Customer Reviews

Japan: Land of Myths and Legends (Asian Guides Series)

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Although not a travel journal of his walks through Japan (i.e. the terrific "The Roads to Sata" and "Looking for the Lost"), Booth turned the rather ordinary premise of a travel guide into a sociological exploration of the Japanese people as well as an indepth relation of the islands and prefectures of the country and their history. This is not a typical travel guide- there aren't any recommendations of restaurants or hotels. Instead, this is a description of Japan by a non-Asian who was able to master the Japanese language and who walked the entire length of the country, besides living there for half of his life. This man truly knew Japan and his knowledge is conveyed in his very lively discussions, complete with his typical dry humor and fascination with the people of the country. If you enjoyed "The Roads to Sata" and "Looking for the Lost", this book is different- it is aimed at travelers. However, you will love this book if the other books enticed you to learn more about Japan because Booth really took the time to share his wealth of knowledge and detail of the country for his readers in this terrific book. Also, the photos by Ken Straitton are a welcome addition for those who have always wanted to see exactly what Booth wrote about on his travels.