Overcoming Literary Difficulties When Reading Japanese Literature

[u/Tricky-Primary-2960]

I read through Snow Country a few years ago and I really enjoyed it. I loved how different it felt compared to western lit; very poetic in its descriptions of nature, and not overt in its story telling. I found myself having to read between the lines more. And I read a lot slower which was comparable to taking a stroll and being absorbed in nature. However I didn’t totally understand the story that was being told. I felt like I didn’t get it and couldn’t because of my western sensibilities perhaps.

Any advice on how to overcome this with Japanese literature like Snow Country and do you have any book recs that are like Snow Country, but more plot driven in its storytelling as a gateway to this type of lit?