Travel
Station:
BBC iPlayer (GB)
Status:
To Be Determined
Start:
2026-04-13
Rating:
0/10 from 0 users
Great Japanese Railway Journeys is a wide-ranging exploration of a country synonymous with rail innovation. The series starts with Michael in Osaka, he journeys from Kyoto's imperial heritage to Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park, from the volcanic landscapes of Kyushu to the vast urban system of Tokyo, before continuing through the Seikan Tunnel to Hokkaido. Along the way, he explores a nation where technological innovation and long-held tradition sit side by side, using the railway to connect stories that have shaped modern Japan.
There is no Next Episode of Great Japanese Railway Journeys planned.
S1E11 - Tokyo, Part 1
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.
Air Date: 27 Apr 2026 00:00 (CDT)
S1E12 - Tokyo, Part 2
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.
Air Date: 27 Apr 2026 00:00 (CDT)
S1E13 - Tokyo to Sendai
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.
Air Date: 27 Apr 2026 00:00 (CDT)
S1E14 - Sendai to Lake Toya
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.
Air Date: 27 Apr 2026 00:00 (CDT)
S1E15 - Lake Shikotsu to Otaru
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.
Air Date: 27 Apr 2026 00:00 (CDT)