Clueless in Tokyo: An Explorer's Sketchbook of Weird and Wonderful Things in Japan

While it's a couple more weeks until I actually make it to Japan to test and confirm the accuracy of all this, my sense is that she's right on. because she's written as an American who has lived in Tokyo a long time and knows how Westerners will view and perceive all of Japan's intricacies.The sketchbook style is PERFECT for this, it's not weighted down by too many words, it's visually pleasing, and she's categorized things in a way that helps the learner like myself realize what's connected and what's not connected to each other. Like, oh, is that flag something that has to do with a festival, or is it something the restaurant would always have hanging?Examples like that are useful and I'm considering taking the book with me on the trip!

We gave this to our 11 year old who has mild aspergers and is currently obsessed with Japan, Japanese, the people, the cities, the movies, the language, food - everything!This book was perfect for her. She has been pouring over the pages offering me trivia questions, showing me new words, etc. I don't know what the target age is for this, but I can say as an adult, I really enjoy reading and as a mother to a Japanophile, we both think it's great. We'll surely dind it useful when planning our trip to Japan.

Cute illustrations and some useful Japanese words make this an enjoyable book to read but I finished it in 10 minutes so don't expect anything more than an amusing introduction to some of the unusual things a visitor would encounter. When I go to Tokyo I will bring this with me for some light reading on the plane.It is a clever idea though and a good supplememt to some of the drier guidebooks out there.

Betty Reynolds' fun and quirky drawings elicit a smile every time! The aspects of Japanese culture that she picks out, too, remind me of what I found puzzling and so attractive when I first moved to Japan. For anyone who has lived in Japan, will live in Japan or just loves the country--this is a great book that brings out those "I love Japan" feelings.

Beatiful

A clever and imaginative way to enable the "clueless" such as myself, to feel at home with what could otherwise be a visual maze of cultural information.Using her own skills as a painter adds a very personal touch to what could easily have been a dryly written dictionary of Japanese cultural symbols.

It looks and reads like a children's book (I got it for my kids), but there are a couple racy topics.

I bought this after seeing it in a bookstore in Japan. It's a nice reminder of my family's recent trip and something that I hope my daughter will be able to read and bring back her memories of the trip in the future. The drawings are colorful and cute. It's just a really fun book. :)

If you know Japan, flicking through this book is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. I came across it in a book shop in Tokyo on our last night in Japan and bought it as soon as we got back home. I wish I had known about it before we visited Japan as it was so informative and fun. The Lonely Planet guide is of course invaluable, but Clueless in Tokyo filled in the gaps with its insights into everyday life in Japan. It's full of cartoon style illustrations that perfectly explain the unusual things you will come across in Japan. Back home I pick it up and it makes me smile as it transports me back to Japan. It's also a good book for showing to friends when you are regaling them with stories from your holiday.

Highly recommended, We loved this book.This book is an entertaining, fun and informative way to learn about Japan and it it's customs, foods, lifestyes etc.It is made up of colourful sketches with explanatory comments. It covers the seasons, festivals, clothing, food, traditional inns and onsens,architecture, street fashion, traditions, toilets and lots of curious oddities to the european traveller. It is great for adults or children and gives you a real unique flavour about Japan and some of the things you will encounter.Also if you like this author she has gone on to do a further clueless in Tokyo, and a shushi guide!

Good.But expensive for small book.