Over 200 Books for Japanophiles

I am an avid Japanophile! Pete and I have visited Japan three times but hunger for more and I’m often dreaming about, researching and planning for the next trip. I enjoy buying and reading books about Japan, and for many years, I’ve been saving a list of titles I’d like to read to an ever-growing wish-list. In this post I share a mammoth selection of over 200 books about Japan, including personal recommendations, lots of suggestions from friends, and items from that very long wish-list.

Kavey Eats Japan Books Collection

You’ll find books about Japanese food and drink; culture and history; about art, craft and architecture. There’s travel content ranging from classic guide books to travelogues by those who’ve explored extensively, or become a resident. And then there’s a wide range of fiction through the ages, much of it evocative of Japan or giving an insight into Japanese life.

100 Kyoto Sights

100 Kyoto Sights: Discover the “Real” Japan by John Dougill (photography by Patrick Hochner)

The 1918 Shikoku Pilgrimage of Takamure Itsue

The 1918 Shikoku Pilgrimage of Takamure Itsue by Itsue Takamure (translated by Susan Tennant)

The Adventures of Lily Huckleberry in Japan

The Adventures of Lily Huckleberry in Japan by Audrey Smit and Jackie Knapp

Angry White Pyjamas

Angry White Pyjamas: An Oxford Poet Trains with the Tokyo Riot Police by Robert Twigger

Another Kyoto

Another Kyoto by Alex Kerr and Kathy Arlyn Sokol

The Art of Haiku

The Art of Haiku: Its History Through Poems and Paintings by Japanese Masters by Stephen Addiss

Art of Japanese Architecture

The Art of Japanese Architecture: History / Culture / Design by David Young

Art of Japanese Joinery

The Art of Japanese Joinery by Kiyoshi Seike

The Art of Miyazaki's Spirited Away

The Art of Miyazaki’s Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki

The Art of the Japanese Garden

The Art of the Japanese Garden: History / Culture / Design by David Young and Michiko Young

Autumn Light Japans Season of Fire and Farewells

Autumn Light: Japan’s Season of Fire and Farewells by Pico Iyer

The Bells of Old Tokyo

The Bells of Old Tokyo: Travels in Japanese Time by Anna Sherman

A Beginner's Guide to Japan Observations and Provocations

A Beginner’s Guide to Japan: Observations and Provocations by Pico Iyer

Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies

The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies Vol. 1: 1954-1982 by John LeMay

The Book of Basic Japanese Cooking

The Book of Basic Japanese Cooking by Shufunotomosha

The Book of Five Rings

The Book of Five Rings: The Strategy of the Samurai by Miyamoto Musashi

The Book of Tea

The Book of Tea: Beauty, Simplicity and the Zen Aesthetic by Okakura Kakuzo

Breaking into Japanese Literature

Breaking Into Japanese Literature: Seven Modern Classics in Parallel Text by Giles Murray

Buddhist Statuary

Buddhist Statuary (Bilingual) by Ayako Ishii

The Charter And Thirteen Other Stories about Japan

The Charter: And Thirteen Other Stories about Japan by Roger Pulvers

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Clouds above the Hill

Clouds above the Hill: A Historical Novel of the Russo-Japanese War by Shiba Ry Tar

Come and Sleep The Folklore of the Japanese Fox

Come and Sleep: The Folklore of the Japanese Fox by Christopher Kincaid

Complete Book of Bonsai

The Complete Book of Bonsai: A Practical Guide to Its Art and Cultivation by Harry Tomlinson

The Complete Story of Sadako Sasaki

The Complete Story of Sadako Sasaki: and the Thousand Paper Cranes by M. SasakiCool Japan

Cool Japan: A Guide to Tokyo, Kyoto, Tohoku and Japanese Culture Past and Present by Sumiko Kajiyama

Cool Japan Guide: Fun in the Land of Manga, Lucky Cats and Ramen

Confessions of a Yakuza

Confessions of a Yakuza by Junichi Saga (translated by John Bester)

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata (translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori)

Deep Kyoto Walks

Deep Kyoto: Walks by multiple authors

A Dictionary of Japanese Food

A Dictionary of Japanese Food: Ingredients and Culture by Richard Hosking

Doctor's Wife

Doctor’s Wife by Sawako Ariyoshi

Emplacing a Pilgrimage

Emplacing a Pilgrimage: The Oyama Cult and Regional Religion in Early Modern Japan by Barbara Ambros

The Era of Great Disasters

The Era of Great Disasters: Japan and Its Three Major Earthquakes by Makoto Iokibe

Every Day a Good Day

Every Day a Good Day: Fifteen Lessons I Learned about Happiness from Japanese Tea Culture by Noriko Morishita

Everyday Harumi

Everyday Harumi: Simple Japanese Food for Family and Friends by Harumi Kurihara

Everyday Life in Traditional Japan by CJ Dunn

Everyday Life in Traditional Japan by C.J. Dunn (illustrated by Laurence Broderick)

Exploring Kyoto

Exploring Kyoto: On Foot in the Ancient Capital by Judith Clancy

Exquisite Japan

Exquisite Japan: Tokyo Sacred Shinto Shrines edited by Hidemi Takagi

For Fuksui's Sake

For Fukui’s Sake: Two years in rural Japan by Sam Baldwin

The Forgotten Japanese

The Forgotten Japanese: Encounters with Rural Life and Folklore by Tsuneichi Miyamoto and Jeffrey Irish

Forms of Japan

Forms of Japan by Michael Kenna and Yvonne Meyer-Lohr

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The Furoshiki Handbook

The Furoshiki Handbook by Etsuko Yamada

The Gaijin Cookbook

The Gaijin Cookbook: Japanese Recipes from a Chef, Father, Eater, and Lifelong Outsider by Ivan Orkin

A Geek in Japan

A Geek in Japan: Discovering the Land of Manga, Anime, Zen, and the Tea Ceremony by Hector Garcia

Geisha of Gion The True Story of Japan's Foremost Geisha

Geisha of Gion: The True Story of Japan’s Foremost Geisha by Mineko Iwasaki (translated by Rande Brown)

Ghosts of the Tsunami

Ghosts of the Tsunami: Death and Life in Japan by Richard Lloyd Parry

The Good Shufu

The Good Shufu: Finding Love, Self, and Home on the Far Side of the World by Tracy Slater

Granta 127 Japan

Granta 127: Japan (edited by Yuka Igarashi)

The Great Passage

The Great Passage by Shion Miura (translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter)

Guide to the Gardens of Kyoto

Guide to the Gardens of Kyoto by Marc Treib and Ron Herman

Gyoza The Ultimate Dumpling Cookbook

Gyoza: The Ultimate Dumpling Cookbook: 50 Recipes from Tokyo’s Gyoza King by Paradise Yamamoto

Haiku Japanese Art and Poetry

Haiku Japanese Art and Poetry by Michiko Warkentyne and Barry Till

Handbook on Japanese Food Carving Techniques for Seasonal Vegetables

Handbook on Japanese Food: Carving Techniques for Seasonal Vegetables by Munehiro Shimatani

Handmade in Japan

Handmade in Japan: The Pursuit of Perfection in Traditional Crafts (edited by Irwin Wong)

Harumis Japanese Kitchen - cover

Harumiโ€™s Japanese Kitchen by Harumi Kurihara

Heike Story

Heike Story by Eiji Yoshikawa

Hiking and Trekking in the Japan Alps and Mount Fuji

Hiking and Trekking in the Japan Alps and Mount Fuji: Northern, Central and Southern Alps by Tom Fay and Wes Lang

Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan

Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan by Herbert P Bix

History of Japan A Captivating Guide to Japanese History

History of Japan: A Captivating Guide to Japanese History

Hokkaido Highway Blues

Hokkaido Highway Blues: Hitchhiking Japan by Will Fergusonย (also published under the title Hitching Rides with Buddha)

Hokusai beyond the Great Wave

Hokusai: beyond the Great Wave (British Museum) by Timothy Clark and Roger Keyes

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Houses and Gardens of Kyoto

Houses and Gardens of Kyoto by Thomas Daniell (photography by Akihiko Seki)

How to Take a Japanese Bath

How to Take a Japanese Bath by Leonard Koren (illustrated by Suehiro Maruo)

Ichigensan

Ichigensan: The Newcomer by David Zoppetti (translated by Takuma Sminkey)

In Search of Japan's Hidden Christians

In Search of Japan’s Hidden Christians: A Story Of Suppression, Secrecy And Survival by John Dougill

Inaka Portraits of Life in Rural Japan

Inaka: Portraits of Life in Rural Japan by John Grant Ross

The Inland Sea

The Inland Sea by Donald Richie

Inside Japanese Ceramics

Inside Japanese Ceramics: Primer of Materials, Techniques, and Traditions by Richard Wilson

Ise-Jingu

Ise-Jingu by Nobuko Nakamura, Mihoko Inazawa and Yuji Ono (translated by Alicia Fung, Nozomu Sonda, Tamami Fung)

The Isle of South Kamui and Other Stories

The Isle of South Kamui and Other Stories by Kyotaro Nishimura (translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori

Japan Journeys Famous Woodblock Prints

Japan Journeys: Famous Woodblock Prints of Cultural Sites in Japan by Andreas Marks

Japan Season by Season

Japan: Season by Season by Sandrine Bailly

Japan the Cookbook

Japan: The Cookbook by Nancy Singleton Hachisu

Japan The World Vegetarian

Japan: The World Vegetarian byย Reiko Hashimoto

Japaneasy

Japaneasy by Tim Anderson

Japanese Childrens Favourite Stories

Japanese Children’s Favorite Stories by Florence Sakade

Japanese Cooking

Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art by Shizuo Tsuji

Japanese Design Since 1945

Japanese Design Since 1945: A Complete Sourcebook by Naomi Pollock

The Japanese Empire

The Japanese Empire: Grand Strategy from the Meiji Restoration to the Pacific War by S C Paine

Japanese Farm Food

Japanese Farm Food by Nancy Singleton Hachisu

Japanese Food Made Easy

Japanese Food Made Easy by Aya Nishimura

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Japanese A History in Twenty Lives

The Japanese: A History in Twenty Lives by Christopher Harding

Japanese Gardens A Journey

Japanese Gardens: A Journey by Monty Don and Derry Moore

Japanese Home Cooking

Japanese Home Cooking: Simple Meals, Authentic Flavors by Sonoko Sakai

The Japanese Larder

The Japanese Larder: Bringing Japanese Ingredients Into Your Everyday Cooking by Luiz Hara

Japanese Mind

Japanese Mind (2 Book Series) by Roger J. Davies and Osamu Ikeno,

Japanese Philosophy

Japanese Philosophy: A Sourcebook (Nanzan Library of Asian Religion & Culture) edited by James Heisig, Thomas P. Kasulis, and John C. Maraldo

The Japanese Pottery Handbook

The Japanese Pottery Handbook by Penny Simpson, Kanji Sodeoka, and Lucy Kitto

Japanese Proverbs

Japanese Proverbs: Wit and Wisdom: Wit and Wisdom by David Galef

Japanese Tales

Japanese Tales by Royall Tyler

Japanese Tales of Mystery and Imagination

Japanese Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edogawa Rampo

Japanese Tattoos

Japanese Tattoos: History Culture Design by Brian Ashcraft and Hori Benny

The Japanese Sake Bible by Brian Ashcroft

The Japanese Sake Bible by Brian Ashcroft

Japanese Visual Dictionary

Japanese Visual Dictionary: A photo guide to everyday words and phrases in Japanese

Japanese Whisky The Ultimate Guide

Japanese Whisky: The Ultimate Guide to the World’s Most Desirable Spirit by Brian Ashcraft and Yuji Kawasaki (photographed by Idzuhiko Ueda)

Japan's Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage

Japan’s Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage: The UNESCO World Heritage trek by Kat Davis

Japan's World Heritage Sites

Japan’s World Heritage Sites: Unique Culture, Unique Nature by John Dougill

Kakurenbo

Kakurenbo: Or the Whereabouts of Zen Priest Ryokan by Eido Frances Carney

Keiko's Ikebana

Keiko’s Ikebana: A Contemporary Approach to the Traditional Japanese Art of Flower Arranging by Keiko Kubo

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto

The Kizuna Coast

The Kizuna Coast: A Rei Shimura Mystery by Sujata Massey

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Kokeshi

Kokeshi by Manami Okazaki

Kyoto 29 Walks

Kyoto: 29 Walks in Japan’s Ancient Capital by John H. Martin and Phyllis G. Martin

Kyoto The Forest Within the Gate

Kyoto: The Forest Within the Gate Paperback by Edith Shiffert, Marc P Keane, Diane Durston and John Einarsen

Kyoto A Literary Guide

Kyoto: A Literary Guide (edited by John Dougill)

Kyoto City of Zen

Kyoto: City of Zen: Visiting the Heritage Sites of Japan’s Ancient Capital by Ben Simmons

Kyoto Gardens

Kyoto Gardens: Masterworks of the Japanese Gardener’s Art by Judith Clancy (photographed by Ben Simmons)

Kyoto Machiya Restaurant Guide

Kyoto Machiya Restaurant Guide: Affordable Dining in Traditional Townhouse Spaces by Judith Clancy (photographed by Ben Simmons)

Kyoto Seven Paths to the Heart of the City

Kyoto: Seven Paths to the Heart of the City by Diane Durston

The Lady and the Monk

The Lady and the Monk: Four Seasons in Kyoto by Pico Iyer

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying: A simple, effective way to banish clutter forever by Marie Kondo

Living Carelessly in Tokyo and Elsewhere

Living Carelessly in Tokyo and Elsewhere: A Memoir by John Nathan

Looking for the lost

Looking for the Lost: Journeys Through a Vanishing Japan by Alan Booth

Lost Japan

Lost Japan: Last Glimpse of Beautiful Japan by Alex Kerr

The Magic of Japan: Secret Places and Life-Changing Experiences by Hector Garcia

Making Pilgrimages

Making Pilgrimages: Meaning and Practice in Shikoku by Ian Reader

The Makioka Sisters

The Makioka Sisters by Junichiro Tanizaki

Manabeshima Island Japan

Manabeshima Island Japan: One Island, Two Months, One Minicar, Sixty Crabs, Eighty Bites and Fifty Shots of Shochu by Florent Chavouet

Manga Lovers Tokyo

A Manga Lover’s Tokyo Travel Guide: My Favorite Things to See and Do In Japan by Evangeline Neo

The Meaning of Rice

The Meaning of Rice: And Other Tales from the Belly of Japan by Michael Booth

Memoirs of a Geisha

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

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Memories of Wind and Waves

Memories of Wind and Waves: A Self-Portrait of Lakeside Japan by Jun’ichi Saga

Modern Japan

Modern Japan: A Very Short Introduction by Christopher Goto-Jones

The Monocle Book of Japan

The Monocle Book of Japan by Tyler Brรปlรฉ

Moshi Moshi by Banana Yoshimoto

Moshi Moshi by Banana Yoshimoto (translated by Asa Yoneda)

My Awesome Japan Adventure

My Awesome Japan Adventure: A Diary about the Best 4 Months Ever! by Rebecca Otowaย 

The Nakano Thrift Shop

The Nakano Thrift Shop by Hiromi Kawakami (translated by Allison Markin Powell)

The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Other Travel Sketches

The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Other Travel Sketches by Matsuo Basho (translated by Nobuyuki Yuasa)

Needle-Watcher The Will Adams Story

Needle-Watcher: The Will Adams Story British Samurai by Richard Blaker

Norwegian Wood

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

Okinawa The History of an Island People

Okinawa: The History of an Island People by George Kerr

The Old Capital

The Old Capital by Yasunari Kawabata (translated by J. Martin Holman

Old Kyoto

Old Kyoto: The Updated guide to Traditional Shops, Restaurants, and Inns by Diane Durston

One Hundred Mountains of Japan

One Hundred Mountains of Japan by Kyuya Fukada (photographed by Peter Skov, translated by Martin Hood

One Love Chigusa

One Love Chigusa by Soji Shimada (translated by David Warren)

Onsen of Japan

Onsen of Japan: Japan’s Best Hot Springs and Bath Houses by Steve Wide

Out by Natsuo Kirino

Out by Natsuo Kirino

People From My Neighbourhood

People From My Neighbourhood by Hiromi Kawakami

People Who Eat Darkness

People Who Eat Darkness: Love, Grief and a Journey into Japanโ€™s Shadows by Richard Lloyd Parry

A Pilgrim's Guide to Forty-Six Temples

A Pilgrim’s Guide to Forty-Six Temples by Shiro Usui (translated by S. Miller)

The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon

The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon by Sei Shonagon (translated by Ivan Morris)

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Preserving the Japanese Way

Preserving the Japanese Way: Traditions of Salting, Fermenting, and Pickling for the Modern Kitchen by Nancy Singleton Hachisu

Pretty Good Number One An American Family Eats Tokyo

Pretty Good Number One: An American Family Eats Tokyo by Matthew Amster-Burton

The Printmakers Daughter

The Printmaker’s Daughter by Katherine Govier

Rashomon and Other Stories

Rashomon and Other Stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa (with Takashi Kojima, M. Kuwata and Howard Hibbett)

Recentering Globalization

Recentering Globalization: Popular Culture and Japanese Transnationalism by Koichi Iwabuchi

Rice Noodle Fish

Rice, Noodle, Fish: Deep Travels Through Japan’s Food Culture by Matt Goulding

A Ride In The Neon Sun A Gaijin in Japan

A Ride In The Neon Sun: A Gaijin in Japan by Josie Dew

Sacred Koyasan

Sacred Koyasan: A Pilgrimage to the Mountain Temple of Saint Kobo Daishi and the Great Sun Buddha by Philip L. Nicoloff

The Sailor who Fell from Grace with the Sea

The Sailor who Fell from Grace with the Sea by Yukio Mishima

Samurai An Illustrated History

Samurai: An Illustrated History by Mitsuo Kure

The Samurai's Garden

The Samurai’s Garden by Gail Tsukiyama

Seeing Kyoto

Seeing Kyoto by Juliet Winters Carpenter

Seeing Zen

Seeing Zen: Zenga from the Kaeru-An Collection Hardcover by John Stevens and Felix Hess

Shank's Mare Japan's Great Comic Novel

Shank’s Mare: Japan’s Great Comic Novel of Travel and Ribaldry by Ikku Jippensha (translated by Thomas Satchell)

Short Stories in Japanese

Short Stories in Japanese (Bilingual) edited by Michael Emmerich

The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami

The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami

The Tale of Genji

The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu (translated by Royall Tyler)

Three Tigers, One Mountain

Three Tigers, One Mountain: A Journey through the Bitter History and Current Conflicts of China, Korea and Japan by Michael Booth

Through Japanese Eyes

Through Japanese Eyes by Richard H. Minear

The Secret of the Blue Glass

The Secret of the Blue Glass by Tomiko Inui (translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori

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Seeing Japan

Seeing Japan by Charles Whipple

The Shinto Cult

The Shinto Cult by Milton S. Terry

Shinto Shrines

Shinto Shrines: A Guide to the Sacred Sites of Japan’s Ancient Religion by Joseph Cali and John Dougill

Shogun by James Clavell

Shogun by James Clavell

Shoji Hamada A Potter's Way and Work

Shoji Hamada: A Potter’s Way and Work (Ceramic Classics) by Susan Peterson

Six Four

Six Four by Hideo Yokoyama (translated by Jonathan Lloyd-Davies)

So Far From The Bamboo Grove

So Far from the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Kawashima Watkins

Something Wicked from Japan

Something Wicked from Japan: Ghosts, Demons & Yokai in Ukiyo-e Masterpieces by Nakau Ei

Soul of Tokyo

Soul of Tokyo: A Guide to 30 Exceptional Experiences by Fany Pรฉchiodat and Amandine Pรฉchiodat

Strange Weather in Tokyo

Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami (translated by Allison Markin Powell) (also published under the title The Briefcase)

Sumi-E The Art of Japanese Brush Painting

Sumi-E: The Art of Japanese Brush Painting by Shozo Sato

Super Cheap Japan

Super Cheap Japan: Budget Travel in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima and Surrounding Areas

Sushi and Beyond

Sushi and Beyond: What the Japanese Know About Cooking by Michael Booth

Sweet Bean Paste

Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa (translated by Alison Watts)

Tales from the Cafe Before the Coffee Gets Cold

Tales from the Cafe: Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (translated by Geoffrey Trousselot)

Tales of Japan Traditional Stories of Monsters and Magic

Tales of Japan: Traditional Stories of Monsters and Magic by Kotaro Chiba

Tattoos as Punishment

Tattoos as Punishment: An Illustrated History of Tattooing in Japan by Eric Shahan

Thousand Cranes

Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata (translated by Edward G. Seidensticker)

Tokyo Cult Recipes

Tokyo Cult Recipes by Maori Murota

Tokyo from Edo to Showa

Tokyo from Edo to Showa 1867-1989: The Emergence of the World’s Greatest City by Edward Seidensticker (previously published under the titles Low City, High City and Tokyo Rising)

Tokyo Junkie

Tokyo Junkie: 60 Years of Bright Lights and Back Alleys… and Baseball by Robert Whiting

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Tokyo Kill A Jim Brodie Thriller

Tokyo Kill: A Jim Brodie Thriller by Barry Lancet

Tokyo on Foot

Tokyo on Foot: Travels in the City’s Most Colorful Neighborhoods by Florent Chavouet

Tokyo Performance

Tokyo Performance by Roger Pulvers

A Tokyo Romance

A Tokyo Romance by Ian Buruma

Tokyo Stories

Tokyo Stories: A Japanese cookbook by Tim Anderson

Tokyo Style Guide

Tokyo Style Guide: Eat Sleep Shop by Jane Lawson

Tokyo Underworld

Tokyo Underworld: The Fast Times and Hard Life of an American Gangster in Japan by Robert Whiting

Tokyo Ueno Station

Tokyo Ueno Station by Yu Miri (translated by Morgan Giles)

The Tomb in the Kyoto Hills

The Tomb in the Kyoto Hills and Other Stories by Hans Brinckmann

Traces of Dreams

Traces of Dreams: Landscape, Cultural Memory and the Poetry of Basho by Haruo Shirane

Traveller from Tokyo

Traveller from Tokyo by John Morris

A True Novel

A True Novel: A Remaking of Emily Brontรซ’s Wuthering Heights by Minae Mizumura (translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter

Unbeaten Tracks

Unbeaten Tracks in Japan by Isabella L. Bird

Underground The Tokyo Gas Attack

Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche by Haruki Murakami

Vegan Japaneasy

Vegan Japaneasy by Tim Anderson

Wabi Sabi Japanese Wisdom

Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton

The Waiting Years

The Waiting Years by Fumiko Enchi

Walking in Circles

Walking in Circles: Finding Happiness in Lost Japan by Todd Wassel

Walking the Kiso Road

Walking the Kiso Road: A Modern-Day Exploration of Old Japan by William Scott Wilson

Washoku Recipes from The Japanese Home Kitchen

Washoku: Recipes From The Japanese Home Kitchen by Elizabeth Andoh

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The Way of Whisky

The Way of Whisky: A Journey Around Japanese Whisky by Dave Broom

What's What in Japanese Restaurants

What’s What in Japanese Restaurants: A Guide to Ordering, Eating, and Enjoying by Robb Satterwhite

What is Japanese Cinema

What Is Japanese Cinema? A History by Yomota Inuhiko

Where the Dead Pause, and the Japanese Say Goodbye

Where the Dead Pause, and the Japanese Say Goodbye: A Journey by Marie Mutsuki Mockett

Womansword

Womansword: What Japanese Words Say About Women by Kittredge Cherry

Wrapping with Fabric

Wrapping with Fabric: Your Complete Guide to Furoshiki-The Japanese Art of Wrapping by Etsuko Yamada and Kanji Okamoto

Yakuza Moon

Yakuza Moon: Memoirs of a Gangster’s Daughter by Shoko Tendo (translated by Louise Heal

Yubisashi Japanese Food Phrasebook

Yubisashi Japanese Food Phrasebook by Toshiya Enomoto

Yuko-chan and the Daruma Doll

Yuko-chan and the Daruma Doll: The Adventures of a Blind Japanese Girl Who saves Her Village by Sunny Seki

Zen Gardens

Zen Gardens: The Complete Works of Shunmyo Masuno by Mira Locher

Zenbu Zen

Zenbu Zen by Jane Lawson

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Kavey Eats Japan Books Collection

Please leave a comment - I love hearing from you!
14 Comments to "Over 200 Books for Japanophiles"

  1. Snigdha

    Dear Kavey,
    Wow! What a list!
    I love how you have selected novels, short stories, history books, art, cooking, travel!
    It’s a wonderfully eclectic list.
    So much inspiration and food for thought here.
    Thank you!

    Reply
  2. kaveyeats

    I have deliberately not added up now much this full list might cost to buy! ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜

    Reply
  3. Piper

    This is a good variety of books. I am going to read the Pico Iyer books soon. I have only been to the airport in Japan on my way to Korea, so I need to plan a trip there.

    Reply
  4. Sage Scott

    Only 200? Then what? LOL! All kidding aside, I would eat up that architecture book! Although I have yet to visit Japan, I absolutely love losing myself in the quiet solitude of a Japanese garden here in the US!

    Reply
  5. Pubali

    That is a fantastic compilation of books about Japan, covering such a wide range of fiction and non-fiction and authors from different countries. Just by looking at this list, I can only imagine your love for Japan Kavita :-). I am familiar with the works of some of the authors on the list, like Murakami and Pico Iyer, and now I am going to add the other books and authors too on my to-read list. Thank you! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  6. Rudy

    Oh my, this is a loooong list. It has guides of individual cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. I wonder if it would make sense to add a general travel guide for the whole country?

    Reply
    kaveyeats

    Great point! We do have a fair few but they have a particular focus, such as the cool japan guide. I will have a look and add a general all-Japan guide book in!

    Reply

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