Book of Japan

If you're visiting Japan for the first time this book is for you. Get a whistle-stop tour of the country’s fascinating history and culture, learn how to perform traditional rituals, and tour all the amazing places you need to add to your Japan itinerary.

Book of Japan

ようこそ Yōkoso

JAPAN COUNTRY MAP

HISTORY OF JAPAN • Nippon’s storied past

GOD-EMPERORS & WARRIOR QUEENS • The earliest history of Japan is shrouded in myths and legends of emperors descended from gods and queens who waged bloody wars

THE TŌDAIJIYAMA SWORD • The Kofun tombs of Japan were the burial sites of important Japanese people – people who were often sent to the afterlife with rich grave goods like swords

THE GRASS-CUTTING SWORD • Each person who takes the Chrysanthemum Throne of Japan is presented with three legendary items

THE AGE OF TRANQUILLITY • The Heian period was a cultural high point of Japan, but it also saw some of the most vicious struggles for control

LADIES OF THE COURT

TIMELINE OF THE FEUDAL ERA

FAMOUS WARRIORS • Many samurai, outlaws and military leaders are revered to this day for their bold exploits

RULING THE WAVES • An expert explores the role and influence of piracy in late medieval Japan

5 MYTHS ABOUT NINJAS… BUSTED! • Japan’s mysterious warriors are obscured by myth and legend, but what is the truth behind the martial arts movies?

TIME TRAVELLER’S GUIDE TO THE WARRING STATES • Sengoku Period, 1400-1600

DOS & DON’TS

HELPFUL SKILLS • Mastering at least one of these may help you stay alive in the dangerous world of feudal Japan

ISOLATION NATION • The Tokugawa shoguns reigned over an empire closed to the outside world – until they were forced to prize it open

CHRISTIANITY GOES UNDERGROUND

JAPAN’S CULTURE SHOCK • How Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry of the United States Navy opened Japan, secluded for centuries, to the world

THE COMMODORE • Perry was one of the US Navy’s finest officers and a good choice to lead the Japan expedition

EMPEROR MEIJI • Born into a country ravaged by political turmoil, Meiji led Japan from feudal state to one of the foremost powers of the modern world

LIFE IN THE TIME OF EMPEROR MEIJI

Timeline

JAPAN IN WORLD WAR II

NEO-TOKYO • How postwar Japan recovered from atomic bombings to become the most high-tech nation in the world

THE MEN THAT REBUILT JAPAN

THE BULLET TRAIN BLASTS OFF

POP CULTURE SUPERPOWER • Japan’s influence has spread worldwide

NIHON-GO! • Explore the archipelago

TOKYO • Beneath the bright lights, Japan’s capital is an endless trove of cultural treasures

OSAKA • Situated on the opposite side of Honshu, Osaka is not so much Tokyo’s little sibling, as its sassy cousin

KYOTO • There are a million reasons to visit Japan’s ancient

NARA • Teeming with docile deer and architectural wonders, Japan’s former capital is a living monument to ancient imperial life

JAPAN’S BEST CASTLES • Surviving wars, natural disasters and government reforms, these seven castles represent the best Japan has to offer

GIANT BUDDHAS • Japan is rich in Buddhist history and awestruck visitors can view the county’s remarkable giant Buddha statues. Here are five that you shouldn’t miss

WAKAYAMA • Nourish mind, body and soul with a visit to Japan’s spiritual heartland

CENTRAL HOKKAIDO • Japan’s northernmost island is a dramatic place to journey by road, filled with curious beasts and vibrant cityscapes

THE NORTHERN COAST ROUTE

SKI JAPAN • Experience some of the world’s best powder snow in a truly unique setting

MOUNT FUJI • An...