June 2023 MBR The Travel Shelf

The Travel Shelf

Hidden Japan
Alex Kerr
Tuttle
https://www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805317518, $15.99 pbk / $11.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Japan-Astonishing-Thatched-Villages/dp/4805317515

Synopsis: In Alex Kerr's critically acclaimed Lost Japan and Dogs and Demons, he documented the decline of the traditional landscapes of Japan, his adopted home of many years. Here, in Hidden Japan he makes a journey of rediscovery to find the wonders that still remain.

Originally published in Japanese as a call to preserve disappearing facets of Japan's rich and ancient culture, Hidden Japan records Kerr's travels to various remote and lesser-known places where pockets of traditional culture can still be found. Some are faraway--like Aogashima Island, 200 miles south of Tokyo--while others are easy to reach, such as Mii-dera temple just east of Kyoto. The ten engaging essays in this book describe surprising remnants of Japan's fragile physical and cultural environment, including:

Avant-garde Butoh dancing in the remote village of Tashiro in Akita Prefecture
How shochu liquor is distilled from tropical ferns on the Pacific island of Aogashima
An austere but delicious kaiseki meal in rural Tottori Prefecture composed of local herbs and meats
Anecdotes relating to Kerr's childhood growing up in Japan and his passion for restoring old houses
The damage caused by governmental infrastructure and reforestation policies, as well as by tourism
Plus many other topics!

Kerr's sharp eye for detail and exquisite descriptions of Japanese, arts, architecture and foods will inspire readers who already appreciate his unique look at the "reality" of Japan beyond the romance. His personal involvement and obvious love for his subjects encourage us all to think more carefully about our own traditions and environment, and to challenge ourselves to search for better solutions to preserve what is of value all around us.

Critique: Black-and-white and an inset section of full-color photographs enrich this travelogue of Japan's beautiful and storied cultural legacy. Alex Kerr (author of "Lost Japan" and "Dogs and Demons") tells of his journeys to remote and little- known regions that preserve cultural traditions including dance, cuisine, and more. Hidden Japan also calls for the preservation of Japan's cultural legacy, and criticizes government infrastructure and reforestation policies. Hidden Japan is not a travel guide, but is highly recommended as a supplementary read for anyone interested in vicariously or personally traveling to Japan. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Hidden Japan is also available in a Kindle edition ($11.99).

Day Hiking Central Cascades, second edition
Craig Romano
www.CraigRomano.com
Mountaineers Books
1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134-1161
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781680515572, $21.95, PB, 376pp

https://www.amazon.com/Day-Hiking-Central-Cascades-Wilderness/dp/1680515578

Synopsis: With some of the largest tracts of wilderness to be found in the Pacific Northwest, the Central Cascades are packed with wildlife, geological diversity, and opportunity for adventure.

Using US Highway 2 as its primary organizing principle, this newly updated and expanded second edition of "Day Hiking Central Cascades" by Craig Romano focuses on the best day hikes to be found between the Sultan Basin and Wenatchee, and around Blewett Pass, Chelan, and the Stehekin and Entiat River Valleys.

In this new edition, travel expert Romano covers everything from leisurely strolls close to town to all-day treks (with overnight backpacking options) deep into the Alpine Lakes, Glacier Peak, Henry M. Jackson, and Wild Sky Wilderness Areas. Scenery, destinations, and highlights vary too--included are hikes along rivers; to lakes, mountain tops, and fire lookouts; and through old-growth forests or alpine meadows.

There are hikes that are well known and popular, hikes that are a bit more obscure and remote, and hikes that are perfect to explore with kids or dogs. In "Day Hiking Central Cascades: 2nd Edition", Craig Romano has selected and showcases his favorite trails for escaping crowds, spotting wildlife, and (in his words) getting the best bang for your boot!

Critique: A profusely illustrated, succinctly compact (5 x 1 x 6.75 inches), and informatively comprehensive paperback that is thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, this new second edition of "Day Hiking Central Cascades" from Mountaineers Books is an indispensable resource for planning truly memorable excursions in the Central Cascades (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascade_Range) and thoroughly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Travel Guide & Resources collections. It should be noted that this new edition of "Day Hiking Central Cascades" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.49).

Editorial Note: Craig Romano is an award winning author or co-author of more than twenty books. Romano also writes for numerous publications, tourism websites, and for www.HikeoftheWeek.com. He can be visited online at www.CraigRomano.com or on Facebook @craigromanoguidebookauthor

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