Tibet

Travel to Tibet is usually only possible as part of a tour group. All travel companies must work through a travel operator in Lhasa. It is important to select a company that works with a Lhasa-based operator, using Tibetan-staffed companies which promotes Tibetan culture and employs Tibetans. The good companies are Lhasa Travel and the Chinese Workers Travel Service (CWTS). Supposedly the ones to stay away from are China International Travel Service (CITS), China Youth Travel Service (CYTS) and the Tibet International Travel Service (TITS). Ask your travel agent which one they use.

You can't fly directly from Japan to Tibet unless you book a package tour. One way to get there is to fly from Japan to Beijing then transfer flights to Chengdu. In Chengdu Sims Cozy Guesthouse can arrange your flight to Lhasa and Tibet Travel Permit. You can fly directly from Chengdu to Lhasa. http://www.gogosc.com/house_en.htm

Thorntree Travel Forum on the Lonely Planet website is "helpful beyond belief". http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/categories.cfm?catid=19

Intrepid Travel runs a few tours to Tibet. http://www.intrepidtravel.com/destination.php?region=tibet

Potala Tours and Travel is a Tibetan-owned professional travel agency based in Delhi, India - specialising in cultural travel throughout the Himalayas. http://www.potalatours.com

If you want to volunteer in Tibet contact Tseyang who can set you up with a home-stay with a Tibetan family or in a monastery. This depends on how long you intend to go for - probably around a 3 weeks minimum. coordinator@volunteertibet.org

For info on Tibet read For Tibet with Love by Isabel Losada - a really inspiring book on the history and current political situation in the country and also info on travelling around and visa restrictions. The Lonely Planet on Tibet is good too.