Japan [antikvár]

The Authors CHRIS ROWTHORN Coordinating Author Born in England and raised in the USA, Chris has lived in Kyoto since 1992. Soon after his arrival In Kyoto, Chris started studying the Japanese language and culture, while supporting himself by teaching English and working as an editor. In 1995 he became a regional correspondent for the Japan Times. He's worked on a total of 17 Lonely Planet travel guides, having written Malaysia, Singapore Brunei; Southeast Asia; Victoria; Japan; Hiking in Japan; Tokyo; Kyoto; and Read This First: Asia India. When he's not on the road, he spends his time seeking out Kyoto's best restaurants, temples, hiking trails and various other anaba (secret places known only by the locals). He also conducts walking tours of Kyoto and the rest of Japan. For more on Chris and his tours, check out his website at www.chrisrowthorn.com. For this edition Chris wrote and updated the following chapters: Destination, Getting Started, Itineraries, Snapshot, History, Environment, Food Drink, Kansai, Directory, Transport and the Glossary. The coordinating author's Favourite Trip My favourite trip is a route through my 'backyard' in Kansai. It starts In Kyoto (p272), my adopted hometown. First, spend a few days in wonderful Kyoto. Then, take the Kintetsu Railway down to Nara (p328) to check out the temples and shrines there. After Nara, jump back on the Kintetsu Railway and work your way down to Ise to check out Ise-jingü (p385), Japan's most impressive Shinto shrine. From Ise, take the Japan Railway line around the horn of the Kii-hantó (Kii Peninsula) and stop in Shirahama (p381) for the night, soaking In the fabulous onsen (hot springs) there. From Shirahama head north and east to Wakayama (p375) to the mountain-top temple complex of Koya-san (p377), to spend a night in a temple there. Finally, head back to Kyoto via Osaka (p338). LONELY PLANET AUTHORS Why is our travel information the best in the world? It's simple: our authors are Independent, dedicated travellers. They don't research using just the Internet or phone, and they don't take freebies in exchange for positive coverage. They favel widely, to all the popular spots and off the beaten track. They personally visit thousands of hotels, restaurants, cafés, bars, galleries, palaces, museums and more - and they take pride in getting all the details right, and telling it how It is. For more, see the authors section on www.lonelyplanet.com.