JAPAN RESOURCES
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Printables and downloads from Japan
Make Origami Stars
Download the printable and start making origami; from the Explore-the-World-from-Home Guide: Japan edition
Japanese Gyoza Recipe
Download this authentic gyoza recipe from the Explore-the-World-from-Home Guide: Japan edition
Japan Passport A5Inserts (FreeVersion)
Download the free version of the Japan Curious Wanderer Society Passport inserts here. Or, visit the shop to get the full version which comes bundled with the Explore the World from Home Guide to Japan.
Explore the World from Home Guide to Japan
Click here to grab your copy of the full guide from the shop
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Books and more about Japan
This section contains affiliate links which means we get a small commission on any purchase that you may make. All this helps to keep the site running and we thank you for the support! These family learning resources have all been hand picked from the resources section of the Explore-the-world-from-home guides.
Erika-San
Caldecott Medalist Allen Say creates a beautiful story about an American girl who seeks adventure in Japan and discovers more than she could have imagined.
Kamishibai Man
by Allen Say.
The Kamishibai man used to ride his bicycle into town where he would tell stories to the children and sell them candy, but gradually, fewer and fewer children came running at the sound of his clappers. They were all watching their new televisions instead. Finally, only one boy remained, and he had no money for candy. Years later, the Kamishibai man and his wife made another batch of candy, and he pedaled into town to tell one more story—his own.
The Kamishibai man used to ride his bicycle into town where he would tell stories to the children and sell them candy, but gradually, fewer and fewer children came running at the sound of his clappers. They were all watching their new televisions instead. Finally, only one boy remained, and he had no money for candy. Years later, the Kamishibai man and his wife made another batch of candy, and he pedaled into town to tell one more story—his own.
My Awesome Japan Adventure
A Diary about the Best 4 Months Ever! by Rebecca Otowa. A perfect introduction to Japanese culture for kids, My Awesome Japan Adventure is the diary of an American fifth grader who travels to Japan to spend four exciting months with a Japanese family as an exchange student.
I Live in Tokyo
by Mari Takabayashi.
Have you ever been to Tokyo, Japan? Far away, in the Pacific Ocean, Tokyo is a busy city of color, activity, celebrations, gigantic buildings, and much more. Seven-year-old Mimiko lives in Tokyo, and here you can follow a year’s worth of fun, food and festivities in Mimiko’s life, month by month.
Have you ever been to Tokyo, Japan? Far away, in the Pacific Ocean, Tokyo is a busy city of color, activity, celebrations, gigantic buildings, and much more. Seven-year-old Mimiko lives in Tokyo, and here you can follow a year’s worth of fun, food and festivities in Mimiko’s life, month by month.
The Way We Do It in Japan
by Geneva Cobb Iijima.
Gregory and his family are moving to Japan for his dad's job. After the long flight, they arrive at their new apartment. Gregory is surprised to find lots of things that are different: but that's the way they do it in Japan.
Gregory and his family are moving to Japan for his dad's job. After the long flight, they arrive at their new apartment. Gregory is surprised to find lots of things that are different: but that's the way they do it in Japan.
The Peace Tree from Hiroshima
by Sandra Moore.
The Little Bonsai with a Big Story! This true children's story is told by a little bonsai tree, called Miyajima, that lived with the same family in the Japanese city of Hiroshima for more than 300 years before being donated to the National Arboretum in Washington DC in 1976 as a gesture of friendship between America and Japan to celebrate the American Bicentennial.
The Little Bonsai with a Big Story! This true children's story is told by a little bonsai tree, called Miyajima, that lived with the same family in the Japanese city of Hiroshima for more than 300 years before being donated to the National Arboretum in Washington DC in 1976 as a gesture of friendship between America and Japan to celebrate the American Bicentennial.
Wabi Sabi
by Mark Reibstein.
Wabi Sabi, a little cat in Kyoto, Japan, had never thought much about her name until friends visiting from another land asked her owner what it meant.
At last, the master
Says, "That's hard to explain." And
That is all she says.
This unsatisfying answer sets Wabi Sabi on a journey to uncover the meaning of her name, and on the way discovers what wabi sabi is: a Japanese philosophy of seeing beauty in simplicity, the ordinary, and the imperfect.
Wabi Sabi, a little cat in Kyoto, Japan, had never thought much about her name until friends visiting from another land asked her owner what it meant.
At last, the master
Says, "That's hard to explain." And
That is all she says.
This unsatisfying answer sets Wabi Sabi on a journey to uncover the meaning of her name, and on the way discovers what wabi sabi is: a Japanese philosophy of seeing beauty in simplicity, the ordinary, and the imperfect.
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes
by Eleanor Coerr.
The star of her school’s running team, Sadako is lively and athletic…until the dizzy spells start. Then she must face the hardest race of her life—the race against time. Based on a true story, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes celebrates the courage that makes one young woman a heroine in Japan.
The star of her school’s running team, Sadako is lively and athletic…until the dizzy spells start. Then she must face the hardest race of her life—the race against time. Based on a true story, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes celebrates the courage that makes one young woman a heroine in Japan.
The Crane Girl
by Curtis Manley.
While gathering firewood, Yasuhiro comes upon an injured crane hidden in the snow. He rescues and comforts the bird, then watches it fly away. The next night, a mysterious young girl arrives at his home seeking shelter from the cold. An inspirational story of friendship and the power of kindness to transform lives.
While gathering firewood, Yasuhiro comes upon an injured crane hidden in the snow. He rescues and comforts the bird, then watches it fly away. The next night, a mysterious young girl arrives at his home seeking shelter from the cold. An inspirational story of friendship and the power of kindness to transform lives.
The Last Kappa of Old Japan
by Sunny Seki.
The Last Kappa of Old Japan is a warmly written and beautifully illustrated bilingual Japanese children's book that introduces many aspects of traditional Japanese culture and folklore while teaching an important lesson about environmentalism.
The Last Kappa of Old Japan is a warmly written and beautifully illustrated bilingual Japanese children's book that introduces many aspects of traditional Japanese culture and folklore while teaching an important lesson about environmentalism.
Tsunami!
by Kimiko Kajikawa.
Ojiisan, the oldest and wealthiest man in the village, doesn't join the others at the rice ceremony. Instead he watches from his balcony. He feels something is coming; something he can't describe. When he sees the monster wave pulling away from the beach, he knows. Tsunami! But the villagers below can't see the danger. Will Ojiisan risk everything he has to save them? Can he?
Ojiisan, the oldest and wealthiest man in the village, doesn't join the others at the rice ceremony. Instead he watches from his balcony. He feels something is coming; something he can't describe. When he sees the monster wave pulling away from the beach, he knows. Tsunami! But the villagers below can't see the danger. Will Ojiisan risk everything he has to save them? Can he?
Japanese Children’s Favourite Stories
by Florence Sakade.
For 60 years, generations of English-speaking children around the world have been enchanted by Japanese Children's Favorite Stories—and for good reason. With such titles as "The Toothpick Warriors" and "The Rabbit Who Crossed the Sea," these 20 stories offer age-old lessons in kindness and goodness that are still riveting to children and parents alike.
For 60 years, generations of English-speaking children around the world have been enchanted by Japanese Children's Favorite Stories—and for good reason. With such titles as "The Toothpick Warriors" and "The Rabbit Who Crossed the Sea," these 20 stories offer age-old lessons in kindness and goodness that are still riveting to children and parents alike.
Hachiko - The True Story of a Loyal Dog.
by Pamela S. Turner.
achiko was a real dog who lived in Tokyo, a dog who faithfully waited for his owner at the Shibuya train station long after his owner could not come to meet him. He became famous for his loyalty and was adored by scores of people who passed through the station every day. This is Hachiko’s story through the eyes of Kentaro, a young boy whose life is changed forever by his friendship with this very special dog.
achiko was a real dog who lived in Tokyo, a dog who faithfully waited for his owner at the Shibuya train station long after his owner could not come to meet him. He became famous for his loyalty and was adored by scores of people who passed through the station every day. This is Hachiko’s story through the eyes of Kentaro, a young boy whose life is changed forever by his friendship with this very special dog.
The Perfect Sword
by Scott Goto.
"Sensei Masa was a master swordsmith known throughout all of Japan."
Young Michio is apprenticed to the master swordsmith. He watches and learns not only the skills to make a fine sword, but also lessons in humility, hard work, and compassion, elements of Bushido, the samurai code of honor. When he and Sensei create a sword that rivals all others, warriors from around Japan come to claim ownership of it. But only one can be worthy.
"Sensei Masa was a master swordsmith known throughout all of Japan."
Young Michio is apprenticed to the master swordsmith. He watches and learns not only the skills to make a fine sword, but also lessons in humility, hard work, and compassion, elements of Bushido, the samurai code of honor. When he and Sensei create a sword that rivals all others, warriors from around Japan come to claim ownership of it. But only one can be worthy.
Mieko and the Fifth Treasure
by Eleanor Coerr.
When the bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Mieko's nearby village was turned into ruins, and her hand was badly injured. Mieko loves to do calligraphy more than anything, but now she can barely hold a paintbrush. But Mieko is brave and eventually learns that time and patience can help with many things.
When the bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Mieko's nearby village was turned into ruins, and her hand was badly injured. Mieko loves to do calligraphy more than anything, but now she can barely hold a paintbrush. But Mieko is brave and eventually learns that time and patience can help with many things.
A Pair of Red Clogs
by Masako Matsuno.
A child's delight in a new pair of shoes is the same all over the world, whether the shoes are patent-leather sandals, straw alpargatas, deerskin moccasins or wooden clogs. For Mako, a little Japanese girl, the new shoes were clogs painted with red lacquer that shone beautifully. This is the story of what happened after she cracked the new clogs playing the weather-telling game and so longed for a bright, shiny new pair to replace them that she almost did a dishonest thing.
A child's delight in a new pair of shoes is the same all over the world, whether the shoes are patent-leather sandals, straw alpargatas, deerskin moccasins or wooden clogs. For Mako, a little Japanese girl, the new shoes were clogs painted with red lacquer that shone beautifully. This is the story of what happened after she cracked the new clogs playing the weather-telling game and so longed for a bright, shiny new pair to replace them that she almost did a dishonest thing.
The Magic Fan
by Keith Baker.
When Yoshi, a remarkable young Japanese builder, runs out of ideas, a magic fan inspires him with new projects. It is only after losing the fan that Yoshi discovers he can depend on his own imagination after all.
When Yoshi, a remarkable young Japanese builder, runs out of ideas, a magic fan inspires him with new projects. It is only after losing the fan that Yoshi discovers he can depend on his own imagination after all.
K is for Kabuki - A Japan Alphabet
K is for Kabuki - A Japan Alphabet by Gloria Whelan and Jennifer Nolan.
You Wouldn’t Want to be a Samurai!
A Deadly Career You’d Rather Not Pursue by Fiona MacDonald and David Salariya.
This book examines the skills needed to become a samurai warrior in 17th-century Japan.
This book examines the skills needed to become a samurai warrior in 17th-century Japan.
Megumi’s First Trip to Kyoto
by Alexandra Parsons.
As Megumi travels on the train with her grandfather from Sabae to Kyoto, they plan to count the sights of their trip. This multicultural book offers an introduction to Japanese words and culture as Meg's imagination embraces the experience unfolding before her.
As Megumi travels on the train with her grandfather from Sabae to Kyoto, they plan to count the sights of their trip. This multicultural book offers an introduction to Japanese words and culture as Meg's imagination embraces the experience unfolding before her.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2012)
A thoughtful and elegant meditation on work, family and the art of perfection, chronicling Jiro Ono's life as both an unparalleled success in the culinary world and a loving yet complicated father.
My Neighbour Totoro (1988)
When two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wondrous forest spirits who live nearby.
Ponyo (2009)
Ponyo is a visually stunning fairy tale that's a sweetly poetic treat for children of all ages.
The Secret World of Arrietty (2012)
The Clock family are four-inch-tall people who live anonymously in another family's residence, borrowing simple items to make their home. Life changes for the Clocks when their teenage daughter, Arrietty, is discovered.
Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)
A young boy named Kubo must locate a magical suit of armour worn by his late father in order to defeat a vengeful spirit from the past.
Isle of Dogs (2018)
Wes Anderson directed this hilarious stop-motion animated tale set in a future Japan in which all dogs have been exiled to Trash Island.
Curated Youtube playlist about Japan
Getting Ready for Japanese Elementary School
Play Video
Inside a Japanese Kid's Bedroom
Play Video
School Lunch in Japan - It's Not Just About Eating!
Play Video
Japan's independent kids
Play Video
Geography Kids - Japan!
Play Video
Introduction - Japanese Lesson 1
Play Video
Japanese Food | American Kids Try Food from Around the World - Ep 14 | Kids Try | Cut
Play Video
Gyotaku: The ancient Japanese art of printing fish - K. Erica Dodge
Play Video
Japan - Explore the World from Home
Watch Now
Inside a Japanese Kid's Bedroom
Play Video
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