From detached homes to tower blocks, from micro-houses on tiny lots to large dormitories, a vast variety of housing is jammed into Tokyo. Many homes feature ingenious use of space, including the traditional terraced houses called nagaya in Tokyo's old-fashioned neighborhoods. This time, we look at Tokyo housing. Our expert guest is Noriyoshi Suzuki, a researcher whose specialties include the history of residential architecture. And in Plus One, some of Tokyo's tiniest storefronts!

Mt. Takao, a peak that's visited by around 2.7 million people per year, is less than an hour by train from central Tokyo. This lushly wooded paradise has been regarded since ancient times as a place where sacred beings dwell, and our expert guest this time is Shujin Sato, a yamabushi, or mountain ascetic, who has been training on Mt. Takao for almost 3 decades. And in Plus One, the basics of hiking etiquette.

In Japan, most people aiming to get a driver’s license go to a driving school. On closed courses complete with railway crossings and hills, driving schools helps students learn how to deal with every situation out on the road. Some offer on-site lodgings for intensive courses, whie others draw customers with nail salons. Our guest is journalist Yukihiro Yamada, an expert on transportation in Japan and author of a textbook used in driving schools. And in Plus One, learning how to ride a motorcycle.

The way a society deals with death, and how it pays tribute to those who have passed away, will tend to reveal a great deal about that society's values. That's as true of Japan as anywhere else in world—and like other regions and countries, Japan has a long history of grave-making, together with thousands of years of rituals and practices. These days, as Japanese attitudes toward family life, financial matters, and more evolve, so too are attitudes toward graves. On this edition of Japanology Plus, we explore the past, present and future of graves.

There are 6 dog breeds native to Japan, including Akita and Shiba Inu. Each has adapted to the region of its origin, but they all have pointy ears, a curved tail, and an unwavering loyalty to their owner. This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is Japanese dog breeds. Our guest is Mitsuaki Ohta, a professor at the Tokyo University of Agriculture. He explains the difference between Western and Japanese breeds. And in Plus One, Matt Alt looks at efforts to increase the number of Akita owners.

Konamon means "flour-based cuisine," but in Osaka Prefecture the word generally refers to 2 specific dishes: takoyaki (bite-sized batter balls with pieces of octopus inside) and Okonomiyaki (savory pancakes made with cabbage). This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is Konamon: flour-based cuisine. Our guest is lifestyle researcher Mana Kumagai, who takes us to outstanding Konamon and Okonomiyaki restaurants. And in Plus One, Matt Alt learns how to make Monjayaki, a Tokyo twist on flour-based food.

There are over 90,000 cleaning establishments in Japan, and a huge number of Japanese use them regularly. Innovative machinery makes the process cheap and efficient. Stubborn stains are removed by masters of their craft. This time, our theme is laundry services. Our guest is Suzuki Kazuyuki, the third-generation owner of a Fukushima laundry business. He takes us behind the scenes at an industrial laundry plant. And in Plus One, David McMahon investigates a modern "coin laundry."

Over the centuries, Japan has suffered from repeated outbreaks of diseases like smallpox, measles and cholera. Where did the people of the past think these epidemics came from? And how did they cope? Our theme this time is Japan vs. Epidemics. Our main guest is Yamamoto Satomi, an art historian. She explains historical attitudes to disease by examining works of art, and the characters they feature. We also take a look at a contemporary social media trend.

Aloha shirts are popular symbols of Hawaii, worn by tourists and Hawaiians alike. A look back at their history reveals a Japanese connection -- they were often made by people of Japanese descent, using materials and techniques from kimono making. This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is aloha shirts. Our main guest, Nakano Yoshihiro, has worked with the garments for over 20 years. He goes into detail about the contribution Japanese made to their origin and development.

Tiny houses are homes that occupy around 50 square meters of land. They're appearing more and more in recent years, especially in crowded cities. Many of them feature unusual layouts and creative design. Our guest, architect Sugiura Denso, introduces clever techniques that are used to make the most of limited space. We follow the construction process from start to finish. And we take a look at low-cost prefabricated tiny houses, measuring as little as 12 square meters.

Two-thirds of Japan is covered in forest, and wood has long been the building material of choice. But today, forests are in poor condition. We look at current efforts to revitalize forestry in Japan.

After a slow start, Japanese washing machines have become some of the most advanced in the world. We look at their development and the latest innovations.

Scholar Minakata Kumagusu made contributions to biology, folklore and other fields. He laid the foundation for environmental conservation in Japan. We explore the environments that inspired his work.