Tokyo: The Monocle Travel Guide

by Monocle

The Tokyo guide is written by our bureau team in the city who have been covering the metropolis since Monocle began in 2007. In this 148-page hardback they reveal the places that they have got to know and love and show you why Tokyo is the friendliest big city in the world. It’s a guide book that will lead you to the best in culture and new architecture – and a few fun nights out too.

The Monocle Travel Guide series reveals our favourite places in each city we cover, from the ideal route for an early-morning run to the best spots for independent retail. Full of surprises and quirks, they also feature detailed design and architecture pages, neighbourhood walks to get you away from the crowds and our favourite places to eat everything be it tasty fast food or something truly celebratory.

Genres: Travel, Japan, Nonfiction, Reference

140 pages, Hardcover

First published August 25, 2015

Reviews

[Davy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was thinking this may be good as my one travel book to own, but ended up being a little bit of a supplement. It's very similar to large GQ article of all the cool shit I should see as a cultured person. I've began adding alot of the items to Google Map, but one thing I would have appreciated is a few more maps to show the context of where these places are in relation to each other so I could plan my activities by multiple neighborhoods per day. I think the Lonely Planet books serve that need a little better.

Glad I got this though.

[Ronald Schoedel III · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a lovely visual guide to some really cool stuff in Tokyo. It’s not the only guide I’ll consult whilst planning my first trip, but it is a beautiful book, readable from cover to cover (very few travel guides come off as especially enjoyable reading material). I’m encouraged to check out their other guides now.

[Jason Keenan · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://101booksjapan.blogspot.ca/

It doesn't happen often but this is a travel guide worth reading cover to cover. The main reason is it doesn't attempt to be a catalog of everything you could see or do in Tokyo. Instead it's a highly edited collection of sites, shops, and experiences. The emphasis is on unique and high quality spots.

I've been to Tokyo twice and the approach this guide takes made me think more than a few times "I wish I had known that." Rest assured I have marked a number of to dos for next time.

You still may want a full guidebook but you should have this as well.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different kind of guide book. Tightly detailed, richly visual, full of design-oriented details from the city. Forward looking, with a modest emphasis on history. Features of the moment designers, artists, bookshops, the hip neighborhoods of the city, while also covering shopping, high end hotels, etc. Extremely visual in layout, reads like a long form magazine as much as a book in terms of photo spreads. A great way to learn more about the city, and prepare for an eventual trip....!

[Josefine]

Bougie guide to Tokyo

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great recommendations. Minor visual tweaks like increasing title font sizes would make it more readable.

[Alohatiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different kind of travel guide. Wish I found it before I went to Japan but I am ready for next time!