Walking Book
"Walking is life" - Let's head out into nature
Kato Noriyoshi: "I have enjoyed savoring the subtleties of nature that can only be seen at walking speed, and the unfolding of scenery that can only be seen on foot," says Kato, who conveys the appeal of long trails by quoting the words of predecessors such as Thoreau and John Muir. This book will ignite your wanderlust and make you wonder why people turn to nature. Gijutsu Hyoronsha
For those about to embark on a long journey
Taniguchi Jiro: "If you take one step at a time, without rushing, and walk accurately, you will eventually reach your destination." A retired man wanders through the streets of Edo, observing the eyes of birds, ants, and cats, and travels from the sky to the ground and onto the rooftops. After reading for a while, you will realize that this man is the surveyor Ino Tadataka. Prepare yourself for a journey around Japan. Kodansha
A journey along the 1,200km pilgrimage
Hobo Jun, BE-PAL Editorial Department, Chayama Hiroshi / With carefully selected tools on your back, a ring-shaped robe, a walking stick and a sedge hat in hand, you're off on your pilgrimage. Outdoor writer Hobo Jun's guide to visiting 88 sacred sites over 50 walking days. This book is sure to be a useful read, as it not only provides explanations of temples and paths, but also introduces walking techniques and gear. Shogakukan
Walk or Die: Men's Chronicles
Written by Slawomir Rawicz / Translated by Kaizu Masahiko / Seven men escape from the 303 concentration camp in Siberia during World War II. The author, a lieutenant in the Polish Army cavalry, and six of his companions escape the bitter cold of Siberia and head south. This is an extreme walking experience that puts the men's incredible survival skills to the test. Village Books
Feel the history as you walk along Mount Fuji's oldest road
Hatahori Sohachi / There are several mountain trails to reach the summit of Mount Fuji. The oldest of these is the Murayama Old Trail. Originally opened by mountain ascetics, it fell into disuse during the Meiji period due to the anti-Buddhist movement, and was revived in 2004. In this book, Hatahori Sohachi, who worked hard to revive the trail, explains the route, history, and nature. This is a must-read book for anyone aiming to reach Mount Fuji from 0m above sea level. Futosha
Observe and collect scenery while walking
Supervised by Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art/This book compiles the exhibition of the same name that was held at Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art. Kon Wajiro walked around private homes, Okamoto Taro saw the origins of life in Tohoku, Akasegawa Genpei walked to encounter "Thomason," and Tsuzuki Kyoichi walked to encounter "strange things." Here is a world that can only be seen by gazing at the streets at walking speed. Film Art Company
Have fun climbing up and down and drinking!
Written by Kusumi Masayuki / Illustrated by Izumi Haruki / Now Kusumi Masayuki, the master of town walks and izakayas, is heading to the mountains? That said, it's not strenuous trekking, but rather low mountain hikes, such as walking along the old roads of Okutama and enjoying a bowl of yamame trout sashimi and mushroom soup, with the main goal being hot springs and a local izakaya. This is a book that even beginner hikers will enjoy. Yama-to-Keikoku-sha
Walking around the town, experiencing the topography
Minagawa Norihisa / Suribachi is a place where a lowland cuts into the plateau like a valley, creating a topographical shape surrounded by slopes on three sides. Tokyo, which straddles the Musashino Plateau and the Arakawa Lowlands, is said to be a unique land full of rare suribachi. If you travel around Tokyo with this map in hand, you will see that topography and culture intersect in extremely complex ways. Yosensha
Walking with Buddhist friends, a journey in search of Buddha
Miura Jun and Ito Seiko / A guidebook that compiles the "Buddha-watching diary." Ito has inappropriate feelings for the Moonlight Bodhisattva at Toji Temple in Kyoto, while Miura calls the hairstyle of the twelve heavenly generals at Shin-Yakushiji Temple in Nara the prototype of punk. In 20 years, they have visited 169 temples across the country. They walk in pursuit of Buddha, and speak of their love for Buddha through impressions rather than trivia. For this, Buddhist friends are essential. Kadokawa Shoten
Touring the town from an architectural perspective
Kurakata Shunsuke, Minori Kai / With an architectural perspective and knowledge, the whole town becomes a museum. Kurakata, an architectural historian, navigates through Tokyo's architecture, while Kai, a writer, offers new perspectives and questions, such as "The pink building is cute." A new architectural walk that looks at buildings that we normally look at casually from the perspective of history, materials, construction methods, etc. Keihanshin L Magazine Co., Ltd.
Let's go out to town with J.J.
Jinichi Uekusa / Uekusa vividly conveys what is happening in the clubs and bars of Brooklyn, Greenwich Village, and other areas, and the youth culture, as if he were strolling through the streets of New York. Having first visited New York in 1974, he must have been able to act as if it were his own town. If you have curiosity, you can take a stroll without actually going there! Shobunsha
What did you see after walking 40,000 kilometers?
Nagase Tadashi / His cart is loaded with food, water, a tent, and a stove. Nagase continues his journey, traveling to various places around the world and pulling his cart by himself. He says that 99% of the time he walks is painful, with the tires getting stuck in the African desert and nearly being attacked by animals, but he walks for the sheer magnitude of the 1% of joy he experiences. Gakken
Retracing the path walked by a legendary man
Andreas M. Cohrs / This travelogue (English book) revisits the 1,000-mile journey first walked along the West Coast of the United States in 1958 by legendary backpacker Colin Fletcher, author of the outdoor classic "The Complete Guide to Walking," and chronicled in his first book, "Thousand-Mile Summer."
Feel the town's atmosphere, walk, and eat
Ikenami Shotaro/Ikenami's usual route was to watch film previews in the Ginza area at least three times a week, and then explore the Ginza area, Nihonbashi, Asakusa, etc. on his way home. For example, he would go from the screening room via Maruzen in Nihonbashi to the tempura restaurant Hayashi in Takaracho, have a quick meal, and then head home. As he walked, he could feel firsthand the changes in the town and the stores over the years. Shincho Bunko
A must-see for Ekiden fans: just walk
Izumi Masato / Author Izumi Masato, a self-confessed fan of the Hakone Ekiden, walks the entire route. The entire journey is about 108km, from Otemachi over the mountains of Hakone to Lake Ashi. The steep slopes of Gontazaka, Yugyoji Temple, the hairpin curves of Ohiradai and more are all the more impressive when seen in person, even if the speed may differ. This book also contains Izumi's unique "useless knowledge." Heibonsha
Take a trip back in time to the Edo period
Jinbunsha Editorial Department / A walking map that allows you to compare Hiroshige Utagawa's Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido with a modern map. Starting from Nihonbashi in the flowery Edo, it crosses the mountains of Hakone and continues through Izu, Suruga, Totomi, Mikawa, Owari, and from Ise to Omi, exerting its last bit of strength to reach Sanjo Ohashi in the capital of Kyoto. People at the time are said to have covered the 492 km in about two weeks at a pace of 35-36 km per day. Jinbunsha
