• Our author has written about Japan for years, so she''s able to provide valuable insights and advice. She''ll steer you away from the touristy and the inauthentic and show you the real heart of the Land of the Rising Sun.
  
• Follow her picks for the best travel experiences -- including climbing Mount Fuji, splurging on a night in a ryokan, exploring Kyoto''s Gion District, skiing in Honshu and Hokkaido, making a pilgrimage to Sensoji Temple, and riding the Skinkansen Bullet Train -- and you''re sure to have a fantastic trip.
  
• A guide to the culture of old and new Japan will help you peel the onion of the unique synthesis of East and West that meets here.
  
• Also included are accurate regional and town maps, up-to-date advice on finding the best package deals, and an online directory that makes trip-planning a snap.

On a clear day, you can see Mount Fuji from as far as 100 miles away. See chapter 6.

Detailed maps throughout

• Exact prices, directions, opening hours,and other practical information

• Candid reviews of hotels and restaurants,plus sights, shopping, and nightlife

• Itineraries, walking tours, and trip-planning ideas

• Insider tips from local expert authors

Janie Spencer spent 10 years in Japan working for Kyodo News Service and Tokyo Journal, as well as freelancing for Asian-based and other newspapers and magazines. Her love of travel has led her to more than 40 countries, and she and her family live near Paris and in Hollywood.