Cool Japan Guide. Abby Denson

      COOL JAPAN GUIDE

      FUN IN THE LAND OF MANGA, LUCKY CATS AND RAMEN

      ABBY DENSON

      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      My deepest gratitude goes out to all of my family members and friends for their support during this project.

      Very special thanks go out to Matt Loux, Yuuko Koyama, Fusami Ogi, Yuji Nakagawa, Mika Sakki, Rodney Greenblat, Kate Williamson, Rie McClenny, Raina Telgemeier, Dave Roman, Kaneko Atsushi, Yoko Oikawa, Youri Morinaga, Chris Butcher, Masakazu Kigure, Xavier Lancel, Jeff Suon, Mina Monden and the countless others who have helped me feel welcome on my travels and offered valuable input for this book.

      CONTENTS

       Prepare for Takeoff!

       We Have Arrived!

       What Will We Eat?

       Home Sweet Homestay!

       Let’s Have Some Fun!

       So Much to See!

       Did Somebody Say “Shopping”?

       Manga and Anime and Video Games—Oh My!

       Do We Have to Leave?

       Travel Resources

       Handy Japan Apps

       Some Other Recommended Destinations

       Important Info in Case of Emergencies

       Featured and Recommended Places to Visit

       Festivals of Japan

       Map of Japan

      INTRODUCTION

      Hello!

      Let me be your tour guide on a fun-filled journey to Japan! I’m an American cartoonist who has had a fascination with Japan for years. Anime and manga became part of my life when I was a teen. A comics fan already, I was instantly drawn to the diverse and exciting stories and art Japan’s comics offered. Then, during my college years at Parsons School of Design in New York, I had a great opportunity to travel to Japan and complete a summer session at Sophia University in Tokyo, where I studied Japanese art and religion.

      I adored my stay in Japan and collaborated on comics there with my friend Yuuko Koyama, a pen pal I had been corresponding with long before I ever made that first trip. To this day (over fifteen years later) we are still collaborating, and I try to visit Japan every year to have adventures with her. With me on my travels is my husband, Matt Loux, who is also an avid Japan traveler and very talented cartoonist!

      Matt, Yuuko, and I will take you on a trip through some of our favorite places to go and things to do. Another character you’ll meet is Kitty Sweet Tooth, my cartoon cat alter ego who likes to share new words and travel pointers.

      I love visiting Japan so much that it’s like another home to me. I’d like to share some of the things I love doing there, as well as some tips I’ve picked up along the way, with people who want to make the trek, or just want to have a little armchair adventure in one of the coolest countries in the world. I hope this book will come in handy for you when you’re planning your trip or relaxing in your favorite chair.

      Let’s go!

      PRONUNCIATION GUIDE

      At the start of each chapter Kitty Sweet Tooth will teach you how to say some useful words and phrases. Here are a few basic rules of pronunciation.

      In Japanese:

      a is pronounced as in the word father

      e is pronounced as in the word set

      i is pronounced ee as in the word seed

      o is pronounced as in the word tote

      u is pronounced oo, as in the word soon