The secret to travelling around Japan on a budget is the Japan Rail Pass. Using this guide and a Japan Rail Pass, you can travel almost anywhere across all four main islands – cheaply and efficiently. This comprehensive guide is designed to be used in conjunction with a rail pass to get the most out of your trip to Japan. Practical information – planning your trip; what to take; getting to Japan from Europe, North America and Australasia City guides and maps – where to stay (all budgets), where to eat, what to see in 30 towns and cities; historical and cultural background Kilometer-by-kilometer route guides – covering train journeys from the coast into the mountains, from temple retreat to sprawling metropolis and from sulphurous volcano to windswept desert; 34 route maps Railway timetables – Bullet trains and all routes in this guidebook Plus – Customs, etiquette, Japanese phrases and 40 color photos