Totsukawa, in southern Nara Prefecture, is nestled deep in the mountains. The village's isolation from most of Japan for centuries has contributed to the preservation of many unique, old traditions and customs. Among them is the Oo-Odori dance, which is performed during the summer Bon festival when people welcome back the spirits of their ancestors. The Oo-Odori dance movements and music accompaniment remain unchanged from hundreds of years ago. Winnie Hsu visits Totsukawa to join its residents in the dance. She also experiences farm life when she stays at a farming family's inn. Of course, she also enjoys the natural beauty of Totsukawa, which spreads out along the Kumano River. Through her journey, Winnie discovers how deeply Japanese people are connected with their ancestors and ancestral homes.

Moji, just over 800 kilometers west of Tokyo, is on the northernmost tip of Kyushu. Facing the Kanmon Strait -- an easy access route for Japan's main island and mainland Asia -- Moji prospered as a major sea transportation post from the Meiji to early Showa periods. Businesses catering to the port visitors, including foreigners, cropped up. And much of the Western-style architecture of the time has been preserved. On Journeys in Japan, Winnie Hsu strolls around the old port town, tracing its legacy.