We did a two and half week family trip two summers ago where we stayed in Tokyo for six days and went to Kyoto-Miyajama-Shikoku-Takayama for a week (couple days were spent in Tochigi- and Ibaragi-ken at the family farms of my parents). We all had a wonderful visit. Our family is going to have a two month stay in Tokyo next year and my sisters and their families are going to come for two and half weeks or so to visit Japan again.

Like most, we are not as well familiar with points north of Tokyo as compared to the southern direction. Any suggestions regarding places to visit would be most appreicated. If it makes any difference, there will be several teenagers on this trip. Thanks.

Did you visit Nikko when you were in Tochigi-ken?

In Tohoku, I have visited Sendai and Kakunodate.

Flying into Sendai, I was very surprised to see so many rice paddies with homes, roads, even cemteries as islands among the patties. There is quite a bit more of that scenery on the shinkansen rides north to Morioka and south towards Tokyo. Easily reached from Sendai is Matsushima, officially one of the three greatest beauty spots in Japan. You can take a cruise around the islands there and it is enjoyable however there are many other places in Japan that I would rank as more beautiful.

In Kakunodate on the shinkansen line between Morioka and Akita, I stayed at the JR Hotel right at the station. Got a room that faced the town and it was quiet, comfortable, and relatively low-priced; definitely a good value and convenient to the station. The town features several samurai houses that are easy to walk to from the station. A stroll along the river in Kakunodate when the cherry trees are blooming must be awesome. Lake Towada (Towada-ko) is in the area, but I didn't get there. I did visit Nyuto Onsen (one station east of Kakunodate and then a long bus ride into the mountains) and would recommend it if you were a couple who wanted to get away from it all. You might check out the Towadako area for family fun.

Tsutomu: I thank you for a somewhat selfish reason. I am planning for a trip to the areas you mention (minus Shikoku, but adding Osaka for sumo, and Hiroshima) in March 2005. Spending the same amt. of time you did in area of Tokyo (six days) and the other areas, w/our subsititutions as mentioned. So I am thankful you say you did this trip, it gives me good feeling that it is doable, as I am figuring out trains, etc. at this point. So thanks for the validation. I am not ready to post my itinerary for the experts on here yet (need to do more research before that) but glad you posted your experience at this point.
I am figuring that on this first trip (since we are staying in Yokohama for the Tokyo visit), we will go to Fuji-san instead of Nikko area to hike for a day.
Thanks again, and I will follow and learn from the answers here.

emd,

Our trip in '02 was great for all of us. We had a large group (12 in all spanning ages 78 to 10) so we picked usually only one organized outing each day and we knowingly visited fewer places and just concentrated on one or two each day. We enjoyed the visits to what ever was on for that day and it gave us plenty of time to visit around the hotels that we were staying.

The beauty of Japan is found in the ordinary streets of residential areas. It is very enjoyable to just have free time to roam around the hotel area or what I like to do is pick a random subway/train stop and explore it by walking. Just a great way to explore a city.

One tip I have for you regarding your stay in Tokyo is to stay in Asakusa. Fun place to be based out of and easy connection from there to anyplace from the Ginza line subway stop right there.

Tsutomu

Tsutomy: Thanks very much for the info. We will be visiting Asakusa area, but I have a free hotel room on points at the lovely Sheraton Yokohama (can't pass that up- it's a really nice hotel, right by the train station to get into Tokyo in half hour, and I get the 5th night free without even using any points). I appreciate your statement on the beauty being in the exploring and having time to walk around the areas and discover. I am trying to balance the trip in that way, not rush here and there, but be flexible and have time to not have to see too many particular things thata we would lose the spontanaeity of discovery. You hit it right on the head. Thanks again. But enough of me, this is your post. Good luck north of Tokyo. I have a post from here that I just read in my Tokyo file last night about the monkeys that live north of Tokyo. Apparently they are all over the further north you go. People on here said be sure to keep car windows up if you park as they get in the car and grab stuff. That could be interesting!