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...
