Explore Japan

Kyoto has a history of 1200 years. Its numerous shrines and temples make it one of Japan’s leading tourist destinations. Hidden in this ancient city are alleys called “Roji.” Many of them can’t be reach by car, yet they are just a step away from the main streets. Once you enter a Roji, there’s a scene of Kyoto that surprises visitors. Craftspeople from all over are attracted to the area. Many are rebuilt and given new life, with each Roji having its own character. Grandma feline Eki takes us on a unique tour.

The delectable Japanese confectionary tradition of wagashi dates back to ancient times, featuring shapes and flavors that change with the seasons. Sanno Hiroyuki, 39 years old, is a freelance artisan who is revolutionizing the world of wagashi. His social media posts often go viral, reaching young people all across the globe. He doesn’t have his own shop, but he gets orders from overseas as well. What’s the appeal of his creative approach to wagashi? We’ll follow Sanno as he forges delicious new paths in this age-old craft.

Frenchman Emmanuel Marès meets experts at famous gardens in Kyoto, to explore the unique aesthetic of Japanese gardens. First, he visits Saiho-ji Temple, nicknamed "moss temple" because its garden features over 120 types of moss. He speaks with modern-day priests to learn more about its connection to Zen philosophy. Next, Marès heads to Shoden-ji Temple, which takes up the “borrowed scenery” that incorporates a mountain as a spectacular backdrop for its garden. What is the fascination of the garden of the borrowed scenery that rock star David Bowie often visited and was deeply moved? His third destination is Kennin-ji Temple, where the rooms overlooking the garden feature famous folding screens and fusuma paintings. In one of the rooms, the temple commissioned a new fusuma painting by an artist who incorporated dyeing techniques into her paintings, creating a masterpiece of modern art, collaborating with the garden scenery.

Anime Dramatic Tours (ADT) is a fictional travel agency that provides guided tours of famous locales featured in Japanese anime films and television series. Join ADT travel guide Sascha as he navigates the exciting world of anime, comparing well-known anime destinations with the real-life spots on which they are based. On this particular day, the ADT office welcomes Yuriko Tiger, a popular cosplayer from Italy. She signed up for a tour after hearing the city of Nishinomiya in Hyogo Prefecture is home to destinations featured in her favorite series, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Following the tour, Sascha provides a behind-the-scenes look at The Tatami Galaxy, an anime based on the novel of the same title by Morimi Tomihiko. Sascha’s tour also introduces Yuriko to the delicious local treats featured in the anime. This is an unforgettable experience of Japan like never before, recreating the experiences of the anime characters in the exact same locations. Have a wonderful trip!

In Nara’s Asuka district, where Japan’s capital was located during the 7th century, you’ll find Horyuji Temple, home to the oldest wooden buildings on earth, still standing after 1,300 years. During extensive repairs in the Showa period, attention turned once again to the kanna, or Japanese plane, and its role in maintaining the surfaces of wooden buildings. Expert carpenters from across Japan gathered in Aichi Prefecture to compete in a kanna competition, seeing who could create the thinnest shavings of wood. There, we met with a legendary kanna master and three-time winner of the contest. Using cutting-edge video technology, we’ll reveal the master’s techniques, which lend durability to building materials. In the workshop of Chiyozuru, a brand that has won favor with skilled carpenters, we’ll reveal the essential skills that go into crafting a kanna. This program uses the latest measuring instruments to illuminate the sophistication of traditional Japanese craftsmanship.

"GO ON" is a group of young masters of traditional crafts who continue to take on new challenges in the ancient capital of Kyoto. They are creating new crafts using their unique techniques and advanced technology as a way of passing on the traditions, with the gratitude to their ancestors. The six craftspeople of GO ON continue to take on new challenges both individually and as a team. Their activities are not limited to Japan, but are expanding overseas as well. We followed their challenges.

Ginza, Tokyo. Japan's traditional culture is protected within this modern district. Here, artisans work unseen to preserve time-honored crafts. We visit a small workshop that's been producing tabi, or Japanese-style socks, since the 18th century. We also examine the impressive Mannen Dokei, or perpetual clock, devised by genius engineer Tanaka Hisashige. The specialists who replicated the Mannen Dokei continue to create exquisite timepieces in Ginza. Their respect for their predecessors and determination to preserve their craft provide clues into how a sustainable society can be achieved.

The Somin Naked Festival has been passed down for more than one thousand years at a mountain temple, deep in snowy Northern Japan. This physically demanding, purification rite is held annually in the coldest month of the year—February. Hundreds of men gather at the rustic Kokuseki-ji temple on New Year’s Eve according to the lunar calendar. Wearing only fundoshi loincloths, they embark on a nightlong test of endurance in a bid to ward off evil and invite in fortune. On this program, Canadian TV personality Kyle Card makes his way to Oshu, in southern Iwate, to join in this enigmatic festival. First, he must purify himself in advance of the ritual. He adheres to a strict Zen shojin diet. Later, he sits Zazen at a training temple to practice asceticism and focus his mind for the harsh festival. Kyle experiences the pain, the thrill, and the glory. He gains firsthand insights into the significance of the Naked Festival—an experience beyond his wildest dreams.

Japanese technology plays a pivotal role in global space development. This role is symbolized by the unmanned cargo transporter HTV “Kounotori”, the subject of this documentary. In recent years, U.S. and Russian supply ships have suffered several setbacks. The only craft to complete all its missions is Kounotori. What kind of Japanese technology lies behind this dependability? This program takes an in-depth look at Kounotori and the Japanese technology that keeps it flying.

Japanese anime and manga have countless fans overseas. Many of them are teenagers. Some of them have been inspired to become high school exchange students. On this program, we meet three such exchange students who are attending Meiji Gakuin Senior High School in Tokyo. They enrolled in the school year starting April 2016. The students came with many expectations. One they didn’t anticipate was the rigor of school life. After a commute, they start classes from 8:30 a.m. and finish around 3:00 p.m. After school, they all participate in school clubs. And while back home they might look forward to the weekend, here at this private school, Saturdays are spent on campus. This documentary captures the three students living in a foreign culture at the height of adolescence. We see Japanese high school life through their perspective. We also see that these students are getting much more than an education during their year abroad.