Visiting Tokyo, whether for the first, second or hundredth time, is a life-changing experience. As a city, it's dynamic, exciting and resolutely individual - a mesmerising and unrivalled parade of fashion, design, architecture, and high culture experiences and, of course, the best pop culture in the world. It's also a city of fascinating contrasts; whether you're standing in the middle of the Shibuya scramble, a blur of pedestrians rushing by, or standing before a small shrine, quiet and contemplative, you will feel Tokyo's intensity. This stunning travel and cultural guide is a celebration of the roots and the marvels of contemporary Tokyo. It's a tightly curated list of must-see places and experiences and must-do walks as well as the authors' tried-and-tested favourites. It's for people who want to get an up close and personal look at the real Tokyo - the food, the crafts, the hidden finds, the architectural marvels, where to go to get into the thick of it and where to go to escape the madness.

Mindfulness Travel Japan is the perfect travel guide to Japan when you need to breathe, pause, focus and relax. Are you looking to step back from the stress of daily life on your next holiday? In this guide, Japan travel connoisseurs Steve Wide and Michelle Mackintosh offer a selection of some of the most relaxing and mindful destinations and experiences across Japan, so you can just exist in the here and now. Covering a total of 100 mindful travel experiences, you can enjoy forests carpeted in moss, plant-based food banquets or long walks in zen gardens, losing yourself in Japan's beauty and nature. Soak in medicinal onsen waters, or have your whole body covered in a hot-sand bath, stay overnight in a traditional ryokan or zen temple. Walk the paths of philosophers and poets, and hike the paths of religious pilgrims. Observe the opening of cherry blossoms, the changing of the leaves or the first flurries of snow. Take a class in calligraphy or learn the art of meditation, spend a day bicycling around ancient temples and shrines. Learn about the different varieties of Japanese tea and the art of tea ceremony. Mindfulness Travel Japan will show you how to be your best self not just on holiday, but in life.

A Field Guide to ... delves into music's most influential genres to uncover the innovators and agitators who changed music history forever. In A Field Guide to Grunge, Steve Wide explores the dynamic scene that sprung from the ashes of punk and underground metal in America's Pacific Northwest. From the sludge metal of Melvins and the noise punk of Mudhoney, to the point where Nirvana blew the charts apart, this book examines the artists, albums, music labels, who's who and hangouts that shaped an alternative scene into a worldwide phenomenon.

A Field Guide to ... delves into music's most influential genres to uncover the innovators and agitators who changed music history forever. In A Field Guide to Britpop, Steve Wide explores a scene fueled by north-south rivalries, tribal fashion and a good cup of tea. Uncover the artists and albums, the who's who and hangabouts that defined the era. From Blur's jaunty pop, Pulp's working-class poetry and Suede's dark tales of the elegantly wasted, to the pub sing-alongs of Oasis - Britpop looked to the past to reshape the future, becoming the last true music scene of the 20th century.

No trip to Japan is complete without an authentic onsen (hot spring) experience. But the art of Japanese communal bathing, with its relaxing qualities and healing properties, is still a mystery to most Western tourists.

Help is now at hand. Onsen of Japan showcases over 100 of the best onsen from across the country including traditional 7th-century baths, historic wooden buildings, open-air mountain springs, rustic neighbourhood baths, and big city super santos (aquatic centres) all of them beautiful places to enjoy this quintessential Japanese experience. Alongside vivid descriptions and beautiful images, each listing includes a checklist with important travel information, such as price range, whether same-sex or mixed bathing is available, whether English is spoken, and if tattoos are accepted.

A detailed introduction at the front of the book includes a guide to etiquette, onsen rules, customs and quirks, as well as information on different water types and their healing benefits. The authors also offer tips on how to take a bath like a local, bathing in different seasons, the best places to take a foot bath (ashiyu) or hand bath (teyu), and where you can cook your own onsen egg.

This is essential reading for anyone dreaming of visiting Japan.

What makes Punk... Punk? We might all know the Sex Pistols from the opening bar of their songs, but how do we place the Punk movement in the context of the wider Zeitgeist of the time? And how do the various international offshoots of Punk - American, British, Australian - intersect and overlap? Well, that's precisely what DJ and author Steve Wide explains in this book. In these pages, Steve explains the social climate of Thatcherism, along with a detailed timeline of foundational bands (as well as connected artists, like Damien Hurst and other subversive genres like Britpop). There are breakdowns of the most iconic Punk artists, as well as fashion designers, record labels, DJs, producers, engineers and magazines - all of which applied their own layer to the Punk patchwork. There are deep dives into controversies, rivalries, and band breakups. And lastly, there's a dissection of how evolutions of punk carry on today, in recorded music and in wider pop culture. If you, or someone close to you, is obsessed with the nitty-gritty of the Punk movement, then this book is a must-have.

Celebrate Freddie Mercury in the next iteration of Steve Wide's Icons A to Z series. Follow Freddie, born Farrokh Bulsara, as he harnesses hyperdontia to develop an unparalleled vocal range. See Smile, Freddie's first complete band, graduate to become the global phenomenon Queen. Dissect lyrical oddities like "radio gaga" and "Scaramouch," and revel in the glorious chevron mustache Freddie grew in 1980... Ripples of Freddie's legacy are still felt in music recorded today. He was a juggernaut of technical and conceptual innovation who left the world far before his time. This illustrated book pays honors the impact Freddie left on pop culture and in all our hearts.

Tokyo is a city like no other, a looming contemporary metropolis where every turn is a new adventure. There are bright lights and neon signs, bars under railway bridges, Michelin ramen and sushi, tech, toys and vintage shopping. The crazy, the cute, the chic and the traditional are all flourishing in this city's broad thoroughfares and narrow lanes.

Tokyo Pocket Precincts is crammed with all the tips you'll need to shop, eat, drink and explore this truly surprising city, from your morning coffee to your evening on the town. Also included is a selection of 'field trips' to encourage you to explore outside the city, including Nikko, Hakone, Mount Takao, and the cute 'Eno-den' train from Kamakura to Enoshima and Fujisawa.

Osaka Pocket Precincts is your curated guide to the city's best cultural, shopping, eating and drinking experiences. Osakais Japan's third largest city, often thought ofas Tokyo's brash, messy and always hungry cousin. Known for its street food, friendly locals and a thriving band scene, Osaka also knows how to go large. At night, neon signs guide you to tiny bars, live music, and unique places to drink and dance. Divided into separate precincts, each section in Osaka Pocket Precincts takes in one of Osaka's major areas, listing the best shops, restaurants, bars and sights to see in the area, with insider reviews of both outstanding attractions and hidden gems, as well as easy-to-use maps. Osaka Pocket Precincts also includes a selection of 'field trips' that encourages you to venture further afield to Nara, Wakayama, and the spiritual retreat of Mount Koya and Arima Onsen.

Steeped in history, tradition and beauty, Kyoto reflects the changing of the seasons more than any other city in the world. There are 2000 temples and shrines to visit, the intricate culture of Geisha, tea houses, Zen gardens, and artisan crafts that are just as important today as they were a thousand years ago. In a compact, light paperback format perfect for slipping into your back pocket, Kyoto Pocket Precincts is your curated guide to the city's most interesting cultural, shopping, eating and drinking experiences. Divided into separate precincts, each section lists the best shops, restaurants, bars and sights to see in the area. There are also a selection of 'field trips' that encourage you to venture outside the city, on the Eizan and Nara train lines, and to Arashiyama. With a beautiful design, vibrant images and detailed reviews, you'll easily navigate Kyoto's ancient pathways and bonsai gardens. Konnichi-wa and welcome to Kyoto!

An illustrated alphabetical tribute that celebrates the many faces and facets of cultural icon David Bowie. From Aladdin Sane to Ziggy Stardust, Bowie A-Z is densely packed with everything you need to know about the rock legend - from the greatest hits of trivia to the most obscure B-side facts.