Lonely Planet Japan (Country Guide)
by Andrew Bender, Chris Rowthorn, Matthew Firestone, Michael Clark, Ray Bartlett, Tim Hornyak, Wendy Yanagihara
List Price:
Our Price: $17.37
You Save: $11.62 (40%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.94 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Andrew Bender, Chris Rowthorn, Matthew Firestone, Michael Clark, Ray Bartlett, Tim Hornyak, Wendy YanagiharaEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-10-01
ISBN: 174104667X
Number of pages: 868
Publisher: Lonely Planet
Book Reviews of Lonely Planet Japan (Country Guide)
Book Review: Still a great reference for Japan.
Summary: 3 Stars
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.
Summary of Lonely Planet Japan (Country Guide)
Discover JapanDodge flying fish at the world's greatest sashimi market
Find yourself spirited away to Miyazaki's museum of anime
Master the perfect double-clap and bow for your first shrine visit
Earn your keep in a Buddhist temple
In This Guide:
Japan resident authors, 343 days of research, 120 detailed maps, three geisha sightings
You asked for it, we researched it - everything you need to know about onsen (hot springs) and skiing, and more language assistance than ever
Cost-saving tips even the locals don't know.
Japan Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Japan Books
Passport's Illustrated Travel Guide to Japanby Lauren Deakin
Passport Books; Published: 1996-06; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
World Maps: Japan (Euro Carts and World Maps)American Map Corporation; Published: 2000-07; Map; Book
Best price: $6.00
Price in other shops:
Gleanings in Buddha Field (Tut Books. L)by Lafcadio Hearn
Tuttle Publishing; Published: 1989-12-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.94
Japan Business Law HandbookInternational Business Publications, USA; Published: 2005-02-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $99.94
Price in other shops:
FD Tokyo 1986by Fodor's
Fodor's; Published: 1986-03-12; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
Fodor's The Amalfi Coast, Capri & Naples, 6th Edition (Full-color Travel Guide)by Fodor's
Fodor's; Published: 2011-10-18; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.35
Price in other shops:
Unbeaten Tracks in Japanby Isabella Lucy Bird
BiblioLife; Published: 2008-08-18; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $35.94
Price in other shops:
Pictures from the Water Trade: An Englishman in Japanby JOHN DAVID MORLEY
ABACUS; Published: 1996; Paperback; Book
Mishima's Sword: Travels in Search of a Samurai Legendby Christopher Ross
Da Capo Press; Published: 2007-10-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops:
American Express Guide to Tokyoby American Express, Mitchell Beazley
Prentice Hall; Published: 1992-02; Paperback; Book
Similar Books and other products
The Rough Guide to Japan (Rough Guide Japan)by Simon Richmond
Rough Guides; Published: 2011-03-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.91
Price in other shops:
Lonely Planet Hiking in Japan (Walking)by David Joll, Craig McLachlan, Richard Ryall
Lonely Planet; Published: 2009-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.48
Price in other shops:
Streetwise Tokyo Map - Laminated City Center Street Map of Tokyo, Japanby Streetwise Maps
Streetwise Maps; Published: 2009-04-01; Map; Book
Best price: $4.82
Price in other shops:
Lonely Planet Kyoto (City Travel Guide)by Chris Rowthorn
Lonely Planet; Published: 2008-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.75
Price in other shops:
Lonely Planet China (Country Travel Guide)by Damian Harper, Shawn Low, Daniel McCrohan
LONELY PLANET; Lonely Planet; Published: 2011-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $20.19
Price in other shops:
Lonely Planet Korea (Country Travel Guide)by Simon Richmond, Yu-Mei Balasingamchow, César G. Soriano, Rob Whyte
LONELY PLANET; Lonely Planet; Published: 2010-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.35
Price in other shops:
Japan by Rail: Includes Rail Route Guide and 29 City Guides, 2nd Editionby Ramsey Zarifeh
Trailblazer Publications; Published: 2007-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.64
Price in other shops:
Japanese (Lonely Planet Phrasebooks)by Yoshi Abe
Lonely Planet; Published: 2008-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.76
Price in other shops:
Lonely Planet Tokyo (City Travel Guide)by Andrew Bender, Timothy N. Hornyak
LONELY PLANET; Lonely Planet; Published: 2010-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.07
Price in other shops:
Frommer's Japan (Frommer's Complete Guides)by Beth Reiber, Janie Spencer
Frommers; Published: 2010-08-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.23
Price in other shops: