Winter gardens (The Time-Life encyclopedia of gardening)

i have lived in japan for the last 20 years, having completed my doctorate in japan, and being married to a japanese woman. i feel as though i may have some qualification to comment on this book, as opposed to the neo-japanologists who may have only spent a year or two in japan. i really enjoyed this book for what it is, a light-hearted and humorous account of a bicycle trip through japan. her accounts are spot on, and i find them even more so after all this time. i cannot agree that she has a racist outlook to the japanese or demeans them in any way. it is just an author describing what she sees, not what you want her to see. i find this refreshing and do not see the need to subscribe to a politically correct format in her style of reporting. she seems a regular person who is out to enjoy a bike ride without the politics. all in all i can recommend this book for anyone who wants a great travel read or an insight into japan.

i disagree with the user below who said this book is good for swatting flies. it is too heavy--like nuking a flea. however, there are good things in this book. strangely though, it has nothing to do with china as one reader thought. i guess this is a very controversial book. her next one is about the same stuff 2 years later, but is bound to be even more controversial due to some pics of the author bathing au natural in it. it can be used for a door stop if you don't like it.

I have to say, I disagree with many of the reviews of this title. I found Josie very thoughtful of Japanese contradictions, traditions and ways of life. I bought this book because it was the only travel writing on Japan that looked interesting at the time and I was very pleased. I have bought all of the rest of her books just because I love her style of writing. It's her sense of humour that lightens the situations she faces......and guess what? She ends the book to go back home for her brother's wedding...and so she is going to write another one! Japan 2 is the working title. Yay! Buy this NOW and preorder the next!

I loved this book so much when I borrowed a copy from our local library that I had to buy my own copy! Josie Dew's book was enjoyable from start to finish, even though I am not a bike rider! She paints a wonderful picture of Japan and the warmth the Japanese people showed her. If you love Japan you'll love this book!

Oppressive heat and humidity, choking truck fumes, voracious mosquitoes, howling typhoons, uninspired concrete architecture, venomous snakes....why, I kept asking myself as I read this book, would anybody choose to do a bike tour of Japan? Actually, the ever-optimistic Ms. Dew hadn't planned to either, but managed to take a wrong turn on the way to New Zealand and wound up spending 4 months exploring the many Japanese islands. In the rainy season.This is Josie's 3rd book on cycling in various places around the world. Those familiar with her previous works (both very highly recommended also) may find this book a little more on the serious side. It is also much longer and more detailed.Despite having a near-useless phrase book ("Well, by gosh, I am from Missouri"), she manages to get along quite well with the language and quickly becomes very knowledgeable about the local customs. Some of her descriptions of the language interchanges are hilarious.Josie can't seem to cycle more than a few kilometers without somebody foisting food and/or drink upon her, and always without any ulterior motives. The Japanese are fascinated at seeing a petite, young, attractive, blonde woman cycling alone and always manage to assume she is American. (She's English.) She is constantly being taken in and mothered by families which gives her a special exposure to the culture most of us will never have the chance to experience. The book does an excellent job of shattering many of the western stereotype views of Japan and the Japanese.As usual, Josie manages to skewer most of the Americans she meets, mostly because of their lack of desire to explore the complexities of the Japanese culture. The book includes clever maps of her routes, many excellent color photos, a humorous (and convenient) glossary of Japanese words, and an amusing index. She also includes a complete list of what to take along should you be inclined to attempt a long term bike trip. (My only question is how did she ever fit all that gear on her bike?)While the book made me realize that doing a bike trip in Japan was not my cup of tea, it was entertaining to read of her adventures without experiencing the heat and humidity, not to mention the mosquitoes and snakes. It certainly would be an excellent read for anyone planning a trip to Japan by any mode of transportation. And if you have half the success she did in obtaining free food and lodging, it would be a cheap trip indeed.