Japan planning
 

My husband and I are in the initial planning stages for a one month trip to Japan, gleaming information from travel guides, trip reports, web sites and forums. This will be our first trip to Japan which we are planning for mid October - mid November, hoping to catch some of the fall foliage while there.

While I am not yet ready to ask questions, if anyone has recommendations for good historical novels taking place in Japan or any other reading material that would be helpful in planning our trip, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
June

Hi June-I'm sure you will love Japan. We are going back for our second trip in Nov. Since Nov. is high season in many places in Japan, may I suggest that you form a tentative itinerary now, and book cancelable hotels in the locations you plan to visit. Kyoto in Nov. is usually booked up well in advance of Oct. or NOv.

Well, James Clavell wrote the classic melodrama Shogun, set in medieval Japan. It's only about 1150 pages, so it's light reading. He also wrote Gai-Jin, which takes place about 300 years later (1862) and is only 1250 pages. So basically, he's trying to rewrite War & Peace or The Count of Monte Cristo in the Orient.

Takashi Matsuoka's debut novel Cloud of Sparrows is good; it takes place shortly after Commodore Perry reached Japan and its closed society is being forced to open and the Meiji Emperor has recently ascended the throne. It's also a LOT shorter than a Clavell omnibus.

Kiwi author Lian Hearn has a series of books set in a fantasy mirror-world of feudal Japan after the battle of Yaegahara - the equivalent of the actual battle of Sekigahara (which decisively turned the war for control of Japan in favor of the Tokugawa clan and led to the 250+ year Tokugawa shogunate). Her first book is good, the second is ok, the third is crap.

I.J. Parker has a series of historical thrillers set about 900 years ago.

If you are interested in the actual history of Japan, I highly recommend this podcast series: https://historyofjapan.wordpress.com/ . Also on iTunes etc.

The novel "Shogun" is loosely based on the life of William Adams. He was English but worked for the Dutch. Their place at that time was in Hirado at the top left of Kyushu, and it's worth a visit. The Dutch traders were later confined to Dejima in Nagasaki, also worth a visit (for many reasons).

Another vote for Clavell's <i>Shogun</i>.

And BTW, when you are ready to begin planning, scour japan-guide.com -- it is, IMO, the single best source of information about travel in Japan.

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet - David Mitchell. Fantastic writing, set during a unique place and period (18th century Nagasaki).

And this is nonfiction, but I found Herbert P. Bix's Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan to be very interesting and enlightening, even if some of the author's conclusions seem a bit broad.

ditto for The Thousand Autumns....and then if you can visit Dejima in Nagasaki....

Also nonfiction, John Hersey's <i>Hiroshima</i>, written in 1946, is a spellbinding account of a several Hiroshima residents during and after the bomb. Essential reading, IMO.

Thank you all! This list will keep me busy.

ANYTHING by Haruki Murakami

Looks like we will be in Japan at the same time, although I am planning to start in Kyoto and go south from there.

Another vote for Clavell's books. Also, "Shogun" was made into a successful mini-series, and it's still available on DVD.

Another vote for David Mitchell's Thousand Autumns of Jakob etc book. But don't overlook books by Japanese authors! I highly recommend The Makioka Sisters by Junichiro Tanizaki - known as Sasameyuki in Japan, any mention of it to Japanese will bring delighted appreciation of your knowledge. And you ask for historical novels but contemporary writing can be a real eye opener. For some reason Murakami leaves me cold but I was quickly absorbed in Out by Natsuo Kirino. This is truly dark humour and full of fascinating insights into modern Japan - ever wondered how all those bentos at the combini are made? This tells you! (Both books I've mentioned here are about Japanese women - the first by a male author, the second by a woman.) I think watching films is a great way to prepare for a trip to Japan. I have a friend who revisits Tokyo Story every year.....

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions. In afraid I'll be reading till I leave for Japan!

I am having a particularly difficult time plan this trip as some places can be see as day trips or as overnights - not sure how to divide 27 days on the ground. We will fly into Osaka and out of Tokyo and will purchase the 21 day Japan pass. There are so many places to see and only a limited time.

If anyone has suggestions on what not to miss, that would be greatly appreciated. I will continue my reading and researching.

Thursday - do you have your itinerary set yet for this trip? Perhaps we will overlap somewhere?

To further complicate things, Japan's excellent luggage-forwarding option means that can travel with only an overnight bag, so the difference between overnights and day trips becomes largely moot. Luggage-forwarding is called takuhaibin; here's the info:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2278.html

Even with 27 days on the ground, you will need to be selective, and of course, none of us can tell you what YOUR priorities should be. That said, I'm sure that even a cursory glance at the MANY planning threads for Japan on this board will give you an excellent sense of the places that are most frequently considered.

@dgunbug - itinerary is still a work in progress with not a lot of progress. But general shape:

Start in Kyoto - maybe fly from Seoul, otherwise ferry from Busan. Probably a week.
Nara - thinking at least one, maybe two nights.

Western Honshu - some or all of Himeji, Okayama, Kurashiki, Matsue, Hagi, Tsuwano. Possibly Hiroshima and Miyajima, but may substitute Nagasaki for Hiroshima.

Possibly Shikoku - visited eastern side last time, maybe west and south this.

Kyushu - may be complicated by the earthquake as I had Kumamoto on the list. Fukuoku, Nagasaki, Kagoshima. Maybe Yufuin.

Okinawa - main island and at least one other.

Like I said, work in progress! Only given is flight out from Tokyo Nov 17th, but I won't revisit Tokyo. So most likely overlap is Kyoto? But I don't have dates yet. Am currently working on Central Asia. (Yes!!! Am finally going to Uzbekistan!)

If you click on my name for my East Asia TR you'll get the itinerary for my first trip to Japan.

Another excellent book is "A Tale for the Time Being" by Ruth Ozeki. A blend of historical and contemporary Japanese events and cultures.