On the road less traveled in Japan

I enjoyed reading the article about Tohoku [“The Poetic Soul of Tohoku,” Postcard From Japan, Aug. 14]. It made me think of a book I just read by Isabella Bird called “Unbeaten Tracks in Japan,” describing her exploration of the country in 1879.

She was a single English woman traveling alone, except for a young male interpreter, and she had amazing adventures in out-of-the-way places. I think it would be very interesting for someone to retrace her steps to see what the towns and villages she visited are like now, more than 125 years later.

ALISON DAVIS