Travelers' Tales Japan: True Stories (Travelers' Tales Guides) [Paperback]

Donald W. George (Editor), Amy Greimann Carlson (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 26, 2005 | Series: Travelers' Tales Guides

What is it about Japan that so beguiles foreigners? It is a small country and yet an economic powerhouse, a land of great natural beauty — from green-cloaked mountains to glistening rice paddies — a place of intricate arts and crafts and amazing cuisine, and home to a people whose kindness and sensitivity surprise westerners at each turn. It is no wonder that Japan simultaneously astonishes, delights, and frustrates travelers, and the diverse tales in this book reveal the nation in all its contradictions: a place of tranquil temples and high-tech toilets, exquisite ancient inns and lurid love hotels, where electric baths sit beside indoor ski slopes, and cherry blossoms fall on kindly grandmothers, cynical salarymen, wise monks, and wild lovers alike. Gathered in this collection are pieces by several notable authors, each offering anecdotes that tell of encounters to be had or avoided, each with uncommon insight to enrich the traveler's experience.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Travelers' Tales (July 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932361251
• ISBN-13: 978-1932361254
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #927,468 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational!, May 11, 2007

By 

Ethan Mandel (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Travelers' Tales Japan: True Stories (Travelers' Tales Guides) (Paperback)

I picked up this book a couple of months before moving to Japan for a year of study and was completely captivated. The various writers are effective in giving the reader a brief glimpse into some of the most unique and enchanting qualities of Japanese society. Four years later, I still pull out this book occasionally to rekindle the feelings of wonder I experienced when I first opened it. The book also provides the titles of many of books from which the passages are taken, which is a great resource for sprouting Japanophiles. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, along with the entire series of Traveler's Tales books.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic! Highly recommend this book!, January 3, 2007

By 

M. Robinson (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Travelers' Tales Japan: True Stories (Travelers' Tales Guides) (Paperback)

This is a great book. It's lots of short "stories" - some are excerpts from other books (that I've actually read), but some also seem to be short "stories." I really like it because I can pick the book up, look in the table of contents for a title that sounds interesting, and find one with a length that fits the amount of time I have available right then. I particularly enjoy reading it out loud to my travel companions - share the fun! I admit that some of the excerpts are a little dry - but still informative - but some are simply hysterical. It really gives a nice and varied insight into the Japanese culture. Take it with you on your trip for varied reading pleasure, or read it in parts when you return to extend the enjoyment of your trip!

I've also given others from this series as gifts to friends who are traveling - India, Paris, Tuscony...