Planning a trip to Japan in the near or distant future? I've stayed long term in Japan on three separate occasions. Twice during college for a semester each and then for three years after graduating. I've stayed in Tokyo for six weeks and lived in central Japan near Osaka for 3 years. I know some interesting places to go you might not think of and can help you plan so you get the most out of your visit.

Usual Suspects: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Himeji, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Mt. Fuji, Okinawa

Off the beaten path: Mt. Koya: Founding place of Esoteric Buddhism and resting place of The Tokugawa Shoguns, the Kumonokodo: Pilgrimage trails to the sacred temples and shrines of the Kii Peninsula just south of Osaka and Tanabe: Home and birthplace of the founder of Aikido and the annual Aikido festival

*Free tip: Fly into Osaka (Kansai Int Airport) instead to get the most out of you visit and really get an authentic Japan experience. Narita outside of Tokyo is actually not close to Tokyo at all, so you'll spend most of your first day on the train just getting to the city. And then if you want to visit any other city besides Tokyo, well then that's another 2-3 hour train ride. Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe... all in central Japan. So if you make your hub Osaka instead, you can plan day trips to Kyoto, Himeji Castle, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara. So like I said, fly into Kansai and out through Narita to catch Tokyo on your way out.