Document 72 Hours

We visit "Yomotsu Hirasaka" in Shimane Prefecture. It's a place linked to the underworld, referenced in Japanese mythology. For 3 days, we spoke with those drawn to this special place.

With betting tickets in hand, customers at a no-frills bar near a motorboat racing stadium in Fukuoka, ride the ups and downs of the exciting races. For three days, we followed their fortunes.

At Shirakaba Pass in Nagano Prefecture, many are gathered here to watch hawks as they migrate to Southeast Asia. We find out what these watchers feel as they gaze at the hawks overhead.

A large parking lot and hearty servings make a 24-hour restaurant a haven for truckers in Okayama Prefecture. For three days, we spoke to diners taking a break before hitting the road again.

A beloved old chairlift on Mt. Myoken in Hyogo Prefecture. People flock here before the facilities close permanently in December 2023. What do the visitors feel as they ride the lift one last time?

The menu at a 24-hour Chinese restaurant in western Tokyo includes ramen, gyoza dumplings and a wide range of set meals. For three days, we asked customers why they come here to fill their bellies.

On the east side of Lake Biwa there's something simply known as "the bench." What goes on in the minds of visitors as they take a seat? We spent 3 days by this lakeside bench.