Review of The Narrow Road to Oku (Illustrated Japanese Classics)

In 1689, the poet Basho set out on foot for the north of Japan, traveling with a companion through villages, countryside, and bandit-infested regions. His adventures led to this book, a prose travel memoir seasoned liberally with his masterful haiku. It’s a wonderful read and the paperback edition published by Kodansha USA is gorgeously illustrated. Makes a great gift.