After a few months ago I discussed the book "Total
Tokyo" by
Finn Mayer-Kuckuck , the a wonderful introduction to the Destination Japan
allows, I will now outstanding with three Books deals that are a companion for a shorter or longer stay in Tokyo a necessary and sufficient.
Johann Martin Lutter has with its sixth edition, published in the now-
Tokyo Travel Guide set standards which, in my opinion, be any case of any current competition work. On over 500 pages 19.90 EUR and fair, he makes the Japanese capital in a sympathetic and warm-hearted way to life, devoted to - of course - history and geography of the region, but also the cuisine, language and mentality of its people and gives some practical travel tips . Detail lit it for the visitors most interesting districts (wards), where we always have in mind must be that it is "the" Tokyo actually do not exist, but rather only those of 23 wards, each with specific characteristics and its own coinage (the electronics district, the government district, the entertainment district, the temple district, etc., where "area" is somewhat an understatement when you consider that living in a several hundred thousand people was often). The information on the population of Tokyo vary and
Wikipedia of about eight million, the speech might actually in the 23 wards around twelve million
people (about 1 / 10 of all Japanese people) live. By every morning commuters in the capital flowing - just 3.8 million a day pass through Shinjuku train station
- this number is growing day course dramatically. However - and this is the Faszierende in this city - Tokyo "kills" is not the visitor. On the contrary, the strict division into wards can grasp the alleged Moloch and l (i) are also worth it. It is not uncommon, even in the actual region of central sections with almost already found a village character and heavenly peace - and only a few meters further, like skyscrapers and concrete garlands winding around the blocks major roads. John Lutter is dedicated to the most interesting Districts (of
Shinjuku on
Shibuya ,
Ginza ,
Ikebukuro ,
Akihabara to
Roppongi and
Odaiba ), describes attractions, landmarks and restaurants, allowing just the first-time visitors, within ten or to win a fortnight a slightly deeper impression of Tokyo. However, the Japanese
have a somewhat idiosyncratic
addressing system . For one, smaller roads are usually no names, but contain the addresses, the numbers of area, block and house, on the other hand, the numbers in the order of construction of buildings awarded, not consecutively. Therefore, Japanese were also guided by the search of specific addresses often known landmarks, where the starting point of search is usually the nearest metro station (the mass transit system in Tokyo is sensational). Long story short: It's not very easy to get around in Tokyo. In this case, helping the "Tokyo City Atlas
" to me but with a different cover than at present
Amazon illustrated, ISBN and edition but vote. This book is, is pointed out in some reviews, for people who are months or even years living in Tokyo and also for the lesser-known, outlying wards in the cards offered in the book detail would need, maybe not enough But a holiday is almost all find it relevant addresses on one of the many cards and can be described by Lutter Johann (p. 34 f.) method Chome (range), pick out block and house number, and their aim is quick and efficiently achieved. If you have somewhere once by chance as a local discovered that you would like to visit again, it can be located in the City Atlas mark. One thing - I say this from bitter experience - definitely does not: to assume that one finds something from memory. Too similar to see many roads, many outputs, the individual subway stations ...
Who is the Japanese language is not powerful, Finally, should the 'Voice
Japanese "by Lonely Planet
access, on the one moderate its price (7.95 EUR) and convinced the others in that it contains so many really suitable for everyday use phrases. It just helps tremendously when you can express greeting, wishes and thanks in Japanese - it was in the restaurant or at the hairdresser or the doctor. For these and many other situations keeps the PhraseBook provides an astounding number of actually useful phrases. Of course creeps even at Lonely Planet, one or other superfluous language assistance. How realistic it is probably that a tourist polite in Japan the seller or the hairdresser hurling: "Anata ni tanomanakereba yokata!" (I had not just come here!) But compared to other language guides who want to get close to the language by means of silly examples (chases with Yakuza members), convinced the Exmplar by Lonely Planet All in all, really high for everyday use. And for those who
Sushi ordered in Japanese, will find that only the test is taken very good note. I have the book in any case seen as indispensable help to facilitate their stay in Japan felt.
Conclusion: There is, one still expects the English Guide added, a huge range of travel literature in Tokyo, including a very good
Book-on-demand work Axel Schwab selected with 38 trips. But as the tourist and the long flight to Japan is subject to the usual baggage restrictions, I lay in the first place, the driving of the above-described parcel to the heart.
