GATEWAY TO JAPAN, DIGITAL EDITION IS HERE!

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IT'S HERE!

Gateway to Japan, Digital Edition

After 1.5 years of development, 750+ pages digitized and updated, and over 2600 Google Maps link added, Gateway to Japan, Digital Edition is finally here!

The legendary travel guide has been thoroughly updated and remastered, and is now available in a brand new eBook format. Embark on an adventure to the fascinating and wonderful land of sushi, karaoke, samurai and anime. There's never been a better time to visit Japan, and there's no better travel companion than Gateway to Japan, Digital Edition!

Get 10% with promo code: GATEWAY2016
Expires 12/9/2016

What people have said about the original Gateway to Japan:

"Most comprehensive guidebook on Japan"
       ~ Forbes

"Gateway is not simply the best guidebook to Japan - it is the best single guide to any country I've ever visited.”
       ~ Jeffrey Steingarten, The Man Who Ate Everything

"This is truly a comprehensive guide to read in advance, use during a trip, and to refer to back home."
       ~ The Explorers Journal

"Even if you're not inclined to travel, get the book for the front essays on art, castles, history, matsuri, and my favorite chapter title: 'One-hour Japanese.'"
       ~ Tokyo Journal

Get your copy today!

On reigning empresses

When Emperor Akihito delivered a speech this past August hinting that he would like the Japanese parliament to change the law to allow him to retire, the New York Times noted that changing the law might re-open the sensitive topic of allowing a woman to be in line for the Chrysanthemum Throne. I've been proof-reading the Kyoto chapter of "Gateway to Japan" and came across of bit of history regarding the circumstances which led to an empress ascending to the throne in the 17th century:

“Iemitsu's sister [the Shogun's sister] had become Go-Mizuno'o's empress, reviving the classical tradition of powerful families marrying off their daughters to emperors. When a son was born, the Tokugawa pressured Go-Mizuno'o to abdicate in favor of the child. He resisted, however, and then the child died. In 1627, the emperor had another fight with the Tokugawa, over the assignment of "purple robes" to the abbots of Daitokuji and Myōshin-ji. Humiliated, Go-Mizuno'o abdicated in protest in 1629 and, breaking tradition, left his throne to a daughter, who became the first reigning empress in more than 850 years...” (Excerpt From: June Kinoshita. “Gateway to Japan, Digital Edition.”)

Freed from the restrictions the Tokugawa placed on reigning emperors, Go-MIzuno'o made the most of his retirement, designing masterpieces of Japanese architecture and gardens. 

Setouchi Triennale 2016

We just learned that the Benesse Art Site Naoshima is hosting the Setouchi Triennale again this year. Events and exhibits will be clustered around spring (just finished), summer and autumn this year, spread out over 18 venues among these beautiful, rustic isles of the Inland Sea. I'll never forget my first visit to Benesse House and the Chichu Art Museum, shortly after the site first opened. I was blown away by the world-class works of art, the beauty of the buildings designed by Ando Tadao, and wonderful hybrid of the best of contemporary and classical Japanese culture embodied in the accommodations and kaiseki dinner at Benesse House. I have yearned to return ever since, to see how this region has developed into an international art destination. If you have the chance to go this year, don't pass it up!

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all a happy and fulfilling 2016! We are looking forward to completing the update and digitization of Gateway to Japan. Please subscribe to follow our progress! And enjoy these breathtaking images from NHK's 2016 calendar.

Tsukiji fish market to move

Say it ain't so! We were distraught to read in this New York Times article that the famous wholesale fish market will be moving next year to make way for a new road to transport visitors to the 2020 Olympics. Those wanting to take in colorful, raucous scenes of massive frozen bluefin tuna being auctioned off will have to travel Toyosu. What will happen to the dozens of surrounding small shops that cater to the daily crowds of workers? Some have been in business for generations. What are your favorite Tsukiji haunts?

Experience Kyoto machiya (townhouses) living

This looks like a great find! While browsing a photo book "Living in Japan," I came across tantalizing images of exquisite, traditional Kyoto merchant homes (machiya) with tasteful modern updates. It turns out that these properties are available for short-term stays. These idyllic lodging are the work of Iori (http://kyoto-machiya.com/eng/), a company dedicated to preserving these centuries-old structures while making them accessible to travelers through a sustainable business. Kind of like a private National Trust. What a great concept! Iori also offers a concierge service for its guests, assisting with all their travel needs and inquiries.

Iori currently operates 11 properties that can accommodate from 2 to 9 guests, with prices ranging from around 14,000 to 35,000 yen per night.

Have you tried out one of Iori's properties? Please share your experience with us!

Introducing ourselves

June Kinoshita

While Sean is working like crazy from his base in Kobe to clean up, update and format the Digital Edition of Gateway to Japan, I'd like to tell you a bit about who "we" are. I am June Kinoshita, one of the original co-authors of Gateway to Japan. I've been living in the Boston area since 1990, bringing up two daughters (now in college) and enjoying a career in biomedical nonprofits. I still love and follow what's going on in Japan, but lacking opportunities to visit frequently, I've not been in a position to update the book. 

So I feel incredibly fortunate to have been introduced to Sean Landis, a 2011 graduate in Japanese,  and Government and Politics from the University of Maryland (where my older daughter happens to be; Go Terps!!). Sean has excellent language skills, software coding chops, a terrific design sense, and, most importantly, a passion for Japan. He lived in Hokkaido for 3 years and currently resides in Kobe (where he actually lived and studied in high school and university as an exchange student). He is done a fantastic job bringing Gateway up to date. This includes cleaning up the digital files, which were optically scanned from the printed third edition because Kodansha International at some point destroyed the digital files without alerting me. (Who destroys digital files? As though they take up so much space in the warehouse. Perhaps these types of business practices help to explain why KI did not survive.)

Gateway to Japan was a hypertext before hypertext existed. Our extensive cross-references and system of all-caps for the names of major historical and cultural personalities were our print-era version of hyperlinks. Now technology has caught up with that original vision. Digital publishing platforms, websites and social media have made this project feasible.

Sean Landis

Sean and I are equal partners in publishing the digital edition of Gateway to Japan. We share a dream of not only making the contents of Gateway available and useful to a new generation of travelers, but also of creating a new paradigm for travel guides in the 21st century. The digital edition is more than an e-Book. It is the focal point for a community to converse, exchange information, and share their interest in Japan in ways that mirror the dynamic country that has captured the hearts and minds of generations of travelers. We anticipate publishing digital Gateway in 2016, but this blog launches now. Let the conversations begin!

We can be reached at gatewaytojapanguide@gmail.com.

Gateway to Japan, Digital Edition Development Has Started!

Hey guys, greeeeeeeaaaaaat news. I'm happy to report that the development of Gateway to Japan, Digital Edition has officially started! Wohoooo! Still a lot of work ahead, but it's exciting none the less. The website, as you can probably tell, is still a work in-progress, but the twitter account is up and running, so you can also look there for further developments.

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Chapters are tagged and ready to go!

I have tagged all the chapters in the book (and retagged a few times, since my little bird likes to rip off and chew my tags...) and am ready to get cracking. Keep your eyes on this blog for future updates, as well as excerpts from the guide and general Japan travel advice. See you guys next time!

Website online!

Howdy Folks, Sean here! The Gateway to Japan site has been created! Still needs some work, but it's a start. Check back often for updates about the progress of the eBook as well as travel tips and interesting information about Japan.

See you soon!