Jane McDonald: Lost in Japan is the singer and presenter's latest travelogue.
It's only been a few months since Jane McDonald was jetting off around the world to film the latest series of her fan-favorite Holidaying with... travelogue, but now she's going to be back on Channel 5 with another travel show.
After teasing the latest destination earlier in the year with some cryptic travel snaps where she remained tight-lipped about her next destination, Jane has now revealed that her next trip will take her all the way to Japan.
Here's what we know about Jane McDonald: Lost in Japan so far...
Jane McDonald: Lost in Japan release date
Jane McDonald: Lost in Japan will launch Friday, August 25 at 9 pm on Channel 5.
While you are waiting for the show to start, you can watch past episodes of Holidaying with... plus other series like Jane McDonald: My Yorkshire on My5.
What will Jane get up to in Jane McDonald: Lost in Japan?
Jane McDonald teased that she would be heading off on a new trip shortly before On Safari with Jane McDonald kicked off the most recent series of Holidaying with... in April, and now we have all the details of her adventures.
The official synopsis says: "Jane undertakes an epic adventure, traveling across Japan to discover all the fascinating country has to offer. Starting in Tokyo, Jane delves deep into the country's rich and varied offerings, visiting Shinto temples, robot cafes, Ninja schools and karaoke bars.
"Next, after experiencing the majestic Mount Fuji at dawn, she journeys south on the Bullet train to Kyoto where ancient tea ceremonies and geishas allow a deeper understanding of this complex country.
"From there, Jane travels to Osaka to experience the wonder of this cosmopolitan city, taking in the sights of Dotonburi, its famous food markets and canal-lined streets."
Jane McDonald: Lost in Japan episode guide
Episode one — TOKYO
After flying for 15 hours to the other side of the planet, Jane lands in Japan, starting her travels in Tokyo where she discovers a city that brings the old and the new together in spectacular fashion.
Diving head first into the action, Jane gets her bearings and a birds eye view of the stunning city when she heads two hundred and thirty meters to the top of the Shibuya Sky Platform observation deck. Next, she visits some beautiful Shinto shrines where she learns how to ask the deities for their blessings and good luck. Keen to learn more about Japanese culture, she attends a sumo match, meets the wrestlers – who cook her a sumo-sized feast - and is more than a little surprised to find herself in the ring. Wanting to discover more about food that’s big in Japan, Jane heads out for noodles, is amazed to discover a huge variety available and struggles to eat them using chopsticks. Her visit to a Maid Cafes’ is a trip to a princess-based fantasy world that sees Jane and friends eating food injected with love!
And of course, no visit by Jane to Tokyo would be complete without a night out in a karaoke bar! Taking to the mic with friends she’s made along the way, Jane experiences the phenomena that has taken the world by storm in the city in which it was invented.
We will add information on the other episodes when it is released.
Jane McDonald: Lost in Japan interview
Had you ever been to Japan before, Jane?
Jane: "No and I did not know what to expect! It’s an amazing, crazy place and I realised that you don't just go to Japan, you experience Japan. So, if you want a destination that is really out of the ordinary, Japan is definitely for you. Tokyo is overwhelming but so ordered. I couldn't believe how polite everybody was, with everybody walking on the same side of the street and also everything worked! There were never any delays, everything was spotless and even though I'm only 5 foot 5 I was towering above everybody!"
What was your highlight of the trip?
Jane: "Mount Fuji is a gorgeous place. But I saw it from a spa, and Japanese spas are a little bit different to ours. You cannot go in wearing a swimsuit, you've got to get completely naked… the poor cameraman! So I had an amazing view of Mount Fuji while sitting naked in the hot spa, which is something I've never done before, and it was quite the experience. Hopefully, you won't see me naked in the episode because we want people to carry on watching! Mount Fuji is amazing though, and we were so lucky because it doesn't often reveal itself, but all of a sudden the clouds parted and there it was. I felt very blessed."
Did you bring home any good souvenirs?
Jane: "Always – my house is going to be a museum one day with all the souvenirs from my trips! I've got a homemade book from Japan that I made myself using traditional methods, and I brought back some lucky charms too, because they're all into shrines over there. There are loads of shrines in Japan and they’re packed, people come out of work on their lunch break to say a prayer. I prayed for this and that at the shrines and it did make me feel a bit more confident about things. It's quite something to see all the shines everywhere."
Do you still enjoy making travel documentaries?
Jane: "I absolutely love it, but I never take it for granted, I’m really grateful to get the opportunity. I’ve got a fantastic team of people working with me, and we’re like a finely oiled machine now, we get everything in one take. I don’t know what I’m going into each day on the trips, we keep the element of surprise so that the wonderment and excitement I’m sharing with the audience is real. I don't even notice the crew is there now because I'm talking to the viewer! We work long days because we want to fit a lot in. It’s definitely work rather than a holiday, but it’s the most fantastic job ever, so you don't mind."
You’ve spoken recently about re-evaluating your work/life balance since your partner, Eddie, passed away. Will you continue making these documentaries?
Jane: "I think so. When you lose your partner it's difficult, and your life changes so, so much. So I'm extremely grateful that I still have this life going. When you're very busy you're not thinking about loss, so I am very blessed to still have this amazing job that I love. And it helps me. It helps being busy."
Is there a Jane McDonald: Lost in Japan trailer?
Jane has given us a brief teaser of her trip to Japan. She posted a clip on Instagram where you can see a few quick glimpses of some of the fantastic scenery she'll be laying eyes on.
The main takeaway from this trailer is Jane trying on some traditional Japanese clothing and being told she looks 'stunning' in her new outfit.
Check it out below:
