Japan by Rail: Includes Rail Route Guide and 30 City Guides, Paperback

Japan is steeped in legend and myth, perhaps the greatest of which is the popular misconception that the country is simply too expensive to visit. The truth is that flights to Japan are cheaper than they've ever been, accommodation can be great value, while the warm hospitality which awaits every visitor costs nothing at all. The real secret to travelling around the country on a budget, however, is the Japan Rail Pass. Use this comprehensive guide in conjunction with a rail pass to get the most out of a trip to Japan.- Practical information - planning your trip; when to go; suggested itineraries; what to take; festivals and events- City guides and maps - where to stay, where to eat, what to see in 30 towns and cities; historical and cultural background- Kilometre-by-kilometre route guides - covering train journeys from the coast into the mountains, from temple retreat to sprawling metropolis and from sulphurous volcano to windswept desert; 33 route maps - Includes new routes - including the extension of the shinkansen route from Nagano to Kanazawa (the Hokuriku shinkansen) - Railway timetables and frequency charts - Bullet trains and all described routes- Customs, etiquette, Japanese words and phrases - with kanji- With kanji/hiragana/katakana for all place name text - readers can point to the text when asking Japanese speakers for directions - Extended Highlights - extra colour sections make this book even more user-friendly and attractive

Graduating from Cambridge University, Ramsey Zarifeh, spent two years teaching in Japan. Now a journalist, he works for Reuters, Swiss Radio International and the BBC.Anna Udagawa lives in the UK and was an English teacher in Japan before getting married there. She revisits Japan regularly and now works as a travel guide-book editor.