10 Japanese Books For Your Autumn Reading List

If you're looking to add some spice to your autumn reading and wish you could travel to Japan this fall, let the pages of a book take you there.

Immerse yourself in Japanese traditions, values, joys and struggles of daily life with inspiring descriptions of Japan’s urban and rural landscapes. Along the way, you might uncover pearls of Japanese wisdom. So, as the autumnal air grows crisp and daylight hours shorten, here are ten translated Japanese literature books to enjoy with a blanket and cup of coffee.

1. What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama, translated by Alison Watts

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Imagine the perfect book, with the answers to all your life’s woes, falling right into your hands. Meet Sayuri Komachi, a mysterious Tokyo librarian who secretly gifts life-changing books to those in need. From a struggling new mother to a lonely retired salaryman, library dwellers chance upon books that help them lead better lives. Michiko Aoyama’s story reminds us that it’s never too late to start over and fulfill our lifelong dreams.

You can buy this book on Amazon.

2. Names and Rivers by Shuri Kido, translated by Tomoyuki Endo & Forrest Gander

© Photo by Names and Rivers

Drift through the landscapes of Morioka, Japan, where rivers, mountains and skies collide with the human spirit. Themes of time, solitude and the essence of naming—what it means to name a place, forgetting and finding its true identity—beautifully flow throughout Shuri Kido’s poems. With this philosophical poetry collection, a glimpse into the self and the world.

You can buy this book on Amazon.

3. Before We Say Goodbye by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, translated by Geoffrey Trousselot

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Sip a cup of coffee and travel back in time with Kawaguchi’s latest novel in the “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” series. At a small Tokyo café in a narrow alleyway, customers can journey to the past, but they must return before their coffee gets cold. Travel alongside characters, including a daughter determined to bridge the gap with her father and a pet owner who wishes to say goodbye to her beloved dog. Kawaguchi’s exploration of regret and second chances will make you reflect on the choices that shape your life.

You can buy this book on Amazon.

4. Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami, translated by Allison Markin Powell

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Amidst mouth-watering descriptions of foods and unhurriedly changing seasons, a woman in her late thirties finds a charmingly awkward romance with her former high school teacher. Hiromi Kawakami’s story captures a contemporary Japan, with vignettes that peer gently into loneliness, human vulnerability and falling in love.

You can buy this book on Amazon.

5. The Forest Brims Over by Ayase Maru, translated by Hadyn Trowel

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Upon eating seeds, a woman’s body begins to root, sprout and bloom into a magnificent forest. After many years of being the subject of her husband’s degrading and humiliating novels, Nowatari Rui takes on this wondrous floral transformation. Through surreal and beautiful imagery, Ayase Maru portrays the exploitation of women in the art world.

You can buy this book on Amazon.

6. She and Her Cat by Makoto Shinkai and Naruki Nagakawa, translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori

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Through the innocent eyes of cats and their human companions, look into the lives of four women, old and young, living in the outskirts of Tokyo. Each character faces her own hardships, such as mourning the loss of a loved one or fearing new beginnings. Makota Shinkai’s short stories quietly contemplate the challenges of forming new relationships and letting go of old ones, reminding us that we can always find comfort in a loving, furry friend.

You can buy this book on Amazon.

7. Honeybees and Distant Thunder by Riku Onda, translated by Philip Gabriel

© Photo by Honeybees and Distant Thunder

What do buzzing bees, rumbling thunder and instruments have in common? They fill the world with music. Set in a small coastal town near Tokyo, this story immerses readers in the lives of musicians, including the son of a beekeeper—a sixteen-year-old musical prodigy with a special way of playing the piano. Riku Onda reveals the honest hopes and fears of each character as they strive for success in a rigorous piano competition, unraveling the vulnerability and wholehearted dedication that comes with the pursuit of art.

You can buy this book on Amazon.

8. Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Francesc Miralles and Hector Garcia

© Photo by Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

The eighty to hundred-year-old elders of Okinawa, Japan may know a thing or two about living a long, happy life. Begin your exploration of “ikigai,” the Japanese concept of finding purpose and joy in one’s life, through inspiring interviews from Ogimi Village residents. Within the pages of Miralles and Garcia’s self-help book, find recommendations on nutrition, exercise and mindfulness, enriched by the wisdom of gracefully aging Japanese elders.

You can buy this book online on Amazon.

9. Sunrise: Radiant Stories by Erika Kobayashi, translated by Brian Bergstrom

© Photo by Sunrise: Radiant Stories

The radiant glow of earth’s rising sun? Not quite. This is a sun born from atomic energy. Erika Kobayashi’s collection of short stories shines a light on the invisible, lasting effects of nuclear power in Japan, illuminating affected people and their environments. Imagining the life of a child born post-WWII and the once vibrantly green landscapes of devastated regions prompts us to reflect on history and its impact on present-day life.

You can buy this book online on Amazon.

10. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, translated by Eric Ozawa

© Photo by Days at the Morisaki Bookshop

Living in a tiny room above an old Tokyo bookshop, a young woman finds solace in books after having her relationship and employment abruptly come to an end. Although heartbroken and lost, she reconnects with an odd family member, the owner of the bookshop, who welcomes her with kindness, support and a treasure trove of stories—a wholesome read on a chilly, fall day.

You can buy this book online on Amazon.

As the summer fades to autumn, let the pages of Japanese literature transport you to Japan. With a warm blanket and a cup of coffee, begin a literary adventure that will stay with you long after the leaves have fallen. Happy reading!

What are your comforting reads for fall 2023? Let us know in the comments!