Books

Lonely Planet Japan

Discover Japan
Dodge flying fish at the world’s greatest sashimi market, p. 132
Find yourself spirited away to Miyazaki’s museum of anime, p. 141
Master the perfect double-clap and bow for your first shrine visit, p.56
Earn your keep in a Buddhist temple, p. 417

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.

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Japan Eyewitness Travel Guide

This is sort of a "Japan! Wow!" type of guide, full of eye-popping graphics and catchy factoids. It is a very fun guide, and does a great job of engaging enthusiasm for Japan and its wonders. The makers definitely know their audience, and all of the weird and wild parts of the country and its culture are captured.

Nothing off the beaten path here, only the major attractions of each city/region are represented. It is wide but not deep. Pricing information and such is well done, and gives an accurate picture of what to expect. Tidbits of culture and history help explain what you will be seeing and make for interesting overall reading.

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Michelin Guide 2008 Tokyo: Restaurants & Hotels

The Michelin Guides offer a selection of the best hotels and restaurants in every price category. These establishments are chosen by a team of full-time inspectors with a professional background in the industry. They cover every corner of the countries, visiting new establishments as well as testing the quality and consistency of the hotels and restaurants already listed in the guide.

The Michelin guides first edition of the central Tokyo area introduces Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, French, Italien kitchen and 2 Steakhouses. Most resturants lunch prices start at $25 but you will be surprised to find some gems for less within central Tokyo. Michelin guides are known for its quality of the chosen restaurants and in this regard the guide doesnt fall short.

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Old Kyoto: The Updated Guide to Traditional Shops, Restaurants, and Inns

If you are anything like me, "Old Kyoto: A Guide to Traditional Shops, Restaurants and Inns" is the guide to the Kyoto you are looking for. A fascinating and delightful guide to the relics of old Kyoto, the stuff that you see on the post cards but can’t seem to find in the city itself.

As a guide, "Old Kyoto" is divided into regions, Central Kyoto, Eastern Kyoto, Western Kyoto, Northern Kyoto and Southern Kyoto, and then showcasing a few treasures of each region, splitting evenly amongst craftwear, antiques, Japanese-style hotels, restaurants and food-sellers. Many of these shops are tiny, without even a sign out in front to advertise their business. Some carry ancient placards announcing them as official providers to the Emperor of their unique offering.

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Etiquette Guide to Japan: Know the Rules that Make the Difference

Etiquette Guide to Japan offers an inside look at the social norms of the Japanese-when to bow, how to propose a toast, when to pay the bill, the careful art of gift-giving, how to deal with public transportation, dating, weddings, funerals, and last, but not least, how to say good-bye at the end of your stay. If you want to save yourself from possible embarrassment during your stay in Japan, you will find the Etiquette Guide to Japan to be a much-needed companion.

Japan has been a deeply and subtly ritualized and mannered society for millennia - and even though the Japanese are generally tolerant of minor faux pas - the foreign visitor still needs to be very aware of the expectations of those around him.

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Time Out Guide to Tokyo

Time Out Tokyo leads readers through the marvels and mysteries of this metropolis — from futuristic skyscrapers to ancient temples, from sex clubs to sushi bars. Color photos and maps throughout the guide lend assistance in navigating the city with no street names, and help make the most of its numerous shopping options, from must-have souvenirs to electronics bargains.

Also included are etiquette do’s and don’ts, a menu-reading guide, and listings of gay- and lesbian-friendly spots. Travelers can also explore the sights beyond Tokyo, including Yokohama, the hot springs of Hakone, and the slopes of Mount Fuji. If you are looking for a very comprehensive guidebook on Tokyo, you won’t get anything better than Time Out Tokyo.

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Japanese: Lonely Planet Phrasebook

Japanese uses an array of registers of speech to reflect social and contextual hierarchy, but these can be simplified to the form most appropriate for a wide range of social situations. As it may take a long time to master written Japanese, this phrasebook focuses on the spoken language, although we’ve added the script everywhere alongside the pronunciation so you can use it to point out phrases.

We’re confident that this phrasebook will be useful in Japan. It contains all the key words and phrases you’ll need to get by, plus all the social lingo to open up a world of possibilities for social interaction and cultural exchange with the locals. Your efforts to speak Japanese, no matter how modest, will guarantee you a warm welcome by the locals.

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Frommer’s Japan

With Frommer’s in hand, you will see it all, from the swirl of Tokyo’s nightlife to the traditional Japanese flavor of Kyoto. Whether you want to visit majestic shrines and temples or explore the serene landscapes of the Japan Alps, it’s all here in one insightful, user-friendly guide. I also found the hotel and restaurant recommendations reliable and interesting.

Frommer’s Japan is amazingly detailed and very current. It has everything you need to travel in Japan whether you are a student or a business person. I appreciate the details, but the hotel details are almost too much. Good itineraries, good sites-to-see advice, and good sense of essentials!

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Lonely Planet Tokyo Encounter

What Will Your Tokyo Encounter Be?

- Playing paparazzo to Harajuku’s famed and outrageously clad cosplay zoku (costume-play gang) (p12)
- Sinking sake in the down’n'dirty alleys of the Golden Gai (p14)
- Waking at dawn for the freshest sushi breakfast at Tsukiji Market (p13)
- Strutting down Ginza’s boulevard lined with fashion straight off the catwalk (p18)
- Blowing off steam the traditional way, in a popular neighborhood onsen (p176)
- Getting your geek out in Akihabara’s bargain bins of electronics, games, and manga (p19)

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Tokyo City Atlas: A Bilingual Guide

During the past six years, the transportation network of the metropolitan area of Tokyo has changed a good deal. In the case of the subway system, lines have been extended, and some rapid-transit lines have been added, so code numbers for each station are given in our atlas for foreign travelers to identify them easily. In addition, as a result of urban development in areas such as Roppongi, Shinagawa, and Shiodome, quite a few new company buildings, stores, and hotels have appeared.

Includes 21 area maps of Metropolitan Tokyo showing not only chome numbers but also block numbers and 18 detailed maps of Central Tokyo  to guide the reader even to numbered subway station entrances.
 

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Shopping Guide to Japan: What to Buy, Where to Buy It, and How to Get the Most for Your Yen

 

Japan is the shopping capital of the world—unequalled in the number, variety and convenience of its shops, malls and street arcades!

The Shopping Guide to Japan clearly illustrates how the Japanese genius for organization, efficiency and customer service has put them at the forefront in the world of shopping.

Japan is a shoppers’ paradise, and this book succinctly explains all the ins and outs to making the most of your Japanese shopping experience.

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Genki 1: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese 1

Genki outlines in 23 structured lessons all the fundamentals of the Japanese language. Abundantly illustrated and containing a wide variety of exercises. Each lesson starts out with a dialog and is followed by a vocabulary list, grammar explanations, and vocabulary/grammar practice. The grammar is explained very clearly and the practice exercises are very useful for remembering what is being taught. Several topics are covered including shopping, talking about family, travel, daily routines, and health. The book also includes lessons on Katakana, Hiragana, and Kanji.

I took the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (Level 4) after 5 months studying with this book and passed.

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Basic Japanese: Learn to Speak and Understand Japanese - Audio Book

If you want to actually speak Japanese, buy these CDs. Even after the first lesson, you can easily see that the method works. I have tried many times to learn Japanese over the years (using books), completely unsuccessfully. After listening to these CDs, I can honestly say I feel more confident in my language learning skills. Although I haven’t learned enough to actually hold a conversation, I can see the potential. The CD’s teach you how to think in Japanese, not just translate word-for-word. The process is very fluid and natural. Not only does this product work as advertised, it is also lots of fun. Who knew learning a language could be fun?

You won’t find a better program even if you paid more.

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