Off the Beaten Tracks in Japan
A Journey by Train from Hokkaido to Kyushu
Published on 21. December 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
308 pages
978-1-61172-082-2 (ISBN)
Description
2023 FOREWORD INDIES BOOK OF THE YEAR GOLD WINNER FOR TRAVEL
Observations on the people, culture, and history of Japan from a
long-time resident riding the rails along the less-traveled western
coastline.
This journey the length of Japan takes the reader off the beaten tracks to explore some of the country's remoter regions along the Japan Sea-from Wakkanai in northern Hokkaido to Ibusuki in southern Kyushu-in a fascinating mix of travelogue, anecdote, and personal memoir. At each of the thirty stops along the journey the author, who has lived in Japan for thirty years, goes in quest of the spirit of place, determined to highlight what makes it special. Mixing comments on landscape and culture, the author was inspired by Alan Booth and Donald Richie and brings a contemporary perspective to his writing. The text provides some practical information on travel by rail and railway lines, but goes into far more depth and personal observation than a conventional guidebook for tourists.
Observations on the people, culture, and history of Japan from a
long-time resident riding the rails along the less-traveled western
coastline.
This journey the length of Japan takes the reader off the beaten tracks to explore some of the country's remoter regions along the Japan Sea-from Wakkanai in northern Hokkaido to Ibusuki in southern Kyushu-in a fascinating mix of travelogue, anecdote, and personal memoir. At each of the thirty stops along the journey the author, who has lived in Japan for thirty years, goes in quest of the spirit of place, determined to highlight what makes it special. Mixing comments on landscape and culture, the author was inspired by Alan Booth and Donald Richie and brings a contemporary perspective to his writing. The text provides some practical information on travel by rail and railway lines, but goes into far more depth and personal observation than a conventional guidebook for tourists.
Reviews / Votes
2023 FOREWORD INDIES BOOK OF THE YEAR GOLD WINNER FOR TRAVEL"John Dougill's honest observations and deeply personal style leave a lasting impression."
-Nikkei Asia
"Skillfully combining history, culture, food, society, literature, and old-fashioned observation, Dougill educates as well as entertains, soothing the restless spirit of the traveler who is determined to visit every place they read or hear about."
-Rebecca Otowa, author of At Home in Japan
"Dougill takes delight in every aspect of Japan, from the fish and pickles he has for dinner, to a weird conversation with a stranger that takes a surprise turn. I know of no Japan journey that is so full of joy as this one."
-Alex Kerr, author of Lost Japan and Another Kyoto
"Erudite and deftly constructed, Dougill offers an original point of view and a sense of literary composition yoked with a deep knowledge of the country and culture."
-Stephen Mansfield, author of Tokyo: A Biography
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Berkeley CA
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
b/w photos with map
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
506 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-61172-082-2 (9781611720822)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
11/2023
Stone Bridge Press
€9.49
Available for download
Person
John Dougill has lived in Kyoto since 1994, before which he taught at Kanazawa University. He is the author of several books about Japan, and his 2012 book, In Search of Japan's Hidden Christians, was hailed as "one of the most compelling and important books on Japan in recent years." He has run Writers in Kyoto for nine years, editing the website and overseeing the group's many activities. He also runs the Green Shinto blog.
Content
Preface
Introduction: Japan's Railways
HOKKAIDO
1) Wakkanai
2) Asahikawa
3) Sapporo
4) Otaru
5) Shiraoi
6) Hakodate
TOHOKU
7) Aomori
8) Akita
9) Tsuruoka
10) Sado Island
11) Niigata (Joetsu-Myoko)
HOKURIKU
12) Toyama
13) Kanazawa
14) Fukui
15) Tsuruga (Obama-Fukuchiyama)
CHUGOKU
16) Tottori
17) Matsue
18) Izumo
19) Tsuwano
20) Hagi
21) Shimonoseki
KYUSHU
22) Fukuoka
23) Iki Island
24) Karatsu-Imari 25) Hirado
26) Nagasaki
27) Shimabara
28) Kumamoto
29) Kagoshima
30) Ibusuki
Introduction: Japan's Railways
HOKKAIDO
1) Wakkanai
2) Asahikawa
3) Sapporo
4) Otaru
5) Shiraoi
6) Hakodate
TOHOKU
7) Aomori
8) Akita
9) Tsuruoka
10) Sado Island
11) Niigata (Joetsu-Myoko)
HOKURIKU
12) Toyama
13) Kanazawa
14) Fukui
15) Tsuruga (Obama-Fukuchiyama)
CHUGOKU
16) Tottori
17) Matsue
18) Izumo
19) Tsuwano
20) Hagi
21) Shimonoseki
KYUSHU
22) Fukuoka
23) Iki Island
24) Karatsu-Imari 25) Hirado
26) Nagasaki
27) Shimabara
28) Kumamoto
29) Kagoshima
30) Ibusuki