Publisher: Monocle, ISBN: 9780500971079, Format: Hardcover with gold foil, 30cm x 22.5cm, 306pp

Japan may be one of the world’s biggest economies, a global leader in everything from architecture to food and a country whose brands have flourished around the world, but it remains a bit of a mystery. Somehow it is simultaneously familiar and hard to fathom.

This book is the culmination of years of reporting across the country by Monocle and it delivers a unique insight into the people, places and products that define Japan.

Whether you’re planning a visit or simply curious, The Monocle Book of Japan takes you from snowy Hokkaido in the north to the tropical southern islands of Okinawa and, along the way, deep-dive into the worlds of culture, design, retail and more.