Great Japanese Railway Journeys

Michael Portillo is in Japan for a breathtaking railway journey.

1. 

   E1. Osaka to Nagoya

   Apr 13, 2026 · 28m

   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.

2. 

   E2. Kyoto

   Apr 14, 2026 · 29m

   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.

3. 

   E3. Shima Peninsula to Nara

   Apr 15, 2026 · 29m

   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.

4. 

   E4. Kanazawa to Kurobe Gorge

   Apr 16, 2026 · 29m

   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.

5. 

   E5. Japanese Alps: Nagano to Narai Juku

   Apr 17, 2026 · 29m

   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.

6. 

   E6. Kagoshima to Chiran

   Apr 20, 2026 · 29m

   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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