Japan Traveler's Companion

Richly illustrated with hundreds of colour photos, Japan Traveler's Companion delves beyond the gaze of traditional guidebooks to uncover the country's rich culinary traditions, pop culture, Samurai heritage, and much more. The book brings Japan to life, highlighting the most interesting places to visit in every region of the country.

Author Rob Goss is an award-winning travel writer who has lived in Japan for years. He introduces readers to his favourite places to visit in Japan in an engaging way and provides detailed itineraries for each region of the country. In this uniquely illustrated travel guide, the traits and traditions defining major destinations like Tokyo, Kyoto, and the booming winter resort of Niseko are described. The book also covers lesser-known parts of Japan that few visitors get to experience, such as the contemporary 'art island' of Naoshima, the UNESCO World Heritage flora and fauna of Yakushima, and the recovering Tohoku region, which was devastated by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Includes:

• A map of the region showing the location of major sights, all of which are described and illustrated in the chapter.
• Covers the 86 most important sights in Japan, including 22 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• Introductory chapters on Japanese cuisine, popular culture, and Samurai history.

Many, if not most, travel guides will feature an endless parade of "what to do and see" recommendations, and Rob Goss’s work is no different in a sense. However, unlike some editions of Lonely Planet and Fodor’s, it’s clear when opening up Japan Traveler's Companion for the first time that the book will be anything but dry. The subtitle appearing on its cover is "Japan’s most famous sights from Okinawa to Hokkaido," but the inclusion of popular tourist destinations isn’t the only reason to pick up the book. Amazingly beautiful colour photos of the country’s most famous places will leave you speechless, and Goss includes helpful information for potential visitors about facets of Japanese life such as matsuri, cutting-edge technology, and tradition. — JQ Magazine