James visits the northern region of Tohoku, where he engages in a robot duel, bathes in a natural hot pool and goes to a music concert; James meets a pioneer who has returned to the deserted town of Namie before boarding a luxurious train to Tokyo.

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

James arrives by speedboat in Osaka, where he has a go at pachinko and blows his winnings on octopus balls and Kobe beef; James and his guide perform jokes to a comedy audience; James visits a sumo wrestling stable and the Itsukushima Shrine.

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 snowy Dolomites James investigates the darker side of Christmas.