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Best Books to Read if You're Dreaming of Japan

By Ashlea Halpern

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Japan is one of the most beguiling countries on earth, with a mile-long list of acclaimed books parsing its history and culture. After you’ve torn through the heavy-hitters (Soseki Natsume’s satirical I Am a Cat , Mineko Iwasaki’s eye-opening memoir Geisha, A Life , Haruki Murakami’s Tokyo-electric tour de force After Dark , Lafcadio Hearn’s haunting Japanese Ghost Stories , and John W. Dower’s Pulitzer Prize winner, Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II , to name just a handful), turn your attention to these engrossing Japanese books, each one about—or at least set in—the Land of the Rising Sun.

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Confessions of a Yakuza by Dr. Junichi Saga

Yakuza are to Japan what the Mafia is to Italy: cold-blooded criminals, as fascinating as they are fearsome. In this non-fiction work from 1991, Japanese doctor and author Junichi Saga recounts the exploits of his dying patient, Eiji Ijichi. Dr. Saga befriended the former Yakuza crime boss in the last months of his life; it’s the stories born of those conversations that are animated in such wild detail here. At the height of his villainy, post-WWII, Ijichi led a major gambling ring in Tokyo’s Asakusa entertainment district. But the escapades captured by Dr. Saga go beyond illegal dice games. Ijichi’s world is one of passionate love affairs, torturous police interrogations, chopped-off pinkies (a show of loyalty to the brotherhood), and even murder.

Buy Now: $10, amazon.com

WA: The Essence of Japanese Design by Stefania Piotti and Rossella Mennegazzo

The Japanese concept of wa is understood as finding harmony through community. In a social context, it means placing the needs of the group above the needs of an individual. But in the visual world, which is where Stefania Piotti’s book dabbles, wa is like je ne sais quoi —encapsulating the intangible virtues and qualities of being Japanese. The book showcases photographs of 250 striking objects: lacquered chopsticks, bento boxes, stainless steel teapots, calligraphy brushes, Shoji sliding doors, Sori Yanagi butterfly stools, Issey Miyake kimonos, and Kikkoman soy sauce bottles. Muji art director Kenya Hara penned the foreword; aesthetes will further appreciate the book’s presentation, with illustrations printed on craft paper and bound in the traditional Japanese manner—an objet d’art unto itself.

Buy Now: $80, barnesandnoble.com

A Beginner’s Guide to Japan: Observations and Provocations by Pico Iyer

The Oxford-born, Nara-based author of The Art of Stillness has spent 32 years in Japan. Iyer has written about his adopted country before, but his latest offering is an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink compendium of recollections, musings, transportive vignettes, and personal anecdotes. Through conversations with Japanese friends and other gaijin, Iyer illuminates the uniquely paradoxical culture that defines present-day Japan: a society alone, together; at once preposterous and repressed; equally ordered and chaotic. It’s a gripping read from one of the best writers in the travel business.

Buy Now: $17, amazon.com

Jessica Puckett

María Casbas

CNT Editors

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

This New York Times bestseller and National Book Award finalist offers a cross-generational look at 20th-century Japan through the eyes of impoverished Korean immigrants. The heartbreaking saga, set in the 1930s, begins when a young Korean woman, impregnated by a rich but married lover, enters a union of convenience with an ill minister. She follows him to Japan, effectively rebooting her life and everything she’s ever known. This is a stormy and powerful story about immigrant sacrifice, with undercurrents of compassion and steely female strength.

Buy Now: $12, amazon.com

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto

Banana Yoshimoto is considered one of the greatest authors in contemporary Japanese literature. In her melancholy debut, orphan Mikage Sakurai searches for meaning after the devastating loss of her beloved grandmother. She eventually finds solace in the home of a classmate, Yuichi Tanabe, and his mother Eriko. Just as Sakurai starts to regain her footing, tragedy strikes again. As a rumination on love and grief, Kitchen transcends cultural differences. But as a work of fiction that delves into the collective psyche of Japan—tradition, family, obligation, and expectation—it’s as enlightening as any non-fiction read.

Buy Now: $9, amazon.com

Rice Noodle Fish: Deep Travels Through Japan’s Food Culture by Matt Goulding

When the Society of American Travel Writers names something its Best Travel Book of the Year, it’s worth the download. Matt Goulding, co-founder of Roads & Kingdoms , doesn’t just turn the traditional guidebook upside down with Rice Noodle Fish ; he drives a spit through its heart and slow-roasts it on an open fire. Anyone who knows anything about Japan already knows that the food scene operates on a whole other level . What Goulding does ridiculously well in this travelogue is ratchet up to that level, researching it into oblivion and then eating everything in sight. Pinballing from Fukuoka to Hokkaido, from ramen shops to okonomiyaki counters to kaiseki feasts, he meets numerous shokunin , culinary masters who’ve devoted their lives to perfecting a single dish or one type of cooking. Not only is the storytelling superb, the photos are good enough to eat.

Buy Now: $23, amazon.com

Daido Moriyama: How I Take Photographs by Daido Moriyama and Takeshi Nakamoto

Ever wanted to climb inside the brain of Daido Moriyama, Japan’s best-known street photographer? Author Takeshi Nakamoto has your golden ticket. While the snapshot-heavy book offers a window into Moriyama’s methodology and gear list , How I Take Photographs is hardly an instructional guide. It’s philosophical, rather, trailing the shutterbug over numerous street sessions and offering observations about his artistic process. Readers come away with a better understanding of Moriyama’s uniquely gritty way of seeing Japan—and, more importantly, how he trains his lens to capture that vision.

Buy Now: $20, barnesandnoble.com

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Best Japan Travel Guidebooks

To help in your Japan trip planning, and complement your online research, we’ve compiled a short list of the very best Japan travel guidebooks.

Despite the fact that nowadays most travelers rely primarily on apps and the internet for information, guidebooks can still be a great resource. (If you’re looking for more online resources, see our article on the internet’s best Japan travel resources .)

Along with helping you plan and prepare, guidebooks can also come in very handy during your trip. But apart from just being practical, for many people reading up on the destination (especially one as interesting as Japan) is part of the fun of travel. In her article, “What a Great Trip! And I’m Not Even There Yet,” Stephanie Rosenbloom writes, “Taking a vacation won’t necessarily make you happier. But anticipating it will.”

While we certainly hope that visiting Japan will make you happier, there’s definitely something uniquely magical about the anticipation before a big trip — and with this in mind, we’re thrilled to present our favorite Japan guidebooks. For even more reading (and watching) inspiration, also see our Japan Reading List: Recommended Books for your Japan Trip .

Originally written in 2014, this post was updated and republished on August 10, 2020.

Guidebooks come in various shapes and sizes, and we’ve split them into three categories:

• Comprehensive general guidebooks
• City-specific guidebooks
• Specialty (topic-specific) guidebooks

The Best General Japan Travel Guidebooks

When choosing a general guidebook for a trip, it comes down above all to personal preference.

Some travelers prefer more information, while others prefer shorter books that feel less overwhelming. Some people don’t mind text-heavy guidebooks, while for many people being able to flip through glossy photo pages is essential.

If possible, the best way to select a guidebook is to visit a bookstore in person. After leafing through a few options, you should be able to decide which book (or books) best matches your needs, travel style, and personality.

When it comes to general Japan guidebooks there are almost too many options, so to make your choice a bit easier we’ve narrowed it down to the following selection of reliable and excellent options:

• National Geographic Traveler: Japan
• DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Japan
• Fodor’s Japan
• The Rough Guide to Japan
• Lonely Planet Japan

The Best Tokyo & Kyoto Guidebooks

The general guidebooks above cover the cities of Tokyo and Kyoto, but the city-specific books below each put their own spin on things.

The selections below tend to be less focused on “sights,” and place more emphasis on food, art, shopping, and design. Enjoy!

• The Monocle Travel Guide, Tokyo
• The Monocle Travel Guide, Kyoto
• Wallpaper* City Guide Tokyo
• Wallpaper* City Guide Kyoto
• Tokyo Pocket Precincts
• Kyoto Pocket Precincts

The Best Specialty Japan Guidebooks

General guidebooks can be great, but if you’re looking for even more specialized, in-depth information, most guidebooks won’t cut it.

That’s why we love the books below. The authors are profoundly knowledgeable and passionate about their topics, which also makes them a bit more fun to read than general guidebooks. (Admittedly, most of these are related to Japanese food and drink, a topic we and our travelers tend to be particularly interested in.)

Food Sake Tokyo

Food Sake Tokyo is a wonderfully personable and comprehensive guide to eating your way around Tokyo , one of the world’s great culinary cities. (As the legendary Anthony Bourdain put it, “If I had to eat only in one city for the rest of my life, Tokyo would be it.” )

Written by Yukari Sakamoto, Food Sake Tokyo focuses primarily on Tokyo’s culinary scene, but will appeal to anyone with an interest in Japanese food. The book features establishments of every ilk, from sushi shops to kaiseki restaurants; cheap-and-cheerful noodle shops to those that have utterly perfected the craft; and hole-in-the-wall gems to culinary meccas.

The first half of the book is devoted to an overview of the different types of foods and beverages you’ll encounter across Tokyo (in large part this also applies to other parts of Japan). In the second half of the book, Tokyo is divided by neighborhood , with food maps and listing upon listing of the author’s recommended establishments. Since things can change, the author provides updates to the book on her website .

The author, Yukari Sakamoto, has a unique background that makes her particularly qualified to have written such a book. Aside from having been born in Tokyo and raised in the US, she is an accomplished culinary professional, and offers culinary tours in Tokyo including Tsukiji Market . (See our shochu interview with Yukari-san.)

Old Kyoto: A Guide to Traditional Shops, Restaurants, and Inns

Old Kyoto is the authoritative book on traditional Kyoto . It’s perfect for travelers who are interested in exploring the older side of Japan, living history, Japanese crafts, and traditional Kyoto cuisine .

The author, Diane Durston, has painstakingly documented over a hundred traditional Kyoto establishments, focusing on shops that have been around for at least a hundred years. Many of the shops she includes have several hundred years of history, having been passed down through the generations to the present day.

They range from tea shops to chopstick makers, restaurants, temple lodgings, sweets shops, ryokans (traditional Japanese-style inns) , and even a terribly-endearing traditional-bucket maker. All are masters in their respective trades, and she brings the old shops to life, through her lighthearted yet insightful profiles of the often reclusive yet charming – and occasionally boisterous – proprietors.

Old Kyoto is both extremely informative and user-friendly, and an invaluable resource for an in-depth exploration of the city’s older side. It makes for a fascinating read, and so effectively transports you to this world of exquisite craftsmanship and traditional hospitality that it can be enjoyed whether you have plans to visit Kyoto or not.

Izakaya: The Japanese Pub Cookbook

Izakaya: The Japanese Pub Cookbook is not strictly a guidebook. It’s not strictly a cookbook, either. It’s a collection of evocatively-written vignettes – complemented by gorgeous photographs – featuring eight izakayas in Tokyo.

An izakaya is a neighborhood establishment where people go equally for the food and the drink. It’s often translated into English as Japanese-style pub, tavern or gastropub – they’re lively places where you have drinks with friends or coworkers while eating delicious Japanese small plates.

In Izakaya , Mark Robinson – a longtime Tokyo resident – takes us deep into the world of eight of his favorite Tokyo izakayas. It’s an eclectic collection featuring establishments that range from the humble to the upmarket, and specialize in a mouthwatering array of izakaya cuisine. His writing is complemented by the photographs of Masashi Kuma (who also photographed the book Kaiseki: The Exquisite Cuisine of Kyoto’s Kikunoi Restaurant ).

The vignettes and photos paint a vivid picture of each izakaya’s food, clientele, proprietors, and atmosphere. The book also includes easy-to-follow recipes culled from the featured establishments, so even if you don’t have a trip to Tokyo planned for the near future, you can try out some of these delicious izakaya recipes in your own kitchen!

Drinking Japan: A Guide to Japan’s Best Drinks and Drinking Establishments

Drinking Japan is an ode to the country’s fascinating drinking culture. The author, Chris Bunting, is passionate about drinking (in a good way), and he took on the arduous task of traveling around the country to document Japan’s varied and colorful drinking landscape.

The book begins with a brief history of alcohol and drinking in Japan, and an overview of the many types of drinking establishments you’ll come across. Being able to distinguish between izakayas, “snacks”, “pubs,” and “bars” can be surprisingly difficult, and the differences will surprise you!

The heart of the book features chapters dedicated to Japan’s most important alcoholic beverages including nihonshu (sake) ; beer, with an emphasis on craft beer; Japanese whisky ; wine, an up-and-coming industry in Japan; shochu , Japan’s most popular distilled spirit; and awamori , Okinawa’s distilled alcohol.

Each chapter includes key information about the beverage, and recommended drinking spots. The establishments featured are scattered throughout Japan (in places including Kyoto, Hiroshima, Sapporo, Takayama, and Okinawa) though around half or more are in the Tokyo area.

Whether you’re a sake novice, craft beer lover, whisky connoisseur – or simply interested in Japanese beverage culture – this is a great resource to pack along for your trip.

Rice, Noodle, Fish: Deep Travels Through Japan’s Food Culture

Rice, Noodle, Fish is perhaps the book we most often give as a gift to Japanese food lovers. The brainchild of writer and Roads & Kingdoms co-creator Matt Goulding, in collaboration with Anthony Bourdain, Rice Noodle Fish is at its core a love letter to Japan and its incredible culinary culture.

Part culinary guide, part travel memoir, the book is divided into rich, story-filled chapters featuring different cities and regions in Japan including Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka , Hiroshima , Fukuoka (aka Hakata), Kanazawa and the Noto Peninsula, and Hokkaido.

RNF leads you on a colorful – both in terms of the flavorful language and engrossing photographs by the talented Michael Magers – almost painfully crave-worthy journey through Japan, and is a must-read for culinary travelers, whether or not you are planning a trip to Japan.

We hope this helps you get excited and find the right Japan travel guidebook for your trip! For further inspiration, if you haven’t already make sure to bookmark our extensive Japan travel reading list .

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Lonely Planet's local travel experts reveal  all  you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime to Japan.

Discover popular and off the beaten track experiences from visiting Yoshino for Japan's most famous cherry-blossom-viewing festival to sipping sake at a 300-year-old brewery in Niigata, and exploring the Unesco-listed streetscapes of Hagi. 

Build a trip to remember  with  Lonely Planet's   Japan  Travel Guide:

• Our classic guidebook format  provides you with the most comprehensive level of information for planning  multi-week trips
• Updated with an all new structure and design  so you can navigate Japan and connect experiences together with ease
• Create your perfect trip with exciting itineraries  for extended journeys combined with suggested day trips, walking tours, and activities to match your passions
• Get fresh takes on must-visit sights  including climbing Mt Fuji, visiting Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest temple, and experiencing the extravagant shrine of Tosho-gu
• Special features  on onsen etiquette, Japanese food, and the 88 sacred temples pilgrimage
• Expert local recommendations  on when to go, eating, drinking, nightlife, shopping, accommodation, adventure activities, festivals, and more
• Essential information toolkit  containing tips on arriving; transport; making the most of your time and money; LGBTIQ+ travel advice; useful words and phrases; accessibility; and responsible travel
• Connect with Japanese culture through stories  that delve deep into local life, history, and traditions 
• Inspiring full-colour travel photography and maps  including a  pull out map of Tokyo
• Covers  Tokyo, Mt Fuji & around Tokyo, Central Honshu & the Japan Alps, Kyoto, Kansai, Hiroshima & Western Honshu, Northern Honshu, Sapporo & Hokkaido, Shikoku, Kyushu, Okinawa & the Southwest Islands

Create a trip that's uniquely yours and get to the  heart  of this extraordinary country with  Lonely Planet's  Japan.

Tokyo, Mt Fuji, The Japan Alps, Honshu, Kyoto, Kansai, Hiroshima, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Shiko-ku, Kyushu and Okinawa

ISBN: 9781838693725

Edition: 18th

Publication Date: March 2024

Writers: Lonely Planet

768 pages,149 maps | Dimensions: 128mm width × 197mm height

Next edition due: October 2026

Japan Travel Guide – Hokkaido | Tohoku | Tokyo | Kyoto

10 Best Japan Travel Guidebooks to Read

Searching for Japan travel guidebooks before visiting Japan is a kind of must thing to do for you. It is a really handy tool and one of the must have accessories for Japan visitors .

I don’t care whatever Japan travel magazine s or travel based website or blog publish on their web portal, you desperately need a travel guide . I have been hardly noticed that anyone who wishes to Japan got it free especially online.

If you have friend who have a guide book may give it to you for free, in fact this is a different concept. That’s great if you have someone who could share it with you.

If a deck of card is the initial step to learning magic for a magician then a guidebook is your initial step to learning Japanese culture and places you desire to discover before visiting Japan.

When it comes to getting one then you really have to purchase it. Some Japan travel agency or tour operator say that they provide a free guide book , but under certain condition! What is it?

Surly, they won’t give it to you for free! The condition maybe you have to buy their service, for example buying a Japan Rail Pass or booking for a travel package to Japan and etc. This sounds crazy!

And their guides don’t provide the actual value that what exactly you need for your Japan trip. That’s why I am here to introduce some great Japan guide books that I have come across as part of research.

Below is a list of 10 guide books that tourists should not miss reading when traveling in Japan. Hopefully you would like them.

1) National Geographic Traveler: Japan 6th Edition

A trip to Japan is not complete without visiting Tokyo, the capital city of Japan, and Kyoto (ancient Japanese capital).

Seriously, this Japan travel guide book reveals not only the best of Tokyo that you will enjoy experiencing but also Kyoto, Historic Hiroshima, Hokkaido and its national parks, and dozens of other major and lesser-known places including walking itineraries, map and culture guide. All the photographs inside the book are quite spectacular.

You will definitely enjoy the photographs of beautiful landscapes, street scenes and people of Japan. You can collect this guidebook even when you are not going to visit in Japan soon. In fact, from this book, you can learn the Japanese culture and its attractions.

Overall, this is a very comprehensive and easy to understand Japan travel guidebook that I could highly recommended you to collect. So far, I have recommended this book to my clients who usually contact me directly via email. They all were satisfied. Buy it here .

2) Lonely Planet Japan (Travel Guide)

Lonely Planet says that it is the largest travel guide publisher in the world. I fully agree with the statement.

There are so many useful travel guide books based on a country’s particular region I have found and Lonely Planet Japan is one of them.

It is very comprehensive, well written and quite interesting to read every pages of this book. It features most relevant up-to-date Japan travel tips, what to see, hidden attractions, when to see, where to shop, how to save money, what to eat, and skip.

It also includes beautiful photos, itineraries, things about Japanese culture and maps. If you are a travel planner then it is a great choice for you.

After all, it covers most of the interesting attractions scattered throughout Japan such as in Tokyo, Mt. Fuji , Kyoto, Osaka , Hokkaido , Kansai , the Japan Alps , Tohoku , Okinawa & the Southwest Islands, Shikoku, Kyushu and more.

If you are keen to explore Japan thoroughly then there is no option left except reading it. Check it out here .

3) Etiquette Guide to Japan: Know the Rules that Make the Difference! (Third Edition)

Experts have been a great help to me since I decided to try to read something about Indian culture. Before my trip to this incredible diverse cultural nation, I had to buy a travel guide written mostly based on its culture and tradition. It was a very helpful book that made my entire trip awesome.

However, when your country’s culture and tradition is different than a country you are going to visit, then you have got to learn something very important. Yes I am talking about etiquette guide .

In Japan, we value it mostly. Traveling all over Japan will not be great until or unless you are accustomed to its etiquette .

On the other hand it is a must read book to those who would be living in Japan for some years as a student, businessman, teacher or employee. This book teaches you everything you need to learn about Japanese society and culture.

Besides, it does not only include bowing , shaking hands , use of bathrooms and public baths but also what to do when you are attend a Japanese tea ceremony, dinner guests to a Japanese family, talking in subway, Japanese latest etiquette in mobile phone manners, texting, how to deal with co-workers in Japan and much more.

Get this book right away and then start learning.

4) A Geek in Japan: Discovering the Land of Manga, Anime, Zen and the Tea Ceremony:

This is one of the best highly recommended book for Manga , Anime, J-pop fans and of course for every Japan geeks. Nothing could beat the sources published in this book, written by Hector Garcia .

He runs a great Japan blog called Kirai you can visit it here . I once sent this book as a gift to one of my American friends called Lynda on her 20 Birthday. After receiving it she did not know how to thank me. “How did you know that I would love it” – she says to me on phone.

I would not tell you the answer but it is obvious that this book contains something very interesting that a real Japan geek would like to read off and on.

It is a well illustrated book with beautiful photographs and well informed about Manga, Anime, Zen, Tea ceremony , brief history of Japan, calligraphy , martial arts, geisha and much more.

It is really fun to read as everything described quite nicely. If you don’t collect soon it as a Japan enthusiast then you would be a loser. So please collect it here .

You can also read its revised and expanded version with new topics .

5) Japan’s World Heritage Sites: Unique Culture, Unique Nature:

Japan’s unique culture and diverse nature make it totally different than rest of the world. One survey had shown that most of the people visit Japan usually for three reasons: Nature, Culture and the World Heritage Sites.

Even though these things can be experienced in one single trip in one particular season. I have written an article a few days ago that shows how and where to discover Japanese hanami (cherry blossom viewing) at different famous Japanese Castles throughout the country.

Japan has so many interesting sites to discover, which even make prettier when yearly festival come alive as the nature changes all year round.

By reading this book you will be discovering Japan’s World Heritage Sites , temples & shrines , gardens, castles and natural wonders . Every site has got their own beauty and history; you will hunt them reading this classic Japan travel guide.

The book does provide useful information of different famous tourist spots along with mind-blowing photographs. If you wish to visit Japan soon or in future then read this book to make your dreams come true.

6) A Guide to Food Buying in Japan:

Probably one of your favorite parts of any celebration is food. Surprisingly, this is not my favorite part though if you think “ A Guide to food buying in Japan ” is not a travel guide then you are completely wrong.

I believe it is a very important part of your trip to Japan. Those of you who will be staying in Japan for a month or even longer period of time should definitely buy this book.

If you are a new foreign student , or English teacher who will be residing in Japan for years, this is what you actually need. This is a complete guide for food buying as well as household necessities that you need to know while staying in Japan.

From this book you will be learning how to shop from different kinds of local market, methods of pricing and labeling products, Japanese ingredients , daily common necessities, daily menu and recipes, where and how to find household needs and etc. Learn more here .

7) Frommer’s EasyGuide to Tokyo, Kyoto and Western Honshu (Easy Guides):

If you are planning for a trip to Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima and Kyoto then carry this guide book with you. Believe me; this book helps you more than many Japan travel apps already installed on your Smartphone.

This is best travel guide book I have come across to explore Western Honshu . Honshu is the mainland of Japan, the largest island with picturesque landscapes, temples & shrines, castles, gardens, local delicacies, mountains, parks, natural wonders and much more.

Tokyo and Kyoto has been a great tourist spots since a long time ago. Their local traditions represent even the whole Japan to millions of travel geeks. Get all the latest and up-to-date travel information including where to eat and stay at cheap price in Western Honshu.

The way author has written every sentence would make you fall in love with it. In fact, that’s her own travel experiences she expressed publishing this great travel guidebook . Buy it here .

8) Lonely Planet Japanese Phrasebook & Dictionary:

Not all of us are dedicated to learn something very quickly that what we need in the future. This is a simple concept with simple thought. But this is the book that you need to communicate with locals in Japanese in Japan.

Ok, I understand that you will stay in Japan for 1-2 weeks and you think you have to learn it fully as a result you go to a Japanese learning centre or start learning it online. That’s a great approach though.

However, if you don’t want to learn it such way then how could you achieve it? To make you happy and hassle free during your Japan trip Lonely Planet has published this great Japanese phrasebook .

This book would help you to communicate with local and get familiar with things that you don’t know in Japan. This is certainly a great piece of work done by Lonely Planet. I hope your trip won’t not be daunting one as you take it with you to Japan. Check it out here .

9) Old Kyoto: The Updated Guide to Traditional Shops, Restaurants and Inns:

If you really want to get into Old Kyoto spirit , you can start your journey reading this great guidebook. In fact, it is time to dig out everything related to old Kyoto that still exists in modern Kyoto.

A lot of people looking to find the most useful Kyoto travel guidebook but without knowing the insight of it they buy it and ultimately fail to get what he/she expected from the book. However, this book won’t let it happen.

This time you certainly will be the winner of all. The book shows where to find old shop, where to stay in old Ryokan (Japanese inn) , where to eat, including distinct maps of different locations.

This is not an average type travel guide book but much more than that. Read it first and hopefully you will rejoice your mind before heading towards Kyoto. I even did not know the old shops of Kyoto until I read this book. Therefore, read it here .

10) Food Sake Tokyo (The Terrior Guides):

Don’t think that it is a Japanese recipe book, but a simple meaningful travel guidebook for foodie lovers, especially for those who would be visiting Tokyo soon. In order to find the best of Tokyo’s finest dining and drinking places you will have to read this guidebook.

If you don’t know where to eat fresh sushi , wagashi confections , sake , handmade rice crackers, tempura , soba noodles and other mouthwatering dishes, then don’t forget to collect it before arriving in Tokyo.

The author “Yukari Sakamoto” knows all the hidden best restaurants and bars inside Tokyo. Even though I have been to Tokyo many times before I had to search for great fresh sushi restaurants except the ones you find in Tsukiji Fish Market .

You will be sorry yourself if you don’t take it seriously and miss having delicious dishes of great restaurants scattered throughout Tokyo city. Buy this book here and be the winner like others.

Finally, not all the travel guidebooks are equal in terms of value. It is a nightmare when there are many travel guides to choose from. That’s why I have reviewed only the top 10 Japan travel guides which I believe they would satisfy your needs and wants.

If you could book hotel rooms and flights spending thousands of dollar then why not to spend few money on this important Japan travel accessory !

Well, if you are going to discover only Kyoto then just choose the one which is especially written on places of interests in Kyoto, you don’t have to buy a book that shares information about Hokkaido.

Good luck to you! I hope you choose the right one. Thank you.

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Hot spring bath with great views of Mt. Fuji!!!!

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Best Japan travel guide books for first trip to Japan: My favorite are the Lonely Planet Japan books!

So, with all the free information available online, why get a guidebook for Japan travel?!

Well, when it’s your first trip and you are brand new to a country, they can make a GREAT starting point to understanding the basics.

This can include cultural nuances and practicalities of getting around.

Or, if you are old-school and just like books, they are good too. 😉

Spoiler alert.

I am a big fan of Lonely Planet for beginner’s guides to countries in Asia.

They can serve to quickly give you a list of places to eat and places to stay, and they can give you context for the places you’re going with a little bit of history.

And most importantly, they give the practical tips of getting around a country and the best way to get from one place to another, whether that may be by bus, train, or taxi.

More below on specific Japan books that can be helpful for planning your first trip to Japan!

• Best places to visit for your first time in Japan (including famous views!)
• Where to go to see cherry blossoms in Japan
• Where to go to see fall colors in Japan
• Where to go for winter in Japan
• Where to go to experience tropical Japan
• Where to go for epic snow-capped Mt Fuji views

First, the quick list of the best books and pdf’s for your trip to Japan

Then, the quick list of the top places to visit in Japan (with a bonus spot!)

And then finally, more about the books that can help you plan a perfect first trip to Japan, with what each of the travel guides can offer you depending on what you’re looking for!

What are some of the best guidebooks for planning your first trip to Japan?!

The quick list of the best books for travel in Japan

• Discover Japan (overview of the best places to visit in Japan with pictures)
• Discover Tokyo  (overview of Tokyo neighborhoods)
• Lonely Planet Japan (practical travel tips for getting around Japan – 900+ pages and text heavy)
• DK Eyewitness Japan (best places to visit in Japan with pretty pictures)
• Japan by Rail
• Onsen of Japan  (best of Japanese hot springs and bath houses)
• Japanese Inns and hot springs (best of Japanese-style ryokan accommodation)
• Japanese phrasebook for travel

Top places to visit for a first trip to Japan itinerary

You will want to be sure to see the most iconic places to visit in Japan !

Climbing Mt Fuji as a 2-day hike

This is what my 2 days of climbing Mt Fuji  looked like with an overnight mountain hut stay  and hiking to the top of Japan.

3. Fuji Five Lakes (for Mt Fuji views)

• Samurai training
• Japanese calligraphy class
• Traditional tea ceremony + you get to wear a kimono!
• Ninja lesson
• Make ramen from scratch!
• Sushi making experience
• Sumo training!

How to spend one day in Fuji Five Lakes area

Being in the Fuji Five Lakes area is all about Mt Fuji views!  This is what I did with one day in Kawaguchiko .

Use  this Kyoto tourist map  to plan out your  5 days in Kyoto !

• Day 1:  Top tourist spots with one day bus pass
• Day 2:  Fushimi Inari Shrine hike through 1,000 torii gates
• Day 3:  Philosopher’s Path walk
• Day 4:  Arashiyama and Sagano
• Day 5:  Kurama Kibune Ohara with one day pass

Kyoto used to be a capital of Japan, and there are a number of  UNESCO world heritage sites in Kyoto .

How to spend one day in Nara

This is a popular day trip from Kyoto, and these are places to visit with one day in Nara .

As another ancient capital of Japan, there are a number of UNESCO world heritage sites in Nara too.

Day trip to Osaka and Himeji from Kyoto

Osaka and Himeji both have grand castles, so you can make it a castle day with both Osaka and Himeji.

7. Hiroshima

Visit Hiroshima’s main attraction

You’ll want to give yourself 2 hours minimum at the Hiroshima peace park that is in remembrance of victims of the world’s most tragic nuclear bombing, although you could easily spend a full day here.

8. Miyajima

Day trip to Miyajima from Hiroshima

You’ll take a  ferry to get to Miyajima , and these are things to do with one day in Miyajima .

Save this page for the golden route of Japan to refer to these above places later!

BONUS: Okinawa

As a bit of a distance from mainland Japan (flying is the easiest way to get there), Okinawa isn’t often on a first-time visitor’s itinerary.

This is a group of tropical islands in the far south of Japan.

But if you have a few extra days after a week or 2 of intense travel in Japan, Okinawa can be the perfect way to finish off your trip!

This is how you can spend 3 days in Okinawa with hiking, biking, and snorkeling!

BONUS: Cherry blossom season in Japan

One of the most popular times to visit Japan  (aka one of the most crowded times!) is in the spring with cherry blossom season.

Here’s a sample one-day cherry blossom photo walk in Japan and here’s a castle park  where you can go for a picnic under cherry blossom trees.

And now…

Back to the books!

Why some of the above listed Japan travel guides are the best!

Discover japan.

This book is good for discovering not only regions of Japan to visit, but also can serve as a guide to the different cultural experiences that are perfect for your first trip to Japan.

It’s also full of pictures and this can be the perfect starting point when you don’t even know where you start with your Japan trip planning! (Also check when the worst time to visit Japan might be.)

If you’re at the point where you have NO idea where to go in Japan or NO idea what types of activities there are, I would say there’s a good chance you will be happy with this Discover Japan book!

There’s also a  Discover Tokyo book  too.

ULTIMATE country-wide Japan guidebook

These types of big country books are especially good if you’ll be backpacking around Asia and won’t have a chance to thoroughly research every single location before you get there.

It’ll give you the quick low-down of what you need to know once you’re in a place, and it’ll also quickly give you the details you need to know for moving around.

So then of course that means it can also be helpful if you ARE doing a ton of your planning ahead of time.

This gets into the specifics of each city – what to see, what to do, where to eat, where to stay, and how to get from here to there!

The Discover Japan book has a little bit of that too, but this main Lonely Planet Japan book is a bit more expansive and covers more areas and cities. I would say it’s more detailed with practical tips.

It also has a section dedicated to all the little things to know about Japan that you might not even think to ask about. The small things that can make a big difference when you are traveling around Japan!

The Lonely Planet Japan big book is 900+ pages, while the Discover Japan book is 300 pages.

What’s lacking in the country-wide Lonely Planet big books are pictures.

It’s nearly all text, as I would say the main goal is to actually give you the details you need when you are on-the-go in Japan.

Compare the reviews of these guidebooks:

• Lonely Planet Japan (the big book)
• Discover Japan (the overview with pictures)

City guidebooks (Tokyo, Kyoto)

If you already know where you’re traveling in Japan, and you’re sticking to the big cities of Tokyo or Kyoto, there are also city-specific guides.

I would say that if you’re buying the big LP book of Japan, you don’t need to buy the individual city guidebooks, as a lot of the information will overlap.

Although, one reason you might want to buy the city book anyway is that it’ll be much better to carry around a thinner city book than the thick Japan book.

You could use the big book for research purposes at home, and then take with you the smaller book to Japan.

City pocket guidebooks (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka)

And then the most travel-friendly of the Lonely Planet books (not including e-books!) are the pocket guidebooks.

These are smaller books, and if you’ll be spending a week in Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka, you may consider getting the pocket book.

See the reviews of the Tokyo city guidebooks:

• Tokyo city guide  (mostly text)
• Discover Tokyo  (overview with more pictures)
• Tokyo pocket guide

See the reviews of the Kyoto city guidebooks:

• Kyoto city guide  (mostly text)
• Kyoto and Osaka pocket guide

Japanese phrasebooks

You really don’t NEED to know any Japanese for a trip to Japan. You will survive even if you don’t know anything.

The big cities and main tourist attractions will have English signs all over.

If you head to some of the smaller towns, there may not be any English, but you will probably manage. 😉

But of course, it can be helpful, and nice, to know some Japanese.

So you might consider getting a book of simple Japanese phrases that you can use when traveling in Japan.

See the reviews for these Japanese phrasebooks:

• Yubisashi mini Japan phrasebook
• Lonely Planet phrasebook

Also, the Google Translate app can be helpful when you’re in Japan. There’s a feature that you can take a picture of written Japanese and it will translate it for you. This might be especially helpful for reading restaurant menus in particular.

If you REALLY want to learn Japanese and are serious about it, start with the Genki series – these books are also used at the university level to for Japanese language learning. And get started with  learning how to write in Japanese properly. (Stroke order matters!)

Tokyo sightseeing guide PDF

A useful free pdf is this Tokyo metro guide .

What makes this pdf useful for planning your trip to Tokyo is that you can see the visual of the subway route right alongside all the top Tokyo attractions.

This can help you make an efficient plan for one day in Tokyo… or more!

Using a book to guide the way!

If you ARE more of a book person, there are plenty of people who walk around town with an actual book to guide the way too! 🙂

HAPPY JAPAN TRAVEL PLANNING!

Here are ideas for 5 days in kyoto .

• Day 1: Top tourist spots with one day Kyoto bus pass
• Day 2: Fushimi Inari Shrine hike through 1,000 torii gates
• Day 3: Philosopher's Path walk
• Day 4: Arashiyama and Sagano
• Day 5: Kurama Kibune Ohara with one day pass

PLUS Kyoto cherry blossom itinerary and Kyoto fall colors itinerary !

Is a jr pass worth it.

• Google maps can make it easy to figure out whether or not you should get a JR pass!
• In google maps, type in your departure and arrival city, and choose the transit icon. The route will come up, and so will the estimated cost at the bottom!
• Here is an example of a train route with cost on google maps.
• So do that for all of your long distance routes to figure out how much it might cost.
• Next, go here to see how much a JR pass costs from an official JR pass vendor (and partner of this website).
• And compare!
• Not all forms of public transportation are JR, but long distance shinkansen bullet trains are, and that's where the most cost savings will come.

Best of Kyoto (and Japan!)

• Best temples to visit in Kyoto
• Japanese gardens in Kyoto

What are the Best Japan Travel Guides? Here are the Guidebooks You Need to Plan Your Trip

If you’re planning a trip to Japan, you’re planning an epic adventure. Even if you’ve already been to this incredible country, each time you visit, you will discover something new, different, and exciting!

Chances are, you’re investing a lot of time and money on your travel to Japan. Ensure that you make the most of it by doing as much research as possible before you go.

The following books about Japan, recommended by experts who have lived or traveled there extensively, will help you with all aspects of your trip, including planning your itinerary, understanding Japanese culture and food, and learning a few key phrases so you can communicate while you’re there.

Contents (click to expand)

Japan Travel Guidebooks

A standard Japan tourist guide is the first step in planning your Japan trip itinerary. It will help you decide what cities you want to visit and how long to spend in each location. The best Japan guidebooks offer plenty of maps, suggested itineraries, and hotel/restaurant recommendations for all budgets.

Lonely Planet Japan Travel Guide

It may have seemed counterproductive to jam the brick-sized Lonely Planet Japan book into my carry-on backpack and force my weak shoulders to carry it. But no, it was a wealth of information, with colorful maps and images on each location, plus historical and cultural information to stir curious minds.

It also contains detailed Japan travel itinerary suggestions and “highlights” of each destination for you to pick and choose from. It includes honest pointers from the writers, which helped me curate my trip when I was still a newbie backpacker.

For four weeks, this guide book was my sole companion while solo travelling through Japan , culminating with one week in Kyushu. It will be particularly useful for first-time travelers and those who enjoy reading facts about their destination.

– Cassie from Cassie the Hag

Fodor’s Essential Japan

The best Japan guide book for a traveler is Fodor’s Essential Japan . This stunning full-color travel guide to Japan illustrates everything from ancient temples to gardens to the pulse of high-tech cities. Written by local experts, it has insider tips to make the most of a visit to Tokyo, Kyoto, and beyond .

I used this book when I traveled to Japan, and I consider it extremely user- friendly. It has a detailed map and concise description of each place – Tokyo, Kyoto, Mount Fuji, Okinawa, Hiroshima, Sapporo, and many more top destinations — which helps to quickly navigate and understand their importance. It covers the history, cuisine, and shopping in detail.

| Related Reading: How to Use Airbnb in Japan

Spectacular itineraries are this guide’s forte. It has top recommendations, from hotels to food to nightlife. Each chapter in this book suggests money-saving tips to enable travelers to save their yen on accommodation and transport. It also covers many special events, such as the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival , in detail.

This is the perfect tourist guide to Japan for families, couples, and solo travelers alike.

– Tanayesh from Shoestring Travel

Kyoto Pocket Precincts

This handy little Kyoto travel guide book is, like most things Japanese, beautiful in its own right! Offering a list of funky shops, bars, and restaurants around Kyoto arranged into nine areas, it’s perfect for anyone spending more than a few days in the city .

Each area includes a mix of the key attractions followed by sections for shopping, galleries, eating, and, finally, drinking. There is a good mix of affordable and special occasion places. Along with the nine areas are three field trips that include Nara, Arashiyama, and the Eizan electric train line.

We used this book extensively on our 5-day visit and covered 2 areas a day. The tips were spot on and perfect for our mother-daughter trip. The authors have similar “Pocket Precints” books for Osaka and Tokyo .

– Paula Morgan from Expert Abroad

Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands

We lived on Okinawa for three amazing, glorious years. It’s beautiful and wonderful and slightly overwhelming. When we arrived, one of the best books we got was Okinawa & The Ryukyu Islands . It gives history of the islands from the Ryukyu Kingdom to the present day, including World War II.

| Related Reading: Things to Do in Okinawa

There are tons of maps, including public transportation, as well as a glossary of common words in the local dialect, English and Japanese – with the most common way you’d see the word in Japanese characters. Don’t head to Oki without this book!

– Meg Flanagan from Meg Flanagan Education Solutions

Books About Japanese Culture & Food

When searching for books on Japan travel, make time to read up on two important topics: Japanese culture and Japanese cuisine. Both will be an integral part of your experience and are among the most unique and interesting aspects of travel to Japan.

Etiquette Guide to Japan: Know the Rules that Make the Difference!

Having studied Japanese during my early high school years, I was aware that Japan was bound by a number of social constructs that kept everything working in sync throughout the country.

While planning my first trip to Japan, I picked up a copy of Boye Lafayette De Mente’s book, Etiquette Guide to Japan, to acquaint myself with some firm social rules that would help prevent me from making any faux pas on our trip.

The book takes the reader through everyday etiquette, which will help you navigate your interactions during your trip to Japan. This includes when and how to bow, bathroom and onsen behavior, using public transportation, using mobile phones in public, eating out, eating with others, and more.

A good read of this book will ensure you have a better understanding of Japanese etiquette.

– Leah from Kid Bucket List

Confucius Lives Next Door: What Living in the East Teaches Us About Living in the West

If you want to understand Japanese culture and customs, this book explains it all. Written by journalist T.R. Reid, who lived in Tokyo with his family for several years, it offers key insight into the workings of Japanese society.

Having lived in Japan for more than 2 years, I can tell you that Mr. Reid’s observations are spot on! This is one of the best books on Japanese culture, and a great read during your Japan travel planning.

– Stephanie from Poppin’ Smoke

A Geek in Japan: Discovering the Land of Manga, Anime, Zen, and the Tea Ceremony

A Geek in Japan is a comprehensive, yet light-weight, introduction to Japanese culture. It debunks myths and uncovers some interesting facts about Japan as well as answering common questions that foreigners might have. Each topic features short articles that are accompanied by photographs and sidebars.

The book is written for Westerners, primarily those who grew up watching Pokemon, reading manga, and playing video games, although it’s certainly useful for a wide range of age groups traveling to Japan. All in all, it’s a fun and interesting book to read that will make it easier for foreigners to understand the unique culture of Japan.

– Alex from Swedish Nomad

What’s What in Japanese Restaurants: A Guide to Ordering, Eating, and Enjoying

If you’re traveling to Japan for the first time, get ready to encounter many new foods! Whether you’re excited or skeptical, this book will help you figure out what and how to order.

Sushi is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Japanese cuisine, and the first few chapters of this book give you a detailed breakdown of the types of dishes that are most common in Japan. The guide also talks about izakaya style restaurants, which are a cross between tapas bars and pubs, and traditional everyday foods, such as ramen and other regional specialties.

Finally, What’s What in Japanese Restaurants addresses drinking in Japan (a very important topic) and includes basic vocabulary, along with a few key phrases you will need in restaurants.

The cuisine is one of the best parts about visiting Japan , and this book will help you make the most of it!

Hiroshima and Western Honshu Vegetarian Guide

Traveling in Japan as a vegetarian or vegan can get tricky at times. Not because Japanese cuisine isn’t full of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains and tofu, because it is. But hiding in that tofu dish is probably a fish-based dashi — the stock that is used as the base for so many Japanese dishes.

That’s why, as a vegan in Hiroshima , I was thrilled to stumble upon the Hiroshima and Western Honshu Vegetarian Guide by GetHiroshima. The guide includes helpful labels to show which restaurants are fully vegan or vegetarian, and which just have vegetarian or vegan options. It also shows which restaurants have gluten-free options, and which ones have English-speaking staff.

Publication of the guide was supervised by the Japan Vegetarian Society, so veggie visitors can be confident that the information provided is accurate.

You can download the Guide for free from Dropbox .

– Wendy Werneth of The Nomadic Vegan

Eat Okinawa

Eat Okinawa was written by a U.S. military spouse with support from her Okinawan friends. Inside, you’ll learn about the delicious produce you can find at local farmer’s markets and produce stalls along with recipes you can make at home.

When we moved to Okinawa, I was overwhelmed with choices and unsure about what to eat or how to cook different produce. Eat Okinawa really helped expose me to the heartbeat of the island!

Eat Okinawa is available for purchase at farmers’ markets around Okinawa .

Japanese Phrase Books

Whenever you visit a foreign country, it’s helpful to know a few key phrases, and Japan is no exception. At a minimum, learn the pleasantries you should exchange when meeting someone for the first time, how to ask for simple directions, and other basic vocabulary related to hotels, restaurants, and tourism. Even if you don’t say everything correctly, the Japanese will appreciate your efforts to speak their language!

Easy Japanese Phrasebook

It’s a well-known fact that English speakers in Japan are a rare find, particularly if you are traveling outside of major tourist areas. Whilst most visitors to Japan are not expected to speak the language, if you can even learn a few key phrases in Japanese, they will serve you well and help put the locals at ease when asking for help.

Before you leave for your trip, purchase a phrasebook such as the Easy Japanese Phrasebook from Talk in Japanese and start getting to grips with the basics. This book is particularly useful because it also comes with downloadable audio so you can hear a native Japanese speaker pronounce the words and phrases. Before you know it, you’ll be perapera (fluent in Japanese) in no time!

– Tanja from Ryokou Girl

Before your trip to Japan, put in the time and energy up front by reading one or all of the Japan travel books recommended here, and you are guaranteed a totally life-changing experience!

Related Reading:

Visiting Hiroshima and Miyajima Island

How to Rent a Car in Japan (and Why You Should)

Visiting Okinawa: What to Do, Where to Stay, and How to Get Around

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Planning your Trip with Japan Travel Guides and Books

Ordering and ranking the best travel and language books

What’s the one thing you should have when you go on a trip to any foreign country, aside from your passport and wallet? A guidebook, of course. How do you think you’re going to get around without a map? How are you going to understand the culture without some general background information? And how are you going to make sure you won’t get lost or the waiter gets your order correct without some basic survival phrases?

Guidebooks will give you a sense of comfort as you look up everything you need without the requirement of the internet. Speaking of internet, while free Wi-Fi availability has been increasing in recent years, finding easily-connectable hotspots in English and without strange requirements may be more of a hassle than you’d think, and you can only do so much on your data plan, especially if you’re going to be in Japan for a while. Not to mention if you get off the main path a bit, internet can be nonexistent. In case of an emergency, a handy book or two may be your best friend.

When selecting books, Tuttle Publishing has a large variety of books with all the details and books necessary for you to get around in Japan. From general travel guides to regional ones, from cultural information to Japanese phrases, Tuttle has everything to make your life easier and more enjoyable during your visit. In addition to getting around Japan, there are books you may want to pick as you prepare for Japan (language, culture resources) and after you leave Japan (cooking, calligraphy, origami paper arts).

The following are just a few of the travel books available on Japan. ​

Top 5 Tuttle Travel Books on Japan

Japan tuttle travel pack.

This has it all, including a pull-out map of Japan. Written by Rob Goss, a long-time Tokyo resident, the Japan Tuttle Travel Pack contains Japan’s 17 “Don’t Miss” sights, along with guides to exploring different areas of Japan and the author’s personal recommendations of Japan’s best restaurants, accommodation, activities, and more. Winner of the 2013 North American Travel Journalists Association Gold Award in the Travel Book/Guide Category.

2. Introduction to Japanese Culture

Photo: Tuttle Publishing

An informative book by Daniel Sosnoski about various aspects of Japan’s culture, including holidays and festivals, arts, and daily life. A good read on the plane prior to arriving in Japan!

3. Making Out in Japanese

Not exactly what the title implies, although there is some related information about it. Making Out is a useful handbook of useful conversational Japanese phrases, ranging from basic words to situational quotes. Avoid miscommunications and speak Japanese like a pro with this one book, written by Todd Geers and Erika Hoburg.

4. A Cook’s Journey to Japan

It goes without saying that Japan is well known for its delicious food. Afraid that you won’t be able to replicate the delicate taste of Japanese cuisine at home? Don’t worry, as A Cook's Journey to Japan contains 100 Japanese recipes, ranging from rice and noodles dishes to desserts. Even contains a section on useful Japanese cooking techniques and ingredients. Written by Sarah Marx Feldner.​

5. All About Japan

A truly unique guide on Japan, written by Willamarie Moore in the form of a children’s book, with illustrations by Kazumi Wilds. An easy-to-follow but informative read for kids and adults alike, All About Japan contains basic information on Japan, as well as details on the everyday life of a Japanese family and Japanese customs. Winner of the 2012 Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award.

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7 Japan Travel Books To Inspire Future Trips

Fill up that japan travel bucket list.

Today's book selection is guaranteed to transport you right into Japan! Each of these books explores a different side of Japan—sometimes unknown—and they are mostly available in both digital and paperback versions. Make yourself cozy, grab a hot drink, and let your mind wander.

Good travel writing can transport us to places we may never see, revisit a beloved area, or even put a new destination firmly on our radar. We can learn about a country from the perspective of new eyes, not unlike our own, or experienced locals that can take us deeper culturally than we ever could into these new places.

Good travel writing can transport us to places we may never see

Enjoying new destinations from the comfort of our homes is the easiest way to broaden our horizons and enjoy a good story at the same time. Here are some of the best travel books about Japan, written in English, to inspire our own adventures. Do you have children in need of a new read? Try our English books for kids’ selection instead!

1. The Only Gaijin in the Village

If you’re looking for a lighthearted read that’s guaranteed to make you laugh while also highlighting some interesting facts and quirks about life in rural Japan then you will love this book! Perfect for fans of Bill Bryson, Scottish writer Iain Maloney and his Japanese wife Minori move from Tokyo to the Japanese countryside and introduce us to the colorful characters they meet along the way.

Much of the book is dedicated to Iain’s early life in Japan and will resonate with anyone who’s moved countries and had to navigate a brand new life abroad . Those who have lived abroad long term will also relate to the challenges of being accepted and that age-old question ‘so, when are you going home’. This book is guaranteed to make you laugh, but it’s emotional moments hit hard and by the end, you’ll feel like you’ve made a friend.

2. Hokkaido Highway Blues

Another frank and witty entry, Hokkaido Highway Blues takes away from the big cities as we journey from the south to the north of Japan with the author who’s chasing the cherry blossom by hitchhiking. The concept of hitchhiking isn’t a particularly popular one in Japan which only adds to the hilarious encounters he has with people along the way as we traverse the small villages and towns that we rarely get to see in Japan travel writing.

While the author doesn’t hold back with his opinions of both Japan which, at times, can seem ungrateful considering the hospitality he’s being shown, it’s still a great piece of travel writing about Japan and is guaranteed to take you on a journey while teaching you some local history.

3.  The Meaning of Rice: A Culinary Tour of Japan

The author of Sushi and Beyond takes us on another culinary adventure around Japan exploring what’s changed in the ten years since his previous book. He explores weighty topics in a lighthearted way and really gets across how Japanese food has conquered the Western world in a decade. As always with good travel writing, it’s the people the writer meets on his journey that provides the intrigue and this is no exception—tales from a rice farmer in Fukushima, ramen chefs, and factory workers give valuable insight into the culinary landscape of Japan.

Booth takes us on a journey right through the country leaving our belies rumbling in his wake. While the author does have a rather purist view of Japanese cuisine especially when it comes to breakfast habits and the general prevalence of convenience food in everyday life, this is still a valuable and witty exploration of Japanese food from a travel perspective.

4. The Bells of Old Tokyo: Travels in Japanese Time

One of the most unique books on this list and one that’ll make you see Tokyo in a new light no matter how much time you’ve spent there. Sherman takes us on a journey through Tokyo’s history from the Shogun era to the 2011 earthquake and those many great changes that have shaped the city.

She writes vibrantly and with love, while seamlessly weaving in her own experience as a foreigner in the city making friends and learning Japanese. Tokyo very much feels alive in this book and the stories from patrons such as her friend Daibo, a coffee shop owner, give us a real insight into the culture of Tokyo. The writer takes us around parts of the city we might pass every day and never see the deeper history and significance all with exquisite writing and respect for what’s around her.

Whether you’ve never visited Tokyo or spent a lot of time there, this is truly a book for everyone.

5. Lost Japan

As the name might suggest, this is a book that laments some of what’s been lost in Japan due to mass development and commercialism. There’s a real appreciation for the natural beauty of Japan in this book as well as its cultural traditions.

Written from his rural Iya Valley home, Alex Kerr takes us through years of Japanese art from kabuki to tea ceremonies and the rise of contemporary cultural aspects like pachinko. Much of the beauty in the book comes in the descriptions of his house Chiiori which you can actually stay in, it’s a restoration and celebration of everything traditionally beautiful in Japan.

Lyrically written and frank in its approach to modern Japan, this book will leave you with much to think about.

6. The Roads to Sata: A 2000 Mile Walk Through Japan

This wonderful piece of travel writing, that was originally written in the seventies, is being re-released this year so we can follow Alan Booth from the north to the south of Japan once again. Well written, humourous, and classy, Booth never makes sweeping generalizations about Japan or the people he meets and instead lets the reader judge the situations for themselves.

As readers, it’s amazing to see how much Japan has changed in thirty years but also see that many of the problems he faces and the joys he experiences are still very much present in Japan today. Full of personal anecdotes and quirky characters that stay with you thanks to Booth’s ability to get people to open up, this is travel writing as its finest.

7. Tokyo on Foot

Something a little different: this is a charming memoir of an artist who spent six months in Tokyo and is a hand-drawn colorful masterpiece. Florent Chavouet walked around Tokyo and drew the small neighborhoods and small corners that many of us never visit and brings them to life in a way we’ve never seen.

Once again the people in this memoir are just as important as the places and their stories are beautifully illustrated and told here. Each of his drawings features comments and tags from Chavouet which adds layers to the art and gives us a complete account of his time in Tokyo. This is the kind of book that you’ll revisit again and again simply to indulge in this dreamy pastel Tokyo.

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This week: tokyo area events for april 22 – 28, 2024.

How You Hanami

Savvy tokyo’s sakura reel contest 2024.

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Craft sake week 2024.

Tokyo Broadway

Chicago the musical.

Celebrating Artists

Komogomo exhibition and art market.

Acceptance and Inclusion

Buddy walk tokyo 2024, 50 ways to see, feel and taste tokyo.

Your Guide To The Best Things To Do In Tokyo!

Other articles by jessica.

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10 of the best books set in Japan – that will take you there

These great novels – featuring Murakami and Murata – uncover the mystery of Japan in a way ‘documentarists about families living with robots’ never will In the series: Ireland | Spain | Portugal | India

W hen Japan was forced to “open up” in 1853 following more than 200 years of its sakoku policy, the country was a mystery to the outside world. In some ways it still is. But as an early adopter of western things, from ideas to clothes, it is easy to see Japan as a familiar place. Even its unfamiliarity – Shinto shrines, sumo bouts – is recognisable as “Japan” nowadays. What is less recognisable is what Japanese writers say about their own country. Authors – not the documentarists about families living with robots – uncover the mystery. These books speak for a Japan that is often spoken for and about, and speculated about by others; they speak for its history as it unfolded, for its culture as it is practised and its society as lived in and fought against.

Coin Locker Babies by Ryū Murakami

Ryū Murakami’s stories never shy away from shining a light on the darkest corners of society. In this 1980 novel that beam is amplified as it follows the entire lives of protagonists Kiku and Hashi, and all the ghastly goings-on they encounter. Both “coin locker babies” – children abandoned in one of Japan’s coin lockers (an issue arising in the 1970s) – the boys find themselves adopted by a childless couple living on an island off Kyushu, the south-westernmost of Japan’s main islands. They grow up against a background of urban and rural decay. Soon transplanting themselves to “Toxitown”, a fictional area of mayhem in Tokyo – home, it seems, to all that is swept under the rug in Japan, from foreigners and homeless people to drug dealers and other criminals – what follows is a surreal coming-of-age horror story that runs wildly through the heights of love and superstardom, and the lows of insanity and murder.

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

“A convenience store is a world of sound.” The opening line of narrator Keiko’s breathless story of working part-time at a konbini (convenience store) is wonderfully evocative. Throughout, she likens the sounds of the store to church bells, and herself and her coworkers as members of a religion. It’s not just a testament to the minutiae of Japan’s selection of Lawsons, 7-11s and Family Marts, but also an existential challenge to normality. In an attempt to become a member of society, Keiko becomes a “cog” by working at the convenience store, before finding out there’s more to it than that. Like Jean-Paul Sartre’s waiter who is too “waiter-esque”, Keiko embodies how a convenience store worker should act – Japanese society in miniature – but in doing so, she moves further away from actual society, with its conventional marriages and babies, and the haughty couples concerned with all that.

The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea by Yukio Mishima

Part Lord of the Flies, part Oedipus complex, this book is a postwar howl of anguish. Actor, model, director and author Mishima’s protagonist, Noburo, is an adolescent boy living with his single mother, Fusako, in Yokohama. He also happens to be in a nihilistic gang with his schoolmates who are superficially “good” students. Though sex is alluded to throughout – Noboru discovers a peephole into his mother’s bedroom, for one thing – it’s the extreme disappointment Noburo feels in Fusako’s new lover, a sailor named Ryuji, whom he once admired, that sets the wheels in motion for an altogether brutal plan to restore glory. In real life, Mishima grew disillusioned with Japan’s postwar situation, and in 1970 he – along with other members of a right-wing militia that he founded called Tatenokai – stormed a military base in Tokyo and attempted to inspire a coup, delivering a speech to soldiers stationed there. Met with jeers, he committed seppuku (ritual suicide with a sword).

Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami

This depiction of the interactions and pursuits of Tokyoites is a gentle, modern-day version of the Edo period (1603-1858) ukiyo or “floating world”, referring to the era’s burgeoning urban lifestyle. Kawakami’s transient world is one of endless dining out at izakaya (Japanese bars), of hanami (flower viewing) parties during cherry blossom season, and discussing baseball, a national obsession. Now, add the story of a thirtysomething woman’s growing relationship with a much older man, whom she calls “Sensei” – an elder-junior theme somewhat echoing Natsume Soseki’s bestselling Kokoro – and Strange Weather In Tokyo will have sweep you up in a heartwarming haze.

I Am a Cat by Natsume Sōseki

Sōseki’s inaugural novel satirises Japan’s Meiji era (1868-1912), and its uneasy adoption of western ideas, through the life of a schoolteacher — his stupidity, his circle of friends, and what he does with his time. He’s a regular member of middle-class Tokyo, and is a fussy sort of person who gets annoyed when the neighbourhood children keep hitting a ball into his garden with a wooden stick (baseball had newly arrived in Japan at this time). The twist is that the whole novel is narrated by a cat with a holier-than-thou attitude, a wild take on authorship at any point in time, but even more so considering this novel’s serialisation from 1905-06. Japanese features multiple pronouns for “I”, but the cat uses wagahai to refer to itself (a high-register phrasing more appropriate to a nobleman), rare even at the time of publication. But the popularity of the book resulted in a resurgence of wagahai – and is still infrequently used by fictional, anthropomorphised characters.

Some Prefer Nettles by Jun’ichirō Tanizaki

An insight into Japan’s past as much as a blueprint for understanding the country’s idiosyncratic style of westernisation, Tanizaki spins a web of conflicting interests in his 1929 novel. Kaname and his wife Misako are married, but not happily. Kaname’s father-in-law, “the old man”, thinks divorce is out of the question, a western solution for problems caused by western ideas. Attempting to instil Japanese ideals in the couple and his young mistress, O-Hisa, the old man hopes to uphold traditions as Japan changes around him. Kaname, however, loves western things. He admires American film stars of the day. His dog even has an English name.

The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon

Perhaps owing to the 2006 translation by Meredith McKinney, The Pillow Book reads as naturally as if it had been written today. Except it was written in the 990s and early 1000s by a lady-in-waiting of Fujiwara no Teishi, empress consort of Emperor Ichijo. This era in Japanese history, the Heian period (794-1185), was one of great significance – to nobles, anyway. Sei’s book is basically a collection of random thoughts, an ancient blog. She makes lists – of rivers, markets and other places that are either famous or have some poetic connection, or both – and writes opinionated indices with titles such as “people who seem enviable” and “things with terrifying names”. Most of the time, however, she provides a window into the courtly world: nocturnal visits from men, Shinto festivals, and the constant exchanging of witty poems between courtiers like carefully considered tweets.

Schoolgirl by Osamu Dazai

Dazai may be better known for his swansong – the autobiographical No Longer Human (1948) – but it is Schoolgirl, a 1939 novella, that made him famous. Narrated by the eponymous girl, the book is an unsung, prewar Japanese Catcher in the Rye; for her everything is depressing, pathetic, disgusting: “Mornings are torture.” The narrator is sometimes an androgynous voice, at odds with herself and the world around her, but 81 years after publication her thoughts chime with the modern day. Possibly a veiled critique by Dazai (who was a Marxist) of ultranationalism, the schoolgirl is at one point “bored” by a teacher who went “on and on, explaining to us about patriotism, but wasn’t that pretty obvious? I mean, everyone loves the place where they were born.”

Vibrator by Mari Akasaka

The title may put some off, and depending on what edition is available, it may or may not have an electric pink cover, but Vibrator is glorious. The novel is set in Tokyo, at least for a bit, as protagonist Rei Hayakawa begins yet another trip down to her local convenience store. She’s a bulimic freelance writer who drinks too much, by the way. After a chance encounter at the store with a truck driver, Okabe, she leaves her usual, self-destructive routine and hops in his cab for a road trip. Japan’s highways are not pretty and its winter landscape is not always the delicate woodblock print scenes you may know, but this book shows both in their supreme mundanity as Rei journeys to the deep north with a stranger, and further into herself.

Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami

Only half of this book takes place in Japan. That’s because every other chapter is set somewhere that exists (or doesn’t exist) called the “The End of the World”, whose inhabitants are poignantly mindless, perhaps soulless even. Every chapter in between, on the other hand, is set an alternate Tokyo, “Hard-Boiled Wonderland”, in which the narrator works as a sort of human data-processing machine. It’s a head-scratcher of a story. The nameless narrator spends a memorable portion of the novel below ground, in a monstrous kind of sewer system crawling with up-to-date kappa (amphibious demons of Japanese folklore), emerging from this secret subterranean labyrinth at Aoyama-itchōme station, one of a handful of Tokyo locations name-dropped throughout.

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15 Essential Travel Hacks When Visiting Japan

A sk anybody what's on their travel bucket list, and their response is sure to include "Japan." Thanks to a combination of rich heritage, lush landscapes, and labyrinth cities packed with skyscrapers, temples, and tourist traps alike, the country has soared in popularity, with American Express claiming that the number of bookings has increased by 1,300% since 2019 (via Bloomberg ).

Part of what makes Japan so alluring is that its culture and customs are so distinct and unique to those of other countries. That's also what makes it an overwhelming travel destination, especially for first-time visitors. If you start your journey in a major city like Tokyo, Yokohama, or Osaka, you're instantly immersed in a world of neon lights, bustling crowds, loud noises, a million different smells, and sensory overload.

With so much to see, do, and eat, a trip to Japan really isn't the kind of vacation you can make up as you go along. The last thing you need is to run into an easily avoided stumbling block like a lack of internet or 30 minutes spent figuring out the route to your next destination — which is why you'll want to arrive armed with as much knowledge as possible.

Read more: 28 Bucket List Destinations That Everyone Needs To Experience At Least Once

Get Quick Meals At 7-Eleven

It's tough to walk for longer than 20 seconds without stumbling upon a convenience store in Japan. Also known as conbini, these stores are usually open 24 hours a day and are packed full of affordable tasty treats that will keep you going without the time (and money) it takes to eat at an actual restaurant.

For as cheap as 200 yen ($1.34), you can enjoy the likes of onigiri rice balls, chicken karaage, sandos, oden, and bento boxes. We also recommend picking up taiyaki for a quick sugar boost. Shaped like fish and made of pancake or waffle batter, they're usually filled with red bean paste, custard, and chocolate and make for an endlessly addictive snack.

The most common store is 7-Eleven, which has over 20,000 locations throughout Japan and is miles above its U.S. counterpart in the culinary department. There are also over 15,000 FamilyMarts scattered across the country, but they typically don't offer as much variety.

Get Pocket Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi is surprisingly scarce in Japan, which can put you in some tough spots if you get lost mid-metro commute. Fortunately, pocket Wi-Fi exists -- and it is a lifesaver. For as cheap as $5 a day, you can rent a portable device that will allow you to access the internet on the go, even on the train. The majority will allow you to connect multiple devices at the same time and come in a variety of different speeds and GB, with some even offering unlimited data throughout your stay.  

If you rent in advance through a website like Ninja WiFi or Japan Wireless , you can pick up the device (also known by the much cuter name of a Wi-Fi Egg) at a designated counter once you've got through customs at airports including Haneda and Narita in Tokyo, Chubu Centrair, Kansai International, Fukuoka, and more. Once you're done, you can just pop it into the returns box at the airport on the way back. Easy.

Buy A JR Pass

Sadly, the JR (Japan Rail) Pass isn't as cheap as it once was. It surged in price by 70% in July 2023 as the yen continued to decline in value against other currencies around the world. However, if your itinerary includes extensive train travel, it's still worth the purchase.

The Japan Rail Pass will allow you to ride the rail to your heart's desire -- including the country's infamous, lightning-speed Shinkansen bullet trains (for a supplementary fee) and the Narita Express. It's more expensive to purchase once in Japan, so we recommend buying yours in advance on the JRailPass website where it costs $340.65 for seven days, $544.45 for 14 days, and $680.35 for 21 days.

If your visit is limited to just one or two cities, such as Tokyo and Osaka or Tokyo and Kyoto, then it probably isn't necessary. For example, a trip between Tokyo and Osaka typically costs $120 each way, which is considerably cheaper than forking out a few hundred dollars for a JR Pass.

Download Train Schedules And Maps

Japan has incredible public transportation. It also happens to be extremely overwhelming if it's your first (or second, or third) time in the country. Tokyo's metro can be especially confusing, with nine different train lines and 180 different stations to navigate. Its roads are even more complex with the majority not even having names, baffling even the city's own taxi drivers.

With that in mind, future-proofing for any situation where you may end up lost in an unknown place is always a good idea. Download or screenshot train schedules ahead of time through the JRailPass website, which offers both interactive and PDF versions of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto's transportation systems. You can also download an offline version of the local area on Google Maps. This will also help if you face the aforementioned pesky issue of scarce public Wi-Fi, or if your portable Wi-Fi runs out of juice midday.

Use Citymapper

If you're visiting Tokyo, Citymapper is a must. Just like it does for multiple other cities across the globe, the award-winning app analyzes public transportation, congestion, and distance to figure out all the different ways you can reach your destination, and precisely how many minutes each option will take.

Whether it's walking, cycling, taxis, metro, or a combination of everything, all you need to do is select your chosen route and follow Citymapper's step-by-step instructions. When we say step-by-step, we mean it. The app's so smart that it will even tell you which exits and entrances to use at each station to make your journey as stress-free as possible. If you miss your stop or don't quite make your train, the app will also take that into account to restrategize your trip ASAP. You'll need to be online to request a new route, but if you check your journey ahead of time, you can save it to your homepage for offline use.

Visit Between January And March

There is no one "best" time to visit Japan, but there is a most convenient time. January to March tends to attract less crowds and will also usually bring the cheapest flights of the year. While it'll almost certainly be cold, you'll skip typhoon season and be in with a chance of seeing Japan in the snow.

If you do choose to visit at this time, just be sure to check the dates of the Lunar New Year (AKA Chinese New Year). This tends to be a public holiday across the region and will see cities across Japan packed with tourists. As it's such a popular time to travel, this will also be the exception to the "January to March is cheaper" rule with hotels and airlines driving up their prices over the holiday. The same is true of the end of March, which marks the beginning of cherry blossom season.

Make Advanced Reservations

There's a lot to enjoy in Japan. The problem is that everybody else wants to enjoy these things, too. Tourist attractions often book up months in advance, and a lot of them don't sell tickets at the gate, which doesn't leave much space for spontaneity for the average tourist visiting Japan .

If you plan on visiting the likes of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo - The Making of Harry Potter, Tokyo Disney Resort, Ghibli Park, Shibuya Sky observation deck, Teamlab Planets, or the Studio Ghibli Museum, it's best to sort your tickets sooner rather than later. The Ghibli Museum is especially challenging, with tickets for the next month going on sale at 10 a.m. on the 10th of the month prior.

The same is true of the hotels at Tokyo Disney Resort . With one of the most impressive Disney hotel lineups in the world (including the MiraCosta, a hotel that is actually inside Tokyo DisneySea), rooms are in extremely high demand. These go on sale from 11 a.m. four months before the dates you hope to stay and are bookable through the Tokyo Disney Resort Online Reservations & Tickets website.

Download The Japan Connected-Free Wi-Fi App

If you don't want the responsibility of carrying around and charging pocket Wi-Fi, download the Japan Connected -free Wi-Fi app. Whether you need to double-check directions or just have a quick midday TikTok break, this handy tool will search over 170,000 internet hotspots to find the closest location to you. The majority of these will likely be at a 7-Eleven, where you'll almost always be able to go online.

As if that feature isn't useful enough, the app eliminates the need to fill in the registration forms that typically serve as a barrier before you can access public Wi-Fi. Fill out your name and email once and the app will complete each form on your behalf. While you used to need to be online to find the Internet (which kind of defeats the app's entire purpose), you can now download the offline map to ensure you can always find a connection. Just remember to be careful with what data you enter or share while using any public Wi-Fi network .

Japan has been a "cash is king" country for years, meaning paying with notes and coins is the default over ApplePay and credit cards. This attitude has slipped in recent years, but cash still has a strong grip on the country's residents with only 36% of people preferring cashless payments.

While you should be able to use your card in most major outlets and tourist locations -- such as department stores, malls, theme parks, supermarkets, and even taxis -- a lot of restaurants, cafes, and bars still prefer to be paid in cash. This number will be much higher outside of major cities, and many local restaurants, markets, or temples won't have the facilities to accept card payments even if they want to. Exchanging at least a chunk of your spending money into Japanese yen ahead of time will save you in sticky situations (plus it helps you control your spending, which is always a bonus).

Choose Taxis Over Ubers

Although Uber exists in Japan, it's not as widespread or commonplace as in countries like the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom. Journeys tend to be more expensive than those taken with local cabs, making the latter the service of choice for locals and tourists alike.

The upside to Uber is, of course, the fact that it's so familiar for many tourists. It's easy to order your taxi and pay via card, and the entire process is in English. However, your cheapest option is to hail taxis on the street, as you won't need to pay a base fare for the pick-up service. It'll say on the front of a car in Japanese if it's occupied. It's also color-coded so tourists can understand. Red means it's taken. Green means it's available. If you do want to pre-book, most locals prefer to use the Go app for journeys anywhere within Japan's 47 prefectures. This works similarly to Uber, except it allows you to pay with both cash and card and will give you a flat rate for journeys to and from the airport.

Purchase A Suica Card

The question isn't so much what a Suica card can do ; what can't it do? This prepaid, contactless card can be repeatedly loaded up with more cash to pay for public transport, including the metro, trains, buses, and taxis. Beyond transportation, Suica is also accepted in many shops, restaurants, cafes, and even vending machines. Just look out for the Suica symbol to know if they do -- and if you can't spot it, it's at least worth asking.

You can purchase your card before arriving in Japan and return it at the end of your trip to recover your 500 yen ($12) deposit. Due to a manufacturing shortage, the sale of new Suica cards is temporarily on hold as of June 2023, but if you're on a temporary visa, you can still purchase a Welcome Suica card. This doesn't require a deposit, doesn't need to be returned, and is valid for 28 days. These can only be purchased inside Japan at locations such as Narita and Haneda airports and will come with a reference paper which you'll need to keep on your person at all times.

Utilize Storage Lockers

For security reasons, storage lockers are a rarity at train stations around the world. Japan is an exception. You'd be hard-pressed to find a major station without coin lockers (which, despite the name, can actually be used with a Suica card, too), and in Tokyo, most stations come equipped with storage facilities.

Baggage storage is one of those things you don't realize you'll need until you desperately need it. These lockers are useful if you only have a few hours before heading to your hotel or next destination and want to stow away your belongings so you can freely explore. They also happen to be extremely cheap, typically costing between $1 and $5. There's usually no problem finding a vacant locker, but if you are struggling, you can download the  SPACER app , which will allow you to find and reserve a locker at major stations such as Shinjuku, Osaka, and Shibuya in advance. This is currently only available in Japanese, but there are plans for an English version in the near future.

Avoid National Holidays

Lunar New Year isn't the only holiday worth skipping if you want to avoid the crowds. National holidays bring in huge crowds anywhere, but especially Japan, where workers get little annual leave and want to take advantage of the break. If you do decide to brave big attractions like Shibuya Crossing, Senso-ji Temple, or Tokyo Skytree, you'll likely find yourself shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow tourists.

For a quieter vacation, April 29 to May 6 -- or, Golden Week -- is one of Japan's busiest holiday periods. This tends to be the most hectic season for the likes of Tokyo Disney Resort and Universal Studios Japan, where you can expect to wait in long lines for everything, from the park entrance to the restrooms. While Christmas isn't a national holiday in Japan, it is for many other countries, meaning the festive season can also bring an influx of tourists to both of these locations. Late September (Silver Week), New Year, and the Obon Week in August are typically also very busy.

Claim Your Tax Refund

From clothes to gadgets, Japan is one of the most unique places for retail therapy in the world. If you're a tourist, you can also shop with the peace of mind that you'll get at least some of your money back. Any non-resident visiting Japan for less than six months can enjoy tax-free shopping, meaning you can reclaim 10% of the value of your purchase.

There are a few catches. First, you'll need to check that the store is in fact a "tax-free shop" by checking for a logo stating as such at the entrance. They're extremely common and can be found in the likes of Namba City, Echika Ikebukuro, and Seibu Shibuya. You'll also need to have spent more than 5,000 yen ($33) in the same store on the same day. Some stores will let you pay tax-free from the offset if you present your passport, while others will require you to present your receipt at a tax exemption counter on the same day to get your money back.

Download A Good Translation App

If you know Japanese, you're good to go. For those of us who aren't bilingual, Japan can be tough to navigate at times. While most signs in major cities will have translations, less than 30% of people living in Japan speak English, which means it's inevitable you'll hit the language barrier at some point during your stay.

A good translation app is a must, especially one that's able to translate pictures. Google Translate is always a go-to, but one of the best choices is iTranslate Translator . Not only can it tackle text, but you can also use it to scan and translate menus, signs, labels ... you name it. Best of all, it can work offline if you download the Japanese pack ahead of time. It's free to download but will cost you $5.99 a month to unlock its full potential. Considering how useful it is, it's better to spend $5.99 than find yourself stranded in a restaurant blind-ordering a dish because you can't read the menu.

Read the original article on Explore .

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