Incredible temples and art museums!

Ryoan-ji Temple 

Kinkaku-ji

Todai-ji

Echigo-Tsumari Art Field

Yumoto Choza

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art

Studio Ghibli Museum - everything Miyazaki!

Harajuku - be sure to visit on the weekends to see everyone in full costume

Haven't been to Naoshima Island yet, but it's next up on my list. I hope to add more restaurants and shops soon. Happy travels!

In Nara

1. Feeding the deer in the Nara Park (links are to my blog).
2. Visiting the Todai-ji (Todai-ji temple), a massive structure in wood, ranking as the highest wooden structure in the world.

In Kyoto

1. Visit the famed Temple of Golden Pavillion (also known as the Kinkaku-ji and which dates back to (1185 – 1332)).

In Tokyo

1. Visiting the Tokyo Tower (Tokyo Tower resembles the Eiffel Tower).

As much as I like Tokyo, the Kansai region of Japan has to be my favorite.  The region includes cities like Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe, and other great castles and temples like Himeji Castle and Hōryū-ji.

You have to enjoy a night eating all the different foods in the Dotonbori area of Osaka, with treats like Okonomiyaki, Kushikatsu, and Takoyaki.

It's also not very far to get to Hiroshima and Itsukushima (Miyajima) from the Kansai region.