Traverse the sublime winter wonderland in the northern reaches of Honshu on local lines. Tsugaru Railway is famous for the coal-fired stove on its train. Wonder at the rugged coastline along the Sea of Japan on the JR Gono Line. The Konan Railway is a lifeline for local residents. Visit the old temples, sake breweries, and wooden buildings designated as important cultural properties, and savor the local dishes. Enjoy a slow journey through tranquil snowscapes and sense the passing of time.

The Nagara River in Gifu Prefecture is one of Japan's most beautiful. Running for 72.1km north-south along the stream is the Nagaragawa Railway. The run takes about 2 hours and includes 38 stations. The people who live along the line have intimate relationships with the river. A highly skilled boatwright who uses ancient techniques to build wooden river ships. A middle-aged couple celebrates the river and mountain scenery at their country inn. A man refocuses his life on the river after giving up on his dream of making music overseas.

We depart on our 120km journey from Mojiko in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Pref. Its grand station built in 1914 has been restored to its former glory. We travel through the world's first undersea tunnel to Shimonoseki, whose specialty is blowfish. After feasting on seafood, we head east along the stunning, azure seas of the Sea of Japan coast bound for Hagi, Yamaguchi Pref. We visit unusual sea stacks, feel the power of a millennium-old tree, and talk to the locals who live along these tempestuous seas.

Travel the verdant countryside of Nagano Prefecture in early summer. Our journey starts at a hot-spring town on the Ueda Line where the conductor plays harmonica for passengers. Trains rattle through rustic, hilly terrain along Nagano Electric Railway. The Shinano Line gives new life to colorful, old trains. The JR Shinonoi Line has a view of 1,500 terraced rice fields. The JR Oito Line runs along the foot of the majestic Northern Alps. We peek into the lives of the residents who live each day with thanks to nature.

Our stage this time is Hokkaido Prefecture in the north of Japan. There are many sites worth visiting, such as the hills that display a colorful tapestry under blue skies, Japan's most vast flower gardens, and a serene lake perfect for canoeing. Among the trains that run along this route, the most popular might possibly be the summertime-only sightseeing train, from which you can fully enjoy the summer winds and views. There is even a nostalgic, 40-year-old diesel engine that runs on this line.