Great Japanese Railway Journeys

S1E15

Lake Shikotsu to Otaru

Air date: 01/May/2026 · Runtime: 28 min

📝 Summary ⌄

Michael explores the history of Hokkaido’s indigenous Ainu people. At Lake Shikotsu, he enjoys a traditional meal of salmon soup and witnesses a performance of the ancient Dance of the Cranes.

📝 Summary

Michael explores the history of Hokkaido’s indigenous Ainu people. At Lake Shikotsu, he enjoys a traditional meal of salmon soup and witnesses a performance of the ancient Dance of the Cranes.

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S1E14

Sendai to Lake Toya

Air date: 30/Apr/2026 · Runtime: 28 min

📝 Summary ⌄

Michael’s bullet train takes him through the undersea Seikan tunnel to Hokkaido. He explores the southern port city of Hakodate, one of the first to trade with the outside world.

📝 Summary

Michael’s bullet train takes him through the undersea Seikan tunnel to Hokkaido. He explores the southern port city of Hakodate, one of the first to trade with the outside world.

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S1E13

Tokyo to Sendai

Air date: 29/Apr/2026 · Runtime: 28 min

📝 Summary ⌄

Michael heads north from Tokyo to Honshu’s Tohoku region, known as the rice granary of Japan. In the city of Sendai, he learns about the disaster of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

📝 Summary

Michael heads north from Tokyo to Honshu’s Tohoku region, known as the rice granary of Japan. In the city of Sendai, he learns about the disaster of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

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S1E12

Tokyo (2)

Air date: 28/Apr/2026 · Runtime: 29 min

📝 Summary ⌄

Michael rides the 21-mile Yamonote line, an elevated railway that encircles the city, and visits the busiest train station in the world by passenger numbers.

📝 Summary

Michael rides the 21-mile Yamonote line, an elevated railway that encircles the city, and visits the busiest train station in the world by passenger numbers.

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S1E11

Tokyo (1)

Air date: 27/Apr/2026 · Runtime: 28 min

📝 Summary ⌄

On board a sleek Shinkansen bullet train, Michael arrives in Tokyo, one of the greatest cities on earth, with a population of 37 million in the metropolitan area.

📝 Summary

On board a sleek Shinkansen bullet train, Michael arrives in Tokyo, one of the greatest cities on earth, with a population of 37 million in the metropolitan area.

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S1E10

Shimonoseki to Hiroshima

Air date: 24/Apr/2026 · Runtime: 29 min

📝 Summary ⌄

Michael tries the deadly delicacy of pufferfish in the harbour town of Shimonoseki and visits Hitachi’s Kasado Works, where the iconic Shinkansen high-speed trains are manufactured.

📝 Summary

Michael tries the deadly delicacy of pufferfish in the harbour town of Shimonoseki and visits Hitachi’s Kasado Works, where the iconic Shinkansen high-speed trains are manufactured.

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S1E9

Arita to Fukuoka

Air date: 23/Apr/2026 · Runtime: 29 min

📝 Summary ⌄

Michael arrives in the home of Japanese porcelain, Arita, where a railway line runs straight through the town’s stunning porcelain Shinto shrine.

📝 Summary

Michael arrives in the home of Japanese porcelain, Arita, where a railway line runs straight through the town’s stunning porcelain Shinto shrine.

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S1E8

Yame to Nagasaki

Air date: 22/Apr/2026 · Runtime: 28 min

📝 Summary ⌄

Michael visits a Kyushu tea farm and the city of Nagasaki, the only port open to foreign trade when Japan was closed to the outside world for more than 200 years.

📝 Summary

Michael visits a Kyushu tea farm and the city of Nagasaki, the only port open to foreign trade when Japan was closed to the outside world for more than 200 years.

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S1E7

Amakusa Islands to Shin Omuta

Air date: 21/Apr/2026 · Runtime: 29 min

📝 Summary ⌄

Michael Portillo takes the ferry to the Amakusa archipelago, visits the town where missionaries brought Christianity to Japan and meets a master swordsmith in Shin Omuta.

📝 Summary

Michael Portillo takes the ferry to the Amakusa archipelago, visits the town where missionaries brought Christianity to Japan and meets a master swordsmith in Shin Omuta.

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S1E6

Kagoshima to Chiran

Air date: 20/Apr/2026 · Runtime: 29 min

📝 Summary ⌄

Michael starts a journey in and around Japan's southernmost main island, Kyushu. He begins in Kagoshima, an extraordinary city which sits in the shadow of Japan’s most active volcano, Sakurajima.

📝 Summary

Michael starts a journey in and around Japan's southernmost main island, Kyushu. He begins in Kagoshima, an extraordinary city which sits in the shadow of Japan’s most active volcano, Sakurajima.

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S1E5

Japanese Alps: Nagano to Narai Juku

Air date: 17/Apr/2026 · Runtime: 29 min

📝 Summary ⌄

Michael ends the first leg of his Japan adventure on a Shinkansen bullet train, heading to Nagano, the host city of the 1998 Winter Olympics and the gateway to the Japanese Alps.

📝 Summary

Michael ends the first leg of his Japan adventure on a Shinkansen bullet train, heading to Nagano, the host city of the 1998 Winter Olympics and the gateway to the Japanese Alps.

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S1E4

Kanazawa to Kurobe Gorge

Air date: 16/Apr/2026 · Runtime: 29 min

📝 Summary ⌄

Michael begins in the city of Kanazawa, where he goes behind the scenes of the Shinkansen operation. He discovers the history of the Maeda family and rides the exhilarating Kurobe Gorge railway.

📝 Summary

Michael begins in the city of Kanazawa, where he goes behind the scenes of the Shinkansen operation. He discovers the history of the Maeda family and rides the exhilarating Kurobe Gorge railway.

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S1E3

Shima Peninsula to Nara

Air date: 15/Apr/2026 · Runtime: 29 min

📝 Summary ⌄

Michael takes a luxury, panoramic Shimikaze train to the beautiful Shima peninsula. He visits Nara, the ancient capital of Japan, and encounters one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world.

📝 Summary

Michael takes a luxury, panoramic Shimikaze train to the beautiful Shima peninsula. He visits Nara, the ancient capital of Japan, and encounters one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world.

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S1E2

Kyoto

Air date: 14/Apr/2026 · Runtime: 29 min

📝 Summary ⌄

Michael travels to the cultural heart of Japan, Kyoto, the city that for a thousand years was the capital. He visits a Shinto shrine, learns about a classic of Japanese literature and meets a geisha.

📝 Summary

Michael travels to the cultural heart of Japan, Kyoto, the city that for a thousand years was the capital. He visits a Shinto shrine, learns about a classic of Japanese literature and meets a geisha.

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S1E1

Osaka to Nagoya

Air date: 13/Apr/2026 · Runtime: 28 min

📝 Summary ⌄

Beginning his journey in Osaka, Michael explores the artistic phenomenon of manga, takes a trip on the Shinkansen and, in Nagoya, visits the factory making the smart loo.

📝 Summary

Beginning his journey in Osaka, Michael explores the artistic phenomenon of manga, takes a trip on the Shinkansen and, in Nagoya, visits the factory making the smart loo.

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