Great content!! I added many new books to my reading list.
I do have two additional recommendations for Tohoku, which is where I lived.
One of them is Abroad in Japan by Chris Abroad. He is now one of Japan’s biggest YouTubers, but he had a humbler start as a teacher in Yamagata, which he discusses in his book.
Additionally, Isabelle Bird was a pioneering travel writer in the 19th century. Her book details her journey across Tohoku in the year 1878!
Merhaba Burcu! Yazım stilin huzur veriyor. The bear incidents made me a little worried but i think it's a minimum risk for my planned Kumano Kodo Nakahechi hiking upcoming December :)
It's great to read your whole letter slowly and in peace, noted a few books to read on my visit to Japan. Thanks!
Thank you for this post, so many books to read to prepare my solo travel to Japan. I'll probably have only two weeks and I want to focus on Hokkaido or Okinawa, starting from (amd after some days in) Tokyo. The period will be march or november... So there will be many pros and cons for both itineraries.
Thank you, Stefania. I hope you have a wonderful trip. Hokkaido and Okinawa are both incredible to explore, each for very different reasons. So, I’m sure you’ll have a great time no matter which one you choose.
I think it eventually will be, although after the 2025 heat wave, it might be implemented in many other cities across Japan, even Hokkaido was a record-breaking heat this summer.
"this year took the humidity to such a degree that the city feels less like a place to live and more like a laboratory built to test the limits of the human body."
Did you explain about your photography in another post on Substack? Like how many exposures you need to capture your perfect pictures. I know the tea master wasn't posing all afternoon (with fascinating lighting)!
what a great compilation - thank you! also agree if that would be just one book then it should be the Makioka sisters! Another Japanese "War & Peace"- like volume but set in Tokyo is Riding the East Wind by Kaga Otohiko, but it's three times the size of The Makioka sisters ;D - same period as the Little House in Tokyo, which i'm reading now thanks to you!
Great list, I read at least three of the books you mention. Sad to see nothing from Banana Yoshimoto, whom I absolutely adore. I would also recommend Amelie Nothomb's book Tokyo fiancée (Ni d'Eve ni d'Adam in original French).
Thank you Liza. I love both of the authors you mentioned but had to limit the list to books that highlighted the cities/regions - otherwise the list would be a little too long ☺️ I have another post on my blog which lists some of the favorites without having the same concern: https://bizarrejourneys.com/books-about-japan/
Great content!! I added many new books to my reading list.
I do have two additional recommendations for Tohoku, which is where I lived.
One of them is Abroad in Japan by Chris Abroad. He is now one of Japan’s biggest YouTubers, but he had a humbler start as a teacher in Yamagata, which he discusses in his book.
Additionally, Isabelle Bird was a pioneering travel writer in the 19th century. Her book details her journey across Tohoku in the year 1878!
Cameron, thank you for your time and the great suggestions - added to my to-read list.
Merhaba Burcu! Yazım stilin huzur veriyor. The bear incidents made me a little worried but i think it's a minimum risk for my planned Kumano Kodo Nakahechi hiking upcoming December :)
It's great to read your whole letter slowly and in peace, noted a few books to read on my visit to Japan. Thanks!
Murat, cok tesekkurler! Kumano Kodo ile ilgili herhangi bir sorun olursa, e-mailimi biliyorsun :)
🙏🙏☺️
Bravo. Very well done with this. 🙏
Jon, as always thank you for your time and interest.
Some real gems on that list!
And some new discoveries
Great collection of books. I've read several of these and The Roads To Sata is just fantastic. Really liked The Inland Sea, too.
Thank you! I really shouldn’t put off reading The Inland Sea any longer.
Thank you for this post, so many books to read to prepare my solo travel to Japan. I'll probably have only two weeks and I want to focus on Hokkaido or Okinawa, starting from (amd after some days in) Tokyo. The period will be march or november... So there will be many pros and cons for both itineraries.
Thank you, Stefania. I hope you have a wonderful trip. Hokkaido and Okinawa are both incredible to explore, each for very different reasons. So, I’m sure you’ll have a great time no matter which one you choose.
Wonderful photos, Burcu
Thank you Marco and Sabrina.
Nice bibliography. I will go for Alan to read . To add to collection my guide for now and before was this one I recommend also . https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2372422.Weekend_Adventures_Outside_Tokyo
Wow thank you Igor - never heard of the one you suggested, but sounds great. I am quite terrible in exploring greater Tokyo area.
I think it eventually will be, although after the 2025 heat wave, it might be implemented in many other cities across Japan, even Hokkaido was a record-breaking heat this summer.
This year has truly been the worst. It takes me almost an hour to cool down after I get to work every morning.
And, so true, and hilarious:
"this year took the humidity to such a degree that the city feels less like a place to live and more like a laboratory built to test the limits of the human body."
Unfortunately :) I feel like there should be a mandatory work from home policy in Tokyo for the summers.
I commend you for commuting! When it's over 32 degrees (sauna), I don't even venture into my garden.
Excellent pictures: perfect composition!
Thanks to all for the great book selections.
Andra, thank you for your time!
Did you explain about your photography in another post on Substack? Like how many exposures you need to capture your perfect pictures. I know the tea master wasn't posing all afternoon (with fascinating lighting)!
I really got lucky with that shot, and it is really not fake modesty; it was a super lucky moment that my camera could handle well.
And where do I access your print shop?
I have a shop on my website https://bizarrejourneys.com/print-shop/ but honestly, it has been used much :)
what a great compilation - thank you! also agree if that would be just one book then it should be the Makioka sisters! Another Japanese "War & Peace"- like volume but set in Tokyo is Riding the East Wind by Kaga Otohiko, but it's three times the size of The Makioka sisters ;D - same period as the Little House in Tokyo, which i'm reading now thanks to you!
Eugania, thank you for the book suggestion 🙏 Also happy to hear that we agree on the Makioka Sisters ☺️ Picking one book was not easy.
Great list, I read at least three of the books you mention. Sad to see nothing from Banana Yoshimoto, whom I absolutely adore. I would also recommend Amelie Nothomb's book Tokyo fiancée (Ni d'Eve ni d'Adam in original French).
Thank you Liza. I love both of the authors you mentioned but had to limit the list to books that highlighted the cities/regions - otherwise the list would be a little too long ☺️ I have another post on my blog which lists some of the favorites without having the same concern: https://bizarrejourneys.com/books-about-japan/
Great post friend, liked!
I’ve been on here about a week and I’m trying to meet new interesting people to follow.
I share a philosophical look at history, history from antique books; some call it “Alternative”.
My latest article talks about the Asian plague, and how the fatality rate may have not been as bad as we were taught:
https://open.substack.com/pub/jordannuttall/p/the-plague-in-asia?r=4f55i2&utm_medium=ios