top 3 places to see (or top 5 )

Hello peolple,

I'm goning in october to japan. We are flying to kagoshima where we will be staying for a couple of days (2 or 3) then we are heading down to yakoshima for a stay for 3 days. After that we have 2 weeks to spend in Japan. But we do not have a clue what we should visit. We like the nature and hikes. Maybe you guys can give us your to 3 places to visit in japan (not included the bigger city's like osaka kyoto and tokyo). You will be helping us ou alot. Thank you.
I hope you can understand my english.

Best regards Sander

Nikko, Shirakawago, Koyasan (in no particular order)

http://traveljapanblog.com/wordpress/category/japan/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/100_Famous_Japanese_Mountains

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Special_Places_of_Scenic_Beauty,_...

http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2133569074655633401

An ideal trip for me at the moment would be Nara (at least 2 days) (and I'd stop by Kyoto as well) to hikone (one day) to Takayama (2 days) to Kamikouchi (2 to 3 days) to Matsumoto (overnight only) to Karuizawa (2 days), then if I could I would finish it off with a night at Kamakura or Enoshima, maybe 2 nights. All of those places have a lot of nature walks.

thank you very much i'm going to check them out

You would probably enjoy the Kumano area in southern Wakayama. Lots of nice hiking on pilgrimage trails there along with historic shrines.

You will be spoilt for choice in Japan.

Towada-Hachimantai National Park
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3651.html

Oze National Park
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7440.html

Kamikochi!
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6040.html

My five best places:
1) Shirakawago:http://www.soleilrouge.org/shirakawago-les-mains-jointes-de-ogimachi-1
2) Tôshô gû (Nikko):http://www.soleilrouge.org/nikko-le-temple-tasha-gu
3) Okinawa Archipelago:http://www.soleilrouge.org/okinawa-2012-sejour-de-reve-en-son-et-image...
4) Okuno-in (Koyasan):http://www.soleilrouge.org/koyasan-le-cimetiere-okuno-in
5) ... All about Japan!

My top 5 are:

1. Koyasan
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4900.html
Stay at a temple, this is most of what makes this trip special. The nature aspect of Koyasan is absolutely amazing.

2. Kyoto (Arashiyama especially)
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3912.html
Don't discount Monkey Park, it's actually kind of cool. You will get a great hike on the way up and have beautiful places to cool down with at the bottom. Of course, you also get to see and feed monkeys.

3. Nara (Todaiji Temple especially)
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2165.html

4. Tokyo
Depending on your interests, I really enjoyed a lot of the neighborhoods in Tokyo near Roppongi, Akihabara, and Tokyo Stations.

5. Osaka
Around Namba station in Osaka is quite cool to check out in the evening. Dotonbori is a good way to end a day seeing other things in the area.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4001.html

I went to the Kumano Nachi-taisha this spring. It's a wonderful place. You can walk the Daimon-zaka to reach it. It's an old path in the forest, it's kind of beautiful! And to walk around the shrine is beautiful too.