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Great Japanese Railway Journeys

2026 ★ 6.0 1 season 15 eps TV-MA

Documentary

Michael Portillo is in Japan for a breathtaking railway journey through the country that launched the magnificent Shinkansen bullet train.

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Where to watch Great Japanese Railway Journeys

Great Japanese Railway Journeys is available to stream on Nabby via 6 verified sources, aggregated from publicly available embed providers. The documentary has 1 season and 15 total episodes, rated 6.0/10 by 1 viewers.

Last verified: October 13, 2026 · Source: TMDB

Episodes 15 total across 1 season

15 episodes20263 watched

Osaka to Nagoya✓

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.

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.

Shima Peninsula to Nara✓

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.

Kanazawa to Kurobe Gorge✓

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.

Japanese Alps: Nagano to Narai Juku✓

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.

Kagoshima to Chiran✓

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.

Amakusa Islands to Shin Omuta✓

Michael Portillo takes the ferry to the Amakusa archipelago, visits the town where missionaries brought Christianity to Japan and meets a master swordsmith in Shin Omuta.

Yame to Nagasaki✓

Michael visits a Kyushu tea farm and the city of Nagasaki, the only port open to foreign trade when Japan was closed to the outside world for more than 200 years.

Arita to Fukuoka✓

Michael arrives in the home of Japanese porcelain, Arita, where a railway line runs straight through the town’s stunning porcelain Shinto shrine.

Shimonoseki to Hiroshima✓

Michael tries the deadly delicacy of pufferfish in the harbour town of Shimonoseki and visits Hitachi’s Kasado Works, where the iconic Shinkansen high-speed trains are manufactured.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Frequently asked

How many seasons does Great Japanese Railway Journeys have?

Great Japanese Railway Journeys has 1 season with 15 episodes in total.

Is Great Japanese Railway Journeys still on the air?

Great Japanese Railway Journeys has ended and is no longer in production.

What network airs Great Japanese Railway Journeys?

Great Japanese Railway Journeys airs on BBC Two.

When did Great Japanese Railway Journeys first air?

Great Japanese Railway Journeys first aired on April 13, 2026.

Cast

Michael Portillo

Michael Portillo

Self - Presenter

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