- An insider's guide to Tokyo's hidden gems and lesser-known spots - Written by a true local, filled with independent advice, based on thorough research and the author's personal opinions - An inspirational and practical guide to the city's most interesting places, buildings, restaurants, shops, museums, galleries, neighborhoods, gardens and cafes, arranged into 100 lists of 5 secrets - A recently updated edition in Luster's successful and attractive series of city guides The 500 Hidden Secrets of Tokyo is an affectionate city guide, written by Tokyo local Yukiko Tajima. She has listed 500 must-visit places in her truly fascinating hometown, as well as good-to-know facts. The city has a great many aspects that are changing at a rapid pace; hopefully this book will help you discover new sides that you were unaware of, and will inspire you as you organize your holiday here. Also available: The 500 Hidden Secrets of Berlin, The 500 Hidden Secrets of Istanbul, The 500 Hidden Secrets of Miami, The 500 Hidden Secrets of Paris, The 500 Hidden Secrets of New York, and many more. Discover the series at the500hiddensecrets.com

A guide to Tokyo's finest and most interesting places, buildings, restaurants, shops, museums, galleries, neighborhoods, gardens and cafes.

"An inspirational and practical guide to Tokyo's finest and most interesting places, buildings, restaurants, shops, museums, galleries, neighborhoods, gardens and cafes"--Amazon.com

A building that acts as a giant firewall, a secret city center canyon, a statue that cures warts, ultra-modern designer toilets, an extraordinary tree that helps you quit smoking, an electronic sunflower, a spectacular modern temple hidden in the heart of Shinjuku, a street that gives Tokyo taxi drivers nightmares, a massive building that looks like a warship, forgotten rivers ... Far from the crowds and the usual clichés, Tokyo swings between modernity and tradition, preservation of its heritage, sophisticated aestheticism and eccentricity, offering countless off-beat experiences. The Japanese capital is home to any number of well-hidden treasures that are revealed only to residents and travellers who find their way off the beaten track. An indispensable guide for those who thought they knew Tokyo well or would like to discover the other face of the city.

Tokyo lives up to its reputation as a modern metropolis and, as this book shows, it is also one of the most exciting and diverse places on the planet. Focusing on Tokyo and its surrounding areas, photojournalist Stephen Mansfield brings this buzzing place to life within these pages. He presents all the well-established sights along with many new ones that are not "discovered" yet. This book will provide inspiration for every traveler--whether your interests are J-culture, fashion, food, traditional crafts, gardens or nature trails (or all of the above!). This visual guide is the perfect introduction for anyone planning a trip to Tokyo, reminiscing about time spent there or those hoping to go in the future.

* A practical guide to discovering Paris' finest places, buildings, restaurant, shops, museums, neighborhoods, parks, hotels and cafés* Revised and updated edition"If you really want to get under the skin of a city, the 500 Hidden Secrets series, which covers a number of cities from Havana to Ghent, all written by people who know the cities inside out, is ideal. It's an innovative and refreshing take on the traditional travel guide." - The IndependentFor tourists who want to avoid the well-known tourist spots and discover the locals favorite addresses, and for residents who want to get to know their city even better, this handy little guide is eminently useful. Written by a true local, the book includes lists such as the 5 best vintage markets, the 5 best workplaces for freelancers and the 5 best concert venues. It features 500 addresses and facts that few people know, such as an elegant spice shop that sells condiments from all over the world, a small stationer's where the daylight streams in gloriously and you can find the most beautiful Japanese paper creations, or a little shop where gifts like embroidered serviettes are made to order.Contents: 120 Places to Eat or Buy Good Food; 45 Places to Go for a Drink; 60 Places to Shop; 35 Places for Fashion; 90 Places to Discover Paris; 35 Places to Enjoy Culture; 35 Things to do with Children; 20 Places to Sleep; 35 Places to Go Out; 25 Random Good-to-know Places and Urban Details.

“[A]n excellent book...” —The Economist Financial Times Asia editor David Pilling presents a fresh vision of Japan, drawing on his own deep experience, as well as observations from a cross section of Japanese citizenry, including novelist Haruki Murakami, former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, industrialists and bankers, activists and artists, teenagers and octogenarians. Through their voices, Pilling's Bending Adversity captures the dynamism and diversity of contemporary Japan. Pilling’s exploration begins with the 2011 triple disaster of earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown. His deep reporting reveals both Japan’s vulnerabilities and its resilience and pushes him to understand the country’s past through cycles of crisis and reconstruction. Japan’s survivalist mentality has carried it through tremendous hardship, but is also the source of great destruction: It was the nineteenth-century struggle to ward off colonial intent that resulted in Japan’s own imperial endeavor, culminating in the devastation of World War II. Even the postwar economic miracle—the manufacturing and commerce explosion that brought unprecedented economic growth and earned Japan international clout might have been a less pure victory than it seemed. In Bending Adversity Pilling questions what was lost in the country’s blind, aborted climb to #1. With the same rigor, he revisits 1990—the year the economic bubble burst, and the beginning of Japan’s “lost decades”—to ask if the turning point might be viewed differently. While financial struggle and national debt are a reality, post-growth Japan has also successfully maintained a stable standard of living and social cohesion. And while life has become less certain, opportunities—in particular for the young and for women—have diversified. Still, Japan is in many ways a country in recovery, working to find a way forward after the events of 2011 and decades of slow growth. Bending Adversity closes with a reflection on what the 2012 reelection of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and his radical antideflation policy, might mean for Japan and its future. Informed throughout by the insights shared by Pilling’s many interview subjects, Bending Adversity rigorously engages with the social, spiritual, financial, and political life of Japan to create a more nuanced representation of the oft-misunderstood island nation and its people. The Financial Times “David Pilling quotes a visiting MP from northern England, dazzled by Tokyo’s lights and awed by its bustling prosperity: ‘If this is a recession, I want one.’ Not the least of the merits of Pilling’s hugely enjoyable and perceptive book on Japan is that he places the denunciations of two allegedly “lost decades” in the context of what the country is really like and its actual achievements.” The Telegraph (UK) “Pilling, the Asia editor of the Financial Times, is perfectly placed to be our guide, and his insights are a real rarity when very few Western journalists communicate the essence of the world’s third-largest economy in anything but the most superficial ways. Here, there is a terrific selection of interview subjects mixed with great reportage and fact selection... he does get people to say wonderful things. The novelist Haruki Murakami tells him: “When we were rich, I hated this country”... well-written... valuable.” Publishers Weekly (starred): "A probing and insightful portrait of contemporary Japan."

Visit an extraordinary hill where the "little angels" are buried; discover remarkable forgotten Art Deco buildings; see a plane taking off at really close range, leftovers from the 1908 and 1922 Universal Expositions, a beautiful private palace open to visitors once a month, modernist ceramics hidden on the 15th-floor terrace of a former government building, a remarkable secret staircase; experience little-known walks and views of the city; find an Amazonian talisman at Copacabana, vestiges of the Carioca river, a rare statue of the great-grandmother of Jesus, a taxi nightclub, a work of art in a favela, a disused airship hangar ... Far from the crowds and the usual beach and carnival clichés, Rio de Janeiro has countless treasures it reveals only to residents and travellers who wander off the beaten track. An indispensable guide for all those who thought they were familiar with Rio or would like to discover the other face of the city.

Discover the very best that Japan has to offer in this comprehensive guide from popular and stylish local blogger Hello Sandwich. Japan may be one of the world's travel hotspots, but to get the most out of your vacation you'll need a local's insider tips. Design-minded blogger and Japanophile Ebony Bizys, aka Hello Sandwich, has been living in Tokyo since 2010 and has uncovered the very best places around this unique country. From bonsai gardens, contemporary galleries, stunning temples, peaceful ryokan retreats, 'kawaii' gift shops and topnotch coffee spots, to unbeatable izakayas, four-seater sashimi bars and ideal hiking destinations for 'forest bathing', this stunning tome is filled with travel tips galore along with language essentials and colorful images. All of the key destinations are covered including Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Hakone, Sapporo, Okinawa and Naoshima. Hello Sandwich Japan is for people who value good aesthetics, good food and rich culture, who will enjoy the craziness of Tokyo's neon playground just as much as the peaceful Buddhist getaway of Mount Koya.

The first book in a new spinoff of the successful The 500 Hidden Secrets seriesExplores nostalgic addresses in London where time seems to have stood stillNostalgic London is the first book in Luster's second spinoff from the successful The 500 Hidden Secrets series. Following the Hidden guides on regions, there will now also be themed guides, focusing on a specific subject in or a specific side of a city or region.The first guide in this series will lead you to all the places in London that evoke nostalgia. It's a guide for visitors who aren't looking for the newest trendy places-to-be per se, but who are instead more interested in the places where time seems to have stood still, or addresses with a timeless, classic vibe. Author Ellie Walker-Arnott shares nostalgic addresses and places in London, such as:- romantic ruins- traditional tearooms- iconic department stores- spots in the footsteps of the Beatles- and much more.