Japan (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

If you are planning a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun, make sure you don't leave home without DK's Eyewitness Travel Guide: Japan. All aspects of modern Japan, as well as its history, art and ancient traditions are explained through informative text and spectacular photographs and illustrations. Learn about Japanese history and culture, and experience the exotic cuisine and entertainment. Over 800 full-color photographs, street-by-street maps, and aerial 3-D cutaways highlight all of Japan's major attractions. Japan's enormous variety in landscape (from near arctic in the north to sub-tropical in the south) comes to life like no other guide. Whether in Tokyo, Kyoto, Okinawa, Honshu, or Hokkaido this is the ultimate resource for all points of interest.

The Eyewitness Japan volume is an interesting cultural introduction, but a woefully insufficient travel guide to this complex country, even for a very short trip such as the one I took. Some thoughts:

(1) The maps (particularly outside of Tokyo) are not at all comprehensive. It would not be possible to find one's way around Kyoto, for example, without another guidebook. There is a high-level overview map of Kyoto (without most streets marked) and some cut-away maps of particular tiny areas, but you could not piece together one usable city map out of it.

(2) The phrasebook is only four pages long and doesn't contain some of the most basic and useful information. Example: It doesn't contain the word for "cash machine," and Japan appears to be a heavily cash-oriented country.

(3) The hotel information is wholly insufficient. It lists few hotels and then gives only one short sentence about each hotel. It doesn't make any suggestions as to which neighborhoods would be better to stay in, either.

(4) The greatest strength of the book is in its cultural information and its visuals. For example, after finding the Kyoto "philosopher's walk" on a map in another guidebook, we were able to learn from the Eyewitness book why it was named the philosopher's walk and some interesting (but not particularly practical) facts about the walk. However, here again there is a hidden weakness: unlike other guidebooks, the Eyewitness book doesn't seem to take a stand on which sites are worth seeing in limited time.

In such a complex country (particularly if, like me, you do not speak Japanese), you need a more comprehensive and more opinionated guide. All in all, in terms of survival and travel enjoyment, you're better off with the other travel books we had with us: Lonely Planet Japan (which has great opinions on what to visit) and Time Out Tokyo. I also recommend the Berlitz phrasebook on Japanese to get around; it's small and contains lots of useful phrases, although sometimes in strange places. Also, if you're leaving Tokyo, don't forget the bilingual maps.

Happy traveling!
Lydia

PS: This particular Eyewitness book (perhaps I'd missed this on other trips) seems oriented towards the high-end, perhaps business, traveler. Whereas the eyewitness guide described a particular Tokyo ryokan as having a convivival lounge area that encouraged travelers to meet people, exchange stories, and strategize about their travels, Eyewitness would describe a particular ryokan as not having a particularly nice view. Perhaps that's something to keep in mind, depending on your interests.


Eye-catching guide is a worthy investment   July 26, 2003
Zack Davisson (Seattle, WA, USA)
68 out of 69 found this review helpful

This is sort of a "Japan! Wow!" type of guide, full of eye-popping graphics and catchy factoids. It is a very fun guide, and does a great job of engaging enthusiasm for Japan and its wonders. The makers definitely know their audience, and all of the weird and wild parts of the country and its culture are captured.

Nothing off the beaten path here, only the major attractions of each city/region are represented. It is wide but not deep. Pricing information and such is well done, and gives an accurate picture of what to expect. Tidbits of culture and history help explain what you will be seeing and make for interesting overall reading.

Even as someone living in Japan, I find this guide to be valuable and fun. It has sparked my interests in several sites and is a great reminder of places that I have been.

For a deeper travel guide, I recommend "Gateway to Japan." That combined with "Exploring Japan" should be all you need to plan a snazzy and enjoyable trip.


I found it helpful in a recent trip to Kyoto   November 11, 2006
C. B Collins Jr. (Atlanta, GA United States)
30 out of 41 found this review helpful

The Eyewitness Travel Guide for Japan is a very good publication. I used the guide on a recent trip to Kyoto and therefore I will only be able to comment on the use of the guide in Kyoto.

In general the guide prepares you for Japan fairly well. I found Japan to be a land of contradictions in regard to dress. The youth of Japan show their rebellion by coloring their dark hair with red highlights and wear wild teased up hair styles. They wear gothic styles with a touch of S&M leather. The clothing selections and combinations are striking. However on the same bus or subway that you see youths with wild clothing, you will also see older women wearing the traditional kimono with obi sash. Take a careful look at these ladies and you will see how beautiful the clothes are matched and patterned. You may also see the beautiful Geisha and Maiko in Kyoto, visiting historic sites or traveling in hand pulled carriages.

In the 5 days I was in Japan I never saw the first piece of trash or garbage on the ground. I never even saw a cigarette butt on the ground. I was amazed at the cleanliness. One morning on an early walk, I found a monk carefully sweeping a public bridge of early autumn leaves.

Downtown Kyoto was full of high end stores and amazing displays of neon. The corner of Shijo and Kawaramachi is the Kyoto version of Times Square with the magnificent Takashimaya flagship store. However as you walk downtown Kyoto you will see small Shinto or Buddhist shrines hidden between buildings. At the gate there is a frequent water fountain and tin cups so that you can wash and purify your hands before entering the shrine. Many have incense and candles burning. Some contain amazing antique Buddhist statues. There is often a thick rope tied to an antique bell high above your head. Pull the bellcord, ring the bell and say a short prayer. Kyoto is a city of palaces, castles, fortresses, shrines, and temples. Most of the palaces, castles, and fortresses have wonderful gardens to explore. Many of the shrines and temples also have superbly beautiful gardens. Some of the gardens are called Paradise Gardens because they are meant to evoke the Pure Land or Buddhist paradise. The private gardens of the Emperor,which are located ajacent to his residence in the Imperial Compound, are such gardens. However, some of the temples have the dry-landscape gardens with carefully rakes gravel. The Japanese are major tourists in their own country and appreciate the careful garden landscape designs, especially the reflection of temples or a stand of autumn red trees reflected in a pool. The florists of Kyoto are experts in Ikebana, with stunning asymetrical arrangements of flowers. Go into florists shops while traveling in Kyoto to see the artistic arrangements of the owners. Garden shops often had impressive examples of Bonsai. The antique shops in Kyoto contain interesting ceramics and bronze castings. The prices were a bit steep especially in light of the fact that contemporary potters create similar work to the old masters of 400 years ago.

The Eyewitness Guide has a short history of Japan. Of interest is the odd pattern of the Emperor abdicating to become a reclusive monk and allowing a son or grandson to become Emperor. Interstingly the new young Emperor is charged with all the boring rituals of court ceremony while the reclusive retired Emperor rules the land without having to waste time on formal ceremonies. Also, at times in Japan's history, the country was actually run by a Shogun, a military dictator, while the Imperial family was concerned with ceremony without any real power.

Kyoto is a fantastic city to visit. The subway system is easy to understand once you take your first trip. The subway stops are convenient to every part of town and to many of the historic sites. The Gion district is gret fun to explore with its narrow stone roads and tiny shops. The Eyewitness map covered the central 80% of the city but there was no subway map in the guide. This would have been a nice feature.

Kyoto station, where all trains, subways, and buses meet, can be a bit confusing. Give yourself plenty of time since most of the signs are in Japanese and English signs are not available for every line, train track, or bus stop.

The Sanjusangen-do Temple is a 'must see' item. It contains 1000 Kannon statues, all lined up in rows. In front of these 1000 statues are a series of goddesses, gods, demons, spirits that guard the 1000 Kannon statues. These works are superb. In the center is one very large Kannon carved 750 years ago that is impressive. The statues are housed in the longest wooden structure in the world.

Nijo Castle is also a 'must see' item. It is a fortress within a fortress. The massive Karamon Gate marks the entrance into the area where the Shogun held court and lived. You are allowed to see his meeting rooms, residential rooms, study, and the large hall where he holds court (the Ohiroma Ichi-no-ma). The gardens surrounding the buildings are incredible with orchards of cherry and plum trees. Like every historic building or shrine or temple, you must take off your shoes to enter. Of note is the nightingale floors in the Castle which were built to squeak to alert of a sneak attack.

The Gion district is great fun. Shijo street ends at the Yasaka Shrine, a compound that should be visited. The grounds of the Shrine link to Maruyama Park. From here, it is a short walk to the historic Kodaiji Temple which is superbly landscaped. The strolling paths are fun and will take you to the Yasakanoto Pagoda that stands high above the downtown area. The homes and inns in this region are exquisite with wonderful tea gardens leading into the entrances.

The Higashihonganji Temple is massive is reported to be the largest wooden structure in the world.

The Imperial residence within the Imperial Park is a fascinating group of buildings with residential and ceremonial buildings. I certainly enjoyed seeing the palace compound and fantastic gardens.

Shopping in Kyoto is very interesting. Pickle stores abound with pickled turnips, radishes, mustard greens, cherrys, plums, and other delicasies that we rarely see in the United States. The restaurants in the Pontocho region are good. We ate at Wontana and had the 9 course chef's meal (called Kaiseki) with a range of Saki selections. Expect many fish and duck dishes in Kyoto restaurants. Because I was in Kyoto for business we had Bento Boxes for lunch. They are a real treat with many tasty items. The sushi and sashimi was fantastic in Kyoto. The Maguro (tuna) and Snapper was excellent. When running around town, you may see Pocari Sweat, an oddly named soft drink. Be careful around tipping since it is not customary and may be offensive. Restrooms are frequent and well marked. Western style toilets in hotels and restaurants may be high tech with seat warmers and water sprayers and noise makers to disquise bathroom sounds. Some of these toilets start a slow trickle flush when you sit down to disquise noise.

I did not give the guide 5 points because there were a few things that were needed that could have been provided. A subway map of Kyoto would have been nice in the Kyoto section. However the major ommission in the book was a warning that ATMs are hard to find and may not take US banks or credit unions. I found that post offices had ATMs that would take Western cards but there were not many ATMs in Kyoto - so be prepared.

However, overall this is a good product, with beautiful pictures and basic good information.


Beautiful book...   June 6, 2002
16 out of 16 found this review helpful

Having travelled to Japan on two occassions (once as an exchange student and once travelling throughout the country alone), I was have mixed feelings about this book.

Although the book is very well designed and has beautiful pictures (it is nice to show to guests who don't know about Japan), some of the most interesting things are skimmed over (for example Arashiyama in Kyoto has only a short description). I was also very disappointed when I visited Osaka-Castle, as the inside was very much like a museum, and I had expected the reconstruction to have replicas of the original interior decoration. The travel guide did not explain that the interior is completely modernized.

The other problem is that some of the rural areas - Toyama and Akita for example weren't really covered.

Nonetheless, there is no better travel guide of Japan on the market (at least designed for English speakers.) There is also coverage of the Ken-rokuen and the various temples.

Although I think the book is well worth the money, I would also recommend that anyone with Japanese language skills check out the area specific guidebooks designed for Japanese travellers to supplement the information in the book (there are many excellent magazine style ones on large cities such as Kyoto), and ask friends and acquantiances before travelling to spots far from where you are staying.


Eyewitness is the gold standard in travel guides!   April 16, 2002
Dianne (New York, NY USA)
15 out of 15 found this review helpful

I do hope DK will publish individual Eyewitness guides to Kyoto and Tokyo. To fit all of Japan into one guide is an unreasonable task, so I considered this book to be an overview at best. Even so they managed to include a great deal of detail and I found it extermely useful throughout my recent trip to Japan. There were many instances where Eyewitness Japan gave more detailed information on a particular sight than the Lonely Planet city guides for Kyoto and Tokyo.

I love the way the Eyewitness guides organise the information in a way that is similar to how you will actually tackle it when traveling; first by region than neighborhood. It is all very visual and user friendly, but also quite meaty when you dig into the information. One word about the maps, which I found excellent; very few streets in Japan are labeled, only the major ones, and many streets don't have names at all, so street names are not really relevant. I often found myself orienting myself by the last shrine I passed.

Like many people I find the Eyewitness guides to be an excellent resource in planning and navigating my travels, as well as a nice keepsake for my bookshelf when I return. I find their strength to be in guiding you around and explaining the major sights, I look elsewhere for information on dining, lodging and the off-beat. No single guide is good for everything. In fact if it were up to me I would eliminate the hotel and restaurant sections of the Eyewitness guides all together because they are so weak. I loved this guide for what it is, an excellent overall view of Japan.