It's hard to believe, but it was one year ago today that we boarded our flight at Narita and left Tokyo for Dallas. I long had my eye on "Tokyo Sampo," and illustrated memoir of French author Florent Chavouet's time in Tokyo. The timing couldn't have been more perfect when I spotted the English version at the airport bookstore before heading through security. It was the perfect airplane reading as I took off for the States after 9 years in Japan.

For anyone who has enjoyed a trip to Japan or is just planning a trip for "someday," this book is a wonderful peek into different neighborhoods and details of daily life in Japan. For a map-lover like me, I can pore over these illustrations for hours.

Our old neighborhood in Tokyo wasn't featured specifically in the book, but there are many vignettes that could have been drawn just down the street from where we lived. Just looking back on these drawings and re-reading my favorite sections has me ready to book a trip back to visit! One of these days...

If you're interested in seeing more of Florent Chavouet's work, I recommend taking a peek at his blog (bonus French practice for Francophiles like me!). Otherwise, just go ahead and pick up a copy of this book for yourself! You won't regret it.