Park Hotel at Mintao. It has views of Mount Fuji. Nikko and Kamakura were day trips from Tokyo and completely worth it ( we used a private guide for Nikko, costed about $250). Kyoto and Nara were pretty too. Sapporo was fine for the cherry blossom, but there didn't seem to be more.

No, not too late for fall colors. Peak time in Kyoto is around November 18, more or less.

1. Yes and no you will not be too late. Tokyo and Kyoto are in prime season at those times.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2014_when.html

2. Well with your time frame I would have to say Tokyo, Kyoto and Hakone in 12 days is doable and am sure you can find ten sights within those three areas. You can stay in the Park Hyatt or Four Seasons in Tokyo. Gora Kadan or Hakone-Ginyu in Hakone would give you a slice of Japanese luxury lifestyles...

http://www.hakoneginyu.co.jp/english/main.html

http://www.gorakadan.com/index_english.html

In Kyoto you would want to stay at either the Hotel Okura or my choice the Hyatt Kyoto.

3. Me

Aloha!

This is great input. Anyone want to chime in on must see cities in order of importance/preference?
How long would you allow for each?
Best restaurants anywhere in Japan but especially Tokyo?
Other great hotels?
Thanks to all for your input

Look: your question is so open-ended and without reference to your personal preferences other than wanting luxury and not hiking, it's not answerable.

Do some research and a good place to do it is: http://www.japan-guide.com. Many resources and much information there.

We stayed 3 nights Tokyo, 2 in Matsumoto and 5 in Kyoto and want to return to Kyoto.

http://www.fivestaralliance.com/luxury-hotels/117/asia/japan

If you are interested in hiring a tour guide in Kyoto, I could recommend on to you. Email me at quanmama@yahoo.com if you like the info. My son and I really enjoyed our private tour and we saw a lot in one day. The guide speaks decent English.

mrw, looking at your listing and I never realized the Rhiga properties were 5 star. I have seen them all over Japan(never been in one) but thought they were a business end type of hotel.....live and learn.

Aloha!

> I never realized the Rhiga properties were 5 star

They're not, either by the rating of the "Five Star Alliance" or by any sensible standard. They are, indeed, decent business-class hotels (by Western standards).

I googled "five star hotels in Japan" and came up with that link above.

The website actually showsb what it ranks as 5* and 4* hotels. The Rihga Royal properties are shown as 4*.

The only 5* hotels listed are in Tokyo and Osaka. There is a 5* in "Sapporo" but is actually at Toya-ko, quite a distance from Sapporo.

I think that a 4* rating is fair enough for the Rihga Royal in Hiroshiima. It is at least 3.5* and is definitely a step up from a business hotel. I believe that it is considered one of the top hotels in Hiroshima. It is Hiroshima, not Paris, after all.

You asked about hotels. Have you considered staying in a ryokan - a traditional Japanese inn? If you don't require a Western hotel then consider:

http://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/index.htm

Luxurious Ryokan
A luxurious ryokan has a long history, traditional atmosphere, and the owners pamper their guests with comfort and all the modern conveniences. The owners and staff go out of their way to make sure the guests are treated like royalty; in other words, Japanese hospitality at its finest. The Japanese-style rooms and baths are very comfortable, and the traditional, "kaiseki-style" meals are outstanding. The ryokan is made entirely of wood and there is also a beautiful Japanese-style garden. Luxurious ryokans are very expensive and usually located in the major hot spring and tourist areas.

I'm going to chime in on this thread rather than create a new one- what parts of Kyoto will be at their best at this time of year? I've done the cherry blossom season in April- now to see the other cycle in November.

Ginkakuji