Agree the Ueno area with the park, shrine and a museums. But the best part is this can be combined with self guided Tokyo walking tour 4 from Frommers. Both my Japanese friend and I really enjoyed this walk through old Tokyo neighborhoods to get a "feel" for the city, history, and current life. A real highlight for me on my first day in Japan.

It depends on your interests whether you want to spend a day on Odaiba. I enjoyed seeing Asimo demonstration at National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, but the rest of what I saw around the island was OK, but not what I would have wanted to see on my first visit to Japan.

I don't know of the time of your drive down Ginza. I enjoyed seeing the area at night with all the lights going. I found Roppongi area less pleasant because of all the bars/clubs.

I enjoyed the Edo Tokyo museum to learn the history in a hands on type display (lots of kids).

A short stop we enjoyed in Kyoto was Kawai Kanjiro Memorial House, the former home and studio of one of Japan's most well-known potters, Kawai Kanjiro. It is a traditional Japanese house with lots of lovely wooden furniture.

We also enjoyed the walk along Sannenzaka below Kiyomizu Temple past stores and restaurants through neighborhoods of wooden buildings and downhill stairs to Maruyama Park. We saw several geishas, school groups, and just enjoyed the atmosphere. We also enjoyed the shopping arcades off the main drag downtown in the evening.

You HAVE TO see the train station in Kyoto. I know it sounds wierd, but you won't believe it.

It is like a huge indoor mall, with tons and tons of restaurants. The architecture of the place is amazing. The escalators are probably the longest escalators I've seen in my life. You seem to go up and up, into the glass roof. Walking around at the top was unbelievable.

travelgirl2,

I totally agree with your recommendation of the Kyoto Station.

It is a must visit for anyone who visits Kyoto imho, the place is simply amazing with the high glass ceilings, hundreds of shops and restaurants, izekyas,etc. Not to mention the 200+ store Portal Underground Mall which is attached to the Northern end of the station. They have a massage studio where you can get a quick 15 minute to one hour foot, back or full body massage to charge your batteries for more shopping.

The basement food mall in the Isetan store is great in the early evening as tons of local Kyoto business folks shop for their fresh items for dinner.....vendors barking out what they have on sale today while the hordes of people swarm to their favorite stalls....the smells, the samples.....ahhhh I love Japan!

Aloha!

AND the station is spotless!!! I love Kyoto.

so i'll definitely check out the kyoto train station! sounds like a good place to get some lunch or dinner. thanks.

You have all been so helpful already, I'm wondering if you could help with one more thing?
My hotel in Tokyo is in Odaiba and I am a bit confused about the subways into the main part of the city. Can anyone tell me how to get from Odaiba to Ueno Park or to the Imperial Palace? I've read the directions in so many guidebooks, but I really am still confused! Thanks so much!

Depends where on Odaiba. See here for transport info to and from

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3008.html

By subway to Ueno you can catch the Y line or Yurakocho line from Toyosu to Nagatacho and transfer to the purple Hanzoman line. Take that line to Mitsukoshimae then tranfer to the Orange Ginza line to Ueno....sounds hard but really not as you will see. Here is the metro map to study. Click on the map link

http://tinyurl.com/6fd9n6

Aloha!

better yet take start at Toyosu and get off at the next station Tsukishima on the Oeda line. Take that till Ueno Okachimachi station and transfer to the Ginza line and get off at the next stop which is Ueno

Aloha!