The Japan Book

A thoroughly underwhelming and overpriced book that isn't worth the money. $15 would've been a more appropriate price, given the poor content and paper quality. If you enjoy fish lens photographs of bridges and random building walls, you might enjoy this book. If you've travelled to Japan and know first hand how beautiful it is, you'll be disappointed. Most of the locations photographed are the tourist destinations, there aren't any explanations or any cultural bits in this book either. If you're looking for a coffee table book with better quality photographs and some background info, the Journey through Japan would be a better choice.

As an avid lover of all Japanese culture, I regularly flip through good photo books about Japan. This photo book was no exception, it had some of the most beautiful photographs I have ever seen. I was simply amazed at the sheer amount of gorgeous natural shots and lovely locations depicted in this book. Astounding find!! Happy with my purchase.

To start things off, the cover image of The Japan Book is a photograph that I’d like in large print on my living room wall. This sentiment was shared across almost all the gorgeous images of Christopher Lee as I flipped through his photo book. It was obvious that much love and care was taken in sorting out the images and that he wanted to display the best of Japan through this book.I particularly enjoyed the preface by the author as it set the right atmosphere for the visual content. The images are striking and masterfully composed, each subtly expressing a theme of grandeur, novelty, or exquisiteness to the subjects and locations that they describe. An image of the Kenroku-en Kumagai-Zakura (an enormous cherry blossom tree in the midst of Kenroku-en garden) shows the tree at the pink climax of its bloom, in full springtime splendor. The image next to it portrays four elderly men chatting and resting peacefully on a bench overlooking a lake, as if reminiscing about good times. One of my favorites is a photo of Mt. Fuji across Lake Motosu, taken from a perspective that coincides with the picture of Mt. Fuji and Lake Motosu on the Japanese thousand yen banknote. There’s a photo of a cherry blossom tree across a pond at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden that looks like a reflected mirage - it’s rather ethereal and breathtaking.Each image embodies an elegance that needs to be fully experienced by the reader through the physical print. If you choose to give this photo book a try, definitely buy the paperback and it’ll be worth it. It is a photo book with a certain allure, appreciated by family and friends, which constantly attracts the reader back for another look through its pages. Buy The Japan Book if you want an amazing photographic experience of Japan. It is a keeper.

This photographic book succeeds in capturing the quintessential beauty we associate with Japan. However, all the ways this book defies our expectations of how Japan looks is what makes it an excellent addition to anyone's collection.

I loved every picture in the book. I don’t know about half these places but now that I’ve seen them through his photographs, I am excited to seek them out during a future Japan trip. I’ve always been into the pretty landscapes of Japan and this book proves that they are indeed beautiful.

I am happy I purchased this book. No regrets. Filled with gorgeous photographs of landscapes in Japan. Lovely, lovely, lovely

I'm very interested in learning about Japanese culture. This photography book does wonders for me in researching more about cool spots in Japan.

Very good landscape photography. The photos look brilliant on my Kindle. Love the short description of the author’s experience in the beginning.