Japan North-to-South Road Trip

[Mulboyne]

Japan: Way out east - the full story

On a quest to discover the real Japan beyond its cherry-blossom and bullet trains, Chris Heath embarked on a road trip from the country's top to its tail. But more than 3,000 meandering miles later, would he be any the wiser?...more...

The first two pages of this account are brief but the last page is very lengthy which gives it a clear edge over the usual travelogue pieces in overseas newspapers.

[Adhesive]

Wow, that guy likes to write.

A little wordy, but good read. Thanks.

[Mulboyne]

I liked the way the writer in the Telegraph piece attempts to describe the people he meets with some sympathy. By contrast, The Times has just sent someone through Tokyo "as a guest of British Airways and the Japan National Tourist Organisation" who can't resist presenting himself as a helpless Mr Bean at the mercy of toilets, strange food and uncomprehending staff:

In trouble in Tokyo

Most people have probably had such befuddling experiences in Japan but you'd think that a writer for a national newspaper sent to on a sponsored freebie to Japan would have tried to come up with something more than a duplicate of just about every other article on the city.

[Jack]

They should have picked someone less idiot or ignorant. He tells the world he is ignorant but somehow blames Japan for it. If my mother who was 65 when I brought her to Japan figured out on her own how to use the toilet, he could have done the same.

Also the conversation with the wiatress, if he is quoting exactly what he said, then he is a total idiot. He should have known to use simple words to express his thoughts.

What a fool the guy is.

[Mike Oxlong]

Alan Boothe, Will Feguson, and Craig McLachlan have all done similar trips and written books about their travels.

[Greji]

Alan Boothe, Will Feguson, and Craig McLachlan have all done similar trips and written books about their travels.

Alan Booth would have a pint with you and unfortunately died to soon....

[kusai Jijii]

Alan Booth's books the Roads to Sata, which was described by one reviewer as a 3000 km pub crawl, as well as his "Looking for the Lost" are perhaps two of the best books concerning Japan / "the Japanese" I have ever read. very funny, very clever, very insightful. They also accurately sum up the whole "foreigner thing". Craig McLachlan's was an ok read, but fell well short of Booth in terms of describing the people he encountered along the road.

[Mike Oxlong]

That's a good assessment KJ. I put the books in the order I enjoyed the most, from best on down to mediocre. Will Ferguson is now Canada-based, but still writes excellent books and articles.