“What are the best Children’s books about or set in Japan?” We looked at 203 of the top Kids Japan books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!
The top 26 titles, all appearing on 2 or more “Best Japanese Kids” book lists, are ranked below by how many lists they appear on. The remaining 175+ titles, as well as the lists we used are in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.
Happy Scrolling!
Lists It Appears On:
In early-1900s Japan, Misuzu Kaneko grew from a precocious bookworm to an instantly-beloved children’s poet, but her life ended prematurely and her work was largely forgotten. Decades later, her poems were rediscovered just in time to touch a new generation devastated by the tsunami of 2011. This volume includes a biography of Kaneko followed by a selection of her poems in both English and the original Japanese.…
Lists It Appears On:
A Japanese American boy learns to play baseball when he and his family are forced to live in an internment camp during World War II, and his ability to play helps him after the war is over.
Lists It Appears On:
Presents the numbers one to ten in Japanese, using each number to introduce concepts about Japan and its culture.
Lists It Appears On:
In this beautifully written picture book, Hana Hashimoto has signed up to play her violin at her school’s talent show. The trouble is, she’s only a beginner, and she’s had only three lessons. Her brothers insist she isn’t good enough. “It’s a talent show, Hana,” they tell her. “You’ll be a disaster!” Hana remembers how wonderfully her talented grandfather, or Ojiichan, played his violin when she was visiting him in Japan. So, just like Ojiichan, Hana practices every day. She is determined to play her best. When Hana’s confidence wavers on the night of the show, however, she begins to wonder if her brothers were right. But then Hana surprises everyone once it’s her turn to perform — even herself!
Lists It Appears On:
A biography of Hiromi Suzuki, a Japanese American girl who, with her father’s guidance, defies tradition and trains to become a sushi chef at her family’s restaurant in New York City
Lists It Appears On:
Introduces children to the culture, history, traditions, beliefs, and practices of Japan and its people, with topic poems and expository text covering one item for each letter of the alphabet.
Lists It Appears On:
After many years of retirement, an old Kamishibai man–a Japanese street performer who tells stories and sells candies–decides to make his rounds once more even though such entertainment declined after the advent of television.
Lists It Appears On:
Describes many things which originated in Japan, including inventions, art, food, fashion, furniture, toys, animals, musical instruments, and sports.
Lists It Appears On:
Ten years after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Sadako Sasaki died as a result of the Atomic Bomb disease. Sadako’s determination to fold one thousand paper cranes, symbolizing her hope for peace, and her courageous struggle with her illness inspired her classmates. After her death, they started a national campaign to build the Children’s Peace Statue in memory of Sadako and the many other children who were victims of the bombing of Hiroshima.…
Lists It Appears On:
On her first day of first grade, despite the objections of her older sisters, Suki chooses to wear her beloved Japanese kimono to school because it holds special memories of her grandmother’s visit last summer.
Lists It Appears On:
Sumo Boy saves a girl from a bully using real sumo wrestling moves.
Lists It Appears On:
After growing up near San Francisco, a young Japanese woman returns with her parents to their native Japan, but she feels foreign and out of place.
Lists It Appears On:
In 1860s Japan, young Norihei saves the life of a kappa, one of the mythological beings who keep the water clean, and the two become friends, but changes brought by the Industrial Revolution force the kappa to leave, only to return when Norihei needs him most. Includes historical and cultural notes.…
Lists It Appears On:
Yoshio delights in the everyday sounds of Tokyo, but when a musician tells him that her favorite sound is ma, the Japanese word for silence, Yoshio sets out to hear this sound for himself among the hustle and bustle of the city. Includes information on the Japanese concept of ma.…
Lists It Appears On:
Wabi Sabi, a cat living in the city of Kyoto, learns about the Japanese concept of beauty through simplicity as she asks various animals she meets about the meaning of her name.
Lists It Appears On:
When Yoko moves from Japan to California, she decides to make and send origami swans to her grandmother for her birthday.
Lists It Appears On:
Contains illustrated stories, songs, recipes, and instructions for crafts and activities to introduce children to Japanese history and culture.
Lists It Appears On:
Examines Japanese culture and family.
Lists It Appears On:
Ever heard of micro sushi? Have you played karuta before? Neither did I, until I spent four months in Japan living with a Japanese family. Dan, the narrator of My Awesome Japan Adventure, is a typical American fifth grader, who spends four months with a Japanese family as an exchange student. Although he initially finds it difficult to adjust, Dan is soon having fun wherever he goes–and recording all of his adventures in a diary. With the help of his Japanese foster brother and sister, Daisuke and Mari, Dan visits a Ninja village, tries new foods, learns brush painting, and shares the inside scoop on Japanese school life. Readers of all ages will love experiencing life in Japan from a kid’s point of view! Dan’s adventures include: My First Week of School Visiting a Ninja Village Fun with Origami Practicing Aikido Making Mochi And much more…
Lists It Appears On:
7-year-old Yumi shows what his life is like in the suburbs of Tokyo.
Lists It Appears On:
These 8 Japanese folktales are illustrated by some of the best artists in Japan.
Lists It Appears On:
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
Lists It Appears On:
Gregory experiences a new way of life when he moves to Japan with his American mother and his Japanese father.
Lists It Appears On:
Labeled pictures and the story of an American girl living in Tokyo introduce the names of everyday objects in Japanese, romanized Japanese, and English, as well as the differences between American and Japanese customs.
Lists It Appears On:
Two rats find a large egg in the forest and decide to make a cake, and animals in the forest gather one after another following its sweet aroma.
Lists It Appears On:
Seven-year-old Mimiko shows the reader what Tokyo is like, then Japanese festivals from each month are depicted.
| # | Books | Authors | Lists |
| 27 | (Amulet series) Supernova | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 28 | A Fish for Jimmy: Inspired by One Family’s Experience in a Japanese American Internment Camp | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 29 | A Jar of Dreams | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 30 | A Pair of Red Clogs | Masako Matsuno | Goodreads 2 |
| 31 | A Place Where Sunflowers Grow | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 32 | A Thousand Cranes: Origami Projects for Peace and Happiness | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 33 | Aki and the Fox | Akiko Hayashi | Goodreads 2 |
| 34 | Alvin Ho | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 35 | An Illustrated History of Japan | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 36 | Anna in Charge | Yoriko Tsutsui | Goodreads 2 |
| 37 | Anna’s Special Present | Yoriko Tsutsui | Goodreads 2 |
| 38 | Anno’s Math Games | Mitsumasa Anno | Goodreads 2 |
| 39 | Art of Japan: Wood-Block Color Prints | Carol Finley | Goodreads 1 |
| 40 | Basho and the Fox | Tim J. Myers | Goodreads 2 |
| 41 | Basho and the River Stones | Tim J. Myers | Goodreads 2 |
| 42 | Bee-bim Bop | Read Brightly | |
| 43 | Cherry Blossoms in Twilight: Memories of a Japanese Girl | Japan Visitor | |
| 44 | Children’s books Japan: | Kids Travel Books | |
| 45 | Chuumon no Ooi Ryouri-Ten | Asian language School | |
| 46 | Clementine | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 47 | Colors of Japan | Starts At Eight | |
| 48 | Crow Boy | Starts At Eight | |
| 49 | Daruma Doll Book | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 50 | Dear Juno | Read Brightly | |
| 51 | Dim Sum for Everyone! | Read Brightly | |
| 52 | Dodsworth in Tokyo | Tim Egan | Goodreads 2 |
| 53 | Dust of Eden | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 54 | Easy Origami | Kids Travel Books | |
| 55 | Eiko Kadano (1985) | Asian language School | |
| 56 | Emily’s Balloon | Komako Sakai | Goodreads 2 |
| 57 | Erika-San | Starts At Eight | |
| 58 | Finding Little Sister | Japan Visitor | |
| 59 | Fish for Jimmy: Inspired by One Family’s Experience in a Japanese American Internment Camp | Katie Yamasaki | Goodreads 2 |
| 60 | Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures #3: The Japanese Ninja Surprise | Kids Travel Books | |
| 61 | Flying the Dragon | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 62 | Folktales Of Okinawa | Kids Travel Books | |
| 63 | Four-Four-Two | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 64 | Fred Korematsu Speaks Up | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 65 | Fred Korematsu: All American Hero | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 66 | Gaijin: American Prisoner of War | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 67 | Grandfather’s Journey | Starts At Eight | |
| 68 | Grapes of Wrath | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 69 | Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog | Japan Visitor | |
| 70 | Heart of a Samurai | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 71 | Hiro’s Quest series | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 72 | Hiroko Reijou | Asian language School | |
| 73 | Hiroshima No Pika | Toshi Maruki | Goodreads 2 |
| 74 | Honda: The Boy Who Dreamed of Cars | Mark Weston | Goodreads 2 |
| 75 | Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji | Read Brightly | |
| 76 | I Am An American | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 77 | Ichiro | Read Brightly | |
| 78 | In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson | Read Brightly | |
| 79 | Issun Boshi: The One-Inch Boy | Icinori | Goodreads 2 |
| 80 | It’s Cool to Learn About Countries: Japan | Kids Travel Books | |
| 81 | Japan | Kids Travel Books | |
| 82 | Japan ABCs | All Done Monkey | |
| 83 | Japan the Land | Bobbie Kalman | Goodreads 1 |
| 84 | Japan Travel Tips | Kids Travel Books | |
| 85 | Japanese Celebrations: Cherry Blossoms, Lanterns and Stars! | Kids Travel Books | |
| 86 | Japanese Nursery Rhymes | Japan Visitor | |
| 87 | Japanese Phrase Book (Eyewitness Travel Guide) | Starts At Eight | |
| 88 | Jasmine Toguchi: Mochi Queen | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 89 | Jet Black and the Ninja Wind | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 90 | Juri-chan Journeys to Okinawa | Kids Travel Books | |
| 91 | Kazunomiya: Prisoner of Heaven, Japan 1858 | Kids Travel Books | |
| 92 | Kenji Miyazawa (1992) | Asian language School | |
| 93 | Kids Meet Japan | Kids Travel Books | |
| 94 | Kimi-tachi wa Dou Ikiru Ka | Asian language School | |
| 95 | Kintaro, The Nature Boy | Japan Visitor | |
| 96 | Kira-Kira | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 97 | Kiri no Mukou no Fushigina Machi | Asian language School | |
| 98 | Lady Kaguya’s Secret: A Japanese Tale | Jirina Marton | Goodreads 1 |
| 99 | Learning about Japan (links around the web) | Kids Travel Books | |
| 100 | Let’s Learn About Japan | Kids Travel Books | |
| 101 | Let’s Learn Japanese Picture Dictionary | Kids Travel Books | |
| 102 | Life as a Samurai: An Interactive History Adventure | Kids Travel Books | |
| 103 | Life in Old Japan Coloring Book | Starts At Eight | |
| 104 | Little Daruma and Little Tengu | Fluent U | |
| 105 | Madogiwa no Totto-chan | Asian language School | |
| 106 | Majo no Takkyuubin | Asian language School | |
| 107 | Manjiro: The Boy Who Risked His Life for Two Countries | Emily Arnold McCully | Goodreads 2 |
| 108 | Megumi’s First Trip to Kyoto | All Done Monkey | |
| 109 | Miki Mongoose a Great Adventure | Kids Travel Books | |
| 110 | Miki Mongoose And The Boy From Itoman | Kids Travel Books | |
| 111 | Miki Mongoose and the Wildcat from Iriomote | Kids Travel Books | |
| 112 | Miki’s First Errand | Yoriko Tsutsui | Goodreads 2 |
| 113 | Moonshadow: The Rise of the Ninja | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 114 | More Great #OwnVoices Japanese American Children’s Books | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 115 | My First Book of Japanese Words: An ABC Rhyming Book | Kids Travel Books | |
| 116 | My Grandfather’s Journey | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 117 | Natsu no Niwa | Asian language School | |
| 118 | Neil Flambé and the Tokyo Treasure | Kids Travel Books | |
| 119 | Of Nightingales That Weep | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 120 | Ojiichan’s Gift | Chieri Uegaki | Goodreads 2 |
| 121 | Once upon a Time in Ghostly Japan | Kids Travel Books | |
| 122 | Once Upon a Time in Japan 2 | Japan Visitor | |
| 123 | Once upon a Time in Jolly Japan | Kids Travel Books | |
| 124 | One Stormy Night | Book Riot | |
| 125 | Origami Activities For Kids: Discover the Magic of Japanese Paper Folding, Learn to Fold Your Own Origami Models (Includes 8 Folding Papers) | Japan Visitor | |
| 126 | Paper Wishes | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 127 | Peanuts It’s Tokyo, Charlie Brown | Kids Travel Books | |
| 128 | Pizza Day | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 129 | Pup Adventures Around the World: The Secret Journey to Tokyo | Kids Travel Books | |
| 130 | Ramona | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 131 | Remembering Manzanar: Life in a Japanese Relocation Camp | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 132 | Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor’s Story | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 133 | Sadako | Eleanor Coerr and Ed Young | The Barefoot Mommy |
| 134 | Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 135 | Sakura’s Cherry Blossoms | Robert Paul Weston | Goodreads 2 |
| 136 | Samurai Kids | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 137 | Samurai Rising: The Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 138 | Separate is Never Equal | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 139 | Shin’s Tricycle | Tatsuharu Kodama | Goodreads 2 |
| 140 | Shirokuma-chan’s Pancakes | Fluent U | |
| 141 | Show-and-Tell | All Done Monkey | |
| 142 | Singing Shijimi Clams | Japan Visitor | |
| 143 | So Far From the Sea | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 144 | Stellaluna | Book Riot | |
| 145 | Sunday in Kyoto | Kids Travel Books | |
| 146 | Sushi for Kids: A Children’s Introduction to Japan’s Favorite Food | Kaoru Ono | Goodreads 2 |
| 147 | Sylvia and Aki | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 148 | T is for Tokyo | Kids Travel Books | |
| 149 | Takako and the Great Typhoon | Kids Travel Books | |
| 150 | Ten Oni Drummers | Matthew Gollub | Goodreads 2 |
| 151 | Tetsuko Kuroyanagi (1981) | Asian language School | |
| 152 | The Beckoning Cat | Koko Nishizuka and Rosanne Litzinger | The Barefoot Mommy |
| 153 | The Bee and the Dream: A Japanese Tale | Jan Freeman Long | Goodreads 2 |
| 154 | The Boy from the Dragon Palace | All Done Monkey | |
| 155 | The Bracelet | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 156 | The Crane Wife | Sumiko Yagawa | Goodreads 2 |
| 157 | The Falling Flowers | Japan Visitor | |
| 158 | The Favorite Daughter | Allen Say | Goodreads 2 |
| 159 | The Furry-Legged Teapot | Tim J. Myers | Goodreads 2 |
| 160 | The Girl with the White Flag | Kids Travel Books | |
| 161 | The Great Wall of Lucy Wu | Read Brightly | |
| 162 | The Inch-High Samurai | Japan Visitor | |
| 163 | The Inker’s Shadow | Allen Say | Goodreads 2 |
| 164 | The Inn-Keepers Apprentice | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 165 | The Journal of Ben Uchida: Citizen 13559, Mirror Lake Internment Camp | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 166 | The Kaiketsu Zorori Series | Fluent U | |
| 167 | The Last Cherry Blossom | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 168 | The Loyal Cat | Lensey Namioka | Goodreads 2 |
| 169 | The Mystery at Mt. Fuji: Tokyo, Japan | Kids Travel Books | |
| 170 | The Name Jar | Read Brightly | |
| 171 | The Old Man Mad about Drawing: A Tale of Hokusai | François Place | Goodreads 2 |
| 172 | The Restaurant of Many Orders | Kenji Miyazawa | Goodreads 2 |
| 173 | The Snow Day | Komako Sakai | Goodreads 2 |
| 174 | The Story Of Yuriwaka: A Japanese Odyssey | Erik Haugaard | Goodreads 1 |
| 175 | The Tiny Traveler: Japan: A Book of Nature | Kids Travel Books | |
| 176 | The Utsukushii Suugaku Series | Fluent U | |
| 177 | The Way Home in the Night | Akiko Miyakoshi | Goodreads 2 |
| 178 | The Whale that Fell in Love with a Submarine | Akiyuki Nosaka | Goodreads 2 |
| 179 | The Year of the Dog | Read Brightly | |
| 180 | Thea Stilton and the Cherry Blossom Adventure | Kids Travel Books | |
| 181 | There’s a Hippo in My Bath | Kyoko Matsuoka | Goodreads 2 |
| 182 | Thirty Minutes Over Oregon: A Japanese Pilot’s World War II Story | Marc Tyler Nobleman | Goodreads 2 |
| 183 | Three Samurai Cats: A Story from Japan | All Done Monkey | |
| 184 | Tokyo Pop-Up Book: A Comic Adventure with Neko the Cat – A Manga Tour of Tokyo’s most Famous Sights – from Asakusa to Mt. Fuji | Japan Visitor | |
| 185 | Traditional Crafts from Japan | Florence Temko | Goodreads 1 |
| 186 | Umbrella | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 187 | Une nouvelle maison pour la famille Souris | Kazuo Iwamura | Goodreads 2 |
| 188 | Waka Okami wa Shougakusei! | Asian language School | |
| 189 | Weedflower | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 190 | Where Are My Books | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 191 | Where the Mountain Meets the Moon | Read Brightly | |
| 192 | White Crane | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 193 | Write to Me: Letters from Japanese American Children to the Librarian They Left Behind | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 194 | Write Your Own Haiku For Kids | Japan Visitor | |
| 195 | Yayoi Kusama: From Here to Infinity | Sarah Suzuki | Goodreads 2 |
| 196 | Yoko | Read Brightly | |
| 197 | Yoko-Chan and the Daruma Doll: The Adventures of a Blind Japanese Girl Who Saves Her Village | Pragmatic Mom | |
| 198 | Yoshino Genzaburou (1937) | Asian language School | |
| 199 | You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Samurai! | Kids Travel Books | |
| 200 | Yuko-chan and the Daruma Doll: The Adventures of a Blind Japanese Girl Who Saves Her Village – Bilingual English and Japanese Text | Sunny Seki | Goodreads 2 |
| 201 | Yumoto Kazumi (1992) | Asian language School | |
| 202 | Zen Shorts | Read Brightly | |
| 203 | おふろやさん | Shigeo Nishimura | Goodreads 2 |
| Source | Article |
| All Done Monkey | Japan Children’s Books for Your Young Adventurers |
| Asian language School | Recommended Best-selling Japanese Children’s Books |
| Book Riot | Japanese Picture Books That Defined My Childhood |
| Fluent U | The Essential Guide to Learning Japanese with Children’s Picture Books |
| Goodreads 1 | Popular Children Books Japan Shelf |
| Goodreads 2 | Popular Japan Related Picture Books Shelf |
| Japan Visitor | Japan Children’s Books |
| Kids Travel Books | Children’s books set in Japan |
| Pragmatic Mom | Best #OwnVoices Japanese American Books for Kids & Teens |
| Read Brightly | 13 Books for Kids that Celebrate All Things Asian |
| Starts At Eight | Children’s Books About Japan |
| The Barefoot Mommy | Learn about Japan: Kids’ Activities and Books |
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