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Amy Chavez

Light-footed Author, Japan-hand, Podcast Host

Amy has lived in Japan for 30 years, most of it on an island in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea. She writes about travel, trail-running, cycling, sailing, and skiing. She is the author of several books on the country, including Running the Shikoku Pilgrimage and the award-winning Amy’s Guide to Best Behavior in Japan. She runs the Books on Asia website and Podcast.
Amy has lived in Japan for 30 years, most of it on an island in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea. She writes about travel, trail-running, cycling, sailing, and skiing. She is the author of several books on the country, including Running the Shikoku Pilgrimage and the award-winning Amy’s Guide to Best Behavior in Japan. She runs the Books on Asia website and Podcast.

Posts by Amy Chavez

Mindful Travel: A Day Out in Japan – A Short Guide to Local Etiquette

Tourism in Japan is booming, with visitor numbers approaching an unprecedented 40 million per year. Japan hosts more foreign visitors than Italy and nearly matches France and Spain. With a national population of 124 million people (as of 2025), foreign travelers now represent the equivalent of one-third of the country’s population. That’s one visitor for...

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