“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!

Top 26 Best Children’s Books About Or Set In Japan

26 .) Are You an Echo?: The Lost Poetry of Misuzu Kaneko written by Misuzu Kaneko

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads 2
• Pragmatic Mom

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.…

25 .) Baseball Saved Us written by Ken Mochizuki

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads 2
• Pragmatic Mom

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.

24 .) Count Your Way Through Japan written by James Haskins

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads 2
• Starts At Eight

Presents the numbers one to ten in Japanese, using each number to introduce concepts about Japan and its culture.

23 .) Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin written by Chieri Uegaki

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads 2
• Pragmatic Mom

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!

22 .) Hiromi’s Hands written by Lynne Barasch

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads 2
• Pragmatic Mom

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

21 .) K Is for Kabuki: A Japan Alphabet written by Gloria Whelan

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads 2
• Kids Travel Books

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.

20 .) Kamishibai Man written by Allen Say

Lists It Appears On:

• Japan Visitor
• The Barefoot Mommy

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.

19 .) Look What Came from Japan written by Miles Harvey

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads 1
• Kids Travel Books

Describes many things which originated in Japan, including inventions, art, food, fashion, furniture, toys, animals, musical instruments, and sports.

18 .) One Thousand Paper Cranes: The Story of Sadako and the Children’s Peace Statue written by Takayuki Ishii

Lists It Appears On:

• Japan Visitor
• Pragmatic Mom

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.…

17 .) Suki’s Kimono written by Chieri Uegaki

Lists It Appears On:

• Kids Travel Books
• Pragmatic Mom

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.

16 .) Sumo Boy written by Hirotaka Nakagawa

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads 2
• Japan Visitor

Sumo Boy saves a girl from a bully using real sumo wrestling moves.

15 .) Tea With Milk written by Allen Say

Lists It Appears On:

• Pragmatic Mom
• Starts At Eight

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.

14 .) The Last Kappa of Old Japan: A Magical Journey of Two Friends written by Sunny Seki

Lists It Appears On:

• All Done Monkey
• Pragmatic Mom

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.…

13 .) The Sound of Silence written by Katrina Goldsaito and Julie Kuo

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads 2
• The Barefoot Mommy

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.…

12 .) Wabi Sabi written by Mark Reibstein and Ed Young

Lists It Appears On:

• Read Brightly
• The Barefoot Mommy

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.

11 .) Yoko’s Paper Cranes written by Rosemary Wells

Lists It Appears On:

• All Done Monkey
• Pragmatic Mom

When Yoko moves from Japan to California, she decides to make and send origami swans to her grandmother for her birthday.

10 .) All About Japan: Stories, Songs, Crafts, and More written by Willamarie Moore

Lists It Appears On:

• All Done Monkey
• Kids Travel Books
• Starts At Eight

Contains illustrated stories, songs, recipes, and instructions for crafts and activities to introduce children to Japanese history and culture.

9 .) Japanese Traditions: Rice Cakes, Cherry Blossoms and Matsuri: A Year of Seasonal Japanese Festivities written by Setsu Broderick

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads 1
• Kids Travel Books
• Starts At Eight

Examines Japanese culture and family.

8 .) My Awesome Japan Adventure written by Rebecca Otowa

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads 2
• Kids Travel Books
• Starts At Eight

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…

7 .) My Japan written by Etsuko Watanabe

Lists It Appears On:

• All Done Monkey
• Goodreads 1
• Kids Travel Books

7-year-old Yumi shows what his life is like in the suburbs of Tokyo.

6 .) Once Upon A Time in Japan written by Japan Broadcasting Corporation NHK

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads 2
• Japan Visitor
• Starts At Eight

These 8 Japanese folktales are illustrated by some of the best artists in Japan.

5 .) The Peace Tree from Hiroshima: The Little Bonsai with a Big Story written by Sandra Moore

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads 2
• Pragmatic Mom
• Starts At Eight

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

4 .) The Way We Do It In Japan written by Geneva Cobb Iijima

Lists It Appears On:

• All Done Monkey
• Kids Travel Books
• Starts At Eight

Gregory experiences a new way of life when he moves to Japan with his American mother and his Japanese father.

3 .) Tokyo Friends written by Betty Reynolds

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads 2
• Kids Travel Books
• Pragmatic Mom

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.

2 .) Guri and Gura written by Rieko Nakagawa

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Riot
• Fluent U
• Goodreads 2
• Japan Visitor

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.

1 .) I Live in Tokyo written by Mari Takabayashi

Lists It Appears On:

• Kids Travel Books
• Pragmatic Mom
• Starts At Eight
• The Barefoot Mommy

Seven-year-old Mimiko shows the reader what Tokyo is like, then Japanese festivals from each month are depicted.

The 175+ Additional Best Kids Books About Japan

12 Best Children’s Japan Book Sources/Lists