Publisher's Synopsis
- a refreshing departure from the same-old same-old guides, this book focuses on on little-known shops and less-crowded neighborhoods, without neglecting the familiar landmarks of modernity and tradition that epitomize Tokyo
- Foreword by Jake Adelstein, on whose work the popular HBO series Tokyo Vice is based
- comfortable size for carrying and using on the move
- detailed maps (about 160) are linked to the free MapsMe app with author's customized bookmarks for easy navigation, with or without a data plan (linked to ebook edition but the ebook is not required to access the maps and bookmarks)
- author is well-known to Japanese manga and anime fans through his website, writings, and appearances. Many of these fans and their friends are frequent travels to Tokyo.
- Tourism in Japan is booming thanks to the improved yen-dollar rate, the perception of Japan as a "safe" country, and the increasing promotion of Japan as a destination by the Japanese government in advance of the 2010 Olympics. Japan is expecting tourism to Japan and to Tokyo especially to skyrocket. Demand is expected to remain strong for the next few years.
- More than 30 million overseas travelers visited Japan in 2018, an 8.7 percent increase over 2017 (the previous record year). According to Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the estimated number of international travelers to Japan in April 2019 was about 2.9 million (+0.9% from the previous year, and increased 30 thousand), setting the highest record for April ever.
- 46% of all visitors to Japan make Tokyo a destination
- Japan Times (Oct 19, 2016) reported: "Tokyo and Kyoto have been picked as the world's best and second-best cities outside the United States, the U.S. travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler said Tuesday."
- In 2018, America's two most influential travel magazines gave travel to Japan a major thumbs-up, with Travel+Leisure pronouncing Japan the "Destination of the Year" for 2018 and the Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards citing Tokyo and Kyoto as the top two big cities in the world
