Where to go in Tokyo & Osaka

My family (3 of us - from US) will meet my sister & family (3 of them - from Canada) over in Tokyo then to Osaka. Aug 21-27 Tokyo, Aug 27 to Osaka leaving Aug 31. Any suggestion where to go?

Many thanks and please lots of links if possible.

Souvent,

The first place you should start looking is on this very site, as there are loads of suggestions for places to suit your interests in those cities.

Tokyo:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html
Osaka:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2157.html

Having said that, late August in Tokyo and especially Osaka will be uncomfortably hot and humid. I would try to look at indoor locations or places elsewhere.

The first thing to do is to check the links at the top of this page, especially A-Z. www.osaka-info.jp/en/ has pages after pages about Osaka. You HAVE TO READ everything.. of course you already have a big map of Osaka and one of Tokyo? you need them to pin-point whatever place you read about. you should also look at www.skyscrapercity Osaka and www.skyscrapercity Tokyo for amazing photos.
What to see in each town depends on your own tastes. There is no such a thing as "must see". Personally I had rather skip Tokyo and stay in the Kansai as Osaka, Kyoto, Nara etc. show you both the very ancient and very modern faces of Japan. Be aware that it always take longer than one think to visit a sight in Japan. Many shrines and temples,for example, are not just one building--like a Euro Cathedral- but many (up to several dozen in one enclosure )and with many gardens as well. Finally a guidebook (Lonely Planet or Rough guide) is handy even tough even these 2--while better than Fodors, Frommers etc.-- make lots of mistakes.

Thank you for both of your tips. The hot and sticky weather doesn't sound too attractive but we'll deal with it. Another question I hope you can help. We wish to stay in a ryokan with hot spring but not sure which location would be better (Shinjuku or Osaka) as we don't speak Janpanese. Is there also a time limit, at least one day.

Thanks again for any recommendation.

Souvent,

I know there are onsen or sento(public bus) facilities everywhere in Japan, of course in Tokyo and Osaka too. But Onsen ryokans or Onsen towns are not ubiquitous.

They have to be near a volcano or mountainous area as far as they are authentic onsen, while big cities like Tokyo or Osaka are in the middle of a plain.

List of onsen
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2292_where.html
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/interests/hot.html

not bus but bath XXD

Arima onsen, just on the other side of the low mountain overlooking the city of Kobe, is an old town with a range of ryokans and onsen. check www.japaneseguesthouses.com/db/arima/index.htm
and www.japan-guide.com/e/e3558.html

please check the other thread, further down the list of questions, about Arima especially the post about going easily from Osaka to Arima.

So many places to go in Tokyo like Harajuku, Aoyama, Shibuya for more info check it out on viamigo.
http://www.viamigo.com/place/1700/tokyo

Thanks so much for all of your suggestion and will definitely help us.

Thanks again!

in Osaka you can go to Kayukan. Last year i went there.

Kaiyukan? Is that the Osaka Aquarium? Sounds like fun. Thanks! Any other must go places, appreciate any suggestion.