's people cope with the deep snow, keep alive traditional methods of preserving food, and spend the colder months working with their hands. The heavy snow blocks people in during winter, but when the spring comes it becomes a plentiful source of meltwater, supporting local agriculture. Since time long past, the people of Tohoku have lived quietly through the winter, in harmony with the natural environment.

Winter in Tohoku

Cherry Blossoms... People wait eagerly for their blossoms, love the famous scenes of cherry trees in bloom, sense the transience of things as the petals flutter down and then look forward to them just as eagerly again the following spring. Why are the Japanese so attached to these flowers which announce the coming of spring? A man is so enthusiastic that he gives up his job to follow the blossoms on their half-year, south-north path up the archipelago. A thousand-year-old cherry tree, worshipped as a tutelary god, has been treasured over many generations in a humble mountain village. And so it goes on... Every Japanese person has a special, personal recollection of the blossoms. From when the first trees bloom in Okinawa until the last flower in Hokkaido, we follow the cherry blossom front as it moves north across Japan, visiting famous viewing sites in each prefecture. We hear, too, the stories of Japanese and their cherry blossoms along the way.

Spring in Tohoku

In Higashiyama, Kyoto, Gion evolved as the district in front of the Yasaka Shrine gates, and now has more than 300 years of history. Its narrow streets are lined with over 50 old-style teahouses. At twilight, beautifully dressed geiko and maiko walk towards their parlors. It is a sought-after destination for countless tourists foreign and domestic, but the teahouses where the geiko and maiko entertain customers only admit people with introductions. There is almost never an opportunity to see the ladies at their finest. For this program, we spent many hours capturing this little-known world. The graceful and captivating dances for customers, and the daily lives of the geiko and maiko, who constantly refine their art in a world of rigid formality. How do they feel as they live in this town? This is the story of the women who live in the geisha quarter, Gion.

Kyoto: The Enigmatic Entertainers of Gion

Hozenji lies just behind Dotonbori, Osaka's bustling downtown area with its dazzling neon lights. This is where you can find a "deeper side" of Osaka. A confined temple known for Mizukake Fudoson, a local deity. About 60 one-of-a-kind restaurants and bars line a cobbled alleyway. It is said that this town started in the Edo period, with stalls and teahouses catering to pilgrims going to the Hozenji Temple. Regular barflies come out nightly to their favorite watering holes. Young cooks who do their training in a sanctuary for chefs. We take a look at traditional Osaka cuisine. Welcome to Hozenji, a town where people live a life of esprit.

Hozenji: The Sentimental Alley of Osaka

Travelers to Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido often first arrive in Hakodate, a port town that attracts 4 million visitors a year. The city is best known for its Million-Dollar Night View. The bright lights look beautiful surrounded by the jet black ocean. The view, very popular with couples, is a symbol of the city. Hakodate prospered as the first port in Japan fully open to the outside world and we explore the city's romance together with the people who call it home.

Hakodate: The Storied History of a Port Town

Kirishima, a group of 20 mountains in the south of Kyushu. It is a volcanic area that was a central location in Japan's creation myth. Its name, meaning 'fog island', refers to the way that the peaks look like an island rising above the clouds. Its high rate of rainfall creates springs and hot springs for the towns around it, and the volcanic ash it releases helps grow sweet potatoes that have fostered a shochu alcohol culture. As they receive the bounty of the mountains, the people there have created their own unique customs, and carved out their own way of living in harmony with an unforgiving environment. An old mountain guide struggles with volcanic ash as he seeks to reopen the area for tourism and mountain climbing. The people here's love for the region has no limits. Even though there are few jobs for the younger generation, they don't want to leave, and even those who do tend to come back.

Kirishima: A Town Thriving on Volcanic Mountains

The stage for this episode of Seasons of Seasons is the largest remote island in the Sea of Japan, Sado, which lies beyond the rough seas. This island was feared as "the end of this world where ogres live" for more than a thousand years. Sado started to become an "attractive island" in the Edo period, when a gold mine began to draw people. Various cultures brought into the island by shipping in the Sea of Japan, coupled with the harsh climate of Sado, evolved into a form of its own, and are alive in the islanders' lives today. The surging waves often washed in and trap the times, and as such the island still embodies cultures of "old Japan" no longer seen in other parts of the country.

Sado Island: Into the Mystic Dreams

Ozegahara, at an altitude of 1400m, is the largest and highest wetland on Japan's main island of Honshu. Located in a National Park, the rare ecosystem of Oze is also a Special Protection Area. Every year, around 300,000 hikers flock to Oze. The unique marshlands are home to around 300 species of grasses and flowering plants, including the white skunk cabbage. In Oze, spring, summer and autumn are compressed into the 5 months between mid-May and mid-October. During that brief period, plants bud, flower and bear fruit. We explore the beauty of Oze's 4 seasons.

Oze: A Mountain Marshland

When summer arrives, there is a fish that causes the hearts of fishermen to race with anticipation. It is the "Ayu", or "sweetfish" - little known outside Asia, but a key part of summer in Japan. Its scent has led people to call it "the fragrant fish", and the soft flavor of its meat holds a delicate sweetness. Japanese people have been captivated by Ayu. In the spring, the fish swims upstream from the ocean, and in the summer it stays near rocks, eating algae and growing larger. In the fall, it goes downstream to lay eggs, and its short life then comes to a close. Its birth and death both happen in the space of just 4 seasons. Ayu is in the hearts of the Japanese together with river memories. We travel Japan to learn more about it.

Ayu: Treasures of the River

The nation of Japan is made up of many islands, numbering some 6800 in total. Of these, 971 islands are located near Nagasaki on the western edge of Japan. Since ancient times, these interspersed islands have prospered as a key point of trade with China, Korea, Portugal and the Netherlands. Customs and cultures unknown to Japan have been brought about through these islands. While being ahead of the times through the exchanges with the Asian continent, the islands of Nagasaki have at times also been a time capsule of the times, with its own unique culture taking root. As we examine these islands, we begin to see the history and the origin of Japan.

The Islands of Nagasaki

Karuizawa, which sits at an altitude of 1,000 meters, was developed as a summer resort after a foreign missionary built his summer cottage there more than a century ago. Other missionaries and moneyed Japanese soon followed, turning Karuizawa into the place to be in summer. Karuizawa continues to enjoy its status is one of the world's leading summer resorts and a destination of choice for millions of Japanese travelers.

Karuizawa: A Fleeting Summer

Onomichi is a town of hills and pathways, situated along a 200meter wide strait where waterways of the Inland Sea pass through. With the water so close, few flat areas are available, and the town grew on steep hillsides, spreading narrow paths in the process. Hilly byways where cars can't pass became places where people spend time and enjoy one another's company. Sounds of activity come from the houses, and fragrances waft through the air. Though life on a hillside can be inconvenient, people enjoy strong ties with their neighbors, and it's said that many young people move there to enjoy the lifestyle. This is the story of Onomichi, seen from its hillsides and byways.

Strolling the Paths of Onomichi

This is the story of "Tsutenkaku", the symbolic tower of Osaka, and the town of "Shinsekai" that lies at its foot. Development of this region began about 100 years ago. The town of Shinsekai was established when the Tsutenkaku tower, modeled after the Eiffel Tower, was built, and has been attracting crowds as a "paradise of the masses". While the tourists flock here with the boom in Kushikatsu in recent years, old-fashioned standing-room-only bars continue to cater to their regulars with good old service with a human touch. Down to earth and warm-hearted service. This is a "paradise of the masses" where everyone can have fun inexpensively. Scenes of Shinsekai, filled with people who love this town, invites the viewer into the deeper side of Osaka.

Shinsekai, Osaka: A Town Guarded by a Tower

Just over an hour away from Tokyo the beautiful beach of Kujukuri stretches some 60km along Japan's Pacific coast. Villages along the beach grew prosperous through fishing from the shore for Japanese sardines. These days, fishermen go out into the bay in small boats, using nets up to 1,000m long to chase the anchovy shoals. A single one of these nets can collect up to 40 tons of fish, making the sardine fisheries of Kujukuri-hama Japan's largest catch.

Kujukuri: The Endless Beach

Nagasaki, on Japan's southern island of Kyushu. Interactions with foreign nations have been a feature of this place since long ago, absorbing aspects of the cultures of Portugal, the Netherlands and China. This is the story of the people of Nagasaki, who have integrated the cultures of faraway lands but have also overcome a very difficult history.

Nagasaki: Hills and Exotic Atmosphere

The Japanese have been living in a world inhabited by "Yokai", paranormal beings or phenomena that cannot be explained with common knowledge. Even today, there are legends and eyewitnesses that tell of Yokai. Yokai are said to be manifestations of the view on nature, life and death, and the world of the Japanese throughout history. Although life for the modern Japanese has changed, the image of the collective "spirit" of Japanese nostalgia lives on in tales of the Yokai. In this episode, we go on a journey looking for Yokai, mythical beings that dwell in the dark corners of the Japanese psyche.

Japanese Yokai: Ghosts, Goblins or Ghouls?

The town of Kawagoe, which lies just 30km northwest of central Tokyo, is still heavily influenced by the merchant culture of Japan's feudal period when Tokyo was known as Edo. In modern times, Kawagoe serves as a dormitory town for commuters to Tokyo, but the town still holds on to its traditional roots. We visit Kawagoe, exploring its culture, history and the lives of local people.

Kawagoe: Keeping Urbane Traditions Alive

Mackerel Road connects Wakasa, which overlooks the Sea of Japan, and Kyoto. Wakasa, located in Fukui Prefecture, has a sawtooth-shaped coastline, and is a treasure trove of excellent seafood. The region, known as a land of food, has been offering up its cuisine to the emperor since the 7th century. In the 17th century, the mackerel transported to the capital from Wakasa supported the capital's food culture through dishes like mackerel sushi, an essential part of summer festivals. It's said that by the time the mackerel arrived in Kyoto, it was at just the right level of saltiness. We visit Mackerel Road, which winds through beautiful mountain villages, connects people, and has passed along both culture and customs.

Travelogue of Mackerel Road

The Japanese have admired the moon, which waxes and wanes over 30 days, and by giving it nostalgic names. Until 1872 the Japan based their lives on the lunar calendar, which is based on the phases of the moon. At the time, it is said that people could tell what day it was by looking at the shape of the moon. Even today, traditional customs based on the lunar calendar remain in the ancient capital of Kyoto, as well as in Okinawa where people live with the sea. In this episode of Seasoning the Seasons, we take a close look at people who still use the moon as their calendar.

On a Moonlit Night...

Trams still run in numerous Japanese cities and are very popular with the public. Japan's first trams began operating in Kyoto, in 1895. At their peak, Japan's tramways reached a total length of 1500km, but increased private car ownership and the replacement of tramways with bus routes has left lines in just 17 cities covering around 200km. These tramways remain an important part of the neighborhoods they serve, evolving as the cities grow and change. The trams carry people's hopes and dreams, and act as a stage for scenes of meeting and parting.

Japan's Historic Tramways

Aso is a vast caldera - the largest in Japan. There, people live together with an active volcano. They revere and pray to the volcano, which has created such awe-inspiring scenery. Spring, flames engulf the grassy fields of Aso. From the blackened earth, new shoots of green emerge, and are grazed on by cows. The people have passed down the blessings of nature and the wisdom to live with a volcano from generation to generation without interruption. This is the story of a land of fire and water, and of the people who live there.

Aso: Life in the Caldera

Izu Peninsula is located approximately 100km to the southwest of Tokyo. Dividing the peninsula, which juts into the Pacific Ocean into the north and south, is the "Amagi Goe", a single mountain pass. It used to take people one whole day to walk over this pass. Passing over the Amagi still stirs up emotions of the traveler in the hearts of the Japanese. Examples of this can be seen in "The Izu Dancer", an early short story by Nobel Prize-winning writer Yasunari Kawabata, and a popular karaoke song titled "Amagi Goe". This pass was once a harsh place that could only be crossed on foot. Sometimes, with a sense of longing... There are people who once passed over the Amagi, and people who are about to. In this episode of Seasoning the Seasons, we look into the emotions of those travelers, together with the beautiful scenery of the pass. Land of Fire and Water

Crossing the Amagi Pass

The Kamo River runs through one of Japan's most famous tourist destinations, Kyoto, which has a population of 1.5 million people. Even now, each season, the lives of the people of Kyoto are intertwined with the river. The river's water nurtures Kyoto's unique vegetables, and restaurants serve fish caught within it. Its water is still being used for purification at a shrine with 1,500 years of history. We take a look at the many faces of the Kamo River as well as the people who love it and live with it.

Kamo River: The Waterway that Created Kyoto

Beppu is Japan's leading hot spring town, both in terms of volume of water flow and the number of different spas. Due to the rising vapors and bubbling water, the area was once referred to as "hell", but over the generations local people used their imagination and initiative to create a spa heaven. 8 of the town's spas are particularly famous, and each is steeped in its own culture. We experienced the wealth of Beppu's healing waters.

Beppu: Exploring the Exciting Hot Springs

This is the Tottori Sand Dunes, a landscape of sand 16km long, built up over thousands of years by the winds of the Sea of Japan. Designated as a national natural treasure, every year 1.2 million visitors come to admire the spectacular rolling sand landscape. The changing lights and seasons lend various appearances to the sand dunes. The wind that brings beauty to the dunes blow mercilessly, wanting to cover everything with the sand. Locals have lived here trying to live off the dry land, while protecting their fields and homes from sandstorms. In this episode of Seasoning the Seasons, we look at the story of people who have loved the sand, despite the difficulty and threat it brings.

The Tottori Sand Dunes, Unity with Nature

For all sorts of occasions, Japanese people bow their heads and pray to nature. Whether it's the fulfillment of one's personal prayers, the calming of souls, someone else's happiness, or a peaceful distant future for a stranger, in each region, there are forms and subjects of prayer that have been passed down for many years. When one goes to these places, they visit 'sacred sites' of prayer where they can gain vigor for living. On our journey across the Japanese islands, from Okinawa to Hokkaido, we'll encounter all sorts of places of prayer.

A Journey to Holy Places

During the region's short summer, local people are caught up in the festival fever. The Tsugaru Plain, at the base of Mt. Iwaki, is famous for incredible snowfalls. The harsh winter lasts nearly half the year, and when the short summer comes around, the passion of local people floods out. After withstanding the trials of nature, they live life to the full during the season of the sun. In a few dozen days, summer is over. We take a look at the festival season in Tsugaru when the land shimmers in the summer heat and local people make the most of the mild weather.

Tsugaru: Enduring Winter for the Hot Festival

The average temperature is over 17℃. And, here in Shikoku's Kochi Prefecture, there's also glaring sunlight and over 3m/year of rain - a lot even for Japan. Long ago, this area was known as 'Tosa'. Tosa's special climate gave its people a unique temperament.Even today, the men of Tosa are 'igosso' (stubborn), and the women are 'hachikin' (strong-willed). These strongly individualistic, goal-oriented people are Tosa's life force. They still have their unique traditions from long ago.

Tosa: Land of Passionate People

In various different situations, Japanese people often pray to the gods. Their prayers may range from requests for help with major, life-changing events or they may be simple prayers for peace and security in daily life. Religious rituals also vary widely depending on the region. We travel across Japan, visiting shrines and other sacred sites to introduce the sometimes mysterious world of traditional religious observance in Japan.

The Gods of Japan: An Infinite World of Spirits

Aizu is roughly 300 kilometers north of Tokyo. It is a region west of Fukushima Prefecture. Around 150 years ago, Aizu was defeated in a civil war, beginning a road of hardship. The skills to survive a tough environment and to care for others thrive in Aizu. From parents to children, from predecessors to successors, the pride of Aizu is passed down. Fondness for lords long-gone still remains in people's hearts. This is a story of Aizu, where the spirit of samurai from ages ago still lives on.

Aizu: Land of the Last Samurai

The ancient natural environment on Yakushima Island, in Kagoshima Prefecture, is registered as a World Heritage Site. It is said that rain falls 35 days in a month on this island. Yakushima is located about 65 kilometers south of Cape Sata, the southernmost part of Kyushu. The island is about 30 kilometers in diameter, and is almost entirely mountainous, with 2000-meter high mountains towering above the shoreline. The island's forests are home to trees more than a thousand years old. The mountains and the rain. The people and their prayers. This is the story of life in Yakushima.

Yakushima: Island of Primeval Forests

The Sanriku Railway in Iwate Prefecture is a lifeline, playing an important role in the local community. The train goes up and down the line, and the arrival of the train is part of the rhythm of life. In March 2011, the railway was completely destroyed by the tsunami that followed the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake. The road to recovery was a difficult one, and at one point, there was even talk of abolishing the line. The railway is now back on track, having finally resumed full service. We look back on the slow but steady restoration of the Sanriku Railway, over a period of 3 years.

Sanriku Railway: Back from the Brink

Tokyo's Chuo District, facing the ocean. Roughly 4 kilometers from the harbor, spanning a tributary river flowing into Tokyo Bay, is the bridge of Nihonbashi. In the center of the bridge is the road origin marker. All the roads connecting Tokyo to cities across Japan begin here. The area around the bridge has long flourished as a center of Japanese commerce. Wonderful old culture and traditions remain in this town. This is a story of Tokyo's Nihonbashi area.

Nihonbashi: The Bridge at the Center of Japanese Commerce

1,200 years ago, Kukai, a well-known Japanese monk, made a pilgrimage through 88 sacred sites In the Japanese island of Shikoku. The route through all 88 sites is 1,400 kilometers long and loops around the island. Pilgrim's still come, with both anxiety and hope, to follow in Kukai's footsteps. Kukai told his followers that enlightenment knows one's own heart. The Shikoku Pilgrimage is a journey to find oneself, shedding one's spiritual baggage simply by walking. The pilgrim's journey around Shikoku brings unexpected encounters and lifelong memories.

The Shikoku Pilgrimage

Dewa Sanzan is located in the center of Yamagata Prefecture, in the Tohoku region of Japan. Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan and Mt. Yudono. Collectively, these 3 mountains are called Dewa Sanzan. The pilgrimage of Dewa Sanzan symbolizes the death and rebirth of a person. It is believed that something important can be obtained by climbing the mountains.

Dewa Sanzan: Mystic Mountains of Prayers

Located in Fukuoka Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, the city is a harbor town facing Hakata Bay. If you cross the sea to the northwest, you'll find the Korean Peninsula and China. The area has flourished as a gateway to the continent for many years. In the summer, there is a festival that the men of this town practically live for. Hakata Gion Yamakasa is the summer festival for Hakata's local deity, Kushida Shrine.

Hakata Yamakasa: A Festival to Live For

Sushi is one of Japan's most renowned foods. Today, it is known the world over. The chef creates a bite-sized mouthful of sushi from fresh fish and vinegared rice. However, this is more properly called edo-mae-zushi, and it is just one of many sushi types. The Japanese diet has long been rich in fish. Sushi was originally made by naturally fermenting raw fish so it would keep for the long-term. Sushi then developed into various different regional styles as vegetables and other local produce were added to the dish. Japanese people often find eating sushi lifts their spirits. We're going to take a closer look at this delicious, versatile food.

A Sushi Tour Around Japan

Osaka is located in an estuary, where several rivers flow into the Osaka Bay. The waterways that stem from these rivers have supported the city's development. Intertwining within the landscape of the city are its many bridges. Because of that, Osaka is sometimes called a "city of 8 hundred and 8 bridges". Join us as we take a voyage down the always-lively Osaka, a city of waterways.

Osaka: City of Waterways

On the north side of Japan's main island, in the foothills of the Hida Mountains, lies Yatsuo Town, Toyama Prefecture. Every year, the 'Owara Kaze no Bon' Festival begins on September 1 and lasts for 3 days. During Owara Kaze no Bon, the people dance day and night, and the whole town livens up. The festival has a 300-year history here. It is thought to have begun with people seeking to appease the wind gods. The festival dances are sensual, graceful, yet proud and the dancers are boys, girls and young people under 30. Adults play traditional musical instruments such as the 'kokyu' and 'shamisen'. Owara Kaze no Bon, signifies summer's end. This is the story of the people behind Japan's most tranquil festival.

Owara Kaze no Bon: A Festival to Calm the Wind Gods

The Kunisaki Peninsula is located in the northeast corner of Kyushu, one of Japan's 4 main islands. The round peninsula sticking out into the sea is volcanic. There is very little rain and the mountains are rocky, meaning rainwater soon runs off. Strong faith supports the local people who live in this dry, difficult environment. We visit the Kunisaki Peninsula where unique local rites of prayer have survived down the ages.

The Kunisaki Peninsula: Mystical Festivals in a Spiritual Land

Tsukemono is a simple food made by pickling vegetables and other ingredients in seasonings such as salt and vinegar. It started as a preserved food, and some are made by fermentation. It is never the main dish, but is an essential part of the Japanese diet. Every region has its own special tsukemono. Tsukemono can be enjoyed not only for its taste, but also for its flavor, color and the sound it makes when chewed. We take a journey of tsukemono around Japan.

Tsukemono: Japan's Pickled Soul Food

Kanazawa is in Ishikawa Prefecture, facing the Sea of Japan in the north. Here, far from Kyoto and Tokyo, a great city was built in the age of the samurai, boasting 300 years of history. The first lord of this vast land, Maeda Toshiie, spared no effort in promoting culture such as crafts and the performing arts. This policy was carried on by his successors, and a small farming town transformed into a flourishing city of culture. An obsession with beauty has always thrived here. Hospitality that gratifies all the senses awaits you.

Kanazawa: An Eternal Love of Beauty and Culture

Japan's northernmost major island - Hokkaido. Stretching out into the sea on the island's east coast is the Notsuke Peninsula. It is 26 kilometers long, but just 20 meters wide at its narrowest point. Made from sand carried on the ocean currents, its shape is gradually changing. Here lies a paradise for both birds and wild animals. When the wind is just right, fishermen can take countless riches from the sea. During the winter, the temperature remains below zero for months on end. Everything is frozen by the snow and icy winds. Over the years, people have continued to live here, despite the harsh conditions. This is the story of a peninsula surrounded by snow and ice.

Notsuke Peninsula: Harsh Winters and Rich Seas

Kinosaki Onsen is a small town faces the Sea of Japan to its north, and is spread out between mountains. It is a hot springs, or an "Onsen" resort in Hyogo Prefecture. About 100 "Ryokan" or traditional Japanese inns line a 1-kilometer street, which are visited by 1 million tourists a year. The way to enjoy the hot springs here is to visit all of the 7 public baths in the town. A sparkling otherworldly thermal utopia built in the mountains. In this episode of Seasoning the Seasons, we visit a small hot springs resort that relaxes the body and mind.

Kinosaki Onsen: A Town of Hot Springs

Located in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, Shirakawa-go is a village full of old-fashioned houses with thatched roofs - and a registered World Heritage Site. The roofs are steeply slanted, products of a building technique called "Gassho-zukuri", which was born of the knowledge built up by surviving in an extraordinarily snowy region. The scenery in the 300 year-old town hasn't changed. Even now, time moves slowly. This is the story of the villagers of Shirakawa-go living hand-in-hand.

Shirakawa-go: Thatched-Roofed World Heritage Site

Otaru is a city in Hokkaido with a canal flowing by the harbor. It was once a center of commerce where goods from all over Hokkaido were traded. People flocked to the city in search of prosperity and success, and the canal has kept the city flourishing. Here in Otaru, there are many old buildings with over 100 years of history. Though located in Asia, the city scenery is reminiscent of Europe. Over 100,000 foreign tourists arrive each year. This is the story of Otaru, a city that's grown together with its canal.

Otaru: Classic Canal City

Mount Tsukuba is located in Ibaraki Prefecture, about 70 km northeast from Tokyo. The Japanese have revered the mountain since ancient times, as a sacred mountain akin to Mount Fuji. The mountain has a height of 877 meters. Mount Tsukuba, called Tsukuba-san in Japanese, is popular with visitors as anyone can easily climb it. More than 2 million people visit a year. From the old days, it has been believed that a mysterious force dwells in this mountain. In this episode, we present the story of Mount Tsukuba, a sacred mountain rich in mysterious charm.

Mount Tsukuba: The Mysterious Twin Peaks

The town of Miharu in Fukushima Prefecture, Eastern Japan, is renowned for its cherry blossoms. Once the long winter has passed and the cherry blossoms bloom, many tourists come to visit the usually quiet countryside. The main tourist attraction is a tree designated as a national natural monument, the Takizakura, meaning Waterfall Cherry Tree. There are more than 10,000 cherry trees all around the town.

Cherry Blossoms will Bloom: Miharu, Fukushima

The Kii Peninsula is in the south of Honshu, Japan's main island. On this peninsula is Kumano Kodo, a series of pilgrimage routes that connect a number of sacred spots. The "Iseji Route" is approximately 170 kilometers long and passes through the eastern side of Kii peninsula. The Route has been a place where many people with troubles and suffering visit. Each pass you traverse, there are encounters with the people who live in that land and a warmth that sincerely welcome travelling strangers. The Kumano Kodo Iseji Route; a place to meet a landscape carved over a thousand years, and the kindness of humanity.

The Iseji Route: Journey of the Soul over Passes

Hiroshima Prefecture, in western Japan, is on the coast of the Inland Sea. It is known as the City of Seven Rivers and wherever you go, you always reach the riverside. The city sits on a delta formed by sediment carried down by the rivers towards the sea. The rivers pass through the city on their journey down from the fertile Chugoku Mountains, and enrich not just the lives, but the hearts of the local people.

Hiroshima: A City of Seven Rivers

The Shima Peninsula is located in the south of Japan's main island Honshu. It is a great habitat for living things and a treasure trove of high-class seafood. In this region, fishing has carried out by skin divers for many centuries. These divers are all female, and are called ‘Ama' in Japanese. Legends tell that long time ago, the local Ise-Shima sea was chosen by a goddess of the sun. This is the story of the powerful women of the sea who live in Ise-Shima, and the people who keep traditions alive.

The Best Seasons of Seasoning the Seasons

The Best Seasons of Seasoning the Seasons

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Season 3

Season 4

Season 5

Season 6

Season 7

Season 8

Season 9

Season 10

Season 11

Season 12

Season 13