In this book, Yuki Fukuyama and Ken Fukuyama will share with
About Yuki Fukuyama and Ken Fukuyama Before serving as a tour guide, they were full-time professors working in Japan National College of Technology. After having their first child in 1986, they have decided to pursue their long-hidden dream of exploring the world. Inspired by their life-changing adventure throughout the world, they have decided to serve as a tour guide. This happy couple has been serving as a Japan local tour guide for more than 30 years now. In their effort to show the world what Japan truly is, they have decided to write a book about it. Download your copy today! Take action and experience Japan at its fullest potential now! Get this book for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
A bit disappointed in this one to be honest. I started reading it and got a little confused on the different tone of voices for example at the very beginning gives you some definitions on Japanese pop culture, so I thought it’s target reader was for the older generation but few pages later it reads something like Take a picture there totally insta! So you can tell that this book hasn’t have a proper editing put in place. The book gets more vague as not description of places or photos, and the language is basic non engaging at all. I was kind of skimming through it to find itineraries for Tokyo and they are a bit too intense, this book suggest doing 3 of the biggest neighbourhoods in the city plus temples, gardens and meals same day you arrive. Finding the right exit to some of the metro stations can take you about 30 mins and you will need to walk miles to get out and get in. This is impossible if you just landed and left your luggage as most hotels check in are about 11 am some have later check in times. The real eye roll came when in the 69% of the kindle version said “Bonus tip, ...so I highly recommend you to visit booking.com” that’s only because prices change everyday but I learn nothing that I couldn’t find online. Read under your own risk. It’s a quick read but not much info is given.
My housemate bought me this cute little travel guide before my upcoming trip to Japan. I skipped the chapters on Hokkaido, Kyushu & winter destinations, as it's not relevant for me this time. There are lots of useful tips, written by a passionate local who is keen for people like me to explore everything Japan has to offer & as much as I can! It's all written quite simply & directly & in the plainest of English, so it is straight to the point, which I appreciate. I think I will find it very useful! I certainly have whilst planning & will definitely check out a lot of the food recommendations if I can. The only thing I didn't like was that the photos are in black & white, but on the plus it saves the real surprise for when I'm there, so only a small negative. If you're looking for more in-depth detail then this book probably isn't you.
First, positives: Written by travel guides, with plenty of experience, who offer real life, useful tips for visiting Japan. Where to go, what to avoid, when it's best and how much it costs. Easy to read, simple and easy English.
Now, the negatives: Not the best structure, the order of the chapters and the content could've been improved, to make it easier to follow. A bit too simplistic. I understand its target is the foreigner looking for a short Japanese trip, but I wish it went into a bit more depth. The imagery. I did not enjoy the black and white photos. I am not sure why this was the publishing choice, but it definitely does no justice to the sceneries they should show.
Overall, a good read for some easy, up to date tips, but needs other travel companions.
This book would be indispensable for someone planning a solo trip to Japan. In my case going with a group, it was a helpful precursor to appreciate the quality of the itinerary of my guided tour, while helping me feel more prepared when I got there. I can see that skimming it now that I’m home would help reenforce the overwhelming amount of beautiful things I’m still processing.
I have been to Japan twice. This book hits many of the highlights with brief, succinct, and useful pointers. I have recommended it to people who are going to Japan for the first time and are trying to plan an itinerary.
I really liked this book!! I think the theme of interest for me are gardens, pottery, traditional dances and presentations, and outdoor retreats. Very excited to visit next month!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Horrendous. Really cursory descriptions of the sights everyone else talks about as well, in the voice of a middle school kid trying to impersonate an advertiser.
I suspect if this is the first Japan guide book that you read it is suitable, but I was looking for something with a little more meat on the cultural side and this is a bit light in this area.
This book had great reviews as a hip, easy to read guide with publisher comments like “Why buy a heavy 800 page tome when this is all you need?”. So, it was easy to read in that I finished it in two hours while taking notes on specific destinations for an upcoming tour. It was more for those planning independent travel with all of the bus and train svhedules. The descriptions were written at an elementary level. Here is an example of the one paragraph describing the area around Mount Fuji. Granted, it did give info on nearby hiking routes, rental stores, and restaurants.
"Fuji Five Lakes The lakes at the base of Mount Fuji are great natural wonders, too. The area around the lakes is covered with beautiful pink moss during the springtime. It looks like it was taken out of a postcard."
So, I’m glad I only paid $5 for the kindle edition. I’ll use it for a map to the best matcha ice cream. But I am now ordering a Foders Guide for more history and background info.
This is a very easy read and great for planning a trip to Japan. The Kindle edition is very easy to use on-the-go. Love that is easy to bookmark for quick reference and will definitely be coming with me when I'm able to travel.