Season 5

2026 · 22 episodes · 10h 16m in all

1. Nishiarai - The Beating Heart of a Temple Town
7 Jan 2026 · 28 min
We visit northern Tokyo's Nishiarai, which evolved from a farming village into an industrial district and is now mainly residential. But the local temple has always been at the heart of the community.
2. Koishikawa – Historic Charm and Industry Nurtured by Water
26 Jan 2026 · 28 min
Koishikawa is a residential area in the city center that is home to a botanical garden and a temple associated with the Edo shogunate. As we explore, we discover a legacy of printing and bookbinding.
3. Shinagawa – The Evolution of a Transportation Hub
11 Feb 2026 · 28 min
Shinagawa is home to a major train terminal used by 500,000 people a day. We explore a historic lodging area, an old garden with abundant nature, and more as we unravel 1,000 years of history.
4. Dive in SAPPORO - The Evolving Legacy of the Riverside
25 Feb 2026 · 28 min
We take a trip to Sapporo, the city that served as a base for the development of Hokkaido. Learn the history behind its central river and see how locals are now working to restore wild salmon runs.
5. Okachimachi – A Treasure Trove of Craftsmanship
11 Mar 2026 · 28 min
Okachimachi is an area just north of Akihabara renowned for its jewelry district. Its story involves Buddhist craftspeople, American servicemen, and more recently, communities of foreign artisans.
6. Shibuya Pt.2 – A Stroll Through the Backstreets
25 Mar 2026 · 28 min
We head past the Scramble Crossing into historic backstreets, where we find an upscale residential area, a former geisha quarter, and a leisure district that paved the way for modern-day Shibuya.
7. Kinshicho & Kameido - Waterways of Culture and Industry
8 Apr 2026 · 28 min
The Kinshicho and Kameido area is an urban subcenter in eastern Tokyo. We go in search of celebrated scenic views, savor local flavors, and learn how a network evolved into a logistics hub.
8. Sendagaya – Center Stage for Sports and Culture
22 Apr 2026 · 28 min
Join us as we explore Sendagaya, an area nestled between Shinjuku and Harajuku. It's home to sports facilities, venues for Noh theater and the board game shogi, and hundreds of apparel makers.
9. Jimbocho – The World's Leading Town for Old Books
6 May 2026 · 28 min
Jimbocho's famous secondhand book district is home to stores carrying everything from old academic texts to manga. Join us as we trace its history as a college town and spotlight new initiatives.
10. Koenji - Backstreets Buzzing with Subculture Spirit
27 May 2026 · 28 min
Home to musicians, comedians, writers, and more, Koenji is known as a subculture hub. Join us as we explore its shopping streets and countless alleys and learn the origins of its maze-like layout.
11. Shirokane - A Microcosm Shaped by the Terrain
10 Jun 2026 · 28 min
Join us for a stroll around Shirokane, a town nestled on the edge of a plateau. We visit a luxury residential area, then explore lowlands home to skilled workers and old-school shopping streets.
12. Akabane - Thriving Between the River and the Plateau
24 Jun 2026 · 28 min
Akabane is a hub in northern Tokyo known for its drinking scene. We discover its roots as a riverside lodging town and explore a plateau where a housing complex now sits on former military grounds.
13. Tachikawa - The Curious Story of an Aviation Hub
8 Jul 2026 · 28 min
We visit Tachikawa, a major hub in western Tokyo. Once home to a historic airfield that later became a U.S. military base, the town is known today for a vast national park and colorful art district.
14. Dive in SHIMONOSEKI - The Strait That Shaped Modern Japan
22 Jul 2026 · 28 min
Shimonoseki is situated along the Kanmon Straits, which have long served as a key shipping lane. Join us as we learn how the city has had a front seat to several turning points in Japanese history.
15. The Meguro River – A Mirror of Urban Transformation
5 Aug 2026 · 28 min
The 8 km-long Meguro River has long supported the lives of people in the southwest of central Tokyo. Come along as we discover how its tumultuous history mirrors the evolution of the city itself.
16. Tsukuda & Tsukishima – The Island Shaped by Fishing and Industry
2 Sept 2026 · 28 min
Tsukuda and Tsukishima sit on reclaimed land at the mouth of the Sumida River. We take in the old-town charm, discover a legacy of fishing and industry, and savor monjayaki, a local comfort food.
17. Dive in NAGOYA - From Castle Town to Modern Metropolis
16 Sept 2026 · 28 min
Nagoya is a major urban center situated between Tokyo and Osaka. We marvel at the city's ultra-wide roads and grid-like layout and learn how its laid-back charm was shaped over the centuries.
18. Kodaira – Savoring a Taste of Country Life
23 Sept 2026 · 28 min
Home to blueberry farms and open gardens, Kodaira is a suburban getaway that offers a taste of rural living. We learn about the efforts of early settlers to bring life to what was a barren landscape.
19. Tama New Town – The Capital's Largest Urban Planning Project
7 Oct 2026 · 28 min
Tama New Town is a vast residential development in western Tokyo. Once the object of admiration, its aging population has become a social concern—but residents are now stepping up to help one another.
20. Ikebukuro – The West Side Story
21 Oct 2026 · 28 min
Ikebukuro is a transit hub used by 2 million people a day. We explore the west side and learn about its educational roots, postwar black markets, entertainment district, and Chinese community.
21. Roppongi – From Nightlife District to Cultural Hub
4 Nov 2026 · 28 min
Roppongi is the dynamic district that never sleeps. It evolved from a samurai quarter into a military town, later blossomed as a nightlife hub, and more recently has been transformed by art.
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22. Shimokitazawa – A Haven for Young Dreamers
Airs 18 Nov 2026 · 28 min
Home to music venues, small theaters, and vintage stores, Shimokitazawa is brimming with young energy and counterculture. Amid redevelopment, locals are working to preserve its unique character.