Customer Reviews

Fodor's Japan, 19th Edition (Travel Guide)

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we're going on a trip in april to japan, and took the fodor's guide out of the library to read up on what to do on our trip, and to decide if it would be worth it to purchase. Overall, the book has all the nuts and bolts you need, and has definitely helped in planning our trip. However, this guide has some key shortfalls - not enough maps or pictures. There's a handful of pictures in the front, and then only one or two maps of all of japan. In their itinerary suggestions it's almost impossible to follow since they don't reference them back to a map that you could follow. The chapters dedicated to certain areas only show a close in area map and not where it is in reference to the rest of the country (unlike say the rough guide).

I love reading guidebooks to help me get inspired and to inform me about my trip, but i found myself frustrated reading fodors, not being able to get a full sense of the country reading it, and i can't fully pinpoint why...maybe it could be when they describe a beautiful temple you don't see a picture to inspire you to go there. Also, i found some suggestions hilarious, such as for purchasing the Japan Rail pass, they casually suggest you upgrade to the first class ticket, which they say is a "negligible" price, about $100 more a ticket! i would rather that money in my budget go to a meal or a better lodging choice.

Again, the fodors guide is a good functional and thorough guide, but I would not want it to be the book I have with me throughout my trip.

This travel guide has been very helpful as all of their travel guides are. It will make my trip smoother and have fewer unexpected issues.