Customer Reviews

The Rough Guide to Tokyo

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I made four trips to Tokyo for work in 2000, and this is the only guide book that made it into my suitcase on trips 2, 3, and 4. Filled with concise reviews of all the major sights as well as restaurants and stores, this little book (I bought the pocket, mini edition) is as frank as some of the back-packer guides, but is not prejudiced against the reader who has a bit of disposable income. Some finds from this book not mentioned in most other guides to Tokyo that really made me feel like an insider: taking the Sumida gawa ferry, the underworld of Gay Tokyo in Shinjuku Ni-Chome, and heavenly CHEAP bath salts from Japanese no-name brand Muji.

Truly, if you want to feel like you are an insider, and you don't want to have to read four or five of the same old, same old guides, this is the book for you!

I bought this thinking that it is a more in-depth guide of Tokyo. But it is simply a cut down version of the Tokyo section of Rough guide to Japan. I immediately returned it because I'd already bought the latter. For the price, I would at least expect something more original.
The only advantage over the guide to Japan is that it is pocket-sized.

The Rough Guide to Tokyo provided a good overview of the city and some of the best tourist destinations. The overview of the regions in the city was particularly helpful, as were the transportation guides (although similar information was available at subway stations.)

Several times during our one week visit, my wife and I attempted to find a restaurant or bar that was recommended or described in the Rough Guide, only to discover that it had closed some time ago. This was particularly frustrating as the 3rd edition was less than a year old at the time of publication.

Overall, a convenient way to get your feet wet, but ask the locals where to eat for dinner, they gave better advice and the restaurants still existed!

This is my fourth Rough Guide book and as usual it's lived up to my expectations. The descriptions are brutally honest and there's tons of great - and accurate - recommendations both on and off the beaten path. Gave us a great overview on what to expect for our trip to Tokyo and allowed us to put together an itinerary on our own. Even more importantly it was fun and easy to read! It's really like having a local with you.

This book scores high marks for excellent maps and very extensive listings of restaurants. You could certainly take it as your only guide book if you were going to Tokyo.

However, I was still quite disappointed by the descriptive text in the book. Too often, the neighborhood descriptions were very superficial and bland. Fortunately I didn't rely very much on these sections of the book. However, since so much of the book is comprised of these lengthly text passages, it felt as if the book was about twice as heavy as it needed to be.