Yokocho

Drinking, Eating and Exploring Japan by Train

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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 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.

About Jesse Fink

JESSE FINK was born in London and grew up in Sydney, Australia. He is the author or co-author of eight books, including Yokocho, The Drinker’s Guide to Japan, The Eagle in the Mirror, Pure Narco, Bon: The Last Highway and The Youngs: The Brothers Who Built AC/DC. Fink’s books have been translated into 14 languages and two of his books (Bon and The Youngs) are available in Japanese. He is a frequent visitor to Japan, lives in Bedfordshire with his English wife, Alexis, and has an adult daughter, Billie, who lives in Australia.

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About Wayne Shennen

WAYNE SHENNEN is the co-author (with Jesse Fink) of Yokocho and The Drinker’s Guide to Japan. He was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and grew up in Tauranga. He started his career in hospitality in 2002, working as far afield as Australia, Brazil, Japan and England, and gained certifications from the Court of Master Sommeliers, Wine Scholar Guild and the Sake Education Council. Shennen has worked in sake breweries in Ishikawa, Saga and Gifu prefectures and written and presented films for the Japanese Sake and Shochu Makers Association. He is regularly invited to speak about Japanese alcohol at international festivals and events for foreign dignitaries in Japan. Shennen speaks Japanese and owns and runs Rangitoto Tokyo, a restaurant and bar in Ochanomizu, Tokyo. He lives in Tokyo with his Japanese wife, Makie, and their young son, Kauri.

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