Table Of ContentJAPAN
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EYEWITNESS
JAPAN
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CONTENTS
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DISCOVER 6
Welcome to Japan .........................................8 Japan Itineraries ............................................22
Reasons to Love Japan.............................10 Japan Your Way .............................................36
Explore Japan ...................................................14 A Year in Japan...............................................70
Getting to Know Japan ..............................16 A Brief History ...............................................72
EXPERIENCE TOKYO 78
Western Tokyo ......................................82 Northern Tokyo ..................................122
Central Tokyo ......................................102 Beyond the Center ...........................136
EXPERIENCE JAPAN 146
Central Honshu...................................148 Kyushu ....................................................260
Kyoto City ..............................................180 Okinawa .................................................282
Western Honshu ...............................210 Northern Honshu .............................294
Shikoku ....................................................246 Hokkaido .................................................314
NEED TO KNOW 326
Before You Go ............................................328 Index .................................................................336
Getting Around .........................................330 Phrase Book ................................................346
Practical Information ..............................334 Acknowledgments ....................................351
Left: Sake barrels at Meiji Jingu Shrine, Tokyo
Previous page: Oarai Isosaki Shrine, Northern Honshu
Front cover: Arashiyama bamboo grove, Kyoto
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DISCOVER
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Welcome to Japan ...........................................8
Reasons to Love Japan...............................10
Explore Japan ....................................................14
Getting to Know Japan ...............................16
Japan Itineraries .............................................22
Japan Your Way ..............................................36
A Year in Japan................................................70
A Brief History ................................................72
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W ELCOME TO
JAPAN
n
a
p
o Ja Konnichiwa from one of the most fascinating
e t countries on earth. Japan is a land of contrasts – of
m tranquil Zen gardens and steaming onsen, teeming
o
elc crowds and robot restaurants – and it has charmed
W
visitors for centuries because of it. Whatever your
R
E dream trip to Japan includes, this DK Eyewitness
V
O travel guide is the perfect companion.
C
S
DI
1
2
3
1 A statue of the Buddha
at Eikan-do Temple, Kyoto.
2 Neon lights of Tokyo’s
frenetic Akihabara.
3 A delicate plate of sushi.
4 Kiyomizu-dera Temple,
surrounded by fall foliage. 4
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Formed of thousands of scattered islands, the ancient capital of Kyoto – the yin to Tokyo’s
Japan’s impossibly varied landscape stretches yang – with its gilded shrines and graceful
1,900 miles (3,000 km) from the edge of Siberia geisha, is a heritage wonderland, and – whisper
in the north to tropical Okinawa in the south. it – a cosmopolitan city. And don’t forget Osaka,
In between, you’ll discover the snow-covered where proud locals, a chaotic downtown and
slopes of Hokkaido, majestic Mount Fuji, the vibrant food scene meet under the enormous
otherworldly Arashiyama bamboo grove, and shadow of the city’s giant castle.
much more besides. This is a land of eternal Even with its unparalleled rail networks,
natural beauty, as well as the yearly flowering Japan can still overwhelm with the sheer
and falling of ethereal cherry blossoms. number of unmissable sites on offer. We’ve
Japanese efficiency is no myth – these islands broken the country down into easily navigable
may be some of the most densely populated chapters, with detailed itineraries, expert local
on the planet, but the country’s thronging cities knowledge and colorful, comprehensive maps
really do run like clockwork. Tokyo, the capital, to help you plan the perfect visit. Whether
where it sometimes feels that the only constant you’re staying for a few days, weeks or longer,
is change, is a science-fiction movie brought to this DK Eyewitness guide will ensure that you
life, with its cosplaying locals, cat-filled cafés, see the very best Japan has to offer. Enjoy the
and psychedelic neon street scenes. To the west, book, and enjoy Japan.
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R EASONS TO LOVE
JAPAN
n
a
p
e Ja An avant-garde capital that pulsates with quirky cosplayers and raucous
v karaoke bars, hovering trains that rocket through awe-inspiring countryside,
o
o L engrossing traditions, and an obsession with etiquette – what’s not to love?
s t
n
o 1
s
a
e F AST TRAINS
R
R When Japan launched the
E shinkansen (bullet train) in
V
O 1964, they left the rest of the
C world behind. Silently speeding
S
DI at 200 mph (320 km/h), you’ll
feel as if you’re in the future.
2
STAYING IN
A RYOKAN
These guesthouses provide the
ultimate Japanese experience.
Don a yukata (kimono), indulge
in a communal bath, and savor
a home-cooked meal, washed
down with plenty of sake.
3
C ELEBRATING OTAKU
Once an offensive term for a
superfan, more and more
people are calling themselves
otaku. Explore the world of
manga, anime, and cosplay in
Tokyo’s Akihabara (p118).
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