<p>H is attending a business meeting in Tokyo at the end of November and I have a chance to tag along if I choose. I figure that one of the benefits of an empty nest is being able to take off on a trip like this. H’s meetings in Tokyo will last 2 days–after that we’d have another 10 days to sightsee in Tokyo or visit other places in Japan. The only place I think I’d like to see outside of Tokyo is Kyoto. Need to do some research, and would love suggestions from folks who’ve been to Japan on must see places or activities.</p>
<p>I’ve been several times and had an absolute blast sightseeing. You can get a Japan Rail Pass that’s good for a week. Makes getting around really easy. The way to attack Tokyo, IMO, is to divide it up into neighborhoods and then spend a day/evening in a neighborhood. For example, Ginza (must see at night) is fairly close to the main Imperial Palace. You can do Meiji Shrine/Harajuku in a day with Shinjuku, etc.</p>
<p>We took the bullet train to Kyoto and stayed in a little ryokan for a couple of days. Fabulous. Kyoto is an endless parade of temples and palaces. I especially loved the palace on the outskirts of town up in the hills overlooking the city.</p>
<p>The one “must do” that might not come to mind is a day trip to Nikko, in the mountains north of Tokyo. It can be done in a long day trip on the train, although spending the night there would be better.</p>
<p>The main attraction is a jaw-dropping complex of shrines that unfolds in every more spectacular layers of splendor as you climb the stairs. It’s really incredible. In the same town is a beautiful mountain lake (I imagine there are some outstanding places to stay along the lake!) and Kegan Falls, a major tourist attraction complete with an elevator to the base of the falls. </p>
<p>If I were doing it it, I would go up one morning on the train, spend the night, and then back to Tokyo the following afternoon.</p>
<p>[Nikko</a> photos](<a href=“https://www.google.com/search?q=Nikko+japan&hl=en&safe=off&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=gpaRUO_XF5GQ0QGao4DADw&ved=0CEAQsAQ&biw=1231&bih=803]Nikko”>https://www.google.com/search?q=Nikko+japan&hl=en&safe=off&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=gpaRUO_XF5GQ0QGao4DADw&ved=0CEAQsAQ&biw=1231&bih=803)</p>
<p>[Nikko</a> Youtube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>
<p>[Kegan</a> Falls](<a href=“Kegon Falls, Nikko, Japan 20/10/2011 - YouTube”>Kegon Falls, Nikko, Japan 20/10/2011 - YouTube)</p>
<p>We were in Japan about ten years ago with our boys, so some of what we saw was tailor to their interests. We went to Nikko with a local professor, but spent most of the time at Nikko Village which is a bit like Disney Land or a Renaissance Faire, but I have to admit I enjoyed it enormously. Especially a house built on a slant (so that when you are in it balls appear to roll uphill.) and some Ninja dramas that were easy to follow despite being in a language we spoke not a word of. </p>
<p>We spent some time on the south island because dh was at a conference there. It was lovely and very untouristy, but probably not worth the detour. What we did on the mainland:</p>
<p>Day 1 - Hiroshima
saw the Peace museum, the Sadako monument (she of the 1000 cranes), walked around, ate a terrific specialty of the region some sort of omelet with a barbecueish flavored sauce at a hole in the wall pub-like place.</p>
<p>Day 2 - Day trip to Miyajima
Very pretty nature reserve and shrine. Cute monkeys on top of the mountain (cable car up, but we walked down). Friendly deer. Specialties are mochi (soft rice cakes) and broiled eel.</p>
<p>Day 3 - Kurashiki and Himeji Castle
Kurashiki has Japan’s first museum of western art. We saw lots of pots and western style art, it has a very impressive parthenon style facade. Warehouse district along the water is very pretty. Children’s museum (kind of boring, but tiny - it had a top that was in the Guiness book of World records.) which we did visit. It was an hour or two stop on our way to [Himeji</a> Castle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himeji_Castle]Himeji”>Himeji Castle - Wikipedia) which is spectacular. </p>
<p>Day 4 - Nara
We spent the night in a ryokan arranged by a colleague of dh’s. It was lovely. We saw lots of shrines and more friendly deer. Todaiji temple has the biggest bronze Buddha in the biggest wood building in the world. </p>
<p>Day 5 - Kyoto day trip from Nara
We didn’t have enough time here. There are very famous not to be missed gardens, for which you need to make reservations. We missed them. We wandered up the main shopping drag and were kind of appalled by the prices of pottery. </p>
<p>**Day 6 - Osaka **
I wanted to go to the Bunraku theater and it was well worth it. [url=<a href=“OSAKA INFO”>OSAKA INFO]National</a> Bunraku Theatre : OSAKA-INFO - Osaka Visitors’ Guide<a href=“It%20turns%20out%20that%20the%20English%20translations%20are%20or%20at%20least%20were%20done%20by%20a%20college%20classmate,%20which%20I%20didn’t%20know%20at%20the%20time,%20but%20I%20had%20read%20Katherine%20Patterson’s%20%5BI%5DThe%20Master%20Puppeteer%5B/I%5D.”>/url</a></p>
<p>Day 7 - Tokyo
We actually stayed in a ryokan in Utsenomiya which is known for gyoza and saw the Kannon Bodhisattva which is an enormous carving done after WW2 and also saw some caves that were used for making zero fighters. We actually saw very little here. Did some shopping and went to a small art museum, but my second grade diarist did not bother to say which one. :).</p>
<p>I lived in Japan for some years, and you’ve gotten good advice from the above answers. I can add that jet lag can be severe, but for me it’s worse coming back to the US. Sleep on the plane and don’t get too intrigued by the repeated sunsets/ sunrises! You can use the Internet now and get a good feel for places and things you’d like to see; my favorite place to decompress has always been the Meiji Shrine and the small park it sits in. In a city crammed to bursting with people, any spot where there is peace is to be treasured and the citizens of Tokyo know this and flock to the park to snatch a few moments of quiet during the work day. For the things you want to take back to the US, visit Bingo-ya, a pretty, 4 floor shop in Shinjuku, that features handmade items from all over the country. They’ll assist you in shipping too, which is a huge help. In Nikko, make sure to pick up some of the beautiful lacquer work or inlay pieces- I’m sitting here looking at a marquetry work tissue box that brings back wonderful memories…
Above all, realize that Japan is an ancient land, with a culture very different from ours. It’s patriarchal in the sense that men do seem to get preference- they’ll sit on the trains when a woman who is 9 months pregnant and holding a toddler will have to stand. You’ll want to change it, but you can’t, so go with the flow. No matter where you go, you’ll find the people very friendly, so have a wonderful time and do let us know about your travels when you get home!</p>