(Part 2) Top products from r/JapanTravel

I like having a few guidebooks as backups - as others have said the internet is usually the best source of info these days, but sometimes you do get some good stuff from guidebooks. I had the Lonely Planet guide on my first trip - and it was fine, didn't use it thaaaat much. But since I returned from Japan I've bought a couple of more specialist guidebooks that I've found helpful planning a Tokyo city break later this year.

The ones I picked up were:

The Monocole Travel Guide Series - Tokyo
https://monocle.com/travel/tokyo/
Thoughts: Quite artsy, hipster-ish and high-end. Lots of boutique style shops, high-end restaurants and the like. They sure love Ginza. Almost snobbish at times in that respect but there are also some great cultural highlights, walking route suggestions and the like, as well as a few essays on Tokyo life that I found pretty interesting to read. Also one of the few books I've found with a design/architecture section. They also have an office/shop in Tokyo itself.

CITI X 60: Tokyo
https://www.amazon.co.uk/CITIx60-Tokyo-Victionary/dp/9881222761
Again, quite hipster-ish (which is fine with me, haha) - but an interesting concept for a guide book, having been curated by 60 creatives picking their favourite things in the city. As with the other book I wouldn't base a whole trip around it but it has definitely highlighted a few new interesting things that I'm going to check out when I'm next back in Tokyo.

If you'd like a bit more info about either book just let me know, would be happy to go into a bit more detail about the contents, etc.

Thanks for the input. We chose Atago and Shiba from one of the walking tours described here but didn't know much about it. The intention was to just have a pleasant walk through some normal neighborhoods, as sort of a way to relax and just enjoy regular scenery. Asakusa is great, but we've been there before so we figured we'd try our luck elsewhere.

Combining Ghibli and Nakano is definitely a good idea that likely should have occurred to us as well.

We actually just recently considered adding in Shimokitazawa, but don't really know much about it and haven't had a chance to meet up and solidify last minute plans. I take it it's a cool place to go?

2 suggestions - if you think herbal teas might be OK:

• Get that an assortment pack of Celestrial Seasons, probably the fruit sampler. It has some nice teas in it. I would probably give them 2 boxes. Some of the flavors are really nice.
  
• Pick a few boxes of Tazo Tea or Similar brands to give them. Pick some nice flavors you know taste good. Some of these might be a bit unusual for Japan, and might be appreciated.
  
  
  Some nice flavors:
  https://www.amazon.com/Mighty-Leaf-Tea-Chamomile-Pouches/dp/B00MFNF1DG/ref=sr_1_19?crid=1FF2UHC653LI1&keywords=chamomile+citrus+tea&qid=1557388367&s=gateway&sprefix=citrus+tea%2Caps%2C213&sr=8-19
  
  Chamomile Citrus
  
  https://www.amazon.com/Tazo-Sweet-Cinnamon-Spice-Herbal/dp/B01DUHOJ10/ref=sr_1_18?keywords=tazo+tea&qid=1557388252&s=gateway&sr=8-18
  
  https://www.amazon.com/Celestial-Seasonings-Herbal-Cinnamon-Apple/dp/B000E65OII/ref=sr_1_3?crid=K9HFVYX578D9&keywords=cinnamon+apple+spice+tea&qid=1557388553&s=gateway&sprefix=cinamon+apple%2Caps%2C216&sr=8-3
  ^___
  Celestrial Seasons
  https://www.amazon.com/Celestial-Seasonings-Herbal-Fruit-Sampler/dp/B000E63LME/ref=sr_1_3?crid=9LRYUAQCVEBN&keywords=celestial%2Bseasonings%2Bfruit%2Btea%2Bsampler%2C%2B18%2Bcount&qid=1557388663&s=gateway&sprefix=Celestial%2BSeasonings%2Bfr%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-3&th=1
  
  If it were me, I would also buy a box of some of these flavors from this sampler:
  
  Country Peach, Razzberry Zinger, Black Cherry (all really good). Lemon Zinger tea is also excellent.

https://www.amazon.com/Man-No-Talents-Memoirs-Laborer/dp/080144375X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=a+man+with+no+talents&qid=1566508527&s=gateway&sr=8-1

He actually was a day laborer in that district, San'ya. It doesn't have the greatest of ratings but I enjoyed the read. I felt bad for him but he seemed really resigned to that lifestyle. I think it just made me uncomfortable knowing the kind of life he lived but not really wanting for more. Almost like he was just... existing?

I'm probably going to go back and read it again. I believe he won an award for the book as well but either declined to accept the award or declined to do any press for it. I think its worth a read, it's not too long and the memories he recall expose a side of Japan many never see or think of.

Yeah my original plan was to do the hike from Asahidake to Sounkyo, however when my mum decided to come for that first leg of the trip I changed plans. Wasn’t sure how she’d cope and good thing, as she struggled with Asahidake!

I have the Daisetsuzan Asahidake area 1:25,000 map and according to that, it is definitely doable in a day. But I recommend setting off as early as possible etc. Here is the map if you want to buy it for yourself:

大雪山 旭岳登山英語地図 https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4906740278/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_6zLyDbP91RY4N

If you can’t do the traverse for whatever reason (eg bad weather), you could always do the loop course from the Kurodake side instead the next day.

It’s hard to give recommendations re Akan because I’ve been there twice but both times i had a car so I don’t know where to recommend for public transport. I think stay yeah, somewhere close to lake Mashu (like Kawayu onsen which is also close to Iozan) if you want to do the Mashudake hike but then move closer to lake Akan if you want to do the Meakan (and/or Oakan) hike, activities on or around lake Akan.

This resource is really good https://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/guide/akan/recommend/index.html

But, it doesn’t have the Mashudake hike I’ve mentioned. The trailhead simply starts at the lake Mashu first observatory though, you can’t miss it.

Also, this page just has all the things not to miss on the area (and you can look for Shiretoko, Kushiro have similar pages) https://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/akan/guide/view.html

I've heard great things about "Showa", a graphic novel that covers Japanese history between 1926 and 1989:

https://www.amazon.com/Showa-1926-1939-History-Japan/dp/1770461353

Edit:

Also recommend "Speed Tribes" By Karl Taro Greenfield. Easy read:

https://www.amazon.com/Speed-Tribes-Nights-Japans-Generation/dp/0060926651/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542859841&sr=8-1&keywords=speed+tribes

Not explicitly relevant to Japan Travel, but an English version of FF Ultimania covering FF1-6 was just announced. Hopefully it has some of the content you are looking for

Perhaps they'd enjoy some travel writing to give them a flavour of Japan before they go?

They're 20 years old now but I'm a huge fan of the two books Alan Booth wrote about walking in rural Japan.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Looking-Lost-Journeys-Vanishing-Kodansha/dp/1568361483/

If she's only taking up to a month supply then she only needs documentation like a note from the doctor, Rx, etc.

If she's planning on bringing more than a month supply then she needs to get a "Yakkan Shoumei" which actually takes quite a bit of time (I've heard up to months).

http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-medimport.html

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/policy/health-medical/pharmaceuticals/dl/qa1.pdf

If it has to be kept cool (below 80ºF) then you should look into a Frio Wallet. If it has to be cold like refrigerated then you'll need to look into ice packs and ice. http://www.amazon.com/FRIO-Insulin-Cooling-Wallet-Large/dp/B0002262DA

> but a something more profound with a lot on the literature, legends, culture, art, history of Japan.

If so, you might want to look for something that's not a guidebook.

This book on modern culture might be an interesting read.

Edit: Ian Buruma's "Inventing Japan" may prove to be a very readable introduction to modern history.

You need a full-body titanium armor to be safe.

Anyway, yes, no need to lie, they are dangerous and there are deaths every year. Chances are non-null that you'll see one or some, don't come kicking one nest if you see one, and don't try and approach a beast, don't put vivid color / black clothings, don't wear heavy perfume. In case you get stung, there are cheap sting removers available. Suzumebachis are active during the autumn.

Tide makes travel packets of laundry detergent. They are perfect for doing your laundry in a sink or bathtub.


Tide Travel Sink Packets, 3-Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GCS004/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xNa3Db7BYKJ6V

You might find this book interesting: Little Adventures in Tokyo. http://amzn.com/1880656345 Also maybe omideyokocho, ameyokocho, or Nogi shrine.

[Japanese: A Language Map] (https://www.amazon.com/JAPANESE-language-map®-Kristine-Kershul/dp/1931873836) (while not info graphic per se) is a compact, laminated overview of much of the info you're looking for. We took it with us to Japan in 2015 along with Lonely Planet's mini Japanese phrasebook and found it helpful.

For something a bit different than the standard guides, might I chime in and suggest a guide about Tokyo with a twist (that I actually took a few years to write... kind of self-promotion I know, though I guess it's relevant for this post...)

This cow has already been milked here and here.

They also have them for adults with rheumatoid arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome-

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B000G7BX58/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B000G7BX58&pd_rd_w=t5npf&pf_rd_p=6f76bf7b-14cf-4ddf-acee-6d90d5cf8e2e&pd_rd_wg=36Yqb&pf_rd_r=KYDTFDE05SSAZ6BSH71Y&pd_rd_r=87b944ad-3a19-11e9-99bd-1586cfb9f786&smid=A2YIIVSNGIUGVA

You can always buy those "Onsen no moto" bath salts to try to relive some Onsen moments at home.

Here's an example:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000V2EXL4/

It's one of the things I miss most about Japan and make sure that I do at least one onsen trip every time I go there.

So I know what you mean!