Thought I would broaden my general knowledge of Japan during the holidays but didn’t have the appetite for reading, so I borrowed this pictorial book by Lonely Planet instead.
What I Liked:
- some landmarks are gloriously laid out in three-page frames. This does justice to their majesty and stately feel and sense of awe they inspire in real life. It also made me nostalgic for the freedom my eyes experienced in spectacular Japan - that they can “stretch” for miles and miles to take in panoramic views.
- Because this book contained so few words, I ironically remember the trivia that is sprinkled throughout the pages. So Mount Fuji is 3776m high and Mount Aso is home to the world’s 3rd largest volcanic crater. Now I know!
- How the seasons accentuated the grand beauty of places. I visited the Atomic Bomb Museum in cold bleak winter. I’m sure I will feel differently when I visit it in autumn, with a carpet of forlorn-looking leaves surrounding it.
- Because the book contained so few human pictures, I actually ended up pausing over them and wondering about their lives and the circumstances that led to the photographers capturing them for all posterity. My imagination was given a good workout.
What I Thought The Book Could Do Better:
- It is heavy on stunning nature scenes and delicacies and shrines. I think it failed to capture the futuristic and technologically advanced side of Japan. Including robots and high-tech capsule hotels would have added to its diversity, I feel.
- While it featured the signature attractions from most prefectures, it skipped others entirely. Fukui, Nara and Saga were dropped from the book. It’s a fact of tourism that some places will attract more travellers than others, but I think Lonely Planet can afford to ensure inclusivity and spread the love around.
Where Do I Want To Go Next:
- Honestly, only one picture stood out from the rest. It was a picture of Sapporo Beer Museum, with the surroundings cloaked in snow. I actually went with my wife to our national brewery on a Tiger Brewery Tour, so it would be nice to visit the oldest brewery in Japan!
- Also want to do island-hopping in Okinawa one day.
#japanlonelyplanet
