Little Adventures in Tokyo: 39 Thrills for the Urban Explorer

Tired of typical tourist attractions? Let a long-time Tokyo city slicker show you the singular delights of Japan's liveliest metropolis: learn the secrets of pachinko; sniff incence; meditate in a Zen temple; picnic on the palace moat; wander the streets of the Old City; discover the hidden cafes, jazz bars, and theaters where true Tokyoites gather. There are 39 Little Adventures in all, from the traditional to the trendy and bizarre, with detailed maps to help you find your way--everything you need for a streetwise thrill.

Rick Kennedy, author of Good Tokyo Restaurants and Home Sweet Tokyo, has lived in Tokyo for 20 years and knows the city well. When he decided to write Little Adventures in Tokyo, he didn't want to replicate the other comprehensive cinderblock-like guides on the market. He wanted to create a slim, lightweight guide to Tokyo fun, because Tokyo can be overwhelming enough without your guidebook inundating you with information, too. Whether you find yourself in Tokyo on vacation or business, you'll want your explorations in manageable portions. Kennedy organizes the adventures by five Tokyo moods (Old Tokyo, The Metropolis, Tokyo Bizarro, Time Out, and Listen, I Found This Great Place....), cross-references them by location and time, and includes good maps. But the real beauty of this book lies in its tone and the quality of the excursions it details. From the ritual appreciation of incense (kohdo) to the quiet harmonies of old Japanese farmhouses (minka-en) to harvesting rice in the Ginza and skiing inside the SSAWS Ski Dome, Kennedy leads you through the jumble of Tokyo's many neighborhoods. She introduces you to the idiosyncratic pleasures of one of the world's great cities, enabling you to experience the Japanese department store in all its ritualistic splendor, soak in Tokyo's largest bathing facility, or put yourself in the hands of a Shiatsu master. Engagingly readable and full of interesting asides on Tokyo lore, Kennedy's guide provides a great service to the Tokyo-visiting public.