The Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO) publishes a wealth of free, colorful brochures and maps covering Japan as a whole and various regions of the country. Be sure to get "The Tourist's Language Handbook," a phrase booklet to help foreign visitors communicate with Japanese. Other useful publications available from JNTO include the free "Tourist Map of Japan," showing the four major islands and major highway and railway lines, with maps of major cities on the reverse side; a "Directory of Welcome Inns," which lists inexpensive accommodations throughout Japan, with a free reservation system; and the invaluable "Railway Timetable," which contains timetables for Shinkansen bullet trains and major train lines throughout Japan. JNTO has offices in the in multiple locations.
In the United States: One Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1250, New York, NY 10020 (tel. 212/757-5640; visitjapan@jntonyc.org); and 515 S. Figueroa, Suite 1470, Los Angeles, CA 90071 (tel. 213/623-1952; info@jnto-lax.org).
In Canada: 481 University Ave., Suite 306, Toronto, ON M5G 2E9, Canada (tel. 416/366-7140; info@jntoyyz.com).
In the United Kingdom: Heathcoat House, 20 Savile Row, London W1S 3PR, England (tel. 020/7734-9638; info@jnto.co.uk).
In Australia: Room 1813, Australia Square Tower, 264 George St., Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia (tel. 02/9251-3024; jnto@tokyonet.com.au).
JNTO Online -- Information is available via the Internet at www.jnto.go.jp (and at www.japantravelinfo.com for North American travelers; www.seejapan.co.uk for British travelers), where you can read up on what's new, view maps of more than 20 major cities, check train and flight schedules and fares around Japan, get the latest weather reports, find links to online hotel reservation companies, and browse through information ranging from reasonable accommodations and hints on budget travel to regional events, museums, and attractions. You can also download regional guides to various cities and destinations throughout Japan by going to www.jnto.go.jp and clicking on "Browse by Destinations."
The JNTO in Japan -- In Japan, your best bet for general or specific information is at one of JNTO's three excellent Tourist Information Centers (TICs). They're located in downtown Tokyo, at Narita Airport outside Tokyo, and at Kansai International Airport outside Osaka. All distribute leaflets on destinations throughout Japan that are not available at the destinations themselves (though you can download them at JNTO's website). They also provide train, bus, and ferry schedules and leaflets on major attractions and sights -- for example, Japanese gardens, hot springs, museums, and art galleries. They also carry information on hotels and ryokan in Japan and will even book inexpensive accommodations for you free of charge.
Local Information -- You'll also find locally run tourist offices in nearly every city and town throughout Japan, most of them conveniently located at or near the main train station. Look for the logo of a red question mark with the word INFORMATION written below. Although the staff at a particular tourist office may not speak English (many do), they can point you in the direction of your hotel, perhaps provide you with an English-language map (usually free), and, in many cases, even make hotel bookings for you. Note, however, that they're not equipped to provide you with information on other regions of Japan (for that, go to a TIC). I've included information on local tourist offices throughout, including how to reach them after you disembark from the train and their open hours.
