If You are New to Japan

Japan is one of the most fascinating cultures in the world, with a fantastic blend of modern and ancient on just about every street. If you're new to it, just finding your feet in this incredible medley can be a little daunting. 

To give you an introduction, here are 14 books I found incredibly insightful during my time living in Japan- the titles here cover a wide variety of topics, from Japanese food to the arts and daily living, to give you a sense of the many faces and valuable aspects of Japanese culture. 

1. Home, Sweet Tokyo by Rick Kennedy

2. Food Sake Tokyo by Yukari Sakamoto

3. The Roads to Sata: a 2,000 Mile Walk Through Japan by Alan Booth

4. Old Kyoto by Diane Durston

5. Clueless in Tokyo by Betty Reynolds

6. A Year in Japan by Kate Williamson

7. The Invisible Actor by Yoshi Oida

8. Yojokun: Life Lessons from a Samurai by Kaibara Ekiken

9. The Demon's Sermon on the Martial Arts by Issai Chozanshi

10. The Flowering Spirit by Zeami

11. The Unfettered Mind: Writings from the Zen Master to the Sword Master by Takuan Soho

12. Read Japanese Today by Len Walsh

13. The Book of Tea by Kazuko Okakura

14. The Michelin Guide to Tokyo Yokohama Kamakura

My all-time favorite translator, who has done many of these works, is William Scott Wilson.