Megan explores Buddhist temples, world heritage sites, and bargains at the city's best flea market. She then learns the art of Zen meditation and visits the Gion distract, home to many of Kyoto's few hundred remaining Geisha. She then travels to bustling Osaka, and Iga-Ueno then continuing by train through the Japanese Alps and by ferry to the remote Sado Island. Finally, in Himeji, she witnesses a dramatic fighting festival.

Lonely Planet's Japan is our most comprehensive guide that extensively covers all the country has to offer, with recommendations for both popular and lesser-known experiences. Summit Mount Fuji, pay your respects at Buddhist temples in Kyoto, and have your fill of sushi and sake; all with your trusted travel companion.

"From one of our most astute observers of human nature, a far-reaching exploration of Japanese history and culture and a moving meditation on impermanence, mortality, and grief. For years, Pico Iyer has split his time between California and Nara, Japan, where he and his Japanese wife Hiroko have a small home. But when his father-in-law dies suddenly, calling him back to Japan earlier than expected, Iyer begins to grapple with the question we all have...

"An immersive journey through the culture and cuisine of one Japanese town, its forest, and its watershed--where ducks are hunted by net, saké is brewed from the purest mountain water, and charcoal is fired in stone kilns--by an American writer and food stylist who spent years working alongside artisans. One night, Brooklyn-based artist and food writer Hannah Kirshner received a life-changing invitation to apprentice with a "saké evangelist" in...

"The Bells of Old Tokyo is a remarkable literary debut by Anna Sherman that is an elegant and insightful tour of Tokyo and its residents, as well as a meditation on Japanese culture and society. The book is structured around Anna's search for the eight lost bells that once surrounded the city. These bells marked the city's neighborhoods and kept time for its inhabitants before the introduction of Western-style clocks. The bells are tangible vestiges...

Lonely Planet's Tokyo is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Experience the Shinjuku nightlife, escape the modern world at Meiji-jingu, Tokyo's largest and most famous Shinto shrine, and tour the contemporary architectural marvels of the city; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Tokyo and begin your journey now!

Inspiring photography, insider tips, cultural interpretation, and expert advice are hallmarks of these bestselling travel guides, ensuring a more authentic, enriching experience of the destination. In Japan, spring bursts onto the scene with the splendor of blooming cherry trees (sakura), the symbol of life. This is the most popular season for visitors, who enjoy the tranquility of the Zen gardens, however, the narrow archipelago of Japan offers considerable...