A stunning pictorial celebration of Japan's culture, art, architecture and people.

Japan is a nation of extraordinary contrasts from soaring metropolises and serene temple complexes, to cutting-edge technology and centuries-old folk festivals, kimonos and business suits. Far from contradictions, these layered worlds coexist and enrich one another, making Japan one of the most captivating destinations on earth.

Deeply rooted in its own identity, Japan holds material and spiritual life in delicate balance—gaudy and spare, noisy and silent, ancient and modern. Symbols and rituals remain vital to everyday life. The past lives on in tea ceremonies and ikebana, in sumptuous temple celebrations and joyful festivals.

More than 180 photographs illuminate the many facets of this remarkable nation. Four special sections explore the aesthetics of Japanese cuisine, the pleasures of the hot spring bath, the little-known snow country of the north, and the distinctly Japanese fusion of art and craft.