“Japan never considers time together as time wasted. Rather, it is time invested.”
Japan is a country like no other. Inhabited since 30,000 BCE, this archipelago island nation is home to 14,125 islands extending from the Sea of Okhotsk to the Philippines and Taiwan. Situated on the Ring of Fire, three-quarters of the country is mountainous, and yet it remains the most densely populated nation on the planet, with 125 million people residing in its borders.
It is also one of the world’s most dominant cultural superpowers with its past and present art, cuisine, music and pop culture all widely adopted across the globe. For those looking to plan the ultimate trip to the Far East, check out What We Reading for the best travel books on Japan!
Super Cheap Japan – Matthew Baxter
Looking to travel to Japan but worried about breaking the bank? Travel author Matthew Baxter has you covered. Super Cheap Japan is the ultimate budget resource guide for Japan, giving readers the most up-to-date information for a trip across the country. With guides on destinations ranging from Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Mt Fuji, Himeji Castle, Hiroshima and so much more, Baxter’s expertise sheds light on everything from $1 shops, discounted transport passes and the cheapest accommodation options.
Alongside this, Baxter also includes helpful coloured maps and highlights the best hidden and offbeat destinations that represent real value for money.
Japan Travel Guide – Ken Fukuyama And Yuki Fukuyama
Ken and Yuki Fukuyama’s Japan Travel Guide: Things I Wish I Knew Before Going To Japan is a resource that cuts straight to the point in delivering all the best itineraries on discovering the magic of the country.
Ken and Yuki are wonderful tour guides for readers, presenting warm and helpful guides as they navigate everywhere from Tokyo to Hokkaido. Complete with transit tips, opening hours and handy budgeting pointers, it is the end result of thirty years’ worth of experience exploring the Land of the Rising Sun.
Tokyo Maze – Axel Schwab
Updated as recently as May 2023, Axel Schwab’s Tokyo Maze is the ultimate tour guide for navigating the country’s capital. Home to over 13 million people, this bustling ultramodern metropolis, of Tokyo can be an overwhelming destination to try and tackle as a traveller. Thankfully, Tokyo Maze has you covered.
Having spent over thirty years in the city, this inventive travel guide breaks Tokyo down into 42 unique walks across the city, giving travellers the chance to take in the highlights as well as the more overlooked points in the city.
Japan Tuttle Travel Pack – Rob Goss
Rob Goss’ Japan Tuttle Travel Pack: Your Guide to Japan’s Best Sights for Every Budget won the North American Travel Journalist Association Gold Award and is still one of the best resources for seeing all the sights the country has to offer.
Handpicked by Goss, a ten-year resident of the country, the book is a lightweight and easy-to-use travel guide designed to get travellers in front of the places they need to see. From volcanic hot springs to stylish fashion districts to UNESCO World Heritage sites – it’s all up for grabs in the Japan Tuttle Travel Pack!
Hello Sandwich Japan – Ebony Bizys
Design guru and blogger Ebony Bizys has been living in Japan for over a decade, and Hello Sandwich Japan is her personal travel guide for travellers with an eye for style.
Tailored to give readers the best of Japan straight from the viewpoints of the people who live there, it is a book that balances the peaceful ryokan retreats with the famous kawaii gift shops. Filled with colourful images, travel tips and helpful language translations, it is the perfect Japan book for adventurers who want to travel like a stylish local!
Rice, Noodle, Fish – Matt Goulding
Japan is world-renowned as one of the best destinations for foodies. Named an American Travel Writers Finalist for Book of the Year and one of the Financial Times’ Best Books of the Year, Matt Goulding’s Rice, Noodle, Fish is the ultimate culinary travel guide to Japan. Goulding takes readers on a mouth-watering journey spanning over 5,000 miles, diving into the teahouses and noodle shops that help make Japanese cuisine some of the most diverse on the planet.
Through a better understanding of their food, readers gain a better understanding of the life, culture and history still influencing the country to this day.
14 Days In Japan – IDtravelling
Plenty of travel books are jam-packed with so much information it can be overwhelming. That is something IDtravelling attempts to change in their Japan travel book, 14 Days in Japan. Designed for the first-time traveller to the country, the book is a practical resource that takes into account transportation options and the best destinations so that they can experience all Japan has to offer.
From Osaka, Takayama to Hirayu, these guides come with stunning photography, anecdotes on the country’s history and culture and tips on budgeting during a stay to make a complete and practical itinerary.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
