Japan Journeys: Famous Woodblock Prints of Cultural Sights in Japan

by Andreas Marks

Presenting classic Japanese woodblock prints, Japan Journeys offers a unique perspective on the country's most famous travel destinations.

This stunning art book gathers together approximately two hundred Japanese woodblock prints depicting scenic spots and cultural icons that still delight visitors today. Many of the prints are by masters such as Utagawa Hiroshige, Kitagawa Utamaro, and Utagawa Kunisada, and currently hang in prestigious galleries and museums worldwide. Katsuhika Hokusai, the artform's most celebrated artist, is also well represented, with many prints from his "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road" series and "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji" series, including his world-renowned "Great Wave" print.

In addition to prints showcasing Japan's natural beauty, this carefully curated selection depicts roads and railways; favorite pastimes, such as blossom viewing and attending festivals; beloved entertainment, such as kabuki theater; the fashions they wore, and the food they ate. Author Andreas Marks is a leading expert on Japanese woodblock prints, and his Illuminating captions provide background context to the scenes depicted.

Genres: Art, Japan, Nonfiction, History, Travel

168 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stunning artworks included in this book are truly a joy to look at.
I am particularly taken by any woodblock prints that depict the night views, the snow scenes, and by Hasui Kawase
However I wish the book included some more information on different artists and styles of the art form.

[Margo Oka · Rating 5 out of 5]

The prints in this book were so beautiful. I appreciated the historical background given to the prints and why certain themes were popular and others not.

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully presented plates, however requires more rigorous editing.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a stunning book! The woodblock prints are just beautiful. My favourite print is this one:



When we were in Japan we were very near the park that was once the below image:



And this one I loved because of the way the rain was depicted:


(and it's not until now that I realise that I have actually been there (present day of course))

And finally the Kiyomizu Temple that was constructed without a single nail:

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do enjoy looking at Japanese woodcuts. And this book is another way in which to do so. I’m a sucker for any of them that feature snow. A good selection of artists featured here, and nicely grouped by geography.

[James Varney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent addition to Marks' books on Japanese woodblock prints. Obviously Hokusai and Hiroshige features prominently, given their love of landscapes and their towering position in the field among woodblock artists. But Marks also pays attention to 20th century masters such as Hasui and Toshi Yoshida and "Japan Journeys" includes top quality prints. A handsome book, a good idea for a trend to track in Japanese woodblock prints, and a welcome volume in any print lover's library. Highly recommended.

[Stray Toki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the concept of the book and the prints are beautiful, but typos and small mistakes spoil the experience.
The confusion with Takanawa/Shinagawa/Shinbashi stations, the non-existent 'Kawasaki prefecture', a courtesan called geisha on one of the prints from Kyoto section, Mount Yoshino presented in Kyoto chapter instead of Nara, etc.
I really wanted to give the book 4 stars, but somebody just couldn't bother to proofread.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed seeing Japanese woodblock prints presented in context of location, cultural significance, and history. My only criticism was the error on page 15 (in the description of the image) that indicates "Lake Akinosho", when the lake is actually named Lake Ashinoko (aka Lake Ashi). Overall, an enjoyable read with a beautiful selection of art, both well-known and otherwise!

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice-sized collection of classic woodblock prints as well as shin hanga, modern woodblock prints from the 20s and 30s. The format was good, not too bulky but large enough to view details. My only complaint is that the blurbs felt minimal; I would have enjoyed hearing more expert opinion about each print.

[Sjoerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful book, lovely theme and selection criteria of the prints. I went to a lot of these place in 2018, so it was a trip down memory lane. I do think more (or more thorough explanations / descriptions would have been nice.

Also it seems to have some issues with the title / artist attributions, which made me doubt and look up some of them (another reviewer spotted a whole lot more then I did).

[T P Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this beautiful little book. It's a journey through the cultural landmarks of Japan, using famous woodblock prints as a frame of reference. The coverage is excellent ranging from the Edo period to more modern shin-manga prints. Unfortunately, this has sent me to the web on an acquisition initiative.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having been in Japan only a few months ago, to see how the country used to be was amazing. Especially, when I came across some of the places we visited.
Google happened a lot with this book as I wanted to read more about the history that was mentioned.

[Elizabeth Gajdosik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a beautiful compilation of both the famous and the more obscure Japanese woodblock prints from the early-1800s to the mid-1900s. The notes accompanying the illustrations provide some fascinating details and historical facts about the culture of Japan.

[Carlos Filipe Bernardino · Rating 4 out of 5]

The woodblock prints are amazing and of great quality, the book is extremely enjoyable.
As I am also a comic book lover, the works of the Japanese masters represented in this work, clearly influenced the authors of Japanese manga, Franco-Belgian and American comics.

[Merahnaga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Salah satu edisi indah dengan kualitas cetakan dan gambar yang mengesankan. Salah satu buku yang aku sukai perihal Ukiyoe. Isinya benar-benar indah.

[Malika-Liki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, wonderfully illustrated book. The paintings are so precise. It's an illustrated poesy but also a mine of informations.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for a class on Japan. Wonderful Japanese prints with explanations added to my understanding of Japan.

[Carameli Apples · Rating 4 out of 5]

it is what it claims to be; it's done well

[Dylan Rock · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful art that offers vivid wood block print tour of Japan.

[Amanda Setasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not what I was expecting, but the overall concept was pretty cool.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for intro to Japanese woodblock prints. A little history and categorization by place. Small format 8"x8."

[Jason Keenan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Japanese woodblock prints are so common and so widespread it's easy to forget they come from a pretty tight window of time and had an interesting purpose.

Japan Journeys gathers together prints famous or not and groups them by location. It's like a travel guide to the sites of a century go.

It's an interesting introduction to the prints.

[Linnie Greene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review forthcoming in Shelf Awareness.