Central Japan

Globe Trekker host Megan McCormick explores Central Japan in this informative episode from the popular public television-aired travel series. McCormick starts in Kyoto, where she visits historic sites, watches religious processions, and learns about geishas, who she describes as cultural preservationalists rather than ladies of the evening (which is sometimes the inaccurate Western perception of the vocation). She even undergoes a geisha transformation herself at Toho Studios. Since Shintoism and Buddhism are locally prevalent, she tries out Zen meditation, as well as traditional foods such as deep-fried sparrow. In Osaka, she visits one of 20 cat cafés, popular among citizens who would like to own pets but live in buildings with animal restrictions (McCormick pays 1,000 yen for an hour of tea and feline companionship). Afterwards, she visits the KidZania theme park where children take on adult roles such as banker, police officer, and firefighter (not sure if American children would rally quite as enthusiastically around the idea of working as a form of entertainment). In Iga-Ueno, she learns about ninjas—originally paid mercenaries who spied and killed on behalf of feudal warlords. In Sekigahara and Himeji, she observes battle re-enactments and on Sado Island she bikes, fishes, and tries out the instruments at Kodo's world-renowned drum school. Throughout, McCormick's wide-eyed enthusiasm never flags, doing her best to stave off Ugly American stereotypes by observing local customs, speaking the language whenever she can, and trying any number of local delicacies, from fried octopus (which she enjoys) to raw abalone (not so much). Recommended. Aud: P. (K. Fennessy)