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Insight Guides Japan
About this book
One of the world's most captivating countries, Japan is a land of many fascinating contrasts, taking in some of the world's most futuristic cities alongside stunning natural landscapes and a wonderfully preserved ancient culture. Be inspired to visit by the fully-updated new edition of Insight Guide Japan, a comprehensive full-colour guide to this unique country.
Inside Insight Guide Japan:
A fully-overhauled edition by our knowledgable authors.
Stunning, specially-commissioned photography that brings this extraordinary country and its people to life.
Highlights of the country's top attractions, including the iconic Mount Fuji, Kyoto's 15th-century Ginkaku-ji Temple and Gardens, and Tokyo's coolest districts.
Descriptive region-by-region accounts cover the whole country from Hokkaido and Honshu to Shikoku and Kyushu in detail, and suggest excursions to the smaller surrounding islands.
Detailed, high-quality maps throughout will help you get around and travel tips give you all the essential information for planning a memorable trip, including our independent selection of the best places to eat.
About Insight Guides: Insight Guides has over 40 years' experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides. We produce around 400 full-colour print guide books and maps as well as picture-packed eBooks to meet different travellers' needs. Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus on history and culture together create a unique visual reference and planning tool to inspire your next adventure.
'Insight Guides has spawned many imitators but is still the best of its type.' - Wanderlust Magazine
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Yes, you can access Insight Guides Japan by Insight Guides in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Personal Development & Travel. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.
Information
Activities
The arts
Japan’s arts scene runs the gamut from traditional theatre such as kabuki and noh to cutting-edge contemporary art, with much of it made accessible to English-speakers in Tokyo. Most of the arts action is concentrated in the big cities, but Japan also has arty surprises waiting in some out-of-the-way places, most notably on the islands of the Seto Naikai (for more information, click here) and even on the rugged Sado Island (for more information, click here) off Niigata. For up-to-date listings of art shows and performances, check out the listings websites and magazines, click here.
Traditional theatre
Tokyo
Imperial Theatre
3-1-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku
Tel: 03-3213-7221
Classic plays, both old and contemporary.
Kabuki Theatre (Kabuki-za)
4-12-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku
Tel: 03-6745-0333
www.kabuki-za.co.jp
The country’s premier kabuki venue. Reopened after extensive renovations in 2013 and now boasting an English translation captioning system.
Meiji Theatre (Meiji-za)
2-31-1 Nihonbashi-Hamacho, Chuo-ku
Tel: 03-3666-6666
www.meijiza.co.jp
Mainstream modern plays and samurai dramas in Japanese only.
National Noh Theatre
4-18-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku
Tel: 03-3423-1331
www.ntj.jac.go.jp
Only performed about once a week during the afternoon, so check beforehand. Japanese only.
National Theatre
4-1 Hayabusa-cho, Chiyoda-ku
Tel: 03-3265-7411
www.ntj.jac.go.jp
English-language summaries are included in programmes and headphone translations provided for the plots. Matinees begin at noon; evening performances from 4.40pm. When kabuki is not running, bunraku takes over.
Shimbashi Embujo
6-18-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku
Tel: 03-3541-2600
www.shinbashi-enbujo.co.jp
Lowbrow sword-and-sorcery samurai dramas.
Other cities
Gion Corner
Yasaka Hall, Kyoto. Along a pedestrian lane between Shijo-dori and Higashioji-dori
Tel: 075-561-1119
www.kyoto-gioncorner.com
A daily digest of Japan’s performing arts (seven types in all). Very touristy, but worth it if you don’t have time for the real thing.
Kanze Kaikan
Niomon-dori, Kyoto
Tel: 075-771-6114
www.kyoto-kanze.jp
Noh and kyogen performances in Kyoto’s main venue for this high-performance art.
Minami-za
Corner of Kawabata-dori and Shijo-dori in Gion, Kyoto
Tel: 075-561-1155
Kyoto’s long-established kabuki theatre. December is the highlight, with a festival featuring all the big names in kabuki.
National Bunraku Theatre
Three-minute walk from Exit 7 of Nipponbashi Station on the Kintetsu or Sakaisuji subway lines, Osaka.
Tel: 06-6212-2531
www.ntj.jac.go.jp
Osaka’s great puppet traditions performed in the months of Jan, Apr and June–Aug only.
Osaka Noh Hall
A short walk east of Hankyu Umeda Station
Tel: 06-6373-1726
A full programme of noh dramas, including some free Saturday-morning performances.
Osaka Shochiku-za
9-19-1 Dotonbori, Chuo-ku
Tel: 06-6214-2211
www.shochiku.co.jp
Kabuki in a beautifully restored theatre beside Dotonbori Canal.
Other theatres
Tokyo
Session House
158 Yaraicho, Shinjuku-ku
Tel: 03-3266-0461
www.session-house.net
Experimental venue for Japanese and foreign solo dancers.
Tokyo Comedy Store
www.tokyocomedy.com
Lunatic antics, skits and satire from a group of English-speaking comedians, performed at venues all over Tokyo (see website for schedule).
Concert venues
Tokyo
Bunkamura Orchard Hall
2-24-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku 150
Tel: 03-3477-9150
www.bunkamura.co.jp/orchard
Classical musical performances.
Casals Hall
1-6 Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku
Tel: 03-3294-1229
www.nu-casalshall.com
Chamber music and small ensembles.
Nippon Budokan
2-3 Kitanomaru-koen, Chiyoda-ku
Tel: 03-3216-5100
www.nipponbudokan.or.jp
Major international rock and pop artists.
Suntory Hall
1-13-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku
Tel: 03-3505-1001, ticket centre 0570-55-0017
www.suntory.com/culture-sports/suntoryhall
Classical music and opera.
Tokyo Opera City
3-20-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
Tel: 03-5353-0770
www.operacity.jp/en
Opera and classical music.
Galleries
Tokyo
Design Festa Gallery
3-20-2 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku
Tel: 03-3479-1442
www.designfestagallery.com
Colourful freestyle art gallery in Harajuku that has become Tokyo’s main venue for up-and-coming young artists.
Mori Art Museum
6-10-1 Roppongi, 53F Roppongi Hills
Tel: 03-5777-8600
www.mori.art.museum
Top contemporary art from around the world in this sleek gallery atop...
Table of contents
- How To Use This E-Book
- Japan’s Top 10 Attractions
- Editor’s Choice
- Introduction: A Singular Place
- A Nation of Islands
- Decisive Dates
- Japan’s Early Centuries
- The Edo Period
- The Modern Era
- Living in Modern Japan
- Religion
- Insight: Undercurrents of Life and Ritual
- Art, Crafts and Literature
- The Performing Arts
- The Cinema of Japan
- Architecture
- Insight: The Art of Landscaping
- Sport and Leisure
- Insight: Rikishi: Life on the Bottom and on Top
- Food and Drink
- Insight: Japanese Food
- Introduction: Places
- Introduction: Kanto Plain and Chubu
- Tokyo
- Insight: Japan’s Trains
- Around Tokyo
- Central Honshu
- Introduction: The North
- Tohoku
- Hokkaido
- Insight: The Great Outdoors
- Introduction: The Kansai Region
- Kyoto
- Around Kyoto
- Nara
- Southern Kansai
- Osaka and Kobe
- Insight: Kimonos for all Seasons and Styles
- Introduction: The South
- Chugoku
- Shikoku
- Kyushu
- Okinawa
- Transport
- Eating Out
- Activities
- A-Z: A Handy Summary of Practical Information
- Understanding the Language
- Further Reading