Time Out Guide to Tokyo 
Product Description: - The Tokyo Guide is packed with vital information for both first-time tourists and experienced business travelers. Written by journalists and writers living in the Japanese capital, this guide takes the lid off one of the most exciting and mysterious cities in the world, with a guide to Japanese food--what to eat and how to order it--walking tours of Tokyo s most vibrant districts, a thorough shopping guide, language survival tips, and a mini-guide to Yokohama, Japan s second city, thirty minutes away.
Customer Ratings: - Not for those who are on a budget. Time Out Tokyo is an excellent guidebook for those who have tons of money, but not for those who are on a budget. This was especially apparent in the accommodations and food section. Although they listed some capsule hotels and some ryokans, most places on the list was over $100 a night for a single room. Restaurants on the list were all expensive as well. I know there are cheaper places to sleep and eat in Tokyo because I looked online and found a lot of them, and thats what we did. So for those of you who are not looking to stay in a four or five star hotel, just look online for a cheap place to stay.
Another complaint I had was the inaccuracy of the descriptions of some of the venues. For example, one club listed in the Time Out book described the place as modern and futuristic, but when we actually found the place it was a whole in a wall. The place was so small and filled with other foreigners who probably found the place in the Time Out book as well. There was nothing modern or futuristic about it. The worse part for me was there were very few Japanese locals at the places listed in the guidebook. Foreigners dominated most of the venues. My friends and I ended up at a nicer club that was not listed on the Time Out book and we got to meet some cool people.
Also, the information on how to get to Nikko, Kamakura, and Yokohama could have been more descriptive. I know this is a Tokyo book, but it would have been nice if they had more information on these places since they are just outside the city.
On a positive note, their little articles on Japanese culture and history is very well written and fun to read. The Time Out folks definitely have a sense of humor. So, if you want to splurge and go crazy in Tokyo, buy this book. But if you are backpacking through Japan or want to save some money, get another guidebook.
I give this two stars because the book isn t necessarily bad, its just geared towards a select few. - Probably the best of the recent guides. My husband and I go to Japan often, and I wind up buying each new edition of this guide, (which is probably unnecessary) because I want to stay current on things, especially the restaurant and hotel reviews. The information is fairly comprehensive, very good for shopping, museums and galleries, though not strong on the traditional arts such as Kabuki, traditional music, etc.
The old Kodansha Guide was better, but it s not being published anymore, so this is your best bet. I gave one to a friend who just went to Japan, and she loved it.
- A Great City Guide. Time Out has done it again. This is a great city guide, full of useful information. Easy to follow and
a joy to look at. We are looking forward to taking it with us to Japan. I must say that everything that Time Out does is excellent, and I thoroughly recommend their publications to everyone. - Time Out Tokyo. If you are looking for a very comprehensive guidebook on Tokyo, you won t get anything better than Time Out Tokyo. The Time Out guidebooks are almost always very complete with a wide range of activities, restaurant, and recommendations. There is also cultural information in there to help you get a little more acquainted with the cultural differences of the country you are visiting. No matter wat your purpose is for the trip, Time Out Tokyo is definitely a good buy.
- Great Tokyo Guide. Just got back from a trip to Tokyo and this book was great. I bought the Rough Guide to Japan as well as this book, and I was glad to have this book while in Tokyo. It provided tons of info and lots and lots of pictures...I like to have pictures when I travel, it helps me make quick decisions about what I want to see and when.
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