Walking the Kiso Road by William Scott Wilson

The subtitle of this book was what intrigued me about it when I read a review of a few travel books that the author of the article thought might be under appreciated, or even unknown. It is a modern day exploration of Old Japan--which is what I would aspire to do when I get there myself. The author, who has had an academic career translating traditional Japanese texts on samurai culture into English, travels the ancient Kiso Road, a legendary route that remains much the same today as it was hundreds of years ago, and tells stories about what happens to him, as well as the significance of the places he stops. The Kisoji, which runs through the Kiso Valley in the Japanese Alps, has been in use since at least 701 C.E. In the seventeenth century, it was the route that the daimyo (warlords) used for their biennial trips—along with their samurai and porters—to the new capital of Edo (now Tokyo). The natural beauty of the route is renowned—and famously inspired the landscapes of Hiroshige, as well as the work of many other artists and writers. Wilson, esteemed translator of samurai philosophy, has walked the road several times and is an expert guide to this popular tourist destination; he shares its rich history and lore, literary and artistic significance, cuisine and architecture, as well as his own experiences.