Frommer's^® Japan, 7th Edition

by Beth Reiber; Janie Spencer

• ISBN13: 9780764543234
• ISBN10: 0764543237
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-06-01
• Publisher: Frommers

Summary

You2ll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer2s. It2s like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go--they2ve done the legwork for you, and they2re not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer2s Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You2d be lost without us! Japan can be a bewildering destination, but Frommer2s helps you travel like a pro, with practical tips on getting around, communicating, conducting business, and navigating the local etiquette and customs. We2ve included precise directions to every establishment, and dozens of accurate maps. You2ll also rely on our handy appendix of useful phrases and our Japanese character key, which allows you to easily recognize establishment names when you see signs on the street. In case you2re worried about Japan2s high prices, Frommer2s brings you dozens of listings for affordable accommodations and restaurants. Look for candid reviews of the best accommodations, from plush, high-tech business hotels to moderately priced bargains and authentic ryokan. Meticulously researched, Frommer2s Japan is the only guide you2ll need to experience the best of this exotic land. With Frommer2s in hand, you2ll see it all, from the swirl of Tokyo2s 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, it2s all here in one insightful, user-friendly guide.

Table of Contents

List of Maps	p. vii
What's New in Japan	p. 1
The Best of Japan	p. 4
The Best Travel Experiences	p. 5
The Best Temples & Shrines	p. 6
The Best Gardens	p. 8
The Best Castles, Palaces & Villas	p. 9
The Best Museums	p. 10
The Best Small Towns & Villages	p. 11
The Best National Parks	p. 12
The Best of Old Japan	p. 13
The Best of Modern Japan	p. 15
The Best Spas & Public Baths	p. 16
The Best Outdoor Adventures	p. 17
The Best Traditional Ryokan	p. 18
The Best Western-Style Hotels	p. 18
The Best Affordable Japanese-Style Places to Stay	p. 19
The Best Culinary Experiences	p. 21
The Best Destinations for Serious Shoppers	p. 21
Planning Your Trip to Japan	p. 23
The Regions in Brief	p. 24
Visitor Information	p. 27
Entry Requirements & Customs	p. 29
Money	p. 30
The Japanese Yen	p. 31
When to Go	p. 32
Calendar of Events	p. 35
Health & Safety	p. 41
Specialized Travel Resources	p. 42
The 21st-Century Traveler	p. 44
Getting There	p. 45
Escorted Tours & Package Tours	p. 48
Getting Around Japan	p. 50
Tips on Accommodations	p. 59
Tips for Saving on Your Hotel Room	p. 64
Tips on Dining, Japanese Style	p. 69
Packing Tips	p. 78
Suggested Itineraries for Seeing Japan	p. 79
For First-Timers	p. 80
Regional Tours	p. 82
Recommended Books	p. 86
Fast Facts: Japan	p. 89
Settling into Tokyo	p. 98
Orientation	p. 99
Tokyo's Neighborhoods in Brief	p. 107
Getting Around	p. 110
Fast Facts: Tokyo	p. 113
Where to Stay	p. 118
Family-Friendly Hotels	p. 123
Narita Stopover	p. 136
Where to Dine	p. 141
Family-Friendly Restaurants	p. 148
Dining Under the Stars at Hanezawa Garden	p. 169
Exploring Tokyo	p. 172
Suggested Itineraries for Seeing the City	p. 173
The Top Attractions	p. 174
Frommer's Favorite Tokyo Experiences	p. 178
Five Unforgettable Ways to Immerse Yourself in Japanese Culture	p. 180
Parks & Gardens	p. 182
More Museums	p. 184
Spectacular City Views	p. 188
City Strolls	p. 189
Searching for Old Edo: A Walking Tour of Asakusa	p. 189
In the Heart of Trendy Tokyo: A Stroll Through Harajuku & Aoyama	p. 194
Especially for Kids	p. 197
Spectator Sports	p. 199
Shopping	p. 199
For It's Ichi, Ni, San Strikes You're Out	p. 200
Tokyo After Dark	p. 211
Side Trips from Tokyo	p. 224
Kamakura, Ancient Capital	p. 224
Shogun Country: Nikko	p. 231
Yokohama, City of the 21st Century	p. 238
Climbing Japan's Most Famous Mountain: Mount Fuji	p. 244
Hakone: By Mountain Tram, Cable Car, Ropeway & Boat	p. 246
Izu Peninsula, Tokyo's Playground	p. 254
The Japan Alps	p. 260
Matsumoto, Gateway to the Japan Alps	p. 260
Along the Nakasendo Highway: Tsumago & Magome	p. 268
Takayama, Little Kyoto of the Mountains	p. 270
Rural Shirakawago & Ogimachi	p. 279
Kyoto & Nara	p. 284
Frommer's Favorite Kyoto Experiences	p. 285
Orientation	p. 286
Kyoto's Neighborhoods in Brief	p. 288
Getting Around	p. 289
Fast Facts: Kyoto	p. 290
Where to Stay in Kyoto	p. 292
Where to Dine in Kyoto	p. 306
Exploring the City	p. 319
Suggested Itineraries	p. 320
A Stroll Through Higashiyama-ku	p. 327
The Philosopher's Stroll	p. 332
Imperial Villas & Temples Within Easy Reach of Kyoto	p. 336
A Summer Spectacle: Cormorant Fishing	p. 337
Shopping Kyoto	p. 339
Kyoto After Dark	p. 342
A Side Trip to Nara	p. 344
The Rest of Western Honshu	p. 352
Nagoya	p. 352
P-Ping! Pachinko Parlors	p. 359
Ise-Shima National Park	p. 365
More of Old Japan: Kanazawa	p. 375
Osaka	p. 386
Kobe	p. 409
The Temples of Mount Koya	p. 423
Himeji, a Castle Town	p. 426
Okayama: Gateway to Shikoku	p. 431
Countryside Delights: Okayama Prefecture's International Villas	p. 436
Kurashiki, Market Town of Many Charms	p. 438
Off the Beaten Path: Matsue	p. 445
Hiroshima	p. 454
Miyajima, Scenic Island in the Seto Sea	p. 467
Shikoku	p. 472
Takamatsu	p. 472
Matsuyama Castle & Dogo Spa	p. 481
Kyushu	p. 491
Fukuoka	p. 491
Take Me Out to the Ballgame	p. 496
Beppu, King of the Hot-Spring Spas	p. 501
Off the Beaten Path: Miyazaki	p. 507
Kagoshima	p. 515
Southern Kyushu's Top Spa: Ibusuki	p. 526
Kumamoto	p. 530
Nagasaki	p. 539
Unzen Spa & Its Hells	p. 553
Northeastern Honshu--Tohoku	p. 558
The Pine-Clad Islands of Matsushima	p. 559
Kakunodate, Town of Samurai Homes	p. 566
Towada-Hachimantai National Park: For the Active Traveler	p. 569
Northern Japan--Hokkaido	p. 577
Hokkaido Essentials	p. 577
Hakodate, Southern Gateway to Hokkaido	p. 579
Sapporo	p. 583
Noboribetsu Spa & Shikotsu-Toya National Park	p. 594
Another Island, Another People: The Ainu of Hokkaido	p. 598
Sounkyo Spa & Daisetsuzan National Park	p. 601
Akanko Spa & Akan National Park	p. 605
Japan in Depth	p. 612
History 101	p. 612
Here and Zazen: Buddhism in Japan	p. 614
Japan Today	p. 619
The Magical World of Vending Machines	p. 621
Minding Your Ps & Qs	p. 621
The Home-Visit System	p. 623
Dealing with the Language Barrier	p. 627
Cultural Snapshots: Japanese Arts in a Nutshell	p. 629
Sumo	p. 631
A Glossary of Useful Japanese Terms	p. 633
A Japanese-Character Index of Establishment Names	p. 640
Index	p. 649
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