We travel through the mountainous area 100km northwest of Tokyo, covering Tochigi, Gunma and Saitama Prefectures. We focus on timber and meet local residents who appreciate the blessings of nature.

Travel Kagoshima Pref. on the Ibusuki-Makurazaki Line, JR's southernmost line. Discover a 400-year pottery tradition, walk around a samurai neighborhood, and admire views of an active volcano.

Late April, spring has arrived in northern Japan. Travel the JR Ou and Gono Lines, discovering cherry blossoms, hiking a lush beech forest, soaking in a seaside spring and trying fermented soybeans.

The streetcar that survived the atom bomb and still runs today is a symbol of Hiroshima's recovery. Travel 20 km to visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Atomic Bomb Dome and Itsukushima Jinja.

In 1945 at the end of WWII, an atomic bomb hit Nagasaki. We enjoy the stunning scenery, but more importantly we talk with those who survived and remember those who lost their lives.

Visit Kinpusen-ji, sacred for mountain ascetics; the Asuka ruins that are nominated for UNESCO listing; Ise Grand Shrine; and a pearl divers' village on Kintetsu Railway in Nara and Mie Prefectures.