Will be in Japan for 10 days. Are any of these cities worth staying in? (already doing Tokyo and Kyoto)

Japanese cities are all similar, of course having their own individual sites and tourist spots...but similar in feeling and looks. Tokyo is the biggest, and you could spend 10 days there alone. Kobe is a little more sparkling new and organized due to its being rebuilt after the 1995 earthquake. Kobe also has a large expat community and some old western style homes. Nagoya has Toyota nearby, and Noritake (maker of fine china and ceramic). Kyoto is a large city that is filled with temples and shrines...and interesting because you can really see the mix of traditional and modern, old and new, beautiful and, uh, not so beautiful.

Whether or not you should stay in another city is up to your traveling style, budget and preferences. Do you want to stay in a different place every night? Are you fast moving travelers, or do you prefer to take your time? Transportation within Japan is highly efficient and easy to use, but very, very expensive. If you will be using the train beyond a round trip between Tokyo and Kyoto, a Japan Rail pass will easily be worth the money as the price for the pass for a week is around the same as a round trip shinkansen ticket between the two cities.

Japan is much more than cities and you might be better off getting out of the city for a couple of days to see something other than neon and concrete. The countryside is quite different from the fast paced atmosphere of the cities.

10 days isn't a whole lot of time. Perhaps do a side trip to Nara from Kyoto for one day. You might also check into Himeji. Hiroshima, with a day trip to Miyajima (or stay on Miyajima for a nice ryokan experience) might be nice. From Tokyo, the Mt. Fuji area and Hakone are readily accessible, and though very touristy, there is fresh air and scenery. You could easily visit Kobe for a day from Kyoto if you were so inclined. Takayama and Shirakawa-go are lovely, Shirakawa-go being very small and a world heritage village.

There has been lots of talk about Japan recently, so if you look through the last few months posts, you'll find a lot of good information. You can also do a search of the messages.

There is a reconstructed castle in Nagoya, a Hard Rock Cafe, and the Nagoya Dome where the Chunichi Dragons play baseball. Otherwise, I didn't see much reason to go to Nagoya. I considered going to Kobe on the trip I just took, mainly to visit Arima Onsen. There is a ropeway above Shin-Kobe station that goes to the top of a mountain. There are some great views of the city and Seto Nai Kai. At the top is an "herbarium". You can walk down through a garden (of herbs, I presume) to the middle ropeway station and then ride back down from there. Or just ride down from the top, which is what I did. It was an enjoyable way to spend an hour but not worth going out of your way for.

There are many interesting smaller towns I would choose over Kobe or Nagoya. Can't think of a reason to go to either instead of Kyoto/Tokyo unless you have family or business there.

Towns I'd recommend: Takayama, Matsumoto, Kanazawa, Hiroshima, Himeji, Hiraizumi, Matsue.

Thank you so much for your responses, your suggestions are so good! (Especially the Edo era bath town)

1.)I have been saving Marriott points for decades and have recently retired that is why I can afford the points for the New Otani hotel and why I have to select Nagoya for four nights. Maybe rooms in Tokyo will become available next week at the Renaissance Hotel Ginza or at the Marriott in Kinshicho. (Which one shall I choose?)

2)I will arrive in Tokyo and head for the New Otani Hotel. Next afternoon or so will take the train to Nagoya. I would like to see the country side which train shall I take? Is there such a thing as a scenic route? Is the country side appealing?

3)I can exchange Marriot nights in Nagoya for nights in Gifu, would Gifu be better?

4)After my 4th night in Nagoya (2 Gifu, 2 Nagoya?) I will depart early in the morning for Tokyo. And here is when Mt. Fuji comes in. How do I get there? Shall I go to the New Otani (where I will spend my last night) first, drop off my carry on and then head to Mt. Fuji?

Again, thank you, thank you. I have found Kiso Valley walks! Just what I love! Cooooool.

Susana

Okay, I am confused again because on your other thread you say that you arrive at narita and then depart "4 days later" to Beijing (btw, good job taking advantage of the enroute stopover option on your award). Now you are saying you will be in Tokyo 1 night, Nagoya for 4, and then Tokyo again for 1 night.

Read about the 400 year old garden at the New Otani:
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/tokyo/H30921.html

1) I dunno. For a Marriott awards stay on a future trip you might consider the Marriott on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro.

2) Not too scenic, just take the Hikari shinkansen. Get a window reserved seat. Fuji-san will probably be visible from the right side of the train.

3) Tokyo would be better than Gifu.

4) No, you wouldn't want to go to your hotel first. Just leave your bag in a locker at Odawara station. But, Fuji-san is a day trip from Tokyo.

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/