I first traveled to Japan in 1983 to write travel articles. I ended up staying and writing a book. As the author of Frommer's Japan, I have been covering more than 50 cities, towns, and villages throughout the country for the past two decades. I've trekked through castles, meditated in gardens, been rendered speechless by museum collections ranging from the profane to the profound, slept like a baby in Japanese inns, soaked my travel-weary bones in countless hot springs, and inspected more hotel rooms than anyone in their right mind should ever have to see. Whenever anyone asks me what I like most about Japan, I answer: 1. Its ever-changing landscapes, from the balmy tropical beaches of Kyushu to the wooded mountain peaks of Hokkaido 2. Its unbridled energy in cities like Tokyo and Osaka 3. Its astonishing variety of local cuisines 4. Japanese beer 5. Its remarkable history, evident today in temples, shrines, castles, gardens, and historic quarters 6. Its fashion, from yukata (cotton kimono worn for sleeping) to fun Japanese designer wear. 7. Its people, particularly for their honesty and helpfulness 8. Its punctuality; trains run on time and everything works! 9. Its safety, and knowing I'll be ok no matter how lost I get or how badly I blunder 10. Its police officers patrolling on bicycles 11. Did I mention Japanese beer? I can't imagine ever being bored in Japan, even for a moment. Of course, it helps if you have a sense of humor. In addition to Frommer's Japan, over the years I have also written Frommer's Tokyo, Frommer's Walking Tours Tokyo, Frommer's Hong Kong, Frommer's Berlin on $50 a Day (I also lived in Germany four years), Frommer's Walking Tours Berlin, Frommer's St. Louis/Kansas City, and a Serious Shopper's Guide to London. I've been a contributing author to Frommer's Europe from $85 a Day, Frommer's Europe by Rail, Frommer's USA, Frommer's Southeast Asia, and Frommer's China, and my travel articles have appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines, including the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Miami Herald, and Chicago Tribune. I live in Kansas with my two sons, a dog, and a maniac cat, in a 1890s Folk Victorian house that has a mind of its own. Whenever anyone asks what I do for a living, I say I write about Japan, Hong Kong, parts of Germany and Austria, and Branson! (though I also cover four other Midwest cities for Frommer's USA). Invariably, I'm then asked whether that means I get to actually go there. Frankly, if I had to stay in Kansas 24/7, I'd go stark raving mad.
