About trulytokyo.com and Chris Rowthorn
Chris is the author of Lonely Planet's Japan, Kyoto and Discover Japan guides. Chris strongly recommends picking up a copy of one of these guides to supplement the information available on this site. Chris has lived in Japan since 1992. He's based in Kyoto but has lived in Tokyo and spends a lot of time in Tokyo to do research and run his Japan tour business.
In 2015, Chris started trulytokyo.com to serve as an online guide to Tokyo and to serve as a companion site to his online Kyoto guide: InsideKyoto.com. In 2016, Chris subsequently launched InsideOsaka.com.
Chris runs Chris Rowthorn Tours for travelers who wish to get a closer look at Japan, Hong Kong and Bangkok. You can find out more about his tours at ChrisRowthorn.com. You can also read reviews of Chris Rowthorn Tours on Tripadvisor
About Chris Rowthorn
Chris Rowthorn was born in Oxford, England, in 1966. He was raised in the United States, where he attended Vassar College, graduating with the class of 1989. In 1992, Chris moved to Kyoto, Japan, and started studying the Japanese language and culture. After the mandatory stint as an English teacher, Chris started writing for the Japan Times in 1995.
In 1996, Chris was recruited by Lonely Planet Publications to work on their guidebooks to Japan. Since then, Chris has written 29 books for Lonely Planet Publications. He is the sole author of the Lonely Planet Kyoto City Guide, and has been the lead author of the last seven editions of the Lonely Planet Japan country guide.
He also authored one edition of the Tokyo city guide and worked on one edition of the Lonely Planet Hiking in Japan guide. He's also worked on guidebooks to Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei, Borneo, Southeast Asia, Victoria (Australia) and the Philippines.
Chris has also written for dozens of magazines and newspapers including National Geographic Explorer, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, BBC Online, and many more.
Chris's wife is from Kyoto and they have two children who are proudly multicultural. Chris speaks and reads Japanese fluently. Here's a clip of Chris on Japanese TV explaining the appeal of Kyoto. In his free time, Chris enjoys hiking, trekking, snorkeling, diving, reading and spending time with his family.
You can also find TrulyTokyo on Twitter and Facebook.
Contact Chris Rowthorn
Please note: Due to time constraints, I'm unable to reply to individual inquiries about Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka/Japan travel.
Travel Consulting: If you wish to book a private consultation about your upcoming trip to Japan, please see my page on Japan Travel Consulting where you can specify your requirements.
Walking Tours: If you wish to book a private tour of Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima/Miyajima or Kanazawa, please visit ChrisRowthorn.com
Media Inquiries: Please use the form below to contact me for interview requests. I can also provide articles and website content on topics related to Tokyo and Japan.
Advertising/Sponsorship: If you have an advertising or sponsorship request for trulytokyo.com, please send a message to request our media pack. Please specify your target market and marketing budget for this project on application.
ビジネスまたは広告関連のお問い合わせにつきましては、こちらのフォームからメッセージをお送り下さい。日本語でも構いませんが、英語で書いて頂けるとより有難いです。
特に、外国人観光客が行きやすい東京のお店、レストラン、バー、イベント、体験・アクティビティ等に関する情報がございましたら、是非ホームページアドレスと共に情報をお送り下さいませ。
尚、お送り頂いた情報やメッセージは全て読ませて頂きますが、全てのメッセージに返信は出来かねますので、何卒、事前にご理解賜りますよう宜しくお願い申し上げます。
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Tokyo Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Tokyo guide
- Check Tokyo accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Tokyo
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Tokyo to Osaka and Tokyo to Hiroshima
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a Japan SIM card online for collection on arrival at Tokyo Narita or Haneda airports. Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Compare airline flight prices and timings for the best Japan flight deals. Check my guides to arriving at Narita Airport and at Haneda Airport.
- If you're visiting more than one city, you might save money with a Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Tokyo much easier - here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
