Isabella Bird's 1878 expedition through Japan, chronicled in 'Unbeaten Tracks in Japan,' immerses readers in an extraordinary odyssey across the seldom-explored territories of Japan's remote northern and central regions. Breaking away from conventional travel narratives, Bird adopts an unconventional prose style, crafting a captivating tale of her off-the-beaten-path escapades. Rather than confining herself to the urban bustle, Bird ventures deep...