We travel the Matsuura Railway through Nagasaki and Saga Prefectures in western Kyushu, where trade between Japan and Europe first began 500 years ago. Remote from the historical economic and political centers of Japan, the region absorbed Western trends and culture which still hold strong today. We go in search of customs and crafts that evolved over centuries in a region that was once at the forefront of culture in Japan.

We travel the Aizu Railway and JR Tadami Line through mountains in the Aizu region of Fukushima Pref. in Japan's northeast. Cruise with us from Aizu-Tajima Station, through an area known to receive a meter of snow in a single day during the winter. In spring, flowers bloom as the snow melts, and emerald green valleys come to life. Aizu is famous for its ultramarine pottery, and traditional red craftwork believed to repel evil. Enjoy the samurai history and scenery of Aizu in the early spring.

We start our journey at Fukuchiyama, a transport hub in central Kyoto Prefecture, and head north through valleys to the Sea of Japan and Toyooka, across the border in Hyogo Prefecture. The Kyoto Tango Railway boasts various carriages, with attractive interiors, operating on its 3 lines. We stop to admire the spectacular view of the sea, learn about the culture and history from local residents, and visit places that appear in legends.

The imperial steelworks established 120 years ago in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Pref., on the southern island of Kyushu, drove Japan's modernization. And coal mined in the nearby Chikuho area fueled this industry. We visit old ironworks and coal mines along the railways that transported the coal, and eat a bento that has delighted travelers for a century. We meet a retired mechanic working to invigorate the area with railroad history and an ex-coal miner preserving its coal mining past for posterity.