Travel can sometimes point us in the right direction in life. Through the process of traveling, we ask ourselves which path we should take. Instead of focusing on glamorous destinations, travel often emphasizes the journey itself. Alone, on unfamiliar roads, we come face-to-face with ourselves.
사진 확대 Tokyo, Japan / Photo = Unsplash
Book Travel Book introduces the Tokyo travelogue of an author who has lived as an introvert for 40 years.
An Introvert’s Tokyo by Kim Sin-hoe | Yeoreumsaram Publishing
사진 확대 Photo = Yeoreumsaram Publishing
Even those who live alone need time for themselves. The book ‘An Introvert’s Tokyo’ is a travel essay that quietly reminds us of this simple yet easily forgotten truth.
Kim Sin-hoe, who resonated with many readers through ‘Glad to Live Like Bonobono’ and ‘Anyway, Summer,’ returns to the theme of Tokyo nearly 20 years after her 2007 work ‘Tokyo Single Table.’
Since her twenties, the author has traveled to Tokyo alone. Now, as a full-time writer of 20 years and an introvert of 40 years, she explores the city in her own unique way.
Instead of visiting every tourist attraction, she makes choices only possible when alone—selecting accommodations, spending quiet mornings in parks, browsing bookstores and food halls, and finding peaceful running routes.
The Tokyo depicted in this book is not a city of flashy consumption, but a living space where comfort can be found in the familiar.
사진 확대 Photo = Yeoreumsaram Publishing
‘An Introvert’s Tokyo’ is not just a travel guide. Rather than using YouTube, the author chooses to write, sharing the texture of her journey in light and honest prose, much like a vlog.
Moments like tasting dessert at a long-standing anmitsu shop, eating breakfast while gazing at greenery in a park, or lingering in a bookstore surrounded by the scent of paper become both scenes from her travels and opportunities for reflection.
The scenery encountered on her journey naturally leads to thoughts about daily life with her dog, accepting herself, and candid confessions about alcohol and shyness.
Scenes of attending comedy shows or anonymous gatherings in Tokyo reveal how introverts summon courage when needed. The book’s core message is conveyed through a quiet yet resolute attitude and a willingness to gently expand one’s boundaries. The author notes that a few days in Tokyo provide the strength to return to everyday life.
사진 확대 Photo = Yeoreumsaram Publishing
‘An Introvert’s Tokyo’ becomes a friendly guide for first-time visitors to Tokyo and a companion that resonates with those who have been there many times.
Above all, this book offers those in need of solitude the possibility of living a few days as they wish. The essay calmly demonstrates that quiet journeys ultimately make life stronger.
※ ‘Book Travel Book’ is an ambitious project to gather and introduce every ‘travel book’ scattered across the world. We welcome both professional publishers and individual travelers’ works. From travel guidebooks to essays and photobooks, any topic is welcome. If you want to share a book about travel, knock on the door of ‘Book Travel Book.’
Jang Juyeong
This article has been translated by GripLabs Mingo AI.
AloJapan.com