Zarifeh, R: Japan by Rail

INTRODUCTION PART 1: PLANNING YOUR TRIP Routes and costs 8 When to go 10 Rail passes Japan Rail Pass 11, Regional JR rail passes 13, Getting a rail pass 15, Exchange orders 18, How to use the rail pass 19 Suggested itineraries 20 Before you go Booking a flight 25, Passports and visas 27, Tourist information 27, Health and insurance 28, What to take 28, Money 29, Suggested reading 29 PART 2: JAPAN Facts about the country Geography 31, History 32, Politics 36, Economy 36, Religion 37, The people 38, Sport 38, Culture 39 Practical information for visitors Arriving in Japan 42, Tourist information 43, Getting around 43, Accommodation 45, Where to eat 52, Nightlife and entertainment 55, Media 56, Electricity 56, Time 56, Banks and money matters 56, Post and telecommunications 57, Language 59, Assistance 60, Shopping 62, Museums and tourist attractions 63, National holidays 64, Festivals and events 65, Activities 66 PART 3: THE RAIL NETWORK Railway history 68 The railway Japan Rail today 74, The trains 75, Timetables 78, Alternatives to a Japan Rail Pass 79, Buying a ticket 79, Making seat reservations 80, Railway staff 81, Station facilities 82 PART 4: GATEWAY CITIES Tokyo 83 Osaka 113 PART 5: HONSHU Central Honshu Route guides Tokyo to Nagoya by shinkansen 126 - Tokyo to Nagano by shinkansen 138 - Nagano to Nagoya via Matsumoto 141 Nagano to Nagoya via Toyama and Takayama 144 - Toyama and Kanazawa to Nagoya, Kyoto or Osaka 151 City guides Nagoya 155 - Nagano 163 - Matsumoto 169 - Takayama 174 Kanazawa 180 Kansai Route guides Nagoya to Shin-Osaka by shinkansen 188 - Nagoya to Shin-Osaka via the Kii Peninsula 190 City guides Kyoto 198 - Nara 215 - Side trip to Koya-san 223 Western Honshu Route guides Osaka to Shin-Yamaguchi by shinkansen 226 Shin-Yamaguchi to Masuda 234 - Masuda to Matsue 238 City guides Kobe 241 - Okayama 247 - Hiroshima 252 - Matsue 261 Tohoku (North-eastern Honshu) Route guides Tokyo to Shin-Aomori 268 - Shin-Aomori/Aomori to Akita & Niigata 289

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. For this third edition he was assisted by Andrew Picknell and Anna Udagawa, both of whom have lived and worked in Japan.

'A find...Well researched.' The Japan Times (Japan) 'Excellent guide' The Sunday Times (UK) 'A great primer.' The Daily Telegraph (UK) 'An invaluable companion.' Railway Magazine (UK)