John R. Yamamoto-Wilson wrote:
> Jen wrote [lots of good advice snipped]:
>
> > As for book suggestions, definitely get her a Lonely Planet Japan.
>
> What for? It's one of the most lack-lustre guidebooks I've ever seen, just
> dripping with weary listlessness...like we're supposed to be a backpackers'
> guidebook, man, blazing the trail where no hippie has been before, man, and,
> like Japan's just so uncool, man, but what can you do, whine, whine, gotta
> put on some kind of a show, I mean, jeez, what a sellout, man, but what can
> you do... Yuck!
>
I found Lonely Planet's Japan guide to be more or less the same as most
other Japan guides; they're almost all built on the same template.

> Try the Rough Guide to Japan (http://tinyurl.com/b9bmu - scroll down and
> read the reviews).
>
I do like the Rough Guide. But these days you need little more than the
Internet, particularly if you're living in Japan. Most prefectures and
muncipalities have good information that you can't find in any guide
book.

John W.