Off the Beaten Tracks in Japan

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.

About the Author

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.