So, which books are they? Here are three classic books I’d recommend if you’re planning on traveling in and around Japan. The Inland Sea, by Donald Richie(Originally published in 1971, re-released in 2002 by Stonebridge Press). American Donald Richie, is a prominent Japanese film critic and a long-time book and film reviewer for The Japan Times. He has published over 40 … [Read more...] about Best travel reads on Japan
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Cheap Guesthouses for longer stays
Once you find how affordable a long-term rental guesthouse in Japan can be, you might find you want to extend your stay in Japan. International guesthouses, colloquially called gaijin houses(foreigner houses) can be very affordable if you’re staying in Japan a month or longer. For example, you can get a room for 48,000 yen (includes electricity and gas) with a shared bath, … [Read more...] about Cheap Guesthouses for longer stays
Japan is still cheap!
Because of the current high value of the yen, Japan may not seem such a cheap destination anymore. But don’t worry, you can still get by very cheaply in Japan, as long as you are armed with some inside information. Here are some tips the guidebooks won’t tell you. Sudomari Japanese inns, mainly minshukus and ryokans, rent Japanese style rooms with tatami mat and futons. The … [Read more...] about Japan is still cheap!
The Inland Sea Islands
Japan’s Inland Sea, called “Seto Naikai” in Japanese, is one of Japan’s best kept secrets. While most people only know the bigger islands (called “shima”) such as Awajishima and Shodoshima with extensive ferry services to bring people, cars and trucks from the mainland, the smaller islands are accessible only by the occasional ferry or private boat. As the smaller islands … [Read more...] about The Inland Sea Islands
Akihabara
If you’re young and hip, or just want to act like you are, then Tokyo’s Akihabara district is the place to be. And luckily now, as it is becoming somewhat of a tourist-attraction (I say somewhat because if you catch it now, you can still see it before the tourist hordes discover it) you can even get a tour of Akihabara in English. But first, what exactly is Akihabara? This … [Read more...] about Akihabara