In the late 19th century, Isabella Lucy Bird, a well-traveled Englishwoman, journeyed to northern Japan and explored the remote regions of Hokkaido on horseback. This book is her account of that journey, including descriptions of the aboriginal Ainu people and the Shinto shrines of Nikkô and Isé. The book is a fascinating glimpse into a Japan that is now largely lost to history. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.