Japan (Lonely Planet, 11th Edition) - Chris Rowthorn [72]
Tokyo: Exploring the City of the Shogun by Enbutsu Sumiko (Kodansha, 2007) details walking tours of traditional Tokyo with fascinating historical and cultural detail.
For a deeper understanding of the Tokyo landmark that is Tsukiji Fish Market, have a look at the intricate, insightful Tsukiji: The Fish Market at the Center of the World by Theodore C Bestor (University of California Press, 2004).
Investigate Izakaya: The Japanese Pub Cookbook by Mark Robinson (Kodansha, 2008). It not only points out specific izakaya (pub-eateries) but also gives recipes.
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Maps
We strongly recommend you pick up a free copy of the excellent Tourist Map of Tokyo from one of the tourist information centres (TICs – Click here); along with detailed insets of Tokyo’s major neighbourhoods, it also includes subway and rail maps. For more in-depth exploration of the city, pick up a copy of Tokyo City Atlas: A Bilingual Atlas (Kodansha), which includes banchi (street address) numbers, which are essential for finding addresses.
Tokyo’s train and subway lines are much easier to navigate with the free, colour-coded Tokyo Metro Guide map. It’s available at subway stations and TICs around town, and we’ve included it in the colour section of this guide.
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INFORMATION
Bookshops
Tokyo’s traditional bookshop area is Jimbōchō. Mostly catering to Japanese readers, it’s nonetheless a fascinating place to browse for Edo-period maps or gardening manuals. The annual Kanda Furuhon Matsuri (Kanda Secondhand Book Festival) is a bibliophile’s paradise, occupying the whole district at the end of October. For places to find manga and anime, Click here.
Aoyama Book Center Roppongi-dōri (Map; 3479-0479; www.aoyamabc.co.jp/43/; 6-1-20 Roppongi, Minato-ku; 10am-5am Mon-Sat, 10am-10pm Sun, closed 2nd & 3rd Tue each month; Hibiya, Toei Ōedo lines to Roppongi, exit 3); Roppongi Hills (Map; 5775-2151; 4th fl, West Walk, Roppongi Hills, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku; 11am-9pm; Hibiya line to Roppongi, exit 1c)
Blue Parrot (Map; 3202-3671; www.blueparrottokyo.com; 3rd fl, Obayashi Bldg, 2-14-10 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku; 11am-9.30pm; JR Yamanote line to Takadanobaba, Waseda-dōri exit) One of the best selections of used English-language books in Tokyo.
Good Day Books (Map; 5421-0957; www.gooddaybooks.com; 3rd fl, Asahi Bldg, 1-11-2 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku; 11am-8pm Mon-Sat, 11am-6pm Sun; JR Yamanote line to Ebisu, east exit) Another excellent selection of used English-language books.
Hacknet (Map; 5728-6611; www.hacknet.tv, in Japanese; 1-30-10 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku; 11am-8pm; JR Yamanote line to Ebisu, west exit) Carrying a candy-store array of art and design books in Ebisu’s Q-Flagship Building.
Kinokuniya Shinjuku-dōri (Map; 3354-0131; 3-17-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku; 10am-9pm; JR Yamanote line to Shinjuku, east exit); Takashimaya (Map; 5361-3301; Annexe Bldg, Takashimaya Times Sq, 5-24-2 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku; 10am-8pm Sun-Fri, 10am-8.30pm Sat; JR Yamanote line to Shinjuku, new south exit) Kinokuniya’s Takashimaya Times Square branch has one of Tokyo’s largest selections of English-language books on the 6th floor.
Maruzen Marunouchi (Map; 5288-8881; www.maruzen.co.jp, in Japanese; 1st-4th fl, Oazo Bldg, 1-6-4 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku; 9am-9pm; JR Yamanote line to Tokyo, Marunouchi north exit) The 4th floor houses foreign-language books, a stationery shop and a cafe; Nihombashi (Map; 6214 2001; 2-3-10 Nihombashi, Chūō-ku; 9am-8.30pm; Ginza, Tōzai & Toei Asakusa lines to Nihombashi, exit B3) Maruzen’s original location is on the Yaesu side of Tokyo Station.
Tower Books (Map; 3496-3661; 7th fl, Tower Records Bldg, 1-22-14 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku; 10am-11pm; JR Yamanote line to Shibuya, Hachikō exit) Carries English-language books and a great array of competitively priced international magazines and newspapers.
Cultural Centres
Cultural centres in Tokyo generally act as focal points of the national groups they represent, and usually have good bulletin boards, events, small libraries and language