How literature can lead us to unexpected discoveries
We live in an era of algorithmic itineraries. With a single swipe, we are inundated with trending reels, viral travel hacks, and identical photos of the exact same viewpoints. But when every destination is pre-screened and pre-filtered, we risk losing the rarest, most magical part of travel: the joy of pure, unexpected discovery. If you want to truly discover a country, you don’t need a newer app. You probably just need a book, or a film.
Travelling through literature is about more than just reading on a plane. It is about letting a story plant a seed in your imagination, allowing a destination to emerge in your mind long before you ever buy a plane ticket. When we travel with a personal purpose, we connect with a place on a much deeper, more meaningful level.
A tram ride into the past
My own obsession with literary travel started entirely by accident. When I was 19, working at a law library job and looking for an escape, I picked up Natsume Sōseki’s classic satirical novel, Botchan. I devoured it at my desk, laughing at the misadventures of its young protagonist.
Fast forward two years later: through a twist of fate (a story for another day!), I found myself working in Tokyo for the summer. My father was coming to visit for a couple of weeks at the end of my two months at the French Institute, and I was tasked with planning a trip for us. As I stared at the map of Japan, Botchan suddenly flashed through my mind. I decided on a whim to head to the remote city where the book is set: Matsuyama, on the island of Shikoku.
I can safely say I would never have discovered this fantastic city so early in my life if it hadn't been for that book. Arriving in Matsuyama felt like stepping through a portal. The historic trams described by Sōseki over a century ago were still rattling down the streets; riding them, I half-expected the main character to sit down right next to me. We visited Dōgo Onsen, a bathhouse so ancient and surreal it felt entirely removed from reality. The whole trip made us feel as though we were travelling back in time.
That first encounter with a city that had previously only existed in my mind changed everything. Ever since, I select my reading material with meticulous care whenever I am in Japan - or when I simply want to visit Japan in my mind. Books open doors to hidden, unexpected places that would never make it onto a standard "Top 10" tourist list.
The Cinematic Lens
Of course, literature isn't the only medium that can guide us. Cinema holds the exact same power. Recently, I was having lunch with a friend who was planning her own journey to Japan. She told me she was a massive fan of the legendary filmmaker Ozu Yasujirō since she was young. Inspired by the atmospheric, quiet beauty of his films, she chose to book a night at a traditional ryokan tucked away in the mountains of Nagano. Through her love of film, she discovered a wonderful, serene pocket of the country she otherwise would have skipped.
But ultimately, why do we travel?
Ultimately, we all travel for something. Whether we are searching for a piece of ourselves, looking for a shift in perspective, or simply trying to reconnect with the raw joy of discovery, we are seeking meaning.
Books and films are the perfect companions for that quest. They give us a personal purpose. The next time you find yourself planning a journey, step away from the trending reels for an afternoon. Pick up a novel or remember something from long ago, and let the story guide you to your next unexpected destination.
