Customer Reviews

Subway Guide to Tokyo: Take the Right Line, Get Off at the Right Station, and Find the Best Exit!

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This new (2005) book from Tuttle is not to be confused with the same author's "Tokyo Subway Guide" (2002) published by Kodansha. In one aspect, the newer book has the advantage of including the newly designated codes for each subway stop (a letter and number combination that uniquely identifies each station on each line). However, the older volume is more useful to this reader than the newer one because it includes area maps of 50 major stations, each showing interconnections between lines, numbered exists, and major buildings. The `area profiles' in the newer volume are limited to 13 in number (thus omitting Ikebukuro, Jimbocho, Shimbashi, Ueno, and others). While each area profile includes some text describing noted features in the areas of interest, they are far less detailed than the older maps. Of the newer volume's 160 pages, 100 are given over to category listings (`acupuncture clinics' to `zoo') that could allow the newer volume to double as a guidebook, though the listings are not annotated and, thus, will have utility primarily to those already familiar with the city and who know what sights, stores, or services they are seeking.

See my review for TOKYO CITY ATLAS. It is much better than this albeit newer guide. The signage in Tokyo is still a mix of the "old" and the "new" system and TCA has better station area maps.

It wasn't helpful. Those I got at Toyko subway stations were a lot more helpful and useful.