Insight Guide Japan (Insight Guides)

• Publisher:   Insight Guides
• Number Of Pages:   401
• Publication Date:   2003-10
• ISBN-10 / ASIN:   981234828X
• ISBN-13 / EAN:   9789812348289

This guide includes a section detailing Japan's history, nine features covering aspects of the country's life and culture, ranging from architecture and cuisine to hi-tech business dealings; a region by region visitor's guide to the sights, and a comprehensive travel tips section packed with essential contact addresses and numbers. Plus hundreds of photographs and 19 maps.

As evidenced by these reviews, people purchase this book for different reasons. Each time a newer edition comes out I try to purchase one to update those already on my Japan shelf. I lived on the Kanto Plain outside of Tokyo-Yokohama during the years October, 1962 through November, 1964. Reaching Japan at the beginning of the buildup to the 18th Olympiad held in Tokyo and surrounding areas in September, 1964. I would enjoy going back to the land of the Rising Sun but age and cost prohibit that. At the time I resided in Japan the exchange rate was 360 yen per each American dollar. Yes, well, things do change in a generation! With my experience of living in Japan I cannot say how well a book such as this will aid in one's travels. I can only say that as I was roaming all over that area of Tokyo, Yokohama, Tokaido Road, Hakone, and Kamakura, wish a book such as this went with me. Would at the least suggest you check this book out prior to going, it can not only aid your trip planning but may be something you would want to take with you. Really, it is only a trade paperback, not that heavy. Sayonara. Semper Fi.

It is very good as a coffee-table book: publishers pull all the stops with beautiful, expensive, high quality photographs. There are loads of good cultural and background information, and these articles also read well (unlike writings of some supposedly insightful books like Rough Guide which are terminally, heart-stoppingly, mind-numbingly BORING).

However, the guide is thin on practicalities, and all this premium quality glossy super-paper is too heavy to carry around. It is a pleasure to leaf through at home, though.

As a Insight Guide fan I feel this is a great visual guide to Japan. You can buy much better detailed traditional-style guide books with more information, but Insight Guides arent about that imho, they aim to bring the living experience of a country or an area to you via images. Content is lightweight as with most IGs. If you can afford it buy the Lonely Planet Japan for sheer information plus this book for the experience and you cant go wrong when visiting Japan.

I feel like this book was made for the average traveler with heaps of money to spend. Not many cheap options. Plus there was no coverage of off the beaten track places. Only the main cities and sights. The pictures were quite lovely, though...

My advice: If a trip to Japan is in your future, pick up Lonley Planet's Japan. And if your Japanese is non-existant, I hear that LP also publishes a good phrasebook.

If you have heaps of money to spend and are the type of person who likes organized tours and planned itenaries, buy this book. If not, skip it.

I picked this book up to do some research on a possible future trip to Japan. Wanted to see, with pictures and stories, what there is to see. This book is great for that, but I keep getting distracted by the sometimes highly-opinionated (albeit fascinating) views on Japanese culture and life. Wasn't expecting such editing from a general guidebook not advertised for its opinions. Without these distractions, I'd give the book 5 stars as an advance-research book. If I had been Japanese, I might have returned it long ago (and every time I read another section, the thought still occurs to me). Can't say much more than this since I haven't been to Japan myself and haven't finished the whole book yet.

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