Going to Japan this summer

[biostud]

I'm going to Japan this summer with a friend, and we have 15 days in Japan.

Currently our plans are to buy a two weeks JR train pass and stay:

2 days in Hakone for Ryokan/Onsen and Mt. Fuji
3 days in Osaka for modern and traditional and their Castle
4 days in Kyoto for traditional Japan
6 days in Tokyo for modern and traditional Japan

Anyone has suggestions for special places to visit/see/do?

None of us are into sports (or participating in a Japanese TV shows), but a day of tracking would be fine.

 

[CountZero]

Went ~7 years ago. Lots of interesting things to check out.

Of all the historical things we saw the Buddha at Todai-ji was one of the most amazing. It is in Nara but we just took a train to hang out there for the day.

If you are at all a fan of aquariums the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is amazing. I thought I might regret doing it when there's so much to see/do but it was great and might not be something you'd otherwise think of doing.

 

[Dari]

Japan has a lot of samurai military museums. Osaka-jo Castle is one that I've been to.

 

[uhohs]

did someone say samurai
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCTaMe66GmA

 

[DigDog]

plox bring back katana (shinogi zukuri ofc), gibe katana.
(or i report u)

 

[Scotteq]

Tokyo area in summer?

You could climb Mount Fuji - drive/ride a good part of the way up. a long day walk, sleep near the top, then up early to walk the rest of the way to see the sun rise.
Seeing The Great Buddha is also a day trip.
Harajuku on a Sunday is fun

 

[Fingolfin269]

You should definitely take a day trip to Kamakura for the great Buddha statue. There are a couple of nice temples there as well. Beaches are nearby if that matters to you.

I would also recommend a day trip to Yokohama if you have a day you're looking to fill. Maybe 30 minutes by train outside of Tokyo. China town there is pretty cool.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Akhibara?
Also, would the timing of your trip allow for attending either the Inazuma Rock Festival or Animelo Summer Live?

 

[biostud]

Going to see a festival at Kyoto the 17th of July.

 

[CptObvious]

Kyoto was my favorite place to visit in Japan. Probably the cleanest city I've ever visited and it just gives off a feeling of serenity. Nearby Nara is worth visiting, if only to see the deer.