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Longing for Nippon · Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Posts: 49

Hi,

I noticed that the Rough Guide series has brought out a new edition of the the Japan guide. The previous edition was very good and i am tempted to get this latest edition too. Has anyone read this new version? is it worth it? any valuable updates or additions? I am not really a Lonely Planet fan so would like to stick with the Rough Guide.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

the previous one got an award.
I have the first edition from 1999 and I found it lacking in some things.
I wish it would have covered Kobe and Osaka more, as well as Yokohama.

But I will give it a look the next time I am in a bookstore.

rossiter joe · Joined: 28 Jan 2004 Posts: 25 Location: Gunma, Japan

Haven`t seen the Rough Guide, but I was disappointed with the Lonely Planet Japan for having no information on Gunma Prefecture (and not too much on Tochigi apart from Nikko). What gives?

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

yeah, Lonely Planet skips parts of Japan.
I myself wanting to see something on Gumma in that book (about Kusatsu onsen), but they don`t have anything.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I haven't seen the newest Rough Guide, but the previous edition is very good and much better than any of the Lonely Planets. Does LP ever update or go where they recommend?

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

the newer Lonely Planet guide came out a year or two ago.
I think there is a monk or Buddhist priest on the cover.
What I found odd is that the newer guide was much shorter than the previous one.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

well, maybe they just cut stuff instead.

nicyvesweet · Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 90

Which of the publications does cover Osaka? LP or RG?

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Longing for Nippon · Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Posts: 49

The Rough Guide does cover Osaka but just gives details about the attractions. Osaka-jo, USJ etc. Skims over Umeda and Minami. It gives good listings for restaurants, bars and hotels. Osaka isnt really a tourist destination so Kyoto takes up much of the Kansai chapter. Not sure about the LP.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

Gordon, what do you like about the Rough Guide?

in my experience, I can find slighly cheaper hotels in Osaka. I can find a twin room for less than 8,000 yen in different parts of Osaka.

melirae · Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 145 Location: Korea

Of all the guides I looked at before buying one, I found that LP did have the most detail about Osaka, albeit a skimpy amount. The Rough Guide appealed to me more, but I didn't want to buy a guide that was published in 1999. Once you are in Osaka, the tourist offices (the one in OCAT for example) have tons of info that is up to date, so they are a much better resource. My old roommate had Japan guides by about 8 different publishers and all seemed really lacking in info about Osaka.

Longing for Nippon · Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Posts: 49

Yeah, Osaka is really over looked as a tourist destination in the guide books. Its crazy really considering it's the 2nd largest city after the Tokyo/Yokohama conurbation. It has a lot to offer and is the best place to actually live in my opinion. The guide books focus on short term visitors so the esl teachers need are not considered when writing these books. The Rough Guide is great when going on day trips or long weekends. Maybe its a cultural thing that i prefer the RG. The LP is very americanized and being a Brit I dont take to it.