A year in Japan
Kate T. Williamson

This book is a collection of an illustrator's drawings from the year she spent in Kyoto, Japan. Unlike many other books about Japan this gives you a different angle of the country, of things that rarely come across the mind. A delightful read.

Geisha, A Life
Mineko Iwasaki

Mineko Iwasaki was a famous geisha in Japan. Adopted by Madame Oiwa, owner of a geisha house, she began to study the art of traditional Japanese dance in the early years of her life. This book is her autobiography of her life as a geisha. Part of the filmatized book Memoirs of a Geisha is also based on her life.

Harumi's Japanese Cooking
Harumi Kurihara

With a combination of easy to follow instructions and vibrant photos this books is a good start for Japanese cuisine. An useful detail is the Ingredients Note in some recipes that will suggest replacements of hard-to-get Japanese ingredients and other interesting information about common ingredients in Japanese cooking. The book is divided into following categories: Appetizers & Entrées, Soup & Noodles, Rice, Tofu, Seafood, Chicken & Egg, Beef & Pork, Sushi, Vegetables and Desserts & Drinks.

Genki 1: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese 1
Japan Times

This is the textbook I use in my Japanese course. Numerous universities in the world are using this textbook for their Japanese courses. It can be hard to find though. If your local bookstore doesn't have it there are second hand books at Amazon.com . Otherwise the only online bookstore that offer the book is Japanese Amazon. They have the best price, but the shipping can cost as much as the book depending on where you live.

Essential Kanji: 2,000 Basic Japanese Characters Systematically Arranged For Learning And Reference
P.G. O'Neill

Remembering the Kanji: A Complete Course on How Not to Forget the Meaning and Writing of Japanese Characters
James W. Heisig

A Reference Grammar of Japanese
Samuel E. Martin

This is the bible of Japanese grammar. It can be a bit hard navigated though, but when mastered it is a useful tool for the intermediate Japanese student.

Lonely Planet Japan
Chris Rowthorn, Ray Bartlett, Justin Ellis

Japanese: Lonely Planet Phrasebook
Yoshi Abe

Frommer's Japan
Beth Reiber, Janie Spencer

Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art
Shizuo Tsuji, Yoshiki Tsuji

Bento Boxes: Japanese Meals on the Go
Naomi Kijima

Washoku: Recipes From The Japanese Home Kitchen
Elizabeth Andoh

The Japanese Have a Word for It: The Complete Guide to Japanese Thought and Culture
Boye Lafayette De Mente