If you can, give yourself an extra day in Kyoto. There is so much to see in this city and it does take some time to travel between sites. I arrived on a Friday night and left on a Monday in the early evening, and it was not nearly enough time. Also, I arrived after the office for the Imperial Palace closed (they're closed all weekend)and I was unable to see it at all. No matter what, you'll really enjoy it!

clbtx, you are back here!! How was your November trip? How was that ryokan in Fushimi, how did you like staying in that area? What did you end up doing in your time in Kyoto? I have thought of you often and wondered how your business trip and extra days went. Can you give a little recap?

I guess you know that Tokyo is one of the MOST expensive cities in the world. If you have a chance, buy a JR rail pass for tourists- great deal and travel out a bit. Don't worry about the language. Take a little language book. Stay at a ryokan in a town. Maybe go to Nara if you can.

In Tokyo they have a place to help with cheap reservations....we were there and the 7 of us got a Ryokan for 220 a night...not bad for that many people...

Check out
http://www.itcj.or.jp/

You will be OK not knowing, but get a guide book. I spent 4 months last year in Japan...only got lost once


Toyko...we stayed in a Ryokan near Asakusa temple....

Tokyo subway....get a map and day passes.
In Toko
Asakusa is old style...lots of souvenirs....

Tokyo tower....nice

Ginza shopping....very nice...


Kyoto..
buses...buses...are the way to get aroudn...and the train station has a great tourist help center.


Train staion is awesome...

I had only 1 day there...

Had our pic taken with Kotoôshû Katsunori...bulgrian sumo...totally unexpected
To get from

Hi emd! Thanks so much for remembering me! My trip in November was very sucessful and I loved the extra days I spent in Kyoto. I took the bullet train from Tokyo to maximize the time. The ryokan was ok... nice enough, but a little "tired." The two women who run it are very nice. I would say that the location is a little far away from the center of things, but given the challenges I had finding any room at all, it was worth it. Kyoto was amazing! I took over 200 pictures in 3 days! I'd love to go back! I have actually been back to Tokyo twice since for work, but have not been able to take any more vacation time, unfortunately. Maybe some day soon!

Glad to hear it was a good trip. I can think of worse work trips than two more business trips to Tokyo, but there's gotta be some creative way to get a few days more there after working...

With such limited time, I would choose Kamakura over Nikko. Kamakura (Japan's capitol before Kyoto) has much more to offer, in my opinion, and is closer to Tokyo. If you don't get a JR Rail Pass, there is a special Enoshima-Kamakura Free Kippu for Y1970. It gives you a round trip from Tokyo (less than 1-hour, nearly Y1800 regular fare) and 2-days of unlimited riding on JR, the Enoshima Ry and the Shonan Monorail.
After a day in Kamakura it is only 30 min. by JR to Odawara, the entry place for Hakone. The first large town is Hakone-Yumoto, about 12 min. from Odawara on the Odakyu Ry, where there are many ryokan. English can be a problem at some ryokan.
You pay the JR fare from Kamakura (Ohfuna station) to Odawara, then when you return, buy the cheapest JR ticket (Y140) at Odawara and use your Enoshima-Kamakura Free Kippu to get out in Tokyo, saving Y860 or so.
If you want to e-mail me I can send you a step by step route around Kamakura.