Welcome!

Enrich Your Travels with Longitude

We've got the classic, new and hard-to-find books and maps to help you get the most out of your adventures.

SIGN UP FOR

Longitude News

Get our monthly e-mail update

GET A

Catalog

BEST OF 2011

Wild Coast

John Gimlette

SEE ALL >

FOR THE HOLIDAYS

To the Arctic

Florian Schultz

SEE ALL >

OUR FAVORITES

Arctic Dreams

Barry Lopez

SEE ALL >

GLOBES

The Pioneer

Replogle

SEE ALL >

ART AND CRAFT OF JAPAN

More Books

36 Views of Mount Fuji, On Finding Myself in Japan

36 Views of Mount Fuji, On Finding Myself in Japan


by Cathy Davidson

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 288 PAGES

A thoughtful set of witty reflections on Japan, Japanese culture and the adventure of living overseas by a talented writer who taught at an all women's university in Japan in the 1980s. (JPN65, $23.95)

About This Life, Journeys on the Threshold of Memory

About This Life, Journeys on the Threshold of Memory


by Barry Lopez

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 273 PAGES

A collection of essays on far-flung travels -- both actual and internal -- by the wonderful writer and traveler. Lopez includes Galapagos, Hokkaido, Bonaire and Antarctica among the thoughtful essays. (GEN42, $15.00)

Ainu, Spirit of a Northern People


by William Fitzhugh

  • ARCHAEOLOGY
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 416 PAGES

A magnificently illustrated, handsomely produced overview of Ainu history, art and culture. (JPN101, $49.95)

Anthology of Japanese Literature from the Earliest Era to the Mid-Nineteenth Century


by Donald Keene

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 1988
  • PAPER
  • 442 PAGES

A classic first published in 1955, this book presents great Japanese literature over the ages. (JPN12, $16.95)

Architecture and Authority in Japan


by William H. Coaldrake

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 1996
  • HARD COVER

Japanese architecture and its relationship to political and religious power structures. (JPN112, $64.95)

An Artist in the Floating World


by Kazuo Ishiguro

  • LITERATURE
  • 1989
  • PAPER
  • 206 PAGES

His second novel, Ishiguro weaves a tale of an aging artist in postwar Japan. (JPN58, $14.00)

Audrey Hepburn's Neck, A Novel

Audrey Hepburn's Neck, A Novel


by Alan Brown

  • LITERATURE
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 304 PAGES

An exquisite short novel about contemporary Japan. This prize-winning work captures the eclectic, mixed-up society of contemporary Japan. (JPN14, $20.95)

The Battle for Okinawa


by Yahara, Hirochimi

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 245 PAGES

First published in Japan in 1973, this enthralling personal account of the last great battle of WWII is from the viewpoint of the the senior staff officer of the Japanese 32nd Army. (JPN222, $19.95)

The Birds of Heaven, Travels With Cranes


by Peter Matthiessen | Robert Bateman

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 352 PAGES
  • OUT OF PRINT

Matthiessen traveled with the cranes to Siberia, Japan, Mongolia, North America, China, Bhutan, East Africa, Australia, India and Texas for this handsomely illustrated, informative book. He interweaves his travels with insightful commentary on the conservation, ecology, and the significance of the crane in art and culture. (BRD11, $16.00)

Black Arrow

Black Arrow


by I. J. Parker

  • MYSTERY
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 352 PAGES

Detective Akitada must solve a series of brutal slayings in the northern city of Echigo. (JPN201, $15.00)

Black Rain


by Masuji Ibuse | Johan Bester

  • LITERATURE
  • 1994
  • PAPER
  • 304 PAGES

The people of a Japanese village fight to maintain their humanity and tradition in the radioactive "rain" after the bombing of Hiroshima. (JPN192, $12.00)

The Blue-Eyed Tarokaja, A Donald Keene Anthology

The Blue-Eyed Tarokaja, A Donald Keene Anthology


by Donald Keene

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1996
  • HARD COVER
  • 290 PAGES

Keene tackles Japanese music, language, society and literature in these insightful pieces. (JPN15, $45.00)

Botchan

Botchan


by Natsume Soseki

  • LITERATURE
  • 2005
  • HARD COVER
  • 172 PAGES

The humorous tale of a young man's rebellion against "the system" in a country school in southern Japan. (JPN191, $22.00)

Buddhism, A Concise Introduction


by Huston Smith | Philip Novak

  • RELIGION
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 256 PAGES

A brief yet illuminating overview, discussing Theravada and other South Asian traditions in the first half and then Western traditions in the second. (ASA41, $12.99)

Buddhist Art and Architecture

Buddhist Art and Architecture


by Robert Fisher

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 1993
  • PAPER
  • 216 PAGES

A wide-ranging, illustrated survey of Buddhist art, architecture and iconography in the excellent World of Art series. It includes examples from throughout Asia. (ASA30, $19.95)

Cha-No-Yu, The Japanese Tea Ceremony


by Arthur L. Sadler | A.L. Sadler

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1991
  • PAPER
  • 265 PAGES

A classic guide to the disciplined, enduring art of the Japanese tea ceremony. (JPN59, $14.95)

Chrysanthemum and the Sword, Patterns of Japanese Culture

Chrysanthemum and the Sword, Patterns of Japanese Culture


by Ruth Benedict | Ian Buruma

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 324 PAGES

Published in the aftermath of World War II, this brilliant exploration of the Japanese psyche and culture retains its interest today, as much for its perspective on the West as for insights about the Japanese character. (JPN23, $15.00)

Classic Japanese Inns and Country Getaways

Classic Japanese Inns and Country Getaways


by Margaret Price

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 1990
  • PAPER
  • 288 PAGES

Price, a journalist who has lived in Japan since 1982, describes favorite inns, often ancient, sometimes luxurious, in this essential, illustrated guide to the ryokan of your desire. (JPN182, $23.00)

A Cook's Tour, Global Adventures in Extreme Cuisines


by Anthony Bourdain

  • FOOD
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 274 PAGES

In this deliciously funny book, Bourdain eats his way around the globe on a quest for the perfect (or perfectly odd) meal. From fried Mars Bars in Glasgow to cobra hearts in Cambodia, there's nowhere this wise-cracking chef won't go and nothing he won't try. (TVL90, $14.99)

Crawling at Night


by Nani Power

  • LITERATURE
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 240 PAGES

Two nocturnal New Yorkers stumble through the nights in this atmospheric debut novel set in New York from a former sushi chef. (NYC83, $13.00)

Deep River


by Shusaku Endo

  • LITERATURE
  • 1996
  • PAPER

One of many novels by the 20th-century Japanese writer, a Roman Catholic whose many works explore chistianity and morals. This one is set among a group of Japanese tourists in India. (JPN159, $14.95)

Dogs and Demons, Tales from the Dark Side of Japan


by Alex Kerr

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 320 PAGES

A provocative analysis of current economic and social conditions in Japan. (JPN55, $17.00)

Donald Richie Reader, 50 Years of Writing on Japan

Donald Richie Reader, 50 Years of Writing on Japan


by Donald Richie | Arturo Silva

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 238 PAGES

A wonderful selection of essays, criticism and other writing from Richie's many books, published articles and unpublished diaries on Japan. He covers a wide range of topics and interests, including travel, film, aesthetics and Zen Buddhism. (JPN89, $19.95)

The Dragon Scroll

The Dragon Scroll


by I. J. Parker

  • MYSTERY
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 432 PAGES

In this installment of the popular mystery series set in eleventh-century Japan, detective Sugawara Akitada travels to the province of Kazusa to investigate a theft. (JPN202, $15.00)

During the Rains & Flowers in the Shade


by Nagai Kafu | Lane Dunlop

  • LITERATURE
  • 1994
  • PAPER
  • 223 PAGES

Two novellas set in red-light 1930s Tokyo, by a consummate Tokyo chronicler. (JPN106, $21.95)

Embracing Defeat, Japan in the Wake of WWII

Embracing Defeat, Japan in the Wake of WWII


by John W. Dower

  • HISTORY
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 676 PAGES

A social and political history of the postwar years in Japan. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, it's an eye-opening account by a leading scholar of Japanese-American relations at MIT. (JPN54, $19.95)

Empire of Signs

Empire of Signs


by Roland Barthes

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1983
  • PAPER
  • 109 PAGES

In these marvelous, original and exasperating reflections, the great French semiotician comments of the signs and meaning of things Japanese. (JPN163, $14.00)

The Empty Mirror, Experiences in a Japanese Zen Monastery


by Janwillem Van De Wetering

  • RELIGION
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 160 PAGES

A candid account of novelist van de Wetering's experiences as a novice monk at Daitoku-ji Zen monastery in Kyoto in the late 1950s. (JPN164, $14.95)

The Essential Haiku, Versions of Basho, Buson and Issa

The Essential Haiku, Versions of Basho, Buson and Issa


by Robert Hass

  • LITERATURE
  • 1994
  • PAPER
  • 329 PAGES

A collection of haiku, tenderly translated, by three Japanese masters of the form. Edited by former Poet Laureate Robert Hass. (JPN93, $16.99)

First Fish, First People, Salmon Tales of the North Pacific Rim

First Fish, First People, Salmon Tales of the North Pacific Rim


by Meg McHutchinson | Judith Roche | One Reel

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 1998
  • PAPER
  • 204 PAGES

A collection of native voices from Pacific shores, all remembering the salmon. It's a lovely book, illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographs, and made more poignant by the salmon's decline in the coastal regions. (PNW116, $24.95)

Five by Endo


by Shusaku Endo

  • LITERATURE
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 96 PAGES

A posthumously published collection of short stories by the 20th-century Japanese writer, a Roman Catholic whose many works explore Christianity and morals. (JPN158, $10.95)

The Floating World


by James Michener | Howard A. Link

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 1990
  • PAPER
  • 453 PAGES

Michener delves into the history of Japanese printmaking. (JPN57, $27.95)

Fodor's Exploring Japan

Fodor's Exploring Japan


by David Scott

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 288 PAGES

A compact guide to the history, culture and attractions of Japan. Includes walking tours and good neighborhood maps, and features color photographs. (JPN33, $22.00)

Frommer's Japan


by Frommer's

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 672 PAGES

A comprehensive, practical guide to travel in Japan. (JPN117, $25.99)

Gambling with Virtue, Japanese Women and the Search for Self in a Changing Nation


by Nancy Ross Rosenberger

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 344 PAGES

A portrait of diverse women, their aspirations and roles in Japanese society. (JPN129, $28.00)

Geisha

Geisha


by Liza Crihfield Dalby

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 380 PAGES

The observations of an American graduate student who apprenticed as a geisha, interpreting this intriguing role in traditional Japanese society. (JPN49, $25.95)

Getting Wet, Adventures in the Japanese Bath

Getting Wet, Adventures in the Japanese Bath


by Eric Talmadge

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2006
  • HARD COVER
  • 256 PAGES
  • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE

Tokyo-based Talmadge journeys from seaside resorts to mountain retreats and megaplexes in this cultural history of Japan through the tradition of the bath. (JPN197, $22.00)

The Girl Who Played Go


by Shan Sa | Adriana Hunter

  • LITERATURE
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 320 PAGES

In this accomplished novel set in a Manchurian city in the war-torn 1930s, two young people -- one of each side of the conflict -- fall in love. (CHN214, $15.95)

A Guide to the Gardens of Kyoto

A Guide to the Gardens of Kyoto


by Marc Treib | Ron Herman

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 202 PAGES

Organized geographically, each of the featured gardens in this indispensable guide gets several pages with special features, practical information, history, comments and several black-and-white photographs. (JPN07, $22.00)

Haruko's World, A Japanese Farm Woman and Her Community


by Gail Lee Bernstein

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1985
  • PAPER
  • 199 PAGES

A portrait of life in contemporary rural Japan. (JPN150, $24.95)

The Heritage of Japanese Civilization


by Albert M. Craig

  • HISTORY
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 173 PAGES

A short social history of Japan from prehistoric times to the end of the 20th century, written for an undergraduate audience. (JPN174, $49.80)

Hired Swords, The Rise of Private Warrior Power in Early Japan


by Karl F. Friday

  • HISTORY
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 265 PAGES

A scholarly history of court-warrior relationships in the 7th to 12th centuries. (JPN146, $27.95)

Hiroshima

Hiroshima


by John Hersey

  • HISTORY
  • 1989
  • PAPER
  • 152 PAGES

Never sensational, this 1946 classic by the Pulitzer Prize-winning Hersey puts a human face on the unthinkable. Hersey explores the tragedy through interviews with residents, scientists and politicians. (JPN20, $7.95)

The History of Gardens


by Christopher Thacker

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1985
  • PAPER

A standard world history of gardens, well illustrated and wide-ranging, covering everything from Zen gardens in Japan to English country gardens. (GRD09, $45.00)

A History of Japan

A History of Japan


by Conrad D. Totman

  • HISTORY
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 684 PAGES

A revised edition of Totman's authoritative history of Japan from c.8000 BC to the present day. Popular in university courses. (JPN199, $56.95)

A History of Japan, From Stone Age to Superpower


by Kenneth G. Henshall

  • HISTORY
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 235 PAGES

A brief, accessible history of the economic transformation of Japan. (JPN133, $21.95)

Hitching Rides with Buddha

Hitching Rides with Buddha


by Will Ferguson

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 304 PAGES

As irreverent as ever, Will Ferguson tracks cherry blossoms from Kagoshima to Rishiri Island in this rollicking report from the cultural frontlines in Japan. (JPN188, $14.00)

In the Ring of Fire, A Pacific Basin Journey

In the Ring of Fire, A Pacific Basin Journey


by James Houston

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 224 PAGES

A lyrical narrative of the author's journeys through Japan, Indonesia, Micronesia, Hawaii and California. (PAC45, $14.95)

The Inland Sea

The Inland Sea


by Donald Richie

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 255 PAGES
  • FAVORITE

Richie's masterpiece, more than a travel account, is a beautiful reflection on all things Japanese by one of its most acute observers. (JPN13, $16.95)

Insight Guide Japan

Insight Guide Japan


by Insight Guides

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 400 PAGES

A comprehensive, illustrated guide to Japan. Half the book is devoted to a survey of attractions throughout the archipelago. Features full color maps. (JPN74, $23.99)

Introduction to Japanese Architecture

Introduction to Japanese Architecture


by Michiko Kimura Young | David Young

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2003
  • HARD COVER
  • 128 PAGES

A brief overview of Japanese architecture from early settlement through the 20th-century with 270 watercolors and color photographers. (JPN171, $34.95)

Japan and Its World, Two Centuries of Change


by Marius Jansen

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 150 PAGES

Originally delivered as a lecture series in 1975, Jansen distills a lifetime of scholarship in this elegant essay on the ideas the Japanese have had of themselves, the United States, and the Western world over the last two centuries. (JPN221, $30.95)

Japan Atlas, A Bilingual Guide


by Kodansha International

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 88 PAGES

This newly revised, one-of-a-kind guide features large-scale regional maps, as well as maps of major cities, tourist areas, transportation, national parks and historic spots. Kodansha's guide is the only atlas that includes place-names in English and Japanese on all 68 maps. (JPN208, $24.00)

The Japan Journals, 1947-2004

The Japan Journals, 1947-2004


by Donald Richie | Leza Lowitz

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 494 PAGES

A collection of essays from the eminent film historian and observer of Japan. (JPN141, $18.95)

Japan Map

Japan Map


by Periplus Maps

  • 2009
  • MAP

This convenient map covers the island nation at a scale of 1:2,000,000, with insets of the major cities. (JPN06, $8.95)

Japan, A Reinterpretation

Japan, A Reinterpretation


by Patrick Smith

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1998
  • PAPER
  • 400 PAGES

A thoughtful, stimulating look at the country since World War II, targeting the role of the U.S. in creating modern Japan. Highly recommended. (JPN16, $15.95)

Japan, A Short Cultural History


by George A. Sansom

  • HISTORY
  • 1978
  • PAPER
  • 548 PAGES

A classic overview of Japanese culture and history, originally published in 1931. (JPN151, $38.95)

Japan, Its History and Culture

Japan, Its History and Culture


by W. Scott Morton

  • HISTORY
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 311 PAGES

An introduction to Japanese history, people and culture from ancient origins to contemporary society. With selections from Japanese literature and arts, anecdotes and illustrations. (JPN03, $21.00)

Japan/Korea Political Wall Map


by

  • 1995
  • MAP

A National Geograpic wall map showing Japan and Korea. (JPN122, $14.99)

Japan: Why It Works, Why It Doesn't

Japan: Why It Works, Why It Doesn't


by James Mak | Shigeyuki Abe | Kazuhiro Igawa | Shyam Sunder

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 219 PAGES

A brief social history of Japan organized as a series of 26 short essays on the economics of everyday life from pachinko and rice to vending machine, shopping, work and marriage. (JPN153, $20.00)

Japanese Beyond Words, How to Walk and Talk Like a Native Speaker

Japanese Beyond Words, How to Walk and Talk Like a Native Speaker


by Andrew Horvat

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 176 PAGES
  • OUT OF PRINT

A long time resident of Tokyo, Horvat explains how to dress, walk, talk, slurp, and bow your way to cultural fluency in Japanese. (JPN194, $14.95)

Japanese Culture

Japanese Culture


by Paul Varley

  • HISTORY
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 383 PAGES

Valery traces cultural trends from the emergence of Japanese civilization through the present age, touching on religion, gardens, tea ceremony, the visual arts, theatre, literature and cinema. (JPN84, $24.00)

Japanese Discovery of Europe, 1720-1830


by Donald Keene

  • HISTORY
  • 1969
  • PAPER
  • 272 PAGES

An erudite but nicely written study of Japanese and Western interactions before Comodore Perry, much of which involved the Dutch presence in Nagasaki, first published in 1952. (JPN152, $24.95)

Japanese Foreign Policy at the Crossroads, Challenges and Options for the Twenty-First Century


by Yutaka Kawashima

  • HISTORY
  • 2003
  • HARD COVER
  • 162 PAGES

A though-provoking analysis by the man who was Japan's vice minister of foreign affairs. (JPN132, $32.95)

Japanese Inn

Japanese Inn


by Oliver Statler

  • LITERATURE
  • 1982
  • PAPER
  • 365 PAGES

Life over four generations at a country inn. An impressionistic overview of traditional Japan solidly based on actual historic events. Illustrated with 50 Japanese prints. (JPN39, $24.00)

The Japanese Today, Continuity and Change

The Japanese Today, Continuity and Change


by Edwin O. Reischauer | Marius Jansen

  • HISTORY
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 459 PAGES

A wide-ranging, engaging survey of Japanese culture and society by two prominent historians. (JPN83, $29.00)

Japanese Touch for Your Garden


by Kiyoshi Seike | Masanobu Kudo | Haruzo Ohashi

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 1993
  • PAPER
  • 80 PAGES

A color guide to creating a Japanese garden with step-by-step instructions on design and planting, suggested garden plans and notes on plant care, illustrated with well known gardens. (JPN172, $25.00)

Japanese, A Language Map

Japanese, A Language Map


by Kristine K. Kershul

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • 2001
  • PLASTIC CARD

This durable, foldout card, featuring 1,000 words and phrases, works as a quick reference for travelers. (JPN177, $7.95)

Japanese, Start Speaking Today


by Language/30

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • 1992
  • AUDIO CD

A 90-minute crash course in Japanese, featured on compact disc with a phrasebook. (JPN224, $24.95)

Kyoto, Seven Paths to the Heart of the City


by Diana Durston | Katsuhiko Mizuno

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 68 PAGES

An oversize, nicely illustrated walking guide to seven historic districts in the city. Includes 100 color photographs and 8 very helpful full-color maps. The neighborhood descriptions are augmented by Durston's notes on architecture, food, crafts and festivals. (JPN119, $24.95)

Lafcadio Hearn's Japan

Lafcadio Hearn's Japan


by Lafcadio Hearn | Donald Richie

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 256 PAGES

An astute sampling of the 19th-century teacher and translator's stories, letters and reflections on Japan and it people as selected by Donal Richie, who provides the preface and introduction. Heard died in Tokyo in 1904. (JPN50, $16.95)

Learning to Bow, Inside the Heart of Japan

Learning to Bow, Inside the Heart of Japan


by Bruce Feiler

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 321 PAGES

As surprising, helpful and informative as it is funny, this is an insightful account of travels and teaching in Japan. Feiler presents anecdotes on the rituals, personality traits and cultural peccadilloes of the Japanese. (JPN111, $13.99)

Letters to Henrietta

Letters to Henrietta


by Lisa Chubbuck | Isabella Bird

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 356 PAGES

This extremely enjoyable collection of letters back home capture the verve and spirit of the globe-trotting spinster from the Isle of Mull. (WLD39, $24.95)

Life of Jesus


by Shusaku Endo

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 1989
  • PAPER

An extended essay on Jesus by the 20th-century Japanese novelist, a Roman Catholic whose many works explore chistianity and morals. (JPN156, $11.95)

Light Verse from the Floating World

Light Verse from the Floating World


by Makoto Ueda

  • LITERATURE
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 273 PAGES

An anthology of 400 often comic 17-syllable verse pomes that reflect daily life in Edo Japan. (JPN86, $28.00)

Liquid Jade, The Story of Tea from Wast to West


by Beatrice Hohenegger

  • HISTORY
  • 2006
  • HARD COVER
  • 256 PAGES

Barbara Hohenegger takes in the tumultuous history of tea and the tea trade, a 5,000-year journey from Japan and China to the British Empire and beyond, in this captivating history. (ASA54, $25.95)

Lonely Planet Hiking in Japan

Lonely Planet Hiking in Japan


by Lonely Planet

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 440 PAGES

This convenient guide features trail maps and route descriptions of walks throughout Japan. With detailed practical information, color photography and 70 contour maps. (JPN154, $24.99)

Lonely Planet Kyoto

Lonely Planet Kyoto


by Lonely Planet

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 220 PAGES

An excellent practical travel guide to Kyoto, covering history and culture, as well as its many temples, gardens and attractions. With day trips, 32 pages of maps and travel details, including chapters on Nara and Osaka. (JPN60, $22.99)

Lonely Planet Tokyo

Lonely Planet Tokyo


by Lonely Planet

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 264 PAGES

A compact, practical guide in the hallmark Lonely Planet style. (JPN100, $19.99)

Lost Japan

Lost Japan


by Alex Kerr

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 269 PAGES

Originally appearing as a series of 15 articles in a Japanese magazine, long-time resident Kerr offers a wistful account of traditional culture and change in contemporary Japan. (JPN36, $14.99)

The Lost Wolves of Japan


by Brett L. Walker

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 331 PAGES

Drawing on Japanese history, literature, folklore and biology, Walker looks at the forces that caused the extinction of the wolves in Japan. (JPN215, $35.00)

The Making of Modern Japan


by Marius Jansen

  • HISTORY
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 871 PAGES

An epic account of Japan and its transformation from feudal society to modern superpower. (JPN88, $28.50)

The Makioka Sisters

The Makioka Sisters


by Tanizaki Junichiro

  • LITERATURE
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 530 PAGES

The story of a merchant family in prewar Osaka and the struggle of four beautiful sisters to maintain their position in society after the death of their parents, also made into a delightful film by Ichikawa. (JPN41, $16.00)

Memoirs of a Geisha


by Arthur Golden

  • LITERATURE
  • 2005
  • AUDIO CD

An audio-book edition of the runaway best-selling novel about a geisha in the celebrated Gion district of Kyoto. A major feat of literary impersonation, the Golden's novel is rich in period detail and ceremony. As read by Elaina Erika Davis. (JPN218, $24.95)

Memoirs of a Geisha


by Arthur Golden

  • LITERATURE
  • 2005
  • LARGE PRINT

A large print edition of the runaway best-selling novel about a geisha in the celebrated Gion district of Kyoto. A major feat of literary impersonation, the Golden's novel is rich in period detail and ceremony. (JPN217, $28.95)

Midway, The Battle that Doomed Japan


by Mitsuo Fuchida

  • HISTORY
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 224 PAGES

A groundbreaking account of the Battle of Midway told from the Japanese perspective. (HWI58, $19.95)

Modern Japanese Literature


by Donald Keene

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 1989
  • PAPER
  • 448 PAGES

A sampling of Japanese literature from the 19th to 2 (JPN72, $15.95)

Musashi, An Epic Novel of the Samurai Era


by Eiji Yoshikawa | Charles S. Terry

  • LITERATURE
  • 1995
  • HARD COVER
  • 984 PAGES

The classic samurai novel about the exploits of Miyamoto Musashi, Japan's famous swordsman and folk hero. Set in 17th-century Japan, it's a rousing, historical novel full of incident. (JPN168, $35.00)

The Narrow Road to Oku


by Basho Matsuo | Donald Keene

  • LITERATURE
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 188 PAGES

Keene gives a precise and poetic translation, alongside the original Japanese characters, in this edition of the great poet Basho Matsuo's (1644-1694) famous journey to Oku. With illustrations by Masayuki Miyata (1926-1997). (JPN211, $25.00)

Narrow Road to the Deep North and Other Travel Sketches

Narrow Road to the Deep North and Other Travel Sketches


by Nobuyuki Yuasa | Basho Matsuo

  • LITERATURE
  • 1967
  • PAPER
  • 178 PAGES

These marvelous prose-and-poetry sketches by the famous poet wanderer Basho (1644-94) invoke the mysteries of the cosmos manifest in the Japanese landscape. With some of the most perfect 17-syllable haiku ever composed. (JPN91, $14.00)

National Geographic Japan

National Geographic Japan


by Nicholas Bornoff

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 400 PAGES

A guide to Japan in National Geographic style. (JPN120, $27.95)

National Geographic's Living Treasures of Japan


by National Geographic Society

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1980
  • DVD

A documentary film by National Geographic portraying nine traditional Japanese artists, performers and craftspeople. (JPN121, $19.98)

Noguchi East and West


by Dore Ashton

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 1993
  • PAPER
  • 331 PAGES

A good biography, by a talented writer about art. (ART16, $29.95)

The Old Capital

The Old Capital


by Yasunari Kawabata | J. Martin Holman

  • LITERATURE
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 160 PAGES

Kawabata captures perfectly the tension between tradition and new ways in postwar Japan in this lyrical novel set in Kyoto. (JPN185, $15.95)

Old Kyoto, A Short Social History


by John Lowe

  • HISTORY
  • 2000
  • HARD COVER
  • 70 PAGES

This lively history of the city covers Kyoto's emperors, shoguns and samurai, merchants and artists during its long reign as royal court and Shogunate. With 39 images, half in color. (JPN167, $18.95)

The Other Japan, Voices Beyond the Mainstream


by David Suzuki | Keibo Oiwa

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 336 PAGES

A collection of interviews with activists and human rights workers in Japan. (JPN128, $18.95)

Our Land Was a Forest, An Ainu Memoir


by Kayano Shingeru

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 1994
  • PAPER
  • 172 PAGES

This lovely memoir of life on Hokkaido in the years following WWII is also an account of the disappearing traditions of the Ainu people in the face of a modernizing nation. (JPN46, $37.00)

Perfectly Japanese, Making Families in an Era of Upheaval


by Merry Isaacs White

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 265 PAGES

An anthropological analysis of the changing nature and structure of the family in Japan over the past 100 years. (JPN169, $26.95)

Pimsleur Quick & Simple Japanese

Pimsleur Quick & Simple Japanese


by Pimsleur Language Method

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • 2005
  • AUDIO CD

Four audio CDs with eight 30-minute lessons in basic Japanese, covering elementary vocabulary and phrases used in travel and everyday situations. (JPN175, $19.95)

The Rarest of the Rare, Vanishing Animals, Timeless Worlds

The Rarest of the Rare, Vanishing Animals, Timeless Worlds


by Diane Ackerman

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 208 PAGES

This collection of six marvelous essays includes Ackerman's visit to the Poco das Antas Biological Reserve, home to the world's only remaining population of wild golden lion tamarin. She also includes chapters on the Hawaiian monk seal, short-tailed albatross and monarch butterfly. (BST26, $12.95)

Rashomon Gate

Rashomon Gate


by I. J. Parker

  • MYSTERY
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 368 PAGES

This installment in the popular series set in eleventh-century Japan takes detective Sugawara Akitada to the Imperial University in Heian Kyo, which is now Kyoto. (JPN203, $15.00)

Read Japanese Today

Read Japanese Today


by Len Walsh

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • 1969
  • PAPER
  • 160 PAGES

A classic guide to the pictorial origins, meaning and pronunciation of 300 common characters. (JPN110, $14.95)

Red Chrysanthemum


by Laura Joh Rowland

  • LITERATURE
  • 2006
  • HARD COVER
  • 288 PAGES

In the 11th title in Rowland's series of page-turners set in 17th century Japan, samurai Sano Ichiro searches for the murderer of his pregnant wife. Rich in drama, atmosphere and historical detail. (JPN220, $24.95)

Religion in Contemporary Japan


by Ian Reader

  • RELIGION
  • 1991
  • PAPER
  • 294 PAGES

A collection of case studies of religious practices, festivals and rituals. (JPN127, $23.00)

Religions of Japan in Practice


by George J. Tanabe, Jr.

  • RELIGION
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 550 PAGES

This scholarly overview of the culture and religion of Japan, featuring primary documetns, has much to offer the general reader. (JPN162, $47.95)

The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-1945


by John Toland

  • HISTORY
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 976 PAGES

A rich and readable history of Japanese militarism from the intricacies of Tokyo politics in the 1930s to riveting WWII Pacific battles. (JPN223, $21.95)

The Rising Tide, A Novel of the Second World War

The Rising Tide, A Novel of the Second World War


by Jeff Shaara

  • LITERATURE
  • 2006
  • HARD COVER
  • 672 PAGES

From the author of Gods and Generals comes this piece of historical fiction set during World War II in the Pacific, North Africa and throughout Europe, whose main characters are Hitler, Mussolini, Eisenhower and Churchill. (EUR235, $27.95)

The River Ki

The River Ki


by Sawako Ariyoshi

  • LITERATURE
  • 1982
  • PAPER
  • 248 PAGES

A chronicle of three generations of women. (JPN126, $16.00)

The Roads to Sata, A 2000-Mile Walk Through Japan

The Roads to Sata, A 2000-Mile Walk Through Japan


by Alan Booth

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 281 PAGES

A revealing, humorous account of the author's 2,000-mile walk north to south from Hokkaido to Kyushu by a wonderfully eccentric British expatriate. (JPN11, $16.00)

Rough Guide Japan

Rough Guide Japan


by Rough Guide

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 1078 PAGES

This comprehensive guide balances a historical and cultural overview with an astounding amount of well-researched practical detail. (JPN166, $28.99)

Rough Guide Music Japan


by Various Artists

  • MUSIC
  • 1999
  • AUDIO CD

A carefully chosen sampling of the diverse sounds of Japan, featuring such indigenous instruments as the stringed koto, the shakuhachi flute, and tako drums. (JPN216, $14.95)

Ruins of Identity, Ethnogenesis in the Japanese Islands


by Mark Hudson

  • ARCHAEOLOGY
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 323 PAGES

Hudson considers race, culture and national identity in this comprehensive scholarly account of the origins of the Japanese people. Winner of the John Whitney Hall Prize (Association for Asian Studies). (JPN198, $25.00)

Sacred Texts and Buried Treasures, Issues in the Historical Archaeology of Ancient Japan


by William Wayne Farris

  • ARCHAEOLOGY
  • 1998
  • PAPER
  • 333 PAGES

A collection of scholarly writing on archaeology in Japan. (JPN195, $38.00)

The Samurai's Garden

The Samurai's Garden


by Gail Tsukiyama

  • LITERATURE
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 224 PAGES

Tsukiyama sets her poignant tale of a young Chinese man coming-of-age in a rural Japanese village in the momentous days just before WWII erupts. (JPN173, $13.95)

Samurai, The World of the Warrior

Samurai, The World of the Warrior


by Stephen Turnbull

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2003
  • HARD COVER
  • 224 PAGES

A handsomely illustrated overview of the warrior elite of early Japan. (JPN147, $29.95)

The Sea and the Poison


by Shusaku Endo

  • LITERATURE
  • 1992
  • PAPER
  • 167 PAGES

One of many novels by the 20th-century Japanese writer, a Roman Catholic whose many works explore chistianity and morals. This one set in Tokyo during WWII. (JPN161, $12.95)

Secret Teachings in the Art of Japanese Gardens


by David A. Slawson

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 1991
  • PAPER

A meditation and manual on the art of Japanese garden design. (JPN165, $30.00)

The Secrets of Mariko, A Year in the Life of a Japanese Woman and Her Family

The Secrets of Mariko, A Year in the Life of a Japanese Woman and Her Family


by Elisabeth Bumiller

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 368 PAGES

A portrait of contemporary Japanese society as told through the life of Mrs. Tanaka and her family. (JPN142, $14.95)

Seeing Japan


by Charles Whipple | Morihiro Hosokawa

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2005
  • HARD COVER

A wide-ranging introduction to modern Japan. Charles Whipple covers the basic elements of Japanese family and society, as well as geography, art, theater and sports. (JPN179, $35.00)

Seeing Kyoto


by Juliet Winters Carpenter | Sen Soshitsu

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2006
  • HARD COVER
  • 96 PAGES

In this oversized visual celebration of Kyoto and neighboring Nara, long-time resident Carpenter presents the cobblestone streets, temples, gardens, history and traditions of the ancient capital. (JPN180, $35.00)

Shadow Shoguns: The Rise and Fall of Japan's Postwar Political Machine


by Jacob M. Schlesinger

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 320 PAGES

The story of Kakuei Tanaka, the populist political boss who built a political machine that dominated the long ruling Liberal Democratic Party from the 1970's to the 1990's. (JPN37, $28.95)

Shogun

Shogun


by James Clavell

  • LITERATURE
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 1152 PAGES

Clavell's immensely popular story of an English adventurer in 17th century Japan. (JPN47, $18.00)

Silence

Silence


by Shusaku Endo

  • LITERATURE
  • 1980
  • PAPER

The best known work by the 20th-century Japanese novelist, about the 17th-century martyrdom of a young Portuguese missionary in Japan. (JPN155, $11.95)

Snow Country

Snow Country


by Edward G. Seidensticker | Yasunari Kawabata

  • LITERATURE
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 175 PAGES

A lyrical, moving novel about the affair between a Tokyo businessman and a geisha, set at a spa in the mountains. The author won the Nobel Prize. (JPN40, $14.00)

Sources of Japanese Tradition, Volume 1


by Ry-Usaku Tsunoda | William Theodore de Bary

  • RELIGION
  • 1990
  • PAPER
  • 506 PAGES

A scholarly sourcebook of theological writings up through the 18th century. (JPN63, $21.00)

Sources of Japanese Tradition, Volume 2


by William Theodore de Bary | Donald Keene

  • RELIGION
  • 1990
  • PAPER
  • 399 PAGES

A scholarly sourcebook of theological writings from the 18th to mid-20th century. (JPN64, $35.00)

Stained Glass Elegies


by Shusaku Endo

  • LITERATURE
  • 1990
  • PAPER
  • 165 PAGES

A collection of short stories by the 20th-century Japanese novelist, a Roman Catholic whose many works explore Christianity and morals. (JPN160, $13.95)

The Tale of Murasaki, A Novel


by Liza Crihfield Dalby

  • LITERATURE
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 426 PAGES

A richly imagined tale of Heian Japan (and the life of the author of The Tale of Genji). (JPN149, $14.95)

Tea in Japan, Essays on the History of Chanoyu


by Paul Varley | Kumakura Isao

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 334 PAGES

The authors in this collection of scholarly essays address the history, evolution and meaning of the tea ceremony in Japan. (JPN200, $31.00)

Through Japanese Eyes

Through Japanese Eyes


by Richard H. Minear

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 360 PAGES

A survey of Japanese culture, society and people. (JPN92, $21.95)

Thunder from the East, Portrait of a Rising Asia

Thunder from the East, Portrait of a Rising Asia


by Nicholas Kristoff | Sheryl WuDunn

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 377 PAGES

A study of the changing face of Asia's economic situation and its effects on the continent's culture. (ASA24, $15.95)

Tokyo Underworld, The Fast Times and Hard Life of an American Gangster in Japan


by Robert Whiting

  • HISTORY
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 400 PAGES

A fast-paced tale of opportunism, corruption, and empire. (JPN143, $16.00)

Turning Japanese, Memoirs of a Sansei

Turning Japanese, Memoirs of a Sansei


by David Mura

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 376 PAGES

The riveting, wonderfully observed tale of a thoroughly American Sansei (i.e. Japanese-American), born and raised in California, who heads to Japan with his American wife. (JPN44, $14.00)

Unbeaten Tracks in Japan

Unbeaten Tracks in Japan


by Isabella Bird

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 400 PAGES

Bird's narrative of her travels in Japan in 1878, just after the country re-opened its doors to the world. She spent little time on the cities, heading straight out to meet the peasants in their fields. (JPN94, $12.95)

Underground, The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche


by Haruki Murakami

  • LITERATURE
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 366 PAGES

A riveting portrait of the attack and its aftermath, interweaving hundreds of interviews. (JPN144, $15.00)

Untangling My Chopsticks, A Culinary Sojourn in Kyoto

Untangling My Chopsticks, A Culinary Sojourn in Kyoto


by Victoria Abbott Riccardi

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 304 PAGES

In this beguiling memoir, Riccardi writes with verve of cultural encounters, bewilderment and discovery in Kyoto. If you've ever parted the drapes of a Japanese restaurant to face a room full of people and blank stares, you'll really appreciate the book. With 25 recipes for traditional and less traditional Japanese dishes. (JPN135, $19.00)

Volcanoes, Fire From the Earth

Volcanoes, Fire From the Earth


by Maurice Krafft

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1993
  • PAPER
  • 175 PAGES
  • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE

By the great French volcanologist (who died on the job on Mount Unzen in Japan in 1992), this pocket guide features hundreds of full-color paintings, traces the study of volcanoes from early myth and legend to modern science. (GEO06, $15.95)

Wallpaper City Guide Tokyo

Wallpaper City Guide Tokyo


by Wallpaper Magazine

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2012
  • PAPER

A stylish, thin (it fits in your back pocket) city guide compiled by the design magazine Wallpaper's local reporters. Well-organized, with chapter tabs, many photographs and of-the-moment recommendations. (JPN204, $9.95)

War Letters, Stories of Courage, Longing and Sacrifice


by Robert Kenner

  • HISTORY
  • 2002
  • DVD

A dramatic presentation of letters home, produced by PBS. (WAR77, $19.98)

Washoku, Recipes from the Japanese Home Kitchen

Washoku, Recipes from the Japanese Home Kitchen


by Elizabeth Andoh

  • FOOD
  • 2005
  • HARD COVER
  • 328 PAGES

A cookbook and guide to the techniques, aesthetics, and philosophy of washoku, written by a leading English-language expert on Japanese home cooking. (JPN186, $40.00)

The Way of Zen

The Way of Zen


by Alan Watts

  • RELIGION
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 236 PAGES

A history and introduction to the practices of Zen. (JPN71, $14.00)

What is Japanese Architecture? A Survey of Traditional Japanese Architecture

What is Japanese Architecture? A Survey of Traditional Japanese Architecture


by Kazuo Nishi | Kazuo Hozomi

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 144 PAGES

A concise introduction to traditional Japanese buildings, from prehistory to the mid-19th century. (JPN69, $32.00)

What Makes Life Worth Living? How Japanese and Americans Make Sense of Their Worlds


by Gordon Matthews

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 296 PAGES

Mathews interviewed 52 Japanese and 52 Americans about what was meaningful in their lives for this provocative book. (JPN170, $28.95)

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle


by Haruki Murakami | Jay Rubin

  • LITERATURE
  • 1998
  • PAPER
  • 607 PAGES

Murakami's most ambitious novel to date deals with, among other things, the scars of nationalism. (JPN107, $16.95)

A Woman's Asia

A Woman's Asia


by Marybeth Bond

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 310 PAGES

These thirty-five personal, often hilarious accounts of women's adventures from China to Sri Lanka to Turkey to Bhutan, not only illuminating the everyday, oft-overlooked cultural practices of Asia, but also giving a glimpse into the thoughts and feelings of the female traveller. (ASA49, $17.95)

Women of the Silk


by Gail Tsukiyama

  • LITERATURE
  • 1993
  • PAPER
  • 278 PAGES

In this lyrical debut, Tsukiyama sets her absorbing tale of young Pei against the backdrop of China in the years from 1919-1938. (CHN269, $13.95)

The World of the Shining Prince, Court Life in Ancient Japan

The World of the Shining Prince, Court Life in Ancient Japan


by Ivan Morris | Barbara Ruch

  • HISTORY
  • 1994
  • PAPER
  • 352 PAGES

A recreation of life in eleventh-century Japan. (JPN70, $17.00)

A Year in Japan

A Year in Japan


by Kate T. Williamson

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 192 PAGES

Williamson records her extended stay in Kyoto, its architecture, gardens, culture and traditions in 350 watercolor illustrations. (JPN189, $19.95)

 

Longitude provides recommended reading for travelers in partnership with the leading tour operators and travel programs for hundreds of destinations worldwide. We've got the classic, new and hard-to-find books and maps to help you get the most out of your adventures.