No comments about The Rough Guide to Japan Fourth Edition (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

5 comments about Japanese: Lonely Planet Phrasebook.

1. I bought this on my first flight back from Japan after taking my first semester in Japanese. I thought that it supplied a ton of useful auxillary vocabulary to run with at the level of grammar I was capable of using. The book also has many slight mistakes, even I, a first year student, was able to pick out. It's got a few cute but dumb, potentially racist but we'll say ignorant drawings included. But so few that it cues one in as to how cheaply produced this probably was. I give it three stars though because I learned it forward and backward and broke it out numerous times to meet my needs in bars and train stations (never in restaurants for some reasons). And, to get me comic leverage in many conversations where I was not privy to the Japanese side of the chatter.



2. I found this very easy to understand, as did my husband who had no prior knowledge of the Japanese language. I read it many times before our trip, in order to remember important basic words.
   We referred to it many times during our trip, and it was very usefull. I would suggest everyone purchase it.
   Its small size is also great, easy to put in a pocket, backpack or handbag.



3. I feel this book is not only usefull for comunication with other people during my travel but also very well prepare to be user friendly. It was exellent in my trip to Japan have it with me.



4. Just like I said. The first part of this phrasebook helps you understand grammar, small phrases, and many words, but after that it just tells you a lot of the things like sentences and more questions and answers.
   
   I recommend this if you are travelling, but if you are just trying to learn the language, I would not recommend it because it's hard to remember all of the questions, answers, and phrases it contains from about the 1/4 to the end of the book.
   
   But it was really good in explaining grammar, pronouns, and many other things. So buy it if you want.



5. This book was invaluable to us in Japan. The size made it easy to carry around and it had all of the basic words and phrases that we needed to communicate. (We did supplement with a English-Japanese dictionary for some words, so that's why I've given it 4 stars instead of 5.)
   
   The English was spelled out to make it easier to pronounce the Japanese words. In cases when I butchered the pronounciation and was not understood, I could show the book to someone who would read the Kanji symbols to see what I was trying to say.
   
   The book was organized in a way that made it easy to find the phrase you were looking for. I bookmarked frequently used pages so I could access them even quicker. This was definitely a great reference for traveling to Japan.

5 comments about Grandfather's Journey (Caldecott Medal Book).

1. Allen Say's autobiographical Grandfather's Journey's beautiful illustrations won the Caldecott Medal, but that is only half the reason to recommend this book. This story is about a Japanese man struggling over what his home is--the United States or Japan.
   When he is almost an adult, a young man (who would be Say's grandfather) moves to North America. He travels all over the United States (depicted in the illustrations) and falls in love with San Francisco. He briefly returns to Japan for his childhood love, then returns to San Francisco. Together they have a daughter and are living happily, but the grandfather becomes homesick for the mountain, rivers and friends of Japan. We see him surrounded by his songbirds in American clothes wishing for his home. Finally, when his daughter is almost grown, he returns to Japan. He laughs with his friends in his home village and for a time is happy. But his daughter had spent all her life in San Francisco and was not meant for the small village, so her father buys her a house in a city. She marries an untraditional man and has a son.
   But the father wishes for San Francisco. We see, as his grandson saw, him surrounded by songbirds and the things he loves, dressed in the traditional Japanese dress, wishing for his home in San Francisco. He plans to return to North America.
   Unfortunately, World War II begins and destroys the city. Grandfather returns to the small village, but never had another songbird. He told his grandson (who is the author and illustrator, Allen Say)that he wished to return to San Francisco one more time. But he died before he had the chance.
   When his granson was nearly an adult, he went to America himself to see what his grandfather had talked about. He falls in love with it, but is homesick. Whenever he visits Japan, however, he longs for San Fransisco. He thinks of his grandfather and understands him more than ever.
   Grandfather's Journey is beautiful, but some young children may not understand the emotions of the characters. Still, Grandfather's Journey is beautiful and deserves to be read by people of all ages.



2. The cover illustration is what initially drew me to this book; watching a young man stand on the deck of a steamship while the wind and waves thrash about. The color of the sea beckoned me to turn the pages and find out more about where this man was going and whether or not he would get there.
   
   Grandfather is a young immigrant traveling from Japan to his new home in America. He journeys all across this land and experiences all aspects of it: cities, farms, mountains, rivers, people, etc. He settles in California but eventually misses his homeland, and travels back to satisfy his longings. Through a series of events, he is unable to make his way back to the West Coast that he loves so much.
   
   My husband and I were in the Navy and lived among people from all over the world. I loved getting to know them and experiencing their ways of life. Understanding how other people around the world think and love and live, has made me a more complete person. It has made me who I am today. In this way I connect with Grandfather and his journeys.



3. This book is a deserving winner of the Caldecott. I was often offended by books that portrayed immigrants as one dimensional in that they were always so glad to arrive in America and never appeared to have feelings for their native country. As an immigrant I know that relocation in America, while often a blessing, comes at a price. Grandfather's Journey is a beautiful book that depicts the struggle of being pulled by love of new and old homelands.



4. What a beautiful book. The illustrations are magnificent and the story itself is amazing. It brought a tear to my eye as I remembered my Nonno.



5. This book that is based on Say's grandfathers voyage from Japan to the United States and back again was released my Houghton Mifflin and is the recipient of the Caldecott Medal in 1994.The setting of the book shifts from a rural Japanese village in the early part of the twentieth century through parts of the United States and back to the cities and villages of Japan. Say has written and illustrated this book that tells the tale of a young man from Japan that sails across the Pacific Ocean to explore the United States. After traveling through the country he is drawn to the coastal shores of California with its strong sunlight and the Sierra Mountains. Shortly after, he returns to his Japanese village to marry his childhood sweetheart and brings her to his new land.
   He settles in San Francisco and they have a baby girl. He never forgot his own childhood in Japan and his old friends and became nostalgic about his own rivers and mountains. When the daughter was grown he could wait no more and they returned to his homeland. The father spent many happy times as his found the rivers and mountains as he had left them. He was able to exchange stories and memories with old friends. The daughter was not happy in this small village and so the father bought a house in a large city nearby where soon the daughter fell in love and married and some time later had a son of her own.
   This young boy is the author of the book and recounts how he loved to spend time with his grandfather and hear stories of California. The grandfather could not forget the mountain of California and soon became anxious to return but war broke out. After the war there was little of the city left so the grandfather traveled back to the village of his childhood. He longed to see California but never got the chance.
   As the boy grew he went to see the California his grandfather had so loved. He came to love the land just as his grandfather did and found that he shared the feelings of his grandfather in that when he was in one land he longed to be in another. Feeling homesick for Japan while in California, he often visits the land of his ancestors to see the mountains and rivers of his childhood. The text in this book parallels the life of Say's grandfather with respect to the journey that brought Say and his family to live in the United States.

5 comments about Pink Box: Inside Japan's Sex Clubs.

1. The Pink Box is about Japan's fantasy and sex clubs. While full of interesting and, sometimes, shocking photos taken while in many of the clubs the book also explains how the clubs work. The rules they follow, the people who work there, the types of people who come to enjoy the clubs and why they survive in Japan in the first place. It is serious but with a touch of humor and great fun.
   And some of the girls are just hot.



2. I have been reading what 1 poster must have spent weeks to write , i bought this book for several reasons and none really for kink,although who doesn't love some fun sex,i have lived in Japan,Korea,China and hope to retire to 1 of those,soon if (my 4 diseases ) bad health allow me,i have been in Major Law Enforcement since i was 15 ,and entertainment the same ,What Joan FORGOT,to include except in an online interview was that SEVERAL of these Beauties are Not Japanese,i know the far east like i do the U.S. trust me ,i work with(not for) some very high ranking folks in certain matters of L.E. ,Japan, actually as we all know has the good ole boys known as the Yakuza folks,slide into Korea ,Hong Kong,and find (by whatever means needed) grab a few ,koreans and chinese to work in these,small hell holes YES;against their will. since they will bring in more customers than the young ladies of Japan ,i will state till my last dying breath that Korea has the most beautiful women period,with China 2nd and Japan tied for 3rd with the U.S. sorry ladies just facts... sorry for the long speech, But here is the problem i have here,why doesn't she do a book on some ladies of the night from the U.S. ,and unlike these girls and women ( a lot,most) will slit your throat ,smile and leave ,so to a small measure i feel a lot of americans are very racist about the home turf..my associates will not like me saying this ,BUT;for that very reason i feel prostitution should be legal in the U.S. and taxable,(maybe).Good photos ,some hotties,some very uglies, but ;entertaining yes ,Japan does need to lighten up on the Japan only rule as ,to say who can go in or not,Korea ,Hong Kong, simply uses forms of bouncers ,But at least americans can get (how do you say) serviced as well.. Nuff said...........



3. A very interesting and fun look into Japan's sex culture. Basically a picture book with small tidbits of info here and there. Lot's of nudity, nothing too graphic though. A quick read and quite an eye opener about what types of clubs there are and what goes on in these clubs. A real shame that as a westener I will never be able to enjoy the wonderful pleasures that this sexually advanced society partakes in. Dont expect too much from the book. It is what it is and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I am very interested in all things Japan though.



4. Great coffee table book! Once you pick it up you can't put it down.
   
   Filled with hundreds of very interesting stories and photographs, this book is great choice for any fan of Japan or erotic photography.



5. I lived in Osaka, Japan for a year back in '93/94 and (being well travelled) I can honestly say that Japanese men are the most strangely deviant gender of anywhere I have encountered. It's not just about the sexual desire, it's about the way they go about it, deny it, suppress it, fantasize about it, and more. During the day, Japanese men come across as robotic, mindless, emotionless, infantile, limp, and the younger guys even "androgenous". They are the least sexual creatures you have ever encountered. BUT, come night-time and with their desperate need for, but extreme chemical intolerance for booze, they metamorphosize into creatures unrecognizable. Most are too scared to do much, so they sing their baseball songs then puke, then collapse in said puke wearing their thin little suits and boring ties. But others, especially those with a little more money and certain connections, do carry out their deviance in spades. I mean this is a country where you can buy "used panties from a junior high school girl" OUT OF A VENDING MACHINE, I kid you not! In many ways, pedophilia in Japan is an ideal in most men's minds, and they nearly faint at the mere idea of lifting up a skirt from some school girl (which is precisely why they are mandated to wear such skirts...), and this ideology is most obviously reflected in all the advertising campaigns plastered everywhere. Pedophilia and subservience everywhere. The only other country that openly promotes pedophilia more than Japan, is Germany. In fact, during the Wars in Europe (and even today) pedophilia is / was referred to as the "German Disease". True story.
   
   My main issue with this account, is how the author managed her contact and access to this strange, but protected World. That seems highly suspicious to me. Because there is one HUGE theme that is left out of this account entirely, and that is high tech MIND CONTROL. And that is precisely why these girls don't complain and are even proud to be involved. And don't think for a second that the girls take home "six figures" a year. They generate much more than that, but their controllers (often Yakuza associated) keep them on a very short leash. The book is an interesting read nonetheless, but doesn't tell us the whole story, but how many books do???

5 comments about Lonely Planet Tokyo Encounter.

1. Tokyo can be really overwhelming because there are a million things to do! This book really helped with highlighting each area of Tokyo as well as providing hours and addresses of the places you want to visit. It also had fantastic suggestions for cheap eats. This author takes you into the back alleys (if you want to go - which you should!) or keeps you in the high class areas of Tokyo for a well rounded trip.
   
   I coupled this book with the Tokyo City Atlas book, which made it possible to understand the crazy mapping system of Tokyo.
   
   Have fun!



2. When we were planning our trip to Japan, we purchased The Rough Guide to Japan and The Lonely Planet Guide to Tokyo. Reading through the Lonely Planet Guide, I found very little that sounded worth doing or seeing. The same items described in The Rough Guide were much more intriguing. So I chose what to see and do based on The Rough Guide.
   Close to the time of our trip, someone who had just been to Japan recommended The Time Out Guide to Tokyo for the maps. But when it came time for planning the details of the tour - where the chosen attractions were located, when they were open, and how to get from here to there, the maps and the details in the descriptions in The Lonely Planet Guide were far more useful than those in the other two books. For practical use, I have given this book four stars.



3. This book needs to come with a free magnifying glass.
   
   I recently purchased the 2007 edition of Tokyo Encounter by Lonely Planet. We will be flying to Tokyo in November, 2007. They condensed the size of this book to fit into a pocket and as a result, the print is tiny and difficult to read. In fact, much of the print actually cannot be read without straining the eyes or needing a magnifying glass. The highlighted areas are shaded in pinks, greens, blues and the print on those shaded areas is ridiculously even more reduced to the point it cannot be read. This book is only for those with 20/10 vision and for those who carry along a pocket magnifying glass. Otherwise, don't spend your money.



4. I had no idea this book was so small until I received it, and I don't mind it at all. I have other Japan travel books by Frommer's and Fodor's so this thin book was a blessing.
   
   Another reviewer mentioned needing a magnifying glass to read, but I can read it fine and so can my husband -- we're twenty-somethings and he wears glasses -- so I think that if you have grandchildren or existing eyesight problems then yes, it might be an issue.
   
   For me, the bright colors behind the text were no problem. I love how colorful everything is -- EVERY page is in color. Great photos and summaries of the top "must do" attractions.
   
   The descriptions are short to keep the size of the book down, but they list all essential info: name in english AND hiragana/kanji/katakana (really handy!), address, hours of operation, admission fees (if applicable), a URL if they have one and what train to take to what stop and even what exit to use from the station. AWESOME.
   
   The only blemish on this otherwise amazing book is the foldout map. Mind you the map itself is helpful as heck, what with the Tokyo subway system map included, close-ups of three popular neighborhoods, every sight listed in the book listed on the map with appropriate designations (a2, d4, etc), and even helpful phrases such as "hello" and "two beers please." However, the perforation on my copy was poor and the map was glued in VERY crooked. While trying to carefully pull the map out like was intended, it pulled the cover from the back of the book. I should have just cut it with scissors in retrospect, but that was the point of the map: to pull it out easily. When I got it loose, it was difficult to pull the excess paper from the perforation. So just cut out your map out of your copy of the book and you won't have any problems!
   
   Oh, and the super-glossy parts of the front and back covers are just slick as hell.



5. First of all let me say that I do love this book. Next time I head to Tokyo, it will be in my bag. That said, I think the book could have gone a bit better in actually making a specific Akihabara section of the book, as it is, Akihabara is kind of mashed into the rest of Tokyo when it is a very distinct part of the town with excellent shopping opportunities. Mentioning what goes on in Akihabara on Sunday would be good too. Having a section on cheap eats would be good too, most of the places listed in the book are all higher class. Having some of the little one counter shops listed where you buy a ticket to select your meal would make it a bit more of a fun book.

5 comments about Tokyo City Atlas: A Bilingual Guide (3rd Ed.).

1. This was the most useful thing I brought to Tokyo. I used it every day I was there, and the bilingual feature came in handy considering many fare charts and train stations don't have the Anglicized spellings of routes/stations prominently displayed.
   
   It was most useful when I found my train line unexpectedly delayed/indefinitely shut-down one evening and had to find my way to the next station to get home. Or when I thought Yoyogi Park looked like a short walk from the top of the Met. Gov't Building and took off on foot, only to get a very interesting route through several wards before finding the park. Even though I was quite off course, the map was accurate, reflected the landmarks (good luck finding a named street), and made getting around easy. I got lost but could always reference the map and find my way home.
   
   My only criticism is that it did not go into much detail beyond central Tokyo and I spent some time in outlying areas. Obviously it's a large city and hard to pack so much into a still-portable book, but something of the suburbs would be nice in future editions.



2. A very handy guide that helped me navigate my way around Tokyo's labyrinth streets. A great deal of work went into this book and it is truly helpful in areas where there isn't an English translation on the signage. Although I have to say, that during my recent trip to Japan, any time I looked down at my directions or map a native would approach me to help me with directions. Even if they couldn't speak a word of English they would work through it to send you off in the right direction. In spite of my good fortune to run into so many helpful people, having the book was my security blanket. I'm buying a copy for a friend who travels to Japan quite often as I'm sure they will find it a lifesaver.



3. Tokyo is incredible but difficult to navigate unless you have an accurate and detailed map. These maps contain all the essentials, even the subway exits. Even after many years living in Tokyo, I never go beyond my neighborhood without this book. I've tried most tourist maps of Tokyo but at best they provide an approximate guide. This book can prevent spending thirty minutes trying to find the correct exit out of Shinjuku station or walking a kilometer out of the way after surfacing at the wrong exit. Major landmarks are also labeled in English so you can remember what it's like to be literate.



4. Is this the best bilingual atlas out there? Probably so. However, at 8.2 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches, it's slim, but extremely wide and tall. This is unfortunate, as it makes it so it does not fit into your pocket or a small purse.
   
   Admittedly it's easier to read, but often times, you're having to open this up in cramped quarters (of which there are plenty in Japan), and it's a lot more convenient to pull this out of a pocket vs a backpack in a congested area. There are several pocketable Tokyo atlases written in Japanese only, and it's a shame they don't have a bilingual edition of those, as it would be a lot easier to carry.
   
   At 5 years old, it's a bit outdated, as a good chunk of the city has changed already. It's a shame that they don't update this at least once every 2 years. Still, a must-buy if you plan on going solo or off the beaten path. If you plan on hanging out with a tour group or locals, it's unlikely that you'll need this.



5. I cannot recommend this atlas more. The level of detail is absolutely necessary in a city where the street number cannot be relied on for a buildings location. Until 1957, address street numbers were assigned in chronologic order, not geographic

5 comments about Etiquette Guide to Japan: Know the Rules...that Make the Difference.

1. While this book was interesting, it was not essential. When traveling to Japan it is important to study their etiquette, however most good travel books do as well.



2. I ordered this book for my grandaughter who was moving to Okinawa. She said that it really helped her have an understanding of the culture etc.



3. In Japan, as visiting foreigners keep discovering -- if they're paying proper attention -- "etiquette" means a great deal more than simply knowing which knife and fork to use. (Or, in this case, what not to do with your chopsticks.) Japan has been a deeply and subtly ritualized and mannered society for millennia, and even with the postwar easing of some rituals and the introduction and acceptance of certain Westernisms -- and even though the Japanese are generally tolerant of minor faux pas on the part on non-Japanese -- the foreign visitor still needs to be very aware of the expectations of those around him. However, this book is also an excellent source for the non-visitor who simply has an interest in Japanese society and culture. The author has been both a periodic resident and been otherwise closely involved with Japan for going on six decades, and he's also a very observant and thoughtful writer, which makes him an ideal guide for the westerner on all things Japanese. He not only tells you what to do, what not to do, and what you can get away with, he provides the historical background, the psychological rationalization, which not even some Japanese are really aware of. This will help you to extrapolate your behavior in other situations, and will assist you toward an understanding of why the Japanese are the way they are. Those shallow-thinkers who consider the Japanese simply "inscrutable," alien, and beyond American understanding should definitely read this book.



4. excellent advice for anybody that is going to Japan and doesn't want to offend their local hosts or friends.



5. My daughter was going to Japan to spend several weeks with her boyfriends family. I figured she needed some help in the subtle manners that would prepare her to be the best guest she could. It makes for great reading on a long flight! She felt that there were many bits of information that really helped her. Going to Japan with a local is extremely advantagous, but sometimes they forget the details. Lots of good info.

5 comments about Japan (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. If you're going to Japan I recommend this book for 95% of your travelling pleasure and information. It may not have EVERYTHING about Japan or be as detailed as other guides, but the true point of a guide is to be concise and accurate.
   
   It's not too large so that you're carrying around a dictionary which hurts to walk with; makes you embarrassed to show; or vividly display's to the country that you're a tourist. It's not too small that you have to squint to read; is easy to lose; or hard to find the information you require.
   
   The layout is precise, colourful, and common-in-sense. The chapters each have an apparent colour and mark a different region of Japan. Within each region are the major cities present plus some notable other areas (eg: Hot Springs, Mountains, and Beaches). There are plenty of pictures, diagrams, charts, important information sheets, etc, throughout the book. (eg: each region has a breakdown map of cities/notable places). Within the major cities, there are landmarks, attractions, and neat notable nooks mentioned throughout. Everything is followed by an appropriately concise paragraph. This is how it should be to me: A brief description of what you are going to see so that you do not have your nose buried in the book when you should be viewing the sites and yet still have a background to what you are viewing.
   
   I think every guide book should have many pictures, maps, etc, so that you can help visually reference yourself, which you will need to do in Japan. There is so much packed together in this country that it's easy to get lost. There are pictures literally on almost every page of this book, which provide excellent landmarks for your travels. The maps are not overwhelming; they only display the required information.
   
   I obtained 15+ guide books and maps during my travel to Japan, however this one book was the reference I carried with me everywhere I went. Until you tour Japan often you are going to want a book like this one for everywhere you go.



2. I love this book. I looked at several other books, but they were not up-to-date. This is a great book for anyone planning to visit Japan. It is arranged by geographical district and has beautiful maps and/or pictures on every page. It is extremely informative and no matter what you want to know, you will probably find it in this book. I'm now using the book to document my photographs taken in various areas of Japan. The only drawback to this book is that, because of all the pictures and maps, it's printed on glossy paper and is quite heavy. I took it with me every day on a Japan tour, but kept it in my carry-on for reference. I found it too heavy to carry in my purse while walking on a tour.



3. This series is simply one of the best travel guide series around today. I have used at least 10 other guides from this same series and have found them to be comprehensive, easy to use and up-to-date. You cannot go wrong with this book and some internet web research. Definitely worth every penny and then some.



4. This guide book is the most current and much better than others out there! The pictures are not dated (you could tell by the eighties hairdos in other guide books) and DK Eyewitness travel are usually better than other ones out there. The only thing is that it's more focus on Tokyo than other cities, so if you are looking into Osaka and other cities, it's not as detail as Tokyo!



5. I wouldn't call this a "travel guide" so much as a beautiful little glance at Japan. It would be wholly unusable for someone actually trying to get around an unfamiliar area- I suggest a Lonely Planet instead.

5 comments about The Samurai's Garden: A Novel.

1. A delightful story of a chinese teen, sent to japan on the eve of WW2 to recuperate after getting tuberculosis. He meets his father's servant who he gets to know and the locals, finding them friendly and welcoming even with the war. He finds the simple way of life, instead of being boring, fills his days and he is bereft when the war forces him to leave.
   
   A wonderful piece of prose, this haunting story of the simple people and their tragic lives is a page turner.



2. The plot of this book makes a terrific outline: A young Chinese man recuperating in Japan from tuberculosis while Japanese troops are slaughtering his Chinese contemporaries in the pre-World War Two invasion; a quiet but strong and wise caretaker who lives to rescue victims of leprosy, including a woman spurned by his best friend; a marriage crisis for the Chinese man's parents; a Romeo/Juliet type love story between the Chinese man and a young Japanese woman. Should be socko.
   
   Instead, it's sedating. Whether it's the passive nature of Stephen, the young Chinese man, or the very pedestrian writing style of the author, I found this book consistently tepid. She shows off her new knowledge about Japanese culture, giving detailed descriptions of every meal and every kimono.
   
   She tells the story through Stephen when the caretaker, Matsu, is the central character. Because Matsu is strong and silent, we don't get inside his character development.
   
   Nevertheless, it's an interesting look at Japan before WWII: religion, relationship and customs.



3. This story was simplistic and wonderful. I read it in two days and was mesmerized by the rich culture. The best book I've read in a long time



4. Pleasurable read. She has a nice flow to her writing, the story was interesting.



5. This book is beautifully written. The characters are complex and drawn with such skill and intimacy that by the end of the book you feel as though you have truly known each one of them and seen into a piece of their world. Moving and poignant, but not dark, the story and the characters will stay with you long after you finish the book.

5 comments about Japan (Country Guide).

1. This is a perfectly fine book that give you a comprehensive overview of Japan and will help you get where you want to go. It does a decent enough job of preparing you for behaving yourself as a foreigner in this wonderful but nuanced country. I used this book on my recent trip to Hokkaido and I found coverage to be a little thin, but I think the aim of this book is to cover the major attractions and give you an overview of each region. It is a large country with a tremendous amount of cool things to see and do, which could result in a giant tome of a book. I think they could easily publish a title for each island and possibly each region, much as one might want a detailed guide book for each American state or Canadian province.
   
   I ended up doing a lot of detailed research on the internet, copying and pasting Japanese words for things when I could, which gave better results. I managed to make an onsen reservation this way at what turned out to be Noboribetsu, a well-known area covered in the book, but at a Ryokan not found in the book. I found the accommodation listings of the book to be pretty sparse. Again, it'll get the job done but there is so much more to discover on your own. In a way this is a good thing, as discovery is one of the best parts of traveling, and many LP readers have encountered the "LP convergence zone" or "backpacker areas" of major world destinations, where you end up surrounded by a bunch of LP-reading Australians. At the end of the day, there are not a ton of english-language resources to finding the more obscure nooks and crannies of this country.
   
   Bottom line is that this book is a useful guide that will get the job done. I did not use it for restaurant of night life recommendations, Japan is just chock a block with amazing food everywhere you go, you can pretty much just trust your instincts.



2. THe book has a lot of information, it covers everything you will need to do in Japan. I stayed at the Washington hotel in Sujuku, Tokyo, a great location and a nice quiet, clean and efficient room.
   
   I DID NOT like the layout of the book. It was difficult to find things to refer back as a reference. THey are not listed in a logical order, some under activities, some under sights and not much of anything listed under the index. So, if I am trying to find a sight that I remember was mentioned in the book, chances are, it would not be in the index and I would have to sift through the pages and guess where the location was or, use a lot of bookmarks for easy refererence.
   
   Also, the location of the sight is not clearly marked. This can be a problem since Tokyo's train stations are so large, without specifics, you may get off at the site and wander around until you can find someone who speaks English and is willing to help, not always easy.



3. For years, Lonely Planet's Japan guide has been the benchmark among the many books available on the trendiest country in East Asia. The latest edition of their Japan guide continues to provide the high quality their readers have come to expect.
   
   High points of this edition include:
   
   - LP's authors seem to have found something to do in nearly every corner of Japan. While I still believe that to enjoy Japan best you must find your own places to enjoy - not just the ones within walking distance of a Starbucks - LP will help keep you from getting lost as you make your way from the train station to the twice-daily bus on the way to the Onsen In The Middle Of Nowhere (and if there is a Starbucks nearby that onsen, they'll tell you about that, too).
   
   It's especially helpful that they list smaller diversions like the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum right along side of more famous attractions such as Yokohama's Chinatown - these are very helpful for people with a couple of hours to burn while they wait for their train.
   
   - Restaurant suggestions. I don't use LP's restaurant choices religiously, but they are extremely helpful if you're unused to Japanese food (or with someone new to it); LP lists everything from high-end kaiseki restaurants to railway-station ramen stands to chain izakaya (pubs) with English menus - the last are an excellent way to try out different types of Japanese food without the guesswork.
   
   -Lodging. LP shines here in their recommendations of ryokan (Japanese style-inns) and minshuku (pensions), most of which don't appear on Expedia or even Japanese-language websites. These are great places to enjoy real Japanese hospitality, and LP knows which ones are welcoming to foreigners, which have the best food, and which have the best onsen (hot springs).
   
   -Japanese text. I can't emphasize this enough - it's absolutely critical to have Japanese translations of city names, train stations, attractions, and other important locations (hospitals, anyone?) written in Japanese as well as English. If you speak little or no Japanese, the text not only helps you read most signs outside of the major metro areas, it helps you to ask for directions, navigate restaurant menus, and maybe even learn some kanji.
   
   Here are a few things I took issue with in this edition:
   
   -Inaccurate transportation information. Don't worry, LP is generally reliable throughout the book and won't steer you wrong. The problem is what gets left out, particularly in the airport transportation category. For example, nobody bothers to tell you that Keikyu Railways provides service to Haneda Airport from Shinagawa for less money and in a shorter time than the Tokyo Monorail, which is silly because the last edition of the guide didn't make this mistake.
   
   LP also heartily recommends taking the Keisei tokkyu limited express service from Narita Airport instead of the all-reserved Skyliner. Don't even *think* about this if you have heavy baggage or are unused to crowds in Japan. The tokkyu is a commuter train and you'll be riding with several hundred close (literally) Japanese friends by the time you reach Ueno.
   
   -Toyoko Inn. LP directs budget travelers to this chain of cookie-cutter business hotels several times in this edition. Although Toyoko Inn is very popular among foreign travelers in Japan because of their English website and free rice-ball breakfasts, the chain is often more expensive than hotels with better service. Toyoko Inn's "Flintstones-tech" beds (my term) are my archenemy after repeatedly messing up my back. Do yourself a favor and make reservations at Toyoko's rival, Route Inn. Route Inn hotels have a free full breakfast for those who book online, often include a free onsen in the hotel, have more comfortable beds than Toyoko, and have rates that are often lower.
   
   In addition, Tokyu Hotels, Sunroute Hotels, Solare Hotels, Washington Hotels, and other business hotel chains have English websites that deserve your attention before Toyoko.
   
   -The "Safety" section lists what to do in case of fire and earthquake, but doesn't mention typhoons. Although most modern Japanese buildings are safe refuges in a typhoon, LP ought to devote at least a paragraph to safety precautions to take if you get stuck in a city in a typhoon's path - and several hit Japan every summer and fall.
   
   -LP's traditional wittiness is lessened somewhat as their writers turn over. Last edition's clever description of active volcano Sakurajima was: "Looming over Kagoshima is the brooding cone of this decidedly hyperactive volcano." The new authors call it "frisky." Say it with a knowing smile, folks: "Frisky" does not go in the same sentence as "volcano."
   
   Although again there isn't a overwhelming amount of new information in this book, LP's guide fits into the travel plans of just about anyone: Hardcore backpackers, exchange students, couples and even business travelers will all find the something useful in the guide for them.
   
   As always, the LP guide remains your best bet for exploring Japan.



4. Everything about modern and traditional Japan with emphasis on travel and living related information....open source travel guide to Japan, featuring up-to-date information on attractions, hotels, restaurants, nightlife, travel tips and more



5. Although Lonely Planet has good contents about all the places to visit, the suggested walks aren't as good as others. The complete descripitions of all the places doesn't orientate first vists wiht "don't live Tokyo withot.." suggestions. Terrible maps and no pictures make this guide a real bible.. not to talk about its size...