Fodor's Exploring Japan

by Fodor's Travel Publications Inc.

Praise for Fodor's Exploring Guides

"Authoritatively written and superbly presented...Worthy reading before, during, or after a trip."  -- Philadelphia Inquirer

"Absolutely gorgeous. Fun, colorful, and sophisticated."  --  Chicago Tribune


Fodor's Exploring Guides are the most up-to-date, full-color guidebooks available. Covering destinations around the world, these guides are loaded with photos, essays on culture and history, descriptions of sights, and practical information.  Full-color photos make these great guides to buy if you're still planning your itinerary (let the photos help you choose!), and they are perfect companions to general guidebooks, like Fodor's Gold Guides.


What to See
Extraordinary coverage of history and culture
Itineraries, walks and excursions, on and off the beaten path
Architecture and art

Where to Stay
Quick tips in every price range

Where to Eat
Savvy picks for all budgets

The Basics
Getting there and getting around
When to go & what to pack

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Japan, Reference

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Fodor's Travel Publications is a United States-based producer of English-language travel guides and online tourism information. It was founded by Hungarian Eugene Fodor in 1936.
Fodor’s was acquired by Random House in 1986 and sold to Internet Brands in 2016.

Reviews

[Silas]

This was an excellent resource for getting acquainted with Japan before a trip. A lot of the information here, I was able to find online before reading this, but many of the topics had more details here than elsewhere, including addresses and websites, as well as traveling resources that are available locally in English. In addition to the written part, there is an abundance of pictures illustrating things you will see in Japan beyond just the standard sights. Even though the book covered much more, geographically than my trip will, it had enough I valuable information interspersed throughout that I went ahead and read up on areas I'm not even going to visit. Definitely worthwhile if you are planning a trip to Japan.

[Lisa Matheny]

This is jam-packed with info....too much to be able to use. Not so much for first-time travelers.

[Aaron Wong]

Scott, D. (2008). Fodor's exploring Japan: Discover the country's cultural and historical treasures, pastimes, and pleasures (6th ed.). New York: Fodor's Travel.

Must-sees:
Onsen (hot spring resort), minshuku (homestay), ryokan (traditional inn), ramen, pachinko (pinball arcade)

Honshu
Tokyo: Lake Chuzenji's Kegon Waterfall (elevator), Disneyland, Harajuku, Shinjuku
Fuji-Hakone-Izu Nat Park: Mt Fuji Five Lakes (Kawaguchi-ko's Mt Tenjo observation tower, Shoji-ko's trail to Jukai Sea of Trees), Hakone (Lake Ashi cruise, Ropeway (Japan's longest at 33min), Owakudani (Great Boiling Valley) Gorge)
Kyoto: Imperial Palace (fast-track for foreigners), Nijo Castle, Daitokuji Temple (Daisen-in eastern Zen garden), Ginkakuji/Kinkakuji temples (silver & gold), Ryoanji Temple (sand-rock Zen garden), Heian Shrine (seasonal flower gardens), Kiyomizudera Temple (dancing stage above gorge), Katsura Imperial Villa (Japan's greatest garden designer's masterpiece)
Matsumoto: Castle

Hokkaido
Daisetsuzan Nat Park: Asahidake Onsen, Sounkyo Gorge (Ryusei-no-taki & Ginga-no-taki waterfalls; Mt Kurodake cable car)
Hakodate: Yama mountain
Sapporo: Ramen Yokocho, Odori Park's Yuki Matsuri snow festival (1st Wed of Feb)
Shikotsu-Toya Nat Park: Abuta Volcano Science Museum (experience room), Jigokudani (Hell Valley), Noboribetsu Onsen (45-92°C springs), Toyako Onsen (boat across Lake Toya)

[Andre]

Our son Mika and his family lived in Yokohama, Japan, for three years in the early 2000's. This was their book which they shared with my wife and I when we visited them in the late fall of 2002, after I retired from my Administrator position in Springfield, IL. I don't believe any guide book could do a better job than Fodor's did with this book. We used it to tour all of southern and western Honshu, the main island of Japan: from Tokyo to Hiroshima. My wife and I had lived for two years on the southern island of Kyushu from 1960-62 while I worked as Chief Announcer on the US military's Far East Network. We lived near Fukuoka, at Itazuke Air Force Base, which was closed many years ago.

[Cherie]

This was so ensightful and makes me want to see Japan even more.

[mairead!]

Photos are old and delightful thus. Seems a bit dated but also has some things I didn't see in other books?