Pre-order
1
of
1
Osaka Story
A Guide to the City's Best Cultural Hangouts, Shops, Bars and Eateries
Brief Description
Osaka is emerging from the shadows of Tokyo and Kyoto as a city that knows how to laugh, eat well and throw a great party. Rowdy, messy and always hungry, it manages to embody Japan's alluring spirit while redefining it for a new era. Osaka Story...
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$3999
$4499
Elsewhere:
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Pre-order
Releases
6th
January 2027
(Approx. Date)
Pre-order "Osaka Story" now to secure your copy from our first shipment
Found a better price? Request a price match
Osaka Story
$3999
$4499
Elsewhere:
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Latest News
TV Show Review on: Carrie
Liam's Review Carrie 26’Carrie has been on my radar for a while now, probably my...
The Struggle of Working Somewhere That Sells Beautiful Books
The problem is…I work in the cutest little (I said what I said) bookshop and...
New Releases to add to your TBR this week (12th October)
There's new dark romance from one of our favourites, the brand new US edition of...
Recent Releases I Would Add to My Classroom Library
Lizzy is rounding up a bunch of the recent children's releases that she thinks would...
Anthony Byrt visits Book Hero
We were lucky enough to hear from author Anthony Byrt as he was going to...
See more
Discover the best of Osaka in this vibrant travel guide to Japan's food capital, featuring the city's top cultural attractions, hidden gems, neighbourhoods, shops, bars and eateries.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
Osaka is emerging from the shadows of Tokyo and Kyoto as a city that knows how to laugh, eat well and throw a great party. Rowdy, messy and always hungry, it manages to embody Japan's alluring spirit while redefining it for a new era.
Osaka Story captures that identity – from temple to takoyaki stall – giving readers a multifaceted and immersive Osaka experience.
This book explores Osaka not just as a destination, but as a living narrative of Japan’s history and humour, and a centre of innovation. Each themed chapter tells the tale of Osaka's rich history, culture, and flavour to give you the full travel experience. Through storytelling, a curated list of must-visit places and stunning imagery, Osaka Story will act as both travel inspiration and a practical guide to the city for those planning their first visit, or returning to uncover more.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781741179637
Publisher: Hardie Grant Explore
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 02 February 2027
Country: Australia
Imprint: Hardie Grant Explore
Illustration: Full-colour Photography and Illustrations
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 170.0mm
Height: 210.0mm
Weight: 0g
Pages: 224
About the Author
Steve Wide and Michelle Mackintosh have been obsessed with Japan since their first visit in the late 1990s. Based in Melbourne, Australia, they now call Japan their 'home away from home', spending at least three months of the year there. Michelle is a book and stationery designer, and illustrator. She has won numerous book design and graphic design awards both in Australia and internationally. Michelle has written multiple books on analogue correspondence and sustainable gift giving, she has a wrapping paper range sold in Japan and her work has been exhibited in Tokyo. Steve has a masters in creative writing and has written over 20 books. He is also a DJ with an indie radio show on 3RRR FM in Melbourne. He has toured with international bands and interviewed many music icons. Together, they have written, designed and illustrated over 10 books on Japan, some of which have been translated into multiple languages.
Also by Michelle Mackintosh
View all-
Tokyo Story
Tokyo Story is your guide to a truly surprising city. Japan's capital is a buzzing metropolis that may seem immense, but look close and you'll find it's made up of smaller neighbourhoods, each with their own unique feel. Each themed chapter of this guide tells the tale of Tokyo's rich history, culture, and flavour to give you the full travel...Paperback$3599Elsewhere:$4499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Hidden Pockets in Kyoto
Hidden Pockets in Kyoto is your guide to losing yourself in this Japanese city that seamlessly intertwines modern and traditional influences. Whether you’re satisfying your tastebuds in contemporary cafes, wandering among the untarnished architecture of Gion, or heading back in time while visiting ancient temples and shrines, Kyoto is a captivating city to explore. Curated by authors Steve Wide and Michelle Mackintosh, who...Paperback$4899Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Fuzzy Feelings
Just like felt, our feelings can often get a little fuzzy. Fuzzy Feelings follows the story of Little Cat who is experiencing lots of emotions as they navigate their way through the day. Cat wonders, am I happy? Am I sad? Am I confused? It's hard to express how they are feeling. As you turn the pages of the book...Hardback$5500Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
Japan
There is something about Japan that works its way into every fibre of your being. No matter how many times you visit, you'll always uncover new experiences and life-altering adventures. Pack your bags and travel with us to a country rich in cultural history and full of fascinating contrasts, from the frantic pace of Tokyo and Osaka, to the wintry...Paperback$4999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
DayTripper: Tokyo
Escape the city with more than 50 day trips from Tokyo, and discover Japan’s hidden treasures, including nature, history, food and drink, and more. Japan is the world’s most popular tourist destination, with most visitors flocking to Tokyo to see the sights, experience the culture and eat incredible food. But just beyond the fringes of Tokyo, the rest of Japan...Paperback$3999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Mindfulness Travel Japan
Mindfulness Travel Japan is the perfect travel guide to Japan when you need to breathe, pause, focus, and relax. Are you looking to step back from the stress of daily life on your next holiday? In this guide, Japan travel connoisseurs Steve Wide and Michelle Mackintosh offer a selection of some of the most relaxing and mindful destinations and experiences...Paperback$4899Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Onsen of Japan
Discard both your clothes and daily cares and enjoy a time-honoured bathing ritual with Onsen of Japan. For thousands of years, Japanese hot springs (or onsen) have been revered for their relaxing and healing qualities, and this guidebook highlights 140 of the very best places for tourists to visit around the country. Onsen experiences include super sento (large bathing and...Paperback$4899Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Tokyo
Visiting Tokyo, whether for the first, second, or hundredth time, is a life-changing experience. As a city, it's dynamic, exciting, and resolutely individual—a mesmerising and unrivalled parade of fashion, design, architecture, and high culture experiences and, of course, the best pop culture in the world. It's also a city of fascinating contrasts; whether you're standing in the middle of the...Paperback$2999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Train Japan
See the land of the rising sun from the rails in Train Japan, the perfect guide to travelling Japan by locomotive. Seasoned Japan lovers Steve Wide and Michelle Mackintosh bring you their expert advice on the best way to get around this country, including day trips, multi-day train journeys and even themed itineraries for crafty folk, foodies or pop culture...Paperback$4499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Pretend You're in Tokyo
The ultimate armchair travel guide to recreating an authentic Japanese experience at home. Tokyo is one of the most vibrant and fascinating cities in the world; a place where traditional gardens and temples are set against neon jungles and looming skyscrapers. One visit to this electric, eclectic metropolis is sure to leave a lasting impression, but how to bring that...HardbackSold Out
Also by Steve Wide
View all-
Tokyo Story
Tokyo Story is your guide to a truly surprising city. Japan's capital is a buzzing metropolis that may seem immense, but look close and you'll find it's made up of smaller neighbourhoods, each with their own unique feel. Each themed chapter of this guide tells the tale of Tokyo's rich history, culture, and flavour to give you the full travel...Paperback$3599Elsewhere:$4499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Hidden Pockets in Kyoto
Hidden Pockets in Kyoto is your guide to losing yourself in this Japanese city that seamlessly intertwines modern and traditional influences. Whether you’re satisfying your tastebuds in contemporary cafes, wandering among the untarnished architecture of Gion, or heading back in time while visiting ancient temples and shrines, Kyoto is a captivating city to explore. Curated by authors Steve Wide and Michelle Mackintosh, who...Paperback$4899Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Japan
There is something about Japan that works its way into every fibre of your being. No matter how many times you visit, you'll always uncover new experiences and life-altering adventures. Pack your bags and travel with us to a country rich in cultural history and full of fascinating contrasts, from the frantic pace of Tokyo and Osaka, to the wintry...Paperback$4999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
DayTripper: Tokyo
Escape the city with more than 50 day trips from Tokyo, and discover Japan’s hidden treasures, including nature, history, food and drink, and more. Japan is the world’s most popular tourist destination, with most visitors flocking to Tokyo to see the sights, experience the culture and eat incredible food. But just beyond the fringes of Tokyo, the rest of Japan...Paperback$3999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Mindfulness Travel Japan
Mindfulness Travel Japan is the perfect travel guide to Japan when you need to breathe, pause, focus, and relax. Are you looking to step back from the stress of daily life on your next holiday? In this guide, Japan travel connoisseurs Steve Wide and Michelle Mackintosh offer a selection of some of the most relaxing and mindful destinations and experiences...Paperback$4899Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Onsen of Japan
Discard both your clothes and daily cares and enjoy a time-honoured bathing ritual with Onsen of Japan. For thousands of years, Japanese hot springs (or onsen) have been revered for their relaxing and healing qualities, and this guidebook highlights 140 of the very best places for tourists to visit around the country. Onsen experiences include super sento (large bathing and...Paperback$4899Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Tokyo
Visiting Tokyo, whether for the first, second, or hundredth time, is a life-changing experience. As a city, it's dynamic, exciting, and resolutely individual—a mesmerising and unrivalled parade of fashion, design, architecture, and high culture experiences and, of course, the best pop culture in the world. It's also a city of fascinating contrasts; whether you're standing in the middle of the...Paperback$2999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Train Japan
See the land of the rising sun from the rails in Train Japan, the perfect guide to travelling Japan by locomotive. Seasoned Japan lovers Steve Wide and Michelle Mackintosh bring you their expert advice on the best way to get around this country, including day trips, multi-day train journeys and even themed itineraries for crafty folk, foodies or pop culture...Paperback$4499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks
More from Travel & Adventure
View all-
19% offThe Salt Path
The bestselling true story of the couple who lost everything and embarked on a journey not of escape but salvation, soon to be a major motion picture starring Golden Globe winning Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs. Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years, is terminally ill, the couple lose their home and their livelihood. With...Paperback$2200Elsewhere:$3000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Abroad in Japan
The hilarious number one bestselling memoir from YouTube sensation Chris Broad, a Brit trying to assimilate into life in Japan as he unravels the wonders and eccentricities of one of the world's most mysterious cultures. When Englishman Chris Broad landed in a rural village in northern Japan, he wondered if he'd made a huge mistake. With no knowledge of the...Paperback$2500Elsewhere:$3000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Cat's Tales
Once upon a time, the enchanting creature that is the cat infiltrated our lives – and our folklore. Cats have a long association with the supernatural – from being worshipped as gods in ancient Egypt to vilified as witches’ familiars in Europe – and they appear in countless fairy tales throughout history. Every part of the world has its own...Hardback$2899Elsewhere:$3799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Penguin Lessons
Now a major film, this is the true story of an unlikely friendship between a flightless bird and a teacher out of his depth. When schoolteacher Tom Michell pulls a penguin from an oil slick off the coast of Uruguay, he has no idea what to do. Back at his apartment, Tom cleans him, but upon returning to the beach,...Paperback$2400Elsewhere:$3000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Free Gift17% offLonely Planet Pocket Lisbon
Lonely Planet's Pocket Lisbon is your guide to the city's best experiences and local life - neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Experience the city's most scenic tram routes, find the best pastéis de nata and discover the winding backstreets of Alfama; all with your trusted travel companion. Uncover the best of Lisbon and make the most of your trip! Inside Lonely Planet's...Paperback$1900Elsewhere:$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Cozy Bookshops: Colouring Book
Cozy Bookshops—your ultimate escape into a world of bookish bliss and mindful relaxation in 46 adorable scenes, from the coziest book nooks. Wander labyrinthine bookshelves, sink into soft armchairs by roaring fireplaces, and lose yourself in snug, atmospheric corners. Escape, relax, and unwind with this colouring book for all skill levels and bring your own personality. The possibilities are endless!...Paperback$2000Elsewhere:$2299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Free Gift17% off
Lonely Planet Pocket Porto
Lonely Planet's Pocket Porto is your guide to the city's best experiences and local life, neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Experience the historic Se cathedral, marvel at the stunning Palacio da Bolsa, and visit peacocks in Jardim do Palacio de Cristal, all with your trusted travel companion. Uncover the best of Porto and make the most of your trip! Inside Lonely Planet's...Paperback$1900Elsewhere:$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Auto Biography
From one of the world's most popular motor journalists, a highly entertaining, clued-up and panoramic guide to cars. A highly entertaining, clued-up and panoramic guide to cars by Mat Watson, the world's most followed car journalist on social media. Mat Watson knows everything there is to know about cars. In his 25-year career as a motor journalist, he has driven...Hardback$4600Elsewhere:$6000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Around the World in 80 Trains
WINNER OF THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER AWARD FOR BEST TRAVEL BOOK SHORTLISTED FOR THE STANFORD DOLMAN TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 'Monisha Rajesh has chosen one of the best ways of seeing the world. Never too fast, never too slow, her journey does what trains do best. Getting to the heart of things. Prepare for a very fine ride'...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Free GiftLonely Planet Norway
Lonely Planet's local travel experts reveal all you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime to Norway. Discover popular and off the beaten track experiences from watching walruses lolling and hunting in Borebukta to hiking in the remote causeway of Ekkerøy in Finnmark, and road tripping along the Lofoten Islands to admire villages replete with traditional fishing...Paperback$3999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Free Gift17% offLonely Planet Pocket Paris
Lonely Planet's Pocket Paris is your guide to the city's best experiences and local life - neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Wonder at the city's museums and architecture, stroll through the Pere Lachaise, and dine on rich French cuisine; all with your trusted travel companion. Uncover the best of Paris and make the most of your trip! Inside Lonely Planet's Pocket Paris:...Paperback$1900Elsewhere:$2499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Free Gift
Lonely Planet Thailand
Lonely Planet's local travel experts reveal all you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime to Thailand. Discover popular and off-the-beaten-track experiences, from sinking your toes into the soft white sand of Ko Lipe's Sunrise Beach to slurping boat noodles with locals at food stands in Ayuthaya, and spotting wild elephants on a night safari at Khao...Paperback$4100Elsewhere:$4499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
Travel & Adventure lists from the team
Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!
