One of the most useful books to have when in the Tokyo area is the "Tokyo City Atlas, A Bilingual Guide" published by Kodansha.  Inside, there are area maps, detail maps and rail maps which account for 98% of where you may be going when traversing Tokyo.  Additionally, there are area maps of Yokohama, Kawasaki and the areas near three military bases in Yokosuka, Yokoto and Zama.  The book is available at amazon.com, buy.com, bn.com and other websites as well as major bookstore chains such as Borders and Barnes and Noble.  A companion book detailing Tokyo transportation systems is also available.

There are many guide books for Tokyo.  Two of the best are Time Out Tokyo and Lonely Planet Tokyo.  Both of these have details beyond the standard travel guides and delve more deeply into lesser known venues.

For a different view of Japan in general, be sure to check out "Dogs and Demons: Tales From the Dark Side of Japan" by Alex Kerr available at all major booksellers:

Travel Pictorial - Country or Natural Wonder

Always browse any or all Travel Pictorial books about a country, region or a natural wonder of the world . You will find excellent photography to view at leisure. Check out any bookstore or library ( lending or reference ).

Travel Guide(s) - Country, Region or City

Always glance through any Travel Guide for the region you are planning to visit. You will always find some nuggat of useful information. The layout and content will always vary with the publisher. Every traveller should make it a priority to browse one or all of the guides listed below. It will be a great education to browse the layout and view the excellent photography. You decide which of the travel guide(s)  you like the best.

• DK Eyewitness Travel Guide(s)
• Insight / Discovery Channel Travel Guide(s)
• Lonely Planet Guide(s)
• AA Explorer, AA Key or AA Spiral Guide(s)
• Note: You will find about thirteen ( 13+ ) other publishing companies  travel guides in bookstores.  

Travel Books - Children or Junior

Browse the children's or junior section of your local library for travel and geography guides. You will find a variety of guides to countries, regions or natural wonders of the world. The majority of these guides will be less than fifty pages in length. They will contain an excellent overview of a country etc. They are an excellent introduction to travel for a novice traveller.

Travel DVD or Video Viewing

• These are a few ideas for finding Travel DVD's in your local area.
• Local Video Rental Store
• Local Library - Travel Video or DVD
• Any large music store will have a range of travel DVD's or  Video's on sale.
• Travel Video Store has an excellent internet site.
• BBC Video series website section
• Pilot Travel Guide series 
• National  Geographic Travel DVD or Video Series
• Escorted Tour Companies  DVD or Video's  e.g. Rick Steves' 
• National Tourist Bureaus MAY have a introduction Video or DVD on offer  or Photo Gallery on their Internet site