You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's 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--they've done the legwork for you, and they're 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 Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us! Japan can be a bewildering destination, but Frommer's helps you travel like a pro, with practical tips on getting around, communicating, conducting business, and navigating the local etiquette and customs. We've included precise directions to every establishment, and dozens of accurate maps. You'll 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 you're worried about Japan's high prices, Frommer's 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, Frommer's Japan is the only guide you'll need to experience the best of this exotic land. With Frommer's in hand, you'll 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.

Folded, col. map in pocket on p. [3] of cover.

Expert advice from an experienced author. Our Frommer's Tokyo author was the first US resident appointed a YOKOSO! Japan Ambassador by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism for her many years writing about Japan. She will provide valuable insights and advice and will show you the real heart of Tokyo. Comprehensive and clear directions for navigating a fast-paced and often overwhelming city. The best of every neighborhood, including swanky shops in the Ginza district, the Imperial Palace (home of Japan's emperor) in the Hibiya district, sumo wrestling stadiums in the town of Ryogoku, and elaborate "lolita" (baby doll) and "cosplay" (anime character) outfits you'll see teenagers wearing in the Harijuku district. Options for every price point, from luxury business hotels to cheap, miniscule "capsule hotels," from restaurants serving exquisite kaiseki feasts to stand-up noodle houses, from high-end bars and clubs in the Ginza district to happy hours and dive bars in Shinjuku and Roppongi. A handy glossary of everyday expressions and menu terms, and our unique and indispensable Japanese character translations to help you spot establishments' signs. Side trips to Kamakura, Nikko, Mashiko, Yokahama, Mount Fuji, and more.

Life is short. Vacations are shorter. Relax! Trust your trip to Frommer's. Choose the Only Guide That Gives You: Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip no matter what your budget. The latest, most reliable information—all completely up-to-date! Dozens of easy-to-read color maps. The widest and best selection of hotels and restaurants in every price range, with candid, in-depth reviews. All the practical details you need to make the most of your time and money. One-of-a-kind experiences and undiscovered gems, plus a new take on all the top attractions. Outspoken opinions on what's worth your time and what's not. A fresh, personal approach that puts the fun and excitement back into travel! It's a Whole New World with Frommer's. Find us online at www.frommers.com

The Resource for the Independent Traveler For over forty years Let's Go Travel Guides have brought budget-savvy travelers closer to the world and its diverse cultures by providing the most up-to-date information. Includes: · Entries at all price levels with money-saving advice for this expensive country · Must-have tips for planning your trip, getting around, and staying safe · Detailed coverage of food and drink, including a Fukuoka noodle tour · A crash course in Japanglish to help communicate with locals · Extensive coverage of the island paradise of Okinawa · Detailed maps of cities, towns, and the outdoors Featuring not-to-be-missed Experiences Cultural Connections: Sink into sake at a spectacular bathhouse theme park Inside Scoops & Hidden Deals: Save thousands of yen on flights within Japan Off the Beaten Path: Sip pineapple wine at the blissful Nago Pineapple Park Get advice, read up, and book tickets at www.letsgo.com

Choose the Only Guide That Gives You: Complete coverage of China’s top attractions, plus introductions to unique places unknown to other guidebooks. Outspoken opinions on what’s worth your time and what’s not, written by current and former residents with comprehensive knowledge of the language and culture. Includes establishment names listed in both English and Chinese characters, making it easier for you to get around and find the places you're looking for. Includes detailed Chinese language and menu guides. Our authors, experienced China travelers who've written about the country for years, offer valuable insights and paint a vivid picture of a country that's undergoing one of the most fascinating cultural and economic transformations in history. Download a free companion podcast about traveling in China at Frommers.com

This prize-winning book is both an illustrated tour of a Tokyo rarely seen in Japan travel guides and an artist's warm, funny, visually rich, and always entertaining graphic memoir. Florent Chavouet, a young graphic artist, spent six months exploring Tokyo while his girlfriend interned at a company there. Each day he would set forth with a pouch full of color pencils and a sketchpad, and visit different neighborhoods. This stunning book records the city that he got to know during his adventures. It isn't the Tokyo of packaged tours and glossy guidebooks, but a grittier, vibrant place, full of ordinary people going about their daily lives and the scenes and activities that unfold on the streets of a bustling metropolis. Here you find businessmen and women, hipsters, students, grandmothers, shopkeepers, policemen, and other urban types and tribes in all manner of dress and hairstyles. A temple nestles among skyscrapers; the corner grocery anchors a diverse assortment of dwellings, cafes, and shops--often tangled in electric lines. The artist mixes styles and tags his pictures with wry comments and observations. Realistically rendered advertisements or posters of pop stars contrast with cartoon sketches of iconic objects or droll vignettes, like a housewife walking her pet pig, a Godzilla statue in a local park, and an urban fishing pond that charges 400 yen per half hour. This very personal guide to Tokyo is organized by neighborhood with hand-drawn maps that provide an overview of each neighborhood, but what really defines them is what caught the artist's eye and attracted his formidable drawing talent. Florent Chavouet begins his introduction by observing that, "Tokyo is said to be the most beautiful of ugly cities." With wit, a playful sense of humor, and the multicolor pencils of his kit, he sets aside the question of urban ugliness or beauty and captures the Japanese essence of a great city in this truly vital portrait.

In Bashō's Journey, David Landis Barnhill provides the definitive translation of Matsuo Bashō's literary prose, as well as a companion piece to his previous translation, Bashō's Haiku. One of the world's greatest nature writers, Bashō (1644–1694) is well known for his subtle sensitivity to the natural world, and his writings have influenced contemporary American environmental writers such as Gretel Ehrlich, John Elder, and Gary Snyder. This volume concentrates on Bashō's travel journal, literary diary (Saga Diary), and haibun. The premiere form of literary prose in medieval Japan, the travel journal described the uncertainty and occasional humor of traveling, appreciations of nature, and encounters with areas rich in cultural history. Haiku poetry often accompanied the prose. The literary diary also had a long history, with a format similar to the travel journal but with a focus on the place where the poet was living. Bashō was the first master of haibun, short poetic prose sketches that usually included haiku. As he did in Bashō's Haiku, Barnhill arranges the work chronologically in order to show Bashō's development as a writer. These accessible translations capture the spirit of the original Japanese prose, permitting the nature images to hint at the deeper meaning in the work. Barnhill's introduction presents an overview of Bashō's prose and discusses the significance of nature in this literary form, while also noting Bashō's significance to contemporary American literature and environmental thought. Excellent notes clearly annotate the translations.

12 routes with detailed maps.

This brand new first edition of Frommer's South Korea features in-depth coverage of this increasingly popular destination, from the cities of Seoul and Busan to the DMZ border area to Jeju Island, the "Island of the Gods." Our author Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee is a first-generation Korean American who passes along insider's tips and insights into Korean culture, plus a Korean recipe or two (Lee is also a respected cook and cookbook author). She'll steer you away from the touristy and the inauthentic and show you the real heart of South Korea. Eat a Hanjeongsik (full-course meal) in a neighborhood cafe in Seoul, attend the Pusan Film Festival, shop for the country's best fabrics (ramie fabrics) at the markets in Hansan, and hike Seoraksan (or just buy the area's famous mushrooms and honey)--plus seek out tea houses, limestone caves, Buddhist temples, hot springs, battlegrounds, and parks throughout the region. You'll travel South Korea like a pro with our candid advice and handy Korean-language glossary. Also included are accurate regional and town maps, up-to-date advice on finding the best package deals, a glossary of Korean cuisine, and an online directory that makes trip-planning a snap!