Any cool places to visit in Japan?

Travel Info
This question goes out to everyone that has been to Japan or live there.. etc I'm planning on going to Japan for about three weeks this summer. I wanted to know some cool places to visit while i'm there. I also want to know where are some cool electronic and stuff like that are at. thinking of buying some electronics to bring back to cali. hmm any area is cool because i'm planning on buying the rail pass so I can ride the train as much as I want. Thanks

Travel Tips

Shibuya and Roppongi are in Tokyo, other areas of interest there are Harajuku (lots of cool fashions there) and Shinjuku (the business district - visit the Metropolitan Government offices there for the free 60th floor observation deck), as well as Akihabara (for the electronics).

In Kyoto, the Gion area is where all the Maiko are (Geisha in training), and there are lots of interesing shrines/temples in that area. Of particular note are Yasuka Shrine, and Kiyomizudera. You should definitely go to Nijo Castle in Kyoto - it has 'nightengale floors' which are a very primitive burglar alarm.

Hiroshima can be a moving experience as well, go to the peace park and the A-bomb museum. Then visit Miyajima - the whole island is a temple, and the torii is in the sea. At low tide, you can walk out to it. The deer there are pretty aggressive - they're used to being fed, and pretty much demand it of the tourists!

Speaking of aggressive deer, Nara is another place with that same problem. Nara has the world's oldest, largest indoor Buddha statue, in the world's oldest wooden building. Nara would be a day-trip from Kyoto.

Osaka is also nearby and has more 'big city life'.

Matsue, in Shimane prefecture is beautiful, and was one of my favourite places in Japan. It's very historical, and has ancient burial mounds, and some of the oldest castles and shrines still standing. Matsue Castle is different in that it's black rather than the usual white that most Japanese castles are, and Yaegaki Shrine is very interesting... it's a fertility shrine and has some interesting statuary! Nearby is Izumo Shrine, another very old shrine and popular with young, unmarried women who want to pray for a husband.

Sendai, in northern Honshu is interesting as well, and is close to Matsushima, one of the 'three beautiful sights' in Japan. (The other two are Miyajima and Amanohashidate) There are hundreds of little water-worn islands in the bay, and you can cruise around looking at them.

Hokkaido... open spaces and cows. Snow in the winter.

Kyushu - Nagasaki, but I wouldn't recommend it, honestly. I went to both the Bomb Museums, in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the Nagasaki one just ticked me off. If you want to go to one, I'd say Hiroshima. It's much much better, really.

Shikoku - Tokushima, which has the Awa Odori festival in August, if that's when you're going to be there.

I didn't really spend much time on either Kyushu or Shikoku, and didn't go to Hokkaido at all (I'm from Canada, I've seen snow, thanks!)

There are lots of summer festivals all over; find a good guide book (I always used Lonely Planet) that lists them, or when you're there, find an English book store and buy a Kansai Time Out which lists the festivals for that area. Source(s): I lived in Japan for 7 years,
Other Travel Tips

a must-go-to area is Shibuya and Roppongi, that's where all the major shopping is. but the stuff there is pretty expensive so bring lots of money. also, go to Harajuku to see all the funky styles and costumes that the teenagers like to wear. for the latest in electronics, go to Akihabara, they have the best variety and decent(not exactly cheap) prices. these areas, of course, are all in tokyo.
kyoto is another nice city to visit if you like scenery and historical monuments.
One travel tip.....it is very hot and humid in Japan during summer season. Sometimes in big cities like Tokyo or Osaka, it hits more than 35C. You have to be prepared for this almost tropical heatwave. If you want cool places, head for Hokkaido lol.
Tokyo area:
Akihabara - electronics capital of the world
Roppongi (even Tokyo Midtown was done well)
Daikanyama
Hachiko/Dogenzaka at 7:00 pm
Yoyogi park on Sunday morning
Shimokitazawa
Takeshita Street
Jimbocho
Mingeikan

Chiba Choshi light house
Kamakura
Yokohama

Matushima/Sendai

Kyoto, Nara, Kobe

Fukuoka

Hiroshima/Nagasaki

Kirishima, Sakurajima Volcano
I think these guys have given you some great advice.
I would just like to add..
- Where ever you decide to go get a goodwill guide! There are groups that volunteer to guide you around.
I have a long list on my site http://www.japan.survival-links.com...

I think that it is also a good idea to meet some people who live in the areas you want to visit. You can find friends all over Japan (and the world) at http://friends.japan.survival-links.com...

Have fun!
You should go to Tokyo Osaka or Yokohama there all great places they have alot a places to visit and there are subways almost everywhere its alot of fun