Discover an unknown side of Japan in its buzzing yokocho (side streets and alleyways) by travelling on the shinkansen (bullet train) network.

Yokocho: Drinking, Eating and Exploring the Side Streets and Alleyways of Japan by Train is a highly original guide to Japan’s 47 prefectures and the country’s exciting yokocho culture.

One of the world’s most popular travel destinations, Japan is a country packed with regional specialities, intriguing history, hidden neighbourhoods and unforgettable dining experiences yet most international visitors never get beyond Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. The best way to see it all is by train and especially in yokocho, the places where Japanese people love to eat and drink. It is around train stations where often the best hotels, bars and restaurants are found.

From Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu and Okinawa in the south, Wayne Shennen and Jesse Fink have travelled Japan’s eight distinct regions to reveal the stories behind yokocho, a vibrant, colourful and important side of local culture that is little seen and often misunderstood by outsiders.

Whether you’re planning your first Japan trip or wanting to explore the country again in a much deeper way, it’s an essential guide to discovering the very best of Japan by train.