Best Books About Japan [Top 10 Recommended] [2024 Update]

What are the best books on Japan and Japanese culture? Here we give you the top 10 that you must have read. Read on for our top recommendations around this beautiful country.

The top 10 books about Japan and special experiences with this country

Japan is on the other side of the world and yet Japanese history, culture and way of doing business attract the interest of people around the world. Learn about the cities, eating habits, personal stories and wisdom from Japanese soil through these top books.

We start our recommendations with the top 10 best books about Japan of all time. This list has been updated this year, including all the recent titles.

Best Books About Japan	Author
Legends of Tōno	Kunio Yanagita
Kokoro	Natsume Sōseki
Rashōmon and Seventeen Other Stories	Ryūnosuke Akutagawa
The Tale of Genji	Murasaki Shikibu
Kyoto: A Cultural and Literary History	John Dougill
Shogun	James Clavell
The Shogun’s Queen	Lesley Downer
Embracing Defeat	John Dower
A Tokyo Romance	Ian Buruma
Dogs and Demons: The Fall of Modern Japan	Alex Kerr

The updated top 10 list: the best books about Japan

ALL ABOUT JAPAN: 100+ Amazing Facts that Everyone Should Know

This book is part of Kid’s Books Series, and that is why the pages and information is limited. ‘All About Japan’ will show your child what Japan is all about by giving over 100 facts that include subjects like food, language, people and architecture.

All About Japan: Stories, Songs, Crafts and Games for Kids (All About…countries)

This is about discovering the fun side of Japan as a child, and not so much about basic information. Find out what games children play in Japan and what songs they sing with the help from this book.

The Monocle Book of Japan

Many of the same subjects that are mentioned in the first title on our top ten list are explained in this book as well, but now ‘The Monocle Book of Japan’ is aimed at adults. There are still plenty of illustrations, but texts are more detailed and longer.

A Geek in Japan: Discovering the Land of Manga, Anime, Zen, and the Tea Ceremony (Revised and Expanded with New Topics)

Hector Garcia knows Japan moved to Japan 16 years ago and still lives there today. He has written more books on Japanese culture, but this is a guide on discovering the country and cities that he has grown to love immensely.

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

This is a different guide than many others that are available, because it is written like a cartoon. It will show you what Japanese food and culture is like and what places and festivals to visit.

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

If you want to introduce Japanese culture to your kids, then this book should be on your list. It is an introduction on Japan, written from the perspective of a fifth grader who spends four months with a Japanese family as an exchange student.

Fodor’s Essential Japan (Full-color Travel Guide)

This guide is written by locals, and therefore the information you will read is much different than with normal country guidebooks. Find out where to stay, what to do and what to see in Japan. The tours and itineraries with detailed maps will be helpful when planning your trip and being there.

Japan – Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture (77) 

This book is not about sightseeing Japan; actually quite the opposite. ‘Culture Smart’ hopes you will get to know a country on a much deeper level by discovering social and cultural characteristics of the people that live in Japan. Your Japan visit will be transformed into an unforgettable adventure.

Etiquette Guide to Japan: Know the Rules that Make the Difference! (Third Edition)

Manners are different all over the world, and this book specializes in Japanese etiquette and what behavior is custom in Japan. Whether your visit is for business or pleasure, we think you will be glad you read this book before arriving in Japan.

Super Cheap Japan: Budget Travel in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Hiroshima and Surrounding Areas (1) (Super Cheap Guides)

Booked and paid a flight to Japan, but now low on funds? Then in our opinion this book will save your overseas adventure. Discover everything about Japan, but then on a tight budget. From food to transport, and from shopping to accommodation; this book is, beside your passport, an essential.