J-Trip Plan (2016 - 2020)

We look at amazing Japanese scenes sent by viewers, including vistas in Yamagata and Kagoshima Prefecture. Our reporter travels from Osaka to nearby Amagasaki, an industrial city in Hyogo Prefecture. First she explores the lively, friendly shopping arcade. She then cruises through the canals before heading for a closer look at the factories lit up at night. Industrial nightscapes in Japan have recently become popular tourist spots. The snaking pipes and rising steam create mysterious yet beautiful scenes.

We look at May festivals and share comments and photos received from viewers, especially of the koinobori at Children's Day. These wind socks are flown in prayer for the healthy growth and success of children. We also try some traditional sweets eaten during the festival. Our reporter gives us an in-depth look at Hiroshima okonomiyaki. She visits some popular restaurants and tries her hand at making it. Okonomiyaki is referred to as a Japanese pizza or pancake, but the local style is much more.

We introduce cheap, handy and delicious local foods, and we get advice from a viewer in Nagoya on the offerings at his local establishments. One food available anywhere in Japan is onigiri, a convenient snack for people on the move. Our reporter explores what Narita Airport - the gateway to Japan - and its surrounds have to offer. Whether transiting or visiting on a day trip, there is plenty to interest everyone. If you're arriving at Narita and heading straight to Tokyo, you're missing out.

Japanese call a place believed to have a special energy that refreshes a "power spot". We look at viewer photos of places where they felt such energy, and discuss Ise Jingu and other locations linked with mythology. Our reporters savor the seafood delicacies of Ise-Shima, Japan's first tourist destination, and explore the cities of Ise, Toba and Shima. No trip is complete without souvenirs. We look at toys made from local timber and carved netsuke ornaments regarded as miniature works of art.

We look at rainy season in Japan and talk with our correspondent about the hydrangeas at Kamakura's Hase-dera. Our reporter travels to Naruko Onsen, Miyagi Prefecture, to discover the charms of kokeshi dolls. The kokeshi motif is noticeable everywhere. She watches the lathe turn as a kokeshi comes to life from a block of wood and tries her hand at painting a kokeshi. The dolls are ever evolving, and various souvenirs feature kokeshi designs. One kokeshi becomes a torch in case of emergencies.

We feature festivals from across Japan and spotlight Kyoto's Gion Matsuri with insider tips on how to best enjoy the festival from our correspondent who has been participating for 15 years. Our reporter planned a trip to Yamatokoriyama in Nara Prefecture, famous for its goldfish hatcheries. She discovers unusual goldfish at the museum and tries her hand at decorating a ceramic goldfish bell. She also encounters cute goldfish sweets and fish tanks around town.

Summer is here and we look at how to keep cool while you are in Japan, introducing waterfront retreats, and traditional and modern cooling devices. Our correspondent talks about the Setouchi Triennale art exhibition. Our reporter visits 5 gardens along the Hokkaido Garden Path. She also tastes the local produce, sweets and cheeses on offer. One garden has some 2,500 varieties of flowers; another highlights conifers. An award-winning garden borrows the nearby mountain range as a backdrop.

Watching fireworks displays is a good way to stay cool on summer nights, so we introduce some brilliant shows. Our correspondent recommends the fireworks display and festival held in Tanba Sasayama, near Osaka. Our reporter visits Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, that claims to be cute. A huge fan of Doraemon, she is thrilled to see the anime character everywhere. She tries sushi on a special train as she admires the scenery. She also observes bronze casting and gets to make her own cute key ring.

We look at some of Japan's many good luck charms and talismans. Our correspondent introduces her favorite charm from Okinawa Prefecture. Our reporter travels to Iga in Mie Prefecture, the home of ninja. He visits the Ninja Museum in Iga and discovers the concealed devices once used in a real ninja residence. He also experiences ninja training in the mountains of the neighboring city of Nabari. He even goes sightseeing dressed as a ninja.

Fall is the season of delicious foods. We look at fruit picking spots. Our correspondent discusses a flavorful dish made with fatty bonito. Our reporter visits Yuasa in Wakayama Prefecture, a town famous for soy-sauce. The rich aroma of soy-sauce fills the air. She strolls the historic streets, experiences soy-sauce brewing techniques, and tastes novel versions of soy-sauce. Of course she also samples a wide range of foods with soy-sauce, such as local fish, sweets, and soft-serve ice cream.

We reveal beautiful outdoor locations around Japan and discover historic ruins hidden deep in Ehime Prefecture. Our correspondent shares his best hiking spots in Yamaguchi Prefecture, both above and below ground. Our reporter boards a steam train to the historic Besshi Copper Mine where he explores a museum housed in the mine's tunnels. He uncovers copper treasures, visits an opulent residence, and locates a forgotten town high in the clouds with crumbling brick structures emerging from the mountainside.

Hot springs are sure to warm your body and soul, especially during the colder months. Our correspondent recommends hot spring areas in Kumamoto and Oita Prefectures. Many inns there are back in business after the earthquakes that hit Kyushu in April 2016. Our reporter escapes the city to Tottori Prefecture. She climbs the sand dunes and takes a boat ride through pristine waters. She also gets a taste of country life with an overnight homestay in the town of Chizu.

We answer a viewer's question about visiting places connected with the famed swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. We put together a 3-day, 2-night tour and introduce places in Okayama and Kumamoto Prefectures. Our correspondent visits one of the world's best resort destinations, Okinawa Prefecture. She strolls through Naha's historical streets and heads for the markets to try the local seafood. She then goes on an excursion to Kouri Island where she enjoys swimming with horses and lodging at a private home.

Our reporter James Pritty, who lives in Sapporo, recommends interesting places to visit along the way from New Chitose Airport via Sapporo to Otaru. He witnesses wild salmon spawning, visits a facility where you can experience winter sports year round, and savors the fresh seafood of Hokkaido. And a viewer sent us a video and photos from his trip to Izu in Shizuoka Pref. He talks about Pacific saury, a fall delicacy, and the free guide who showed him around Ito at the tip of the Izu Peninsula.

Morning markets are a great way to learn about different regions. Our Hokkaido correspondent fishes a live squid for her breakfast at the Hakodate Morning Market. Our reporter travels to Yame, in Fukuoka Prefecture, a city famous for traditional crafts and washi papermaking, which dates back 400 years. She tries making washi, marvels at Yame-lantern making and other handicrafts, and watches a puppet performance. She also encounters a papercutter and visits a shop selling many local craftworks.

We delve into the delicious world of ramen, now known worldwide. Yokohama's ramen museum offers diverse varieties from across the country. Our reporter visits Kitakata in Fukushima Prefecture, a famous destination for ramen aficionados. Our correspondent talks about fire ramen, halal ramen and other interesting ramen shops in Kyoto. Buy kitchenware in an arcade in Osaka to make ramen at home. We also visit a museum in Osaka where you make your own original flavored instant cup ramen.

Our reporter Ali visits Oga to learn about the Namahage. These ogre-like beings believed to ward off evil call on homes on New Year's Eve in search of lazy no-gooders. Ali sees them in action at a museum, visits Namahage-related places, and tastes the local fare. We also look at ways to spend the New Year. Our correspondent suggests Sumiyoshi Taisha in Osaka for the year's first prayers. Viewers recommend a cruise on Yokohama Bay and the first sunrise in Yamanashi Pref. with a view of Mt. Fuji.