best japan/tokyo/kyoto travel book

[cbarnard]

I know travel books are usually a little out of date and are touristy, but i think the can help me get an overview of japan/tokyo/kyoto before i set specific travel plans. So what are you favorite travel guides for japan, tokyo, or kyoto?

-C

 

[nice gaijin]

I've heard good things about Lonely Planet

 

[ArmandV]

You can get free booklets, maps and brochures on any Japan subject you want from JNTO. They are my primary source.

Travel Japan - Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

 

[BlueThunderKuno]

I just bought the new Lonely Planet book: Japan and its wonderful. Its really detailed no matter where in Japan you go. I just order this book "Dining Guide to Japan: Find the Right Restaurant, Order the Right Dish, and Pay the Right Price!" from Amazon. Its supposed to be really good if you aren't sure what to order for food in japan.

 

[ifjames]

Having bought Lonely Planet, and Frommers, some time ago,and been given (by Santa) DK, Rough Guides, AND Insights, (guess the family know we are off to Japan soon!!!) I can thoroughly recommend Lonely Planet, and Insights, and fully agree, Armand V, about the JNTO website guides: they are amazing. LP is the most detailed by far, and the maps are great: would suggest getting the individual small LP books just on Tokyo, and Kyoto, if that's all you are going to see: they have all the same info as the full Japan guide, but are much easier to carry around, and have the better maps of those cities.
Good luck!!

 

[sanji]

You can check this link for some comments on several guides :

Secret Japan - Guide books (whole Japan, specific areas and special topics)

Personally, I would recommend "The Rough Guide to Japan" by Simon Richmond & Jan Dodd for someone who travel in Japan.

If you live around Tokyo, "Weekend Adventures Outside Tokyo" by Tae Moriyama is a fantastic guide to discover off the beaten destinations around Tokyo...

sanji