Early Japan: the Jômon, Yayoi, Tumulus, Asuka, and Nara periods
Courtly Japan: the Heian period and after
Samurai Japan: the Kamakura and Muromachi periods
Merchant Japan: the Momoyama and Edo (Tokugawa) periods
Suggested further readings in western languages.
Traditional Japanese arts and culture : an illustrated sourcebook. ISBN 9780824820183. Published by University of Hawai'i Press in 2006. Publication and catalogue information, links to buy online and reader comments.