French author Julien Mentzer is a huge fan of Japan, and shared with Zooming Japan his longtime admiration for the nation's culture, history, and more specifically—its castles!

His published book, Japanese Castles – A Backpacker’s Guide, takes us on a journey to some of Japan's most historical castles and also acts as a printed version of his TV documentary, Balade du Sakura, which also beautifully showcases these historical sites (see teaser above).

Be sure to visit Zooming Japan below for the full interview with Mentzer, as he offers some great tips for your future Japanese castle exploration!