New Japan Solo [Paperback]

Eiji Kanno (Author), Constance OKeefe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 1998

Japan can be a bewildering place for the tourist traveling alone with little or no language skills. But with the right guide, it can be paradise. Published in cooperation with the Japan National Tourist Organization, New Japan Solo is that perfect travel companion. The latest edition of a book the New York Times called "indispensable" has been fully updated and provides a wealth of information far beyond the offerings of the typical travel guide:

- Hundreds of listings for dining, lodging, and travel tips for all budgets-updated with current phone numbers, addresses, and prices
- Suggested itineraries for trips of varying lengths to all regions of Japan
- More than 200 regional and city maps, updated and with detailed transportation routes and landmarks
- Place names in both English and Japanese
- "Conversation cards"-passports to simple and enjoyable Japanese conversation
- Concise directions, exact schedules, and latest train routes

With its methodical approach and abundance of information, New Japan Solo gives an insider's view of one of the Far East's most desirable travel destinations, supplying everything necessary to make any sojourn a success.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

EIJI KANNO, a twelve-year veteran of the Japan National Tourist Organization, served as the Deputy Director of the New York Office as well as the Manager of International Finance in Tokyo. He is currently the director of a New York-based travel service.

CONSTANCE O'KEEFE practices law in Washington , D.C. She has lived in Nagoya and worked for the Japan National Tourist Organization in New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha USA; 4 edition (June 30, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4770021879
• ISBN-13: 978-4770021878
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #940,569 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #84 in Books > Travel > Specialty Travel > Solo Travel

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable information from a unique perspective., October 9, 1999

By 

"sbgantz" - See all my reviews

This review is from: New Japan Solo (Paperback)

This book differs from other English language guide books to Japan both in content and delivery. The book was useless for planning hotel and restaurant visits, but for maps and step-by-step instructions for visiting a site it was extremely valuable. Also, the writers often showed a sense of humor and honesty in playing down some popular sites, while not hesitating to recommend other less known sites. The book is small and light and definitely worth keeping with you on any trip to Japan.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful and now easier to carry!, June 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: New Japan Solo (Paperback)

The old edition of this book was given to me by other Americans in Japan when I lived there. Now I just gave one to a young cousin who's going soon. I was glad to see that it's a bit smaller now, because the weight was the only drawback when I used it back then! I found a few small things that missed updating (like the team that left Nishinomiya stadium in the early 90's), but it otherwise seems to be a thoughtful update of the same valuable traveling companion it was back then. The descriptions of which train and bus lines to take, travel times, where to walk (helpful in a country with few street names) and landmarks to guide you were absolutely irreplaceable helps. It's perfect for visitors or foreign residents who want to be free of tour groups and find worthwhile places to explore on their own. I toured some places on the Inland Sea side where fewer foreigners venture and found the book just as useful there as in Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, and Tokyo.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Japan Guidebook, September 14, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: New Japan Solo (Paperback)

I spent three years in Japan and I had all of the major guidebooks, but none of them come close to this book. I just found that this book covers the material in an easy to follow manner. Also, the maps in this book are the best of any of the other books. You'll never get lost with this one. When I go back to Japan, this is the only guidebook I'll be taking with me.