In Tokyo, a specialized shop offers a service: the restoration of obsolete media. People bring in faded film reels, worn VHS tapes, and unplayable cassettes, entrusting them to be reborn as CDs and DVDs within a swift seventy-two hours. Dur…

Kansai International Airport serves as a ceaselessly active portal to western Japan. Sixteen budget airlines operate from this Osaka hub, establishing it as the nation’s primary center for affordable air travel. The promise of inexpensive f…

In a workshop nestled in Akihabara, a vibrant ecosystem of innovation is taking shape. Here, the improbable takes root: a collar that gauges canine emotion, a keyboard-controlled wind instrument – ideas seemingly sprung from the realm of fa…

Kappabashi Street in Tokyo is a singular destination, housing 170 shops overflowing with every imaginable cooking implement and piece of tableware. Here, seasoned chefs scrutinize the sharpness of knife blades with discerning eyes, while a …

With Christmas drawing near, the Sapporo terminal swells with travelers seeking expressway buses that link this major city to far reaches of Hokkaido. From dawn until well past nightfall, passengers board affordable buses, drawn by their bu…

Osaka boasts Tenjinbashi-suji, a shopping arcade that stretches for an impressive 2.6 kilometers – one of the longest in Japan. At its far end, a series of benches offer a respite from the vibrant crowds. We brought our cameras and spent th…

In Fukuoka Prefecture resides a singular shrine dedicated to a deity of love. The path leading to its gate and the gate itself are festooned with hearts, drawing those in love, those dreaming of marriage, or seeking a blissful union. Lately…

In Japan, auto racing presents a thrilling spectacle: motorcycles stripped of brakes hurtle around asphalt tracks at speeds exceeding 150 kilometers per hour. This episode takes us to the Funabashi Auto, the very place where this unique spo…

In Sendai, a city in northeastern Japan, a 24-hour restaurant proudly proclaims its motto: "Born and raised on rice." For those who cherish the grain, it’s a veritable haven. The establishment serves rice in generous portions – four times t…

In the sprawling countryside town of Isesaki, nestled in Gunma Prefecture, a vast shopping mall rises from a landscape of endless, level fields. This episode explores the mall's vibrant heart: the food court. A haven for those seeking affor…

National Highway 439 traverses the mountainous island of Shikoku in southwestern Japan. In places, the road is little more than two meters wide and suffers from neglect. Yet, travelers journey from across Japan to navigate the 340-kilometer…

This episode follows a ferry journey to Sakurajima, an island dominated by an active volcano just off the coast of Kagoshima Prefecture. The vessel makes the fifteen-minute crossing day and night, transporting over ten thousand passengers d…

For sixty-two years, a creaking roller coaster, capable of a top speed of only 42 kilometers per hour, has held a cherished place as a favorite attraction at Hanayashiki, a historic amusement park in Tokyo’s Asakusa district. It is often th…

For a moment of respite, Kyoto residents often wander upstream along the Kamo River to an area known as the "Delta." This picturesque spot, removed from the city's usual tourist paths, has frequently featured in novels and films. A sense of…

Online auctions have become a marketplace for nearly anything imaginable – from used ambulances to services like grave visits. Since their emergence in Japan roughly two decades ago, these sites have blossomed into a vast commercial landsca…

In Japan, the number of women incarcerated for offenses spanning drug crimes to murder has risen sharply over the past two decades. This program offers a revealing glimpse into their lives, focusing on Wakayama Women's Prison, one of the co…

As the days drift into mid-August, families throughout Japan gather for Obon, a time when ancestral spirits are believed to return for a visit. In Nagasaki Prefecture, this cherished tradition is celebrated with a vibrant exuberance: skyroc…

In the summer of 2016, a monster-catching smartphone game captivated global attention. Consequently, a park in the Kinshicho district of Tokyo has become a favored destination for players seeking elusive creatures. Day and night, it’s thron…

The butcher shop in Hiratsuka, a city southwest of Tokyo, presents a commonplace facade. Yet, within its refrigerated cases reside meats seldom encountered in typical Japanese markets: cow kidney and pig's blood among them. A diverse client…