I’ve sent for a current Japan atlas to get started, but I’ve been reading on several sites that it’s increasingly difficult to actually find accurate, current maps. One traveler/photographer recommends getting hold of various local tourist maps, though even those don’t always capture more-recent road re-routing, landmark leveling, detours. Still, as tanaka1 points out, they are often fun and colorful.
The WEB has some interesting photographs of maps located along the route. Here’s one by owenfinn16 (James) on flickr:
Here’s a link to the site:
Hmmm…that little bicycle looks tempting; I need to keep my resolve.
For all my walks in Japan (Nakasendo, Tokaido, Koshu Kaido), I’ve relied on maps supplied by these people:
http://www.geocities.jp/gkhyagi/5kaido/go-31guidemap.htm
Unfortunately they’re quite expensive, in Japanese only, and are difficult to purchase if you’re not in Japan.
I know people who’ve done similar walks in Japan using printouts from Google Maps etc. Try doing a search using the Japanese for “Old Tokaido map” (旧東海道 地図).
Here’s something I found:
http://www.u-sol.co.jp/hodogaya/kaidokml/5kaido/
Yes, learning some Japanese (my daughter and son speak and read some) is going to be very helpful for me. I know I won’t be fluent (halting will be my goal), but it will be useful to have some basic vocabulary and map/sign translation ability. That, and a few well-executed, desperate, gaijin hand gestures should see me through.
The map suggestions are much appreciated. And what will help enormously are clues in some of your books and on your website (where you note that things can get a bit dodgy or where you’ve wandered off the road, but you mention how to get back on the right path). I’m going to have loads of notes.
I think I should be able to guidemaps. Every year we host a different Japanese student (one is coming this Saturday) from Gunma, and my daughter keeps in touch with them. With a bit of e-mailing and social-networking, we should be able to have them sent. And the kids’s Japanese teacher, Ito sensai, will surely help translate the Japanese (I don’t think I’ll be able to learn THAT much Japanese in this short a time) for me.
And as for expense, I’m hardly rich, but I remember buying topo maps for hikes along the Pacific Crest trail and other places; they were not cheap, but they were definitely worth it (and I still have them).
Thanks, as always.
By the way, some of those tourist maps that were mentioned are really quite fun (as well as useful looking); I can picture a collection starting.
Oh I just love that photo!!