First time in Japan, I lived in Tama Plaza. So that place is important to me. Also Kamakura has alot of happy memories from my days studying in Tokyo I miss it all so much. Every day I wonder, "how can I make my stay there permanent?"

Thanks for all of the suggestions!

I just got back from my trip about a week ago.

I have to say I LOVED Osaka. There is so much to do there, but it isn't as fast-paced or expensive as Tokyo. I saw people on the trains wearing color! (anybody that's been on the rush hour trains in Tokyo knows how monochrome it can be there...) Apparently I got there the day after a big festival, so I'm sure that had something to do with how laid-back everyone was, but it was still a lot of fun. It has a little bit of everything from the major temples, shrines, and a castle to the bay front and major shopping districts. Namba was so much bigger than I expected, and I had the best takoyaki in my life in Shinsekai. I'm totally checking out Universal Studios Japan next time to see the Harry Potter Wizarding World. It looks amazing and I had no idea it even existed before my trip.

The other highlight of the trip was the Kii peninsula. The food there was amazing! I stayed at an onsen ryokan for a whopping 7800 yen/night with a view of the cove. It didn't include dinner so I went to town and found they do a lot of tuna fishing and canning there. A huge maguro sashimi dinner set with a full liter beer ran me 2200 yen. It was so cheap and by far the best tuna I've ever had. If you ever feel like a cheap get-away from the city I'd totally recommend it. It's about a 2 hr train ride from either Osaka or Nagoya. The Kumano Kodo is nearby with many major shrines (Ise also isn't too far away) and tons of hiking. The public foot baths throughout town were a nice touch. I spent another night at Kawayu Onsen (http://www.tb-kumano.jp/en/onsen/kawayu/), which cost a little bit more but it was a great way to relax after all of that hiking. Note that you have to take a bus or hike to get there from the Kii-Katsuura or Shingu stations, which you want to plan carefully. Taxis will run you nearly $10/km in the area so you want to avoid that if you can.

I definitely recommend solo travel if you get the chance! I got to meet so many people that way and made some unforgettable memories.

Ikebukuro

Hakone is awesome it was my second favorite place i went in japan besides Tokyo (i love cities). there was so much to do you can go out on Lake Ashi or ride the Hakone rope way.

Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum

I love Onuma Koen, which is a park about half an hour from Hakodate. It's a series of islands connected by bridges, and all of the bridges are different styles. The Ainu museum in Hakodate is also very interesting.

Never been...but of course a DREAM is to visit Akihabara...And just to sate that morbid curiosity, I'd like to venture deep into Aokigahara Forest at the base of Mt. Fuji.

Ahhhh, Japan. Land of wonders. Land of Anime. Land of Dreams. <3