Top 10 places to see / things to do

I am curious to hear from people what they think are the top 10 must-see places / things to do while in Japan! I am coming in March-April next year for 2 weeks!

A quickly composed, personal top 10:

1) See Kyoto
2) See Tokyo
3) Enjoy the wide variety of the Japanese cuisine
4) Overnight in an Onsen Ryokan
5) Get off the urbanized "Golden Route" at least once
6) Ride the shinkansen
7) See the cherry blossoms
8) See a castle
9) See a sumo torunament
10) Climb a volcano

Yes - sumo would be awesome! I will be in Japan 3/22 - 4/5. It looks like the only sumo is in Kyoto ending on 3/24. This is what info I have found regarding sumo tournaments. Are there other sumo matches to see, or only the tournaments?

Agree with Kyoto and Tokyo but both will take much more than one day...

Tokyo has so many attractions worth visiting and depending on your taste for the new or older historical sites, you will still have a long list.

I've done a walk around the south and west side of Kyoto and it took a full day. That was hurrying from one temple or shrine to the next. Wasn't very rewarding. Some of the temples are must see such as Kingakuji and many others.

If you overnight at an onsen, I recommend that you be very picky and expect to pay more than you expect. Get a place out away from the urban areas and one that has a nice view, particularly from a rotemburo (outdoor bath).

Castles are great to see as well but you can turn that into a nice, short hike by choosing a place such as Iwakuni. Access to the castle from the parking adjacent to Kintaikyo which is a beautiful bridge within walking distance from the castle (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6177.html). From the bridge to the castle is a short hike and pretty scenery and it this is not far from Itsukushima Shrine (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3450.html) at about 30 minutes via car.

Some of this may be outside of your budget but I hope it helps to add food for thought.

I think Uji has a pretty good list and mine wouldn't differ too much. This is not in a specific order but I will say:
1. Visit Tokyo - Too much to list. You could just stay here and still not scratch the surface but start with Yakitori under the train tracks at Yurakucho, go to an Izakaya in a businessy type area for dinner, Harajuku/Omotesando, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Akihabara, eat at one of the MANY Michelin starred restaurants or find a b-gourmet blog and follow their restaurant suggestions for the cheapy version.
2. Kyoto - specifically: Kinkaku-ji, Ginkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, Ryoan-ji, Gion, Sanjusangen-do, Koko-dera and Toei studio park for its cheesyness
3. Miyajima & Hiroshima
4. Stay in a Ryokan
5. Stay in a love hotel v- a really odd and out there one. These are pretty easy to fin and it's not as seedy as it sounds. Try Love Hotel Hill in Shibuya.
6. See the Cherry Blossoms but get involved with the drunken, karaoke singing locals in the park.
7. Ride the Shinkansen and make sure to get your eki-ben.
8. Visit one or many them parks
9. Eat at a street food stall (The yakitori in Yurakucho counts but is not quite the same). You will see them pop up, particularly around the stations just before evening.
10. Go to a festival or 10. They are often very interesting and a lot of fun. Have a look at this thread for some suggestions http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+99544
Just get lost in the back streets, back towns and wander around. I found the most wonderful and weird things doing this.
You could come up with a list of another 10 things that are completely different to this and I would probably agree that it is equally as good and worthwhile.

Yeah, Uji's list is pretty much perfect, and it depends on what you like to do and see. I travel at a slow pace, and I am just happy to be in what is an enormously different culture to mine. But if I had to pick 10 favorite things, or things I thought were really significant for some reason or another, they would be:
1. visit Nara. It has deer, temples, and parks, what else do you need?
2. visit Takayama. It has beef, lovely old town, and a squirrel park - what else do you need?
3. stay at a ryokan with an onsen. Get kaseki dinner;
4. visit Kyoto and see stuff. There's lots of it;
5. stay at a "classic" hotel, eg Nara Hotel or Hotel Kanaya (Nikko). It is like stepping back in time;
6. take the wideview hida train to Takayama - spectacular trip through the mountains;
7. spend some time at Peace Park, Hiroshima. Looking at the dome is quite an amazing experience. Then beat the fuge by getting off to Miyajima. Try to stay the night, it is better when the crowds leave;
8. eat street food;
9. try to get to a festival;
10. If you are at Tokyo, go to the Ghibli museum.

All that said, we keep going back because we like the people, so you wouldnt have to do any of those things and you'd still have fun.

How about:

1) Climb Mount Fuji
2) Attend Sapporo Snow Festival
3) Eat Sushi at Tsukiji Market in Tokyo
4) Ride the Shinkansen
5) Stay in a Ryokan and enjoy Onsen and Kaiseki
6) See Yuki (Snow), Sakura (Sakura blooms), Hoshizora (Starry Night Sky) and Koyo (Autumn colors) in Japan, to experience the seasons
7) Be at cross junction in Shibuya
8) Eat a Bento for lunch
9) Visit a Shinto Shrine
10) Use a electronic toilet, with seat warmer, spray wash, air dry, distraction music, the works.

1. Cat Island - Tashirojima:
http://zoomingjapan.com/travel/tashirojima-cat-island/

2. The Gateway to Hell - Mount Osore:
http://zoomingjapan.com/travel/shimokita-peninsula-mt-osore/

3. Mount Hakodate for its great night view:
http://zoomingjapan.com/travel/mount-hakodate/

4. The Phallus Festival in April:
http://zoomingjapan.com/travel/kanamara-matsuri/

5. Kyoto in spring (esp. Arashiyama, The Philosopher's Path)

6. Miyajima

7. Mt. Koya:
http://zoomingjapan.com/travel/mount-koya-travel-report/

8. The whirlpools of Naruto (Shikoku)

9. Yakushima:
http://zoomingjapan.com/travel/yakushima-waterfalls-and-fruit-garden/

10. Mt. Yoshino (in Nara) - best cherry blossom viewing spot

1. Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto.
2. Onsen
3. Stay in a traditional ryokan (Japanese inn)
4. Magome - Tsumago hike
5. Shibuya crossing
6. Mt Fuji at sunrise
7. Japanese cusine
8. Nara - explore all the temples and shrines
9. Homestay in Japan (roughly $4500 yen per night)
10. Shinkansen (bullet train)

Thanks to everyone's comments! This will definitely help me when making plans! GREATLY appreciate all your feedback!!

Is Kamakura worthwhile to see by the way?

Is Kamakura worthwhile to see by the way?
Yes, of course!
I often visit there and walk around.
If you visit Kyoto, I can't recommend Kamakura besides.

Kamakura is really great.
I went to see Daibutsu (the great buddha)
And looked around in town, walking into random gardens and such. A really nice view and everything!

My top 10, and not in order
1. the classic Tokyo,Kyoto,Osaka (I cheated....3 in one)
2. Kanazawa: Kenrokuen for sublime garden
3. Rural Japan, away from major cities: for example
Our bus day trip to Wajima and the Noto Penisnula from Kanazawa is still a highlight
and I agree: the train trip to Takayama is fabulous
we are looking forward to Shirakawago in late October
4. Cherry blossoms
5. Hiroshima/Miyajima
6. Mt Koya
7. Nikko
8. Cuisine everywhere
9. Onsen
10. Shinkansen, and in fact the entire transport system....maybe except Kyoto buses...lol

I could add a zillion more of course. We keep returning to see family and friends, and just wallow in the respectfulness of the Japanese people, their cuisine, and the fun of experiencing their country.
As with any trip to a different country or culture, it is not so much about "ticking off a list", but more about being submerged in the experience.
We have been 4 times, have a 5th trip planned, and have yet to find time to get of Honshu!!! One day we will also manage Kyushu, Shikoku, and Hokkaido: but we keep returning to favourite places because it is a holiday, not an "excursion".
Enjoy!

I agree with most other posters and given the timing of your visit I would include:

- Sakura in Kyoto, cherry blossom along Philosophers Path and Kiyomizudera are two of my favourites. On 3 April you might see the dragon at Seiryo-e festival.
- Fushimi Inari and walk to the lookout at the top. Inari zushi around here is really tasty. 1 April in Kenka-Sai a procession of local women in full kimono bring offerings to the shrine followed by a ceremony.
- Hirishima Peace Park and the gardens of Shukkiein which have a beautiful blossom grove.
- Miyajima is a great day trip, try to time being there on full time to enjoy the effect of the whole shrine floating. Cable cars and the walk to the top with temples, forest, interesting rock formations and views are worth doing. Most restaurants serve the local oysters for lunch.
- I'd include a castle and preferably an original one, if Himeji is still being renovated then Hikone from Kyoto is smaller but also good.
- try to get to a festival even a small one, we went to Nagahamas Hikiama matsuri on our last visit and loved it, will time future visit to see others.
- make time to eat and enjoy the variety of great food, you don't have to pay a lot for tasty and beautifully prepared local cuisine
- a day tip on a clear day to Hakone, get what they call the 'free pass' to do the full circuit, the various transport is fun and interesting, views from the gondolas and of Mt Fuji on the right day are stunning
- Tokyo for the big city experience is bustling and fun, castle gardens are worth a visit but would skip the castle tour, Ueno, the fish markets at least to eat the sushi in the area, Harajuki on a Sunday afternoon, so many must sees depending on your interest.
- Monkeys in Nagano, short hike through forest to see them in hot springs. Winter is by far the best time to see them in my view but it's a unique experience.

Not sure if we are allowed to post links here? My blog at Branto.net has photos of most of these places and others under the category Japan.

These are great, even better to see that I will go/do a lot of the recommended places/things.

Kamakura and nearby Enoshima are definitely worth a visit. If you get off the train from Tokyo at Ofuna you can continue on to Enoshima by a hanging monorail, very unusual and passed so close over homes and roads.

The Daibutsu, huge outdoor Buddha statue is a must see, lots of beautiful temples, a larges shrine and of course lovely food. Hasedera was a favourite temple, lots to see and dont miss the caves. We used public transport between Enoshima, Daibutsu and Kamakura station, other that that its easier to get around on foot.

I can't thank you all enough for your feedback, I have been making a ton of notes! I certainly will have to come back to Japan a few times to experience it all but I have a really good feel for what I would like to do this time!! Thank you kindly!!

Now I know that Ise and Izumo grand shrines that are the most divine places in Japan are not popular with foreign tourists... because they are isolated, I think?

Difficult to go last and give original places to see ...
I still some that have not yet been discussed before:

1) Amanohashidate. The bridge of heaven. One of the three most beautiful views in Japan.
 
http://translate.google.fr/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=fr&ie...

2) Eat FUGU. The most dangerous fish in the world on your plate!
Bon appétit!

http://translate.google.fr/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=fr&ie...

3) Cooking (and eating, of course) a Monjayaki in a restaurant in Tokyo. One address: Tsukishima dori ...


http://translate.google.fr/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=fr&ie...

4) See giant fireworks, a fight between several companies pyrotechnics: a Taikai!

http://translate.google.fr/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=fr&ie...

5) Make the first day of the school year with her daughter. To do this, you must have a daughter (son's going too ...) and be able to enroll in a local school (if you have Japanese grandparents, it's OK) Otherwise, look!

http://translate.google.fr/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=fr&ie...

6) Swimming in a giant aquarium. To do this, go to Miyakojima. Yoshino beach ...

http://translate.google.fr/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=fr&ie...

7) Climbing on a "baby volcano" in Hokkaido ...

http://translate.google.fr/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=fr&ie...

8) Make a "karaoke night". Rent a box, order drinks and food and beyond sing through the night ...

http://translate.google.fr/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=fr&ie...

9) Eat a squid alive ... We go to market Hakodate? I'm hungry!

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xkrbhs_manger-un-calamar-vivant-a-hak.... UU8M0ie9Sz4

10) Skip the New Year's Eve in Kyoto. Wait a few hours in Shijo-dori with hundreds of thousands of people ... Enter Yasaka shrine. Say a prayer before eating, and drinking hot amazake ...

http://translate.google.fr/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=fr&ie...

Here are some ideas quite original, is not it?
Enjoy your stay in Japan!