Plot

James May embarks on a remarkable journey across Japan, from its icy north to its balmy south. He'll see the sights, meet the locals, and eat the noodles in a bid to truly understand the Land of the Rising Sun.

James May has always been intrigued and seduced by the idea of Japan, yet this nation and its culture remains a complete mystery to him. Now he's on a one-man mission to immerse himself in its society, places, and people in a bid to unlock its extraordinary secrets. By taking on an epic journey across all of Japan from north to south, James is determined to gain a genuine understanding into why this unique land and its people are the way they are, what drives their whole culture, and what their approach to life can teach the rest of us. So far so good, but it won't be easy. He can't speak the language, he's clueless about Japanese etiquette but at least he knows there's a small tree called a banzai... Not only that, but Japan is one of the most contradictory and confusing places on earth. Here, classical art forms and haiku poetry rub shoulders with Godzilla, Cosplay, and some of the strangest obsessions on the planet, while stunning, peaceful vistas of gently falling cherry blossom give way to neon lights, J-Pop, and frenetic urban environments. Fifteen years since he first visited as a baffled tourist, James is now ready to leap into the unknown and embark on a quest to reconcile these contradictions and to truly understand what makes Japan tick.

James May is travelling the length and breadth of one of his favourite countries: Italy. Beginning in the Sicilian capital of Palermo and finishing in the Dolomites, it's a trip that will take him to almost every region of Italy. There'll be culture, food, industry, and even a bit of sport, all played out against some of the world's most stunning urban and rural backdrops. For James, Italy has always seemed like a country that doesn't seem to make sense; simultaneously at the cutting edge - of science, of fashion, of engineering - and yet its crumbling infrastructure, endemic corruption, and eye-watering public debt all describe, on paper, a country and society that seems on the cusp of failure. Somehow, though, Italy and the Italians always prevail. It's a conundrum that leads James to ask a question: have the Italians sussed the secret to living a good life? And after spending eleven weeks in the country, might James actually discover la dolce vita?