The Roads to Sata (1985) Alan Booth
 

Is anyone familiar with the 1985 travel diary "The Roads to Sata" by Alan Booth.

The diary details Booth's journey by foot from Cape Soya in Hokkaido (the northernmost point of Japan) to Cape Sata in Kyushu (the southernmost point of Japan, barring Okinawa), travelling along the country's western shoreline.
Apparently the journey was around 2,000 miles and took him 128 days to complete.

While the author himself has published other travel diaries (until his death in 1993), has anyone ever tried to re-enact this trip in modern time?

I haven't heard of anyone else who has tried to hike the entire distance, though a few TV shows have documented people hiking smaller stages. The hike is tough, and few people are about to help if you get into trouble.

I do know one person who spends his vacation driving around Hokkaido every summer, and photographing his experiences. Unfortunately, he keeps his photos to himself. If you were interested in seeing Hokkaido, a rental car is the best way. The roads are not bad in the summer, and even from the windows of a car, the view is quite good.

If you were thinking of hiking along the coast, you should come with at least one friend. It is safer, and also makes things easier.