3 comments about Wallpaper City Guide: Berlin (Wallpaper City Guide).

1. The books in this series are not travel guides and are virtually useless as such. They're more a collection of advertising - photos and promotional blurbs for a few (5 or 6 in each category) hotels, restaurants, bars, etc. No specific information on anything. So if you want a few (small) photos of sleek modern places in a city, that's about all these guides have to offer. There's nothing practical for the tourist in them.



2. I like the Wallpaper magazine a lot and that was why I bought the guide. But I was disapointed by this guide though. It is absolutely useless. The reviews are really superficial. We get the feeling that it was written by a trendy journalist who doesn't really know the city. If you want a real travel guide that provide real information and reviews, don't buy it.



3. This isn't worth the $8.95 or whatever it costs. For the ENTIRE CITY OF BERLIN, this guide lists 5 landmarks. That's it! The only person who I can imagine might possibly like this pamphlet is someone who had only 1 hour to spend in Berlin and could only pick 1 single thing to do... This book is a waste; half of its pages are blank "notes" pages for you to write on...?! There is no more than 4 sentences about any single landmark, store, hotel, etc... I can't imagine who they thought was going to use this book.

2 comments about Japan.

1. This is another fine offering from the good people at Nazraeli... Makers of EXTRAORDINARILY beautiful limited edition art books, and this one is NO exception.
   
   Housed in a gorgeous black silk covered folding case, the red silk cloth cover of the book just visually stuns when the covers (three panels) are opened. The cover panels wrap around the book and fasten shut with ivory-colored japanese bookbinding clasps.
   
   A beautiful gift!
   
   The photos are stunning, printed with utmost care at exact size with light spot-varnishing on the images so that they pop off of the paper. The subject matter here is landscapes in Japan, sometimes very minimal and always meditative.
   
   Get it while you can. Give it as a gift. Buy it for yourself and just look at it every few days... You will love it.



2. Artist Book and Exhibition Monograph. Collection of photographs on subject. Possibly the photographer's single most beautiful book. The true first. Precedes all other editions. One of the most exquisite productions ever made by Michael Kenna, Chris Pichler, and Nazraeli Press: Oversize-volume format. A large book in square shape. Red silk cloth boards wrapped in handsome black silk folding slipcase in the Japanese style, with white toggles at the ends. Photographs by Michael Kenna. Text in Japanese and English by Kotaro Iizawa. Printed in Tokyo, Japan to the very highest standards. Without DJ, as issued. Published on the occasion of a series of exhibitions in the United States and Japan. "Michael Kenna's photographs have long inspired words such as 'mysterious', 'elegant' and 'hauntingly beautiful', adjectives that likewise describe the Japanese landscape. These photographs are the result of an ideal pairing of artist and subject. Kenna has had a large following in Japan ever since his first exhibition there in 1987. His many subsequent exhibitions and publications in Japan have provided him with ample opportunities to visit and photograph. During the past several years, as this project began to take shape, Kenna's trips became more frequent and intense. The resulting images are stunning" (Publisher's blurb). "He has been reflective when others have been militant, romantic when others have been skeptical. Such isolation can starve all but the most independent of talents, but for these it can provide a sanctuary where visions can develop undisturbed. Kenna is one of these" (The Times of London). Michael Kenna's best book thus far. © 2006, ModernRare.com

5 comments about Frommer's Tokyo (Frommer's Complete).

1. Though I don't have my copy in front of me to verify, I seem to recall that the book actually lists the Kanji for the names of hard to find restaurants in the back section, making it easy to find restaurants without English names. I just thought I'd throw that out there so nobody was misled by the other review.

   I do agree that there is a decided lack of maps. I was able to find my way through the city but not without taking a few wrong turns. Still, I liked asking for directions. It will give you a chance to practice your Japanese.

   Frommer's: Japan IS just as comprehensive as Frommer's: Tokyo though. There's really no need to buy this book unless you're going to be spending the entirety of your trip in the capital. If you are going to Japan for anything other than business, please go someplace like Kyoto or even just a quick trip to Hakone. You won't regret it.




2. I got the 7th edition of this book and I thought it was great! I lived in Tokyo for over 7 months and I used the book all the time to get around! I would map out my destination on the subway map and follow it all the way there and back! The directions that I got for each walking tour were great...minus one little spot, the Yanaka walking tour was nice until the last stop. But other than that I thought the directions were spot on giving which exit to leave the subway and giving prices for everything. The book is kind of thick for daytime travel but all the info was great. One of the bars that I frequented, the owner saw I had pulled out the book told me of the woman who came in to verify the info. I loved it and am so glad I got it! I'm sure to take it back with me when I go back in a few months.



3. Just went to Tokyo and took this book with me. The few places they reccommend that I went to were just ok. I suggest getting a book for all of Japan as this book only covers Tokyo and there were several places or Kui in "Tokyo" that I went to that weren't even covered in the book, that were very interesting!
   
   Japan is a great place to Visit!!



4. Not a bad read. If you want some guidlines as to where to go and what to do it's a good start. I love the fact that it not only has busness names but phone numbers as well! The directions arn't that good aparently even the Japanese people have a hard time finding their way around Tokyo. It also has some Japanese words that you can learn in the back of the book. For example, Hi what's your name? and What time is it? and do you have any rooms availible? I have personally never been to Japan but with this book I think I will be more confadent. One more note, Buy the full Frommer's Japan book not the Tokyo edition. I Have both of them and the full Japan edition has the same info and tons more than the simple little Tokyo edition.



5. My daughter and I used the 9th Edition of Frommer's Tokyo on our recent trip to Japan. We found it to be well written, easy to use with very down to earth suggestions. Since neither of us had any prior knowledge of Tokyo, it was invaluable. We had a most enjoyable week, but we wouldn't have had so many wonderful experiences without this guide.

5 comments about The Roads to Sata: A 2000-Mile Walk Through Japan (Origami Classroom).

1. I loved this book. I never really thought I would be into books about travel simply because they are usually so dry. The Roads to Sata is a absolute exception. The dry wit and humor of Alan Booth makes this book a joy to read. As someone very interested in Japan this is a great primer for anyone trying to get a glimpse into the real Japanese lifestyle versus the ones portrayed through the media. There are some very funny moments, some very sad moments and some very real moments, all told through the words of an amazing writer and someone very familiar with the Japanese lifestyle. I will never have the pleasure to meet Mr. Booth, but I have had the pleasure of meeting his daughter. I do suggest you read this book, if you have any interest in Japan at all, it is a definitive handbook.



2. Alan Booth, an intrepid British writer who came to Japan to live when he was a young man, walked from Cape Soya, in Hokkaido, to Cape Sata, in Kyushu, a journey of approximately 2000 miles. (The Appalachian Trail, which runs from northern Maine to Georgia, is 2174 miles long.) Booth loved Japan and spoke fluent Japanese, but he never ceased being "the foreigner" to the many people he met along the way. As a result, his account of life on the road (he would never accept a lift, to the puzzlement of many Japanese, who couldn't conceive of anyone hiking from one end of Japan to the other) is often pretty funny, particularly when beer is involved or lodgings are scarce, as they sometimes are. In one encounter, a woman at a ryokan lists the reasons why she could not possibly have a room for a foreigner, and he repudiates them point by point, only to have the woman point out that she doesn't speak English: " `I don't suppose that will bother us,' Booth sighs. `We've been speaking Japanese for the last five minutes.'" Don't miss this book.



3. Alan Booth decided to go from Cape Soya in the North to Cape Sata in the South. A journey of more than 2,000 miles. But not only did he decide to walk the whole way he also decides to stick to the back roads, the rural areas of Japan, to get in touch with the real Japan and to stay only in Japanese style inns. In some places he is treated like family and in other places like an invader. After spending seven years in Japan, having a Japanese wife and learning about Japan you would think a walk, even if it is a hard one, would not be so bad. But in some cases it is terrible.
   He runs into silent tramps, barking dogs, snotty high school boys, polite high school girls, nervous inn keepers, loud businessmen and giggling maids. He makes mistakes, he founds wonderful discoveries and he founds sad scenes of life and death in 20th Century Japan. Did he learn anything? No. Did he enjoy himself? Yes. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, much of the time he was treated like a foreigner.



4. Even better than 'Looking For The Lost,' 'The Roads To Sata' is a profoundly honest and deeply charming look into a Japan that few people see and even fewer ever understand. Not afraid to hit where it hurts when necessary, Mr Booth's book is still relevant, even 20 years later, and remains one of the best travel books ever written about Japan. Defiantly candid and often very funny, Mr Booth reveals a Japan quite different to the one most people who've never been there probably imagine, but his insights are spot-on and his honesty is refreshing and fair. Highly recommended.



5. i was looking for a book that would help to fulfil my dream of going to live and work in Japan. But this book doesn't do the job. For one thing it's over 20 years old now. So its present day relevance is mostly irrelevant I think. Plus it is also written in a style that always seems to depict the author as a foreigner helplessly excluded from all that he could have embraced so more positively. If it was meant to be humorous or even enjoyably cynical, it wasn't.

5 comments about Kyoto (City Guide).

1. A few years ago we discovered Lonely Planet travel guides. They have been a staple of every trip ever since. The Kyoto book was no exception.

   The major highlights of this book include:
   - Great walking tours
   - Fun listings of out of the way places
   - Interesting history and background
   - Good tips and recommendations for everything from getting around on the subway (complete with a handy map), to reliable restaurant recommendations.
   - Restaurant & place names written in Japanese in the book. Even if you don't read Japanese, this was very handy for doing symbol comparison to make sure you were in the right place.

   Lonely Planet guides are really excellent for helping you see the sights that not everyone else is seeing, and to help you get more out of the culture you are visiting. The authors have a good sense of humor and seem to aim towards a slightly more liberal and adventurous audience.

   On their own, I found both the guide and the maps very helpful (although I do agree with the other reviewers that the varied orientation and scaling of the maps could occasionally be disorienting). However, when attempting to cross reference these I often got frustrated. Many of the references to maps in the guide were just wrong (wrong map listed), and many things just weren't on the maps. Similarly, many things on the maps were difficult or impossible to locate in the guide. Example: "We need to find a restaurant near were we are right now. Oh look, here's one a block away. I wonder what type of food they have?....... Hmmm...I can't find it...." I know Lonely Planet knows how to do this effectively (see the Condensed guide to Tokyo as an example), it was just frustrating that they did not apply that knowledge to this book.




2. Where do I start? Poor maps, chaotic organization or boring writing? Or perhaps ugly, poor quality photographs (except cover which is really nice - this is the trademark feature of this honest publisher, which is only [inexpensive] as far as publishing costs are concerned, without bothering to reduce the price of the book itself).

   There are countries where Lonely Planet does a very good job (in West Africa, I would be lost without them), but oh my God how they can mess up things elsewhere! Kyoto is one of them.

   With so many good guides to Japan available (Eyewitness, Frommer, Fodor, even Rough Guide, for goodness sake), why bother with Lonely Planet? Well, probably because many readers feel that they have a spiritual affiliation with this seemingly hippy-ish, seemingly anti-Capitalist, seemingly slightly rebellious serious of guides. I can only imagine how they are laughing - this lean and mean publishing house, an efficient money-making machine, being funded by mostly a naive bunch of tree-huggers.

   If you feel good because you identify their sandal-wearing image, go and buy this book, by all means. This is only an image, a marketing tool - clever publishing people are laughing all the way to the bank. However, do not expect to have the best available travel advice. Usually LP guides are praised by those who have not read anything else.




3. I borrowed this guide from a friend and have leafed through it. I haven't decided if I want to buy it yet when I go to Kyoto later this year.
   
   What do you guys recommend as the best travel guide for Kyoto? While skimming this one, I've noticed a few of the things mentioned here like the unorganized maps and such. But are there betters one there to buy?



4. No guide is perfect, but some are better than others. In the case of Lonely Planet, some are great, others leave a bit to be desired. For whatever reason, the Kyoto guide is missing some important pieces of information that I would have wanted to see. For example, the best vegetarian restaurant in the city, and one of the few places a veggie can eat some authentic Japanese "meat" dishes (made with fake meat) is the Peace Cafe -- which is not listed in Lonely Planet though it's been around for a few years. Another example: The "japanese-only guides" at the Shigakuin Imperial Residence still holds true.... except they have a full audio guide now, recorded in English, with lots of information at most stops made by the Japanese tour.



5. My wife and I just returned from Kyoto, and unfortunately we were relying on this book as our guide. The information was, for the most part, up-to-date.. but the maps were *horrible*. I dunno if they just used maps from the 1930s, or hand drew them from memory, or what.. but you are going to get seriously lost if you rely on these things. There are almost no street names included and the walking tours often rely solely on hard-to-find landmarks.
   
   They also missed some major sights.. for example, Gion; I dunno about you, but I'm interested in seeing some of the tea houses where Geisha actually work. The guide talks about these and gives you one place to look for them. However, it totally skips one of the most beautiful tea house districts located in Maruyama Park! We stumbled on this place by complete accident, and found it to be the best place for Geisha-watching.
   
   It also appears to be an exclusive area where the really well-off clients go, and so perhaps it wasn't covered to keep down the crowds.. but that's the kind of information I *want* in a guidebook.
   
   In short we were extremely dissapointed in this guide. I don't know what would be a good substitute, but I can tell you to avoid this one.

2 comments about The Little Tokyo Subway Guidebook: Everything You Need to Know to Get Around the City and Beyond.

1. With the release of IBC's "Little Tokyo Subway Guidebook," there are now three distinctly separate volumes designed to help us navigate through the maze of Tokyo's underworld. The first, published by Kodansha in 2002, holds up surprisingly well and boasts a distinct advantage in having maps for about 50 of the stations most likely to be used by visitors, showing how each station, and its numbered exits and entrances, relate to the street system and noteworthy buildings above. The guide published by Tuttle in 2005 does have about 13 area maps, but these are far less detailed than the Kodansha volume. The latest entry from IBC (2007) is the first to acknowledge a 13th line (due to open in June of 2008), though the map shows only one short segment between Ikebukuro and Kotake-mukaihara, stations already served by the Yurakucho line. The unique benefits of the IBC volume are sections that explain the ticketing system (with illustrations), airport connections (for Narita and Haneda), and several pages of bilingual phrases (that could come in handy).
   
   If you feel that a guide book is needed, I'd suggest investing in both the Kodansha and IBC books. They're compact (about 4"x 6" each) and complement each other nicely, with the Kodansha supplying station and area maps and the IBC providing the latest information and helpful ticketing guidance.



2. If you're planning to use the subway system in Tokyo, this is the book for you. It's very easy to follow and its small format makes it easy to carry. I don't know what I would have done without it!

4 comments about Bar Flower: My Decadently Destructive Days and Nights as a Tokyo Nightclub Hostess.

1. In this book, Jacobson reveals a side of Japan that hardly gets any attention. An educated Japanophile with a keen eye for detail, she travels through the seedy and fascinating night time world of Tokyo, and takes us along for the ride. She shows us a dream world where beautiful girls in slinky dresses entertain red-faced, drunk business men. And she doesn't flinch when the dream shatters into a million ugly pieces.
   
   Jacobson becomes an expert at flirting and coddling men for her benefit. However, as an educated woman from the land of opportunity, she ultimately realizes that she really should know better. Luckily for us, she gets up to a lot of adventures before she does. Fun, then devastating, and finally inspiring, you will not regret buying this book.



2. I enjoyed the mini-lessons about Japanese language and culture, however, I found this book to be written simplistically and with a lot of excessive detail that was unrelated to the storyline itself. I felt like there were a lot of unnecessary "fluffy anecdotes" that left me wondering about their significance, instead of relevant details.
   
   Additionally, the beginning of the book was lacking in character development. As I read the good and bad things that happened to Lea, I was not invested enough in her character to really care. I felt no emotion throughout the entire book, but I finished it anyway because it was a fast read.
   
   I do not recommend this book.



3. Lea Jacobson's memoir is subtitled " My Decadently Destructive Days and Nights as a Tokyo Nightclub Hostess."
   
   
   I'm a sucker for a good memoir and this one sounded really interesting.
   Jacobson is an American fascinated with Japanese culture and language. Her studies have made her quite proficient in the language, so she accepts a teaching position in Japan. Her visa is good for two years.
   Learning the culture through a book and experiencing it firsthand are two different things though. Jacobson has difficulty accepting the rigid standards and structures of Japanese society. She is fired from her teaching position and begins to drift.
   
   
   She ends up hostessing in a Tokyo nightclub. I think like most people I had some preconceived notions as to what hostessing entailed. Jacobson gives a detailed account of this profession. In fact her memoir reads as a diary, detailing friends, encounters and thoughts. We are offered a fascinating glimpse into Japan from someone living fully immersed in the culture.
   
   This immersion begins to take it's toll on Jacobson. She descends into alcoholism and self harm in many forms. She realizes she needs out and returns to the US, but is just as disillusioned there, and returns to Japan.
   
   
   Jacobson ends her book with the Japanese saying" Fall over seven times, wake up eight." She manages to pull it together. I found myself wanting a bit more concrete detail from the epilogue, but found her blog which ties up things a bit more.



4. Just finished the book. I picked it up in the first place because I was on a quest to read everything ever written about hostessing; this book was by far the best source of information and insight into the floating world.
   
   The author's writing style is neither too much nor too little. I could imagine how a book about a hostessing could get messy with lots of flowery detail and description, but Jacobson maintains a great balance. I appreciated her metaphors and anecdotes, and found that her analysis of herself and other characters was sensible and interesting.
   
   Strongly recommended to anyone with interest in the subject. Hard to put down and no boring moments!

1 comments about Kyoto: Seven Paths to The Heart of The City.

1. I was privileged to have spent 4 months in Japan, but of all the places I visited, I fell in love with Kyoto. This is a marvelous book for doing all the walking that one needs to do here. Take a city tour first, but then leave several days to revisit all the places that enthralled you, and believe me, there will be many! Get this book and study it well; you won't be disappointed.

5 comments about The Japanese Way : Aspects of Behavior, Attitudes, and Customs of the Japanese.

1. As many seasoned travellers are acutely aware, visiting foreign countries without adequate research into the language and culture can turn a business trip or holiday into a nightmare. Since WW2, most European countries use English as a second language and therefore are accommodating to the ignorant visitor. In other terms, one can 'get by' without too much confusion or fuss. A few years ago, on my way to the U.S. to visit friends and family, I made a two-day stop over in Japan. Because of my limited stay and time constraints, I chose not to do any research on the language and culture. This was a big mistake. The reason being is that Japan's culture - behaviour, customs and attitudes are so different to Western modes of living. My two-day stop over was a personal disaster for many reasons. If only I had done at least a little research, my short time in Japan would have been much more meaningful. ~The Japanese Way~ is a gem of a text that covers the essentials for any one to successfully 'get by' while visiting this fascinating country.

   This text is a crucial reference to the most common aspects of the culture to the more specific traits in Japan's social framework. In the contents page is a list of 89 subjects ranging from body language and gestures to gender roles and business cards. For example, taking a taxi in Tokyo can be expensive and sometimes frustrating because the address system, house numbers, are not assigned according to grid location or position on a specific street. The buildings are grouped in blocks and are numbered according to the time in which they were built! Requesting a specific residential home, in other words, is an exasperating exercise and most of the time the driver will not be able to find it. (The lesson learned here is to purchase a map and use public transport.) This text also provides the basics in language - Hellos and Goodbyes and some basic rules on politeness and rudeness. These basic phrases and suggested approach to social situations are invaluable, even if you're only planning a short visit.

   If you're planning to travel to Japan sometime in the future, I highly recommend this invaluable book, because it literally covers just about everything you will need to know to ensure your stay is fulfilling, memorable and problem free.




2. A useful and welcome concept, but the book is altogether too short, I feel, to teach you much. Most of the topics covered will already be things that someone who's read a few basic books about Japan and Japanese culture will have read already. I would recommend this book to a person who doesn't know anything about Japan as a quick guide to the culture, perhaps. I felt an expanded edition-- some added topics or digging a little deeper into holidays or national policy or government-- might be more interesting.



3. My friends actually gave this book to me before I left for a trip to Japan. The book is organized into mini sections of information, which makes it a quick read and perfect distraction for the daunting 12 hour flight over there. I found that the book does a really good job of explaining the culture and some of the do's and don'ts while visiting. This was the only book I read, but found it extremely helpful and interesting - I definitely suggest buying this book if you are taking a trip to Japan.



4. Although it may be a little outdated by now, this quick read is an ideal way for first-time Japan travellers to get acquainted with the rather complicated Japanese ways. As a Japanese-American I wish I had read this long ago to better understand my mother! My husband found this book very helpful when he went to Japan on business. For business or pleasure, this book should make your trip to Japan easier... and hopefully keep you from accidentally insulting someone. But then, the Japanese are polite and will understand you are just a "gajin."



5. The book is a nice thorough overview of Japanese life and culture. Great for the traveler. Amazon waited a week before even shipping with Super Saver shipping, and there is no other way to leave feedback.

5 comments about Japan for Kids: The Ultimate Guide for Parents and Their Children (Origami Classroom).

1. This book never left the coffee table in the 2 years we lived in Japan. Although some of the info was outdated (phone numbers, etc.) it gave me so much information on wear to take my 3 year old to play, go to preschool, get a haircut, etc. It even gave me great advice on giving birth in Japan when I became pregnant with baby #2! It is written in a very easy way - I found myself picking it up and reading a few pages whenever I had a free moment. This book is a must for anyone heading over to Japan with kids - DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT! If you can wait until July an updated version will be published (thank you amazon.com for that information!)Since we will probably be heading there again for a few years (this time with 3 kids) I already have it on order.



2. This book should have been titled, "Tokyo for Kids". I was extremely excited to get this book but my excitement faded to disappointment when I opened it's cover to only find mostly things that realated to the Tokyo area. I am currently living in Japan with my husband and daughter and was hoping for more of an insiders view of things to do in Japan. However, I live quite a distance from the Tokyo area and had hoped to find out about things more locally, or even within a more resonable distance then Tokyo. It would have been nice to see more comprensive coverage of Japan. Not everyone who lives here, flocks to the Tokyo area. Although I do plan to visit there at least once while living here, it is not close enough to be the focus of weekend or even monthly outings. There were a few other areas mentioned, but it seemed to me that the authors of this book did not take enough time to throughly reasearch all areas of Japan. There is some useful information in here as far as contacts and ordering, but if you live anywhere outside Tokyo, I can not reccomend this book to you. It is a well written and informative book for what it is, but it should not have been titled, "Japan for Kids", nor claimed to be the ultimate guide...



3. Yes, there is a lot of great information here, and if you are in Japan with your kids I'm sure this book will be helpful. However, despite the "Japan" in the title, most of the specific places mentioned in the book (museums, hospitals, parks, etc.) are in Tokyo, followed by the Osaka-Kobe area. It can make you very envious if you don't live there!



4. A more apt title for this book is perhaps "Tokyo for American Kids", because that is what it is mostly about. I am located in Yokohama, which is not far from Tokyo, so fortunately it is still useful for me, as it contains some references to Yokohama. However, if you are living in other parts of Japan, the book's usefulness is limited. The book makes many references to getting access to things that you are used to "back home", where home is America, so if you aren't American that's not much help either. Having said all that, the book has many good features if you are living in or near Tokyo, including lists of English-speaking doctors, parks/playgrounds and things to see and do, however don't rely too heavily on the directions to the attractions given in the book, as some of them are pretty ordinary. There is enough general type of information to make the book worth buying regardless of your location, if only to give you an idea of what to expect if you are moving to Japan with children, just don't be disappointed when you discover that most of the specific details provided are aimed at people living in Tokyo. If you are moving to Tokyo, this book is excellent. If you are an American moving to Tokyo, then it's even better!



5. OK. The book was written by an American primarily from an American point of view, and is heavily weighted towards life in Tokyo. Some basic demographics: Japan - total population about 127 million. The English speaking population in Tokyo is maybe 40,000 (if you assume that most of the West Europeans speak English on top of their mother tongues). The number of registered foreigners living in all of Japan is about 1,686,444 (as of Dec 2000) of which 2.7% are US citizens representing the fifth largest ethnic group after Koreans, Chinese, Brazilians and Philippinos. This is to give you an idea of how small the total number of English speaking foreign residents is. Naturally they are spread out very unequally all over this country with the greatest numbers concentrated in the Tokyo/Yokohama corridor and in the Osaka/Kyoto/Kobe region.

   Diane writes very positively. In spite of lack in total coverage of the whole country, this book makes Japan more attractive to people who would be overwhelmed otherwise by the exotic nature of Japan, a country where very few people are capable of communicating on even the simplest level in English (unlike Singapore, Hong Kong, Sweden, Holland, India, etc.) The book is too short to address every nook and cranny of an endless topic, but it is a darn good start in the right direction and the only book of it's kind. Supplemented by the Japan Health Handbook, long term visitors have a good set of tools for tackling the job of living here with limited or no Japanese language ability. There are several chapters dealing with general information applicable to living in most urban areas of Japan. She has also included a lot of web site URLs in this second edition which make more detailed information on a local basis available. This book is not the definitive resource, nor was it meant to be at only 320 pages, but it is an excellant place to get started in the exploration of a potential lifetime experience.

   For a family travelling as tourists to Japan this book is also immensely useful coupled with the Lonely Planet Guide and universally helpful hotel concierges (even when their English is sometimes lacking). Even if this book only manages to impart to the reader the "flavor" of this country, the multitude of things that appear similar on the surface but are actually quite different, then the reader has acquired that much more data with which to navigate. It may be best to see this book as a good reference book which will lead to other places for more detailed information once arrived in Japan.