James May: Our Man in…

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: Our Man in… Japan release dates →

1. E6

   6. Pickled Plum

   Finale 6 years ago

   The final leg of James’s journey from north to south finds him in Shikoku and Kyushu – the largest of Japan’s Southern Islands and a stunning paradise of blue water and semi-tropical sandy beaches. Cycling, archery, noodle making, and motorbike manufacturing are all in store, plus James is preserved for eternity in a creepy scarecrow village.

2. E5

   5. Peach Boy

   6 years ago

   James arrives in Osaka, Japan’s vibrant good-time city, where Pachinko gambling halls, incredible street food, and stand-up comedy are all on the menu. Yujiro, his trusty guide, returns to introduce James to Sumo wrestling, after which James escapes on a bullet train to explore the mysteries of local hero Peach Boy. Then it’s on to Hiroshima and the beautiful Itsukushima Shrine.

3. E4

   4. Hey Bim!

   6 years ago

   In his epic journey across Japan from north to south, James leaves bustling Tokyo to travel to the ancient capital of Kyoto. Along the way he indulges his passions for motorbikes, Japanese cars and culture by painting Mount Fuji, tackling the Suzuka F1 circuit and taking a music lesson from a Geisha. It’s then time for a taste of the future as a confused robot shows James around Kyoto.

4. E3

   3. Deodorant

   6 years ago

   The cherry blossoms are out, and James hits the streets of Tokyo with his new guide Yujiro. As James discovers, this unique city is home to some of Japan’s greatest eccentrics and ideas. From obsessive trainspotters, musicians and baffling hi-tech gadgetry to cat superfans, penis festivals and mind-blowing computerised art shows, James tries to understand what makes Japan tick.

5. E2

   2. Cabbage Roll

   6 years ago

   James arrives on the main island of Honshu, and the beautiful region of Tohoku. He seeks inspiration with a mountain expedition and naked plunge with a friendly wandering monk, battles giant robots, becomes a samurai, gets adopted by some local J-Pop sensations, before embarrassing himself and his hosts on the world’s most luxurious train.

6. E1

   1. Go!

   6 years ago

   James begins his epic journey across Japan on the icy northern island of Hokkaido, throwing himself head first into the physical demands of dog sledding, snowball fighting and the baffling struggle of ordering noodles from a Japanese vending machine. Despite all that, there’s still time for octopus fishing and learning the art of samurai sword making.

James May is on an Italian job: to explore this great country’s history, culture, landscape, industry, and people. Can a bumbling, middle-aged, British bloke discover the secrets of 'la dolce vita'?

James May: Our Man in… Italy release dates →

1. E6

   6. Bye, Bim

   Finale 4 years ago

   In Milan, James submits to a wardrobe update, tries his hand at some exquisite craftsmanship - and bids goodbye to an old friend. Next stop: Venice, by land, air, and lagoon, while in the Dolomites James finds the darker side of Christmas.

2. E5

   5. Hey Pesto

   4 years ago

   Size matters, as James visits the vast marble quarries of Carrara and the massive Genoa port. Then it's to the elusive, as James searches for a semblance of peace in the face of killer robots, and a decent cup of tea in Turin.

3. E4

   4. Really, Really Nice Cheese

   4 years ago

   James tests his Renaissance man credentials with a spot of art, science, and alchemy in Florence. Emilia-Romagna see the worlds of fast-moving cars and slow-aging cheese, before James ends up in a town that feels strangely familiar.

4. E3

   3. Dark Matter

   4 years ago

   All roads lead to Rome, so it was inevitable James would end up in Italy's magnificent capital. But it's not just Romans and ruins, James also goes on a bus, meets another version of himself, and looks at something too small to see.

5. E2

   2. House of Pain

   4 years ago

   In the beautiful, rural south of the mainland, James is forced to confront a vision of hell courtesy of Dante's Inferno - and a goat that urgently needs milking. The Amalfi Coast offers some much-needed respite before he dives headfirst into the breathless, chaotic, sea of humanity that is the city of Naples.

6. E1

   1. God's Apology

   4 years ago

   James' journey begins on the sunny shores of Sicily, a fascinating island that's been fought over for millennia. Here, where cultures collide under the shadow of Mount Etna, James explores the simple pleasures that have sustained people for generations, such as chopping bits off statues, Canoe Polo, and bagpipes.

James May takes on his greatest adventure yet: a 3,000 mile coast-to-coast epic across India, the most populous – and perhaps most extraordinary – country in the world. Starting by the Arabian Sea and finishing at the Bay of Bengal, his journey will encompass incredible landscapes, from the baking deserts of Rajasthan to the dramatic Himalayan foothills, and explore environments as diverse as the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, through to the global megacities of Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata.

James May: Our Man in… India release dates →

1. E3

   3. Calamari

   Finale 2 years ago

   In the Himalayas, James experiences Buddhism, tea, and heavy metal. Then to Kolkata, for his big break in Tollywood. And finally, on the mangrove islands of the Sundarbans, James braves bees and tigers to greet a very special new arrival.

2. E2

   2. A Bit Like Glasgow

   2 years ago

   James finds himself in the capital Delhi, where the heavens open and all the street food is fried. Then it's time to tackle some Indian icons: cricket, trains, and the Taj Mahal, before the majestic Varanasi and the mighty River Ganges.

3. E1

   1. John

   2 years ago

   James' epic journey starts in Mumbai with one of India's top comics. After meeting a Bollywood legend, James heads to Udaipur to fly kites before the wild and colourful celebrations of Holi, one of the Hindu calendar's greatest festivals.