Our trip was quick, only 7 days. I'm unable to give you day by day detail as I did not keep a diary. (sorry) We visited shrines, temples, took a Tokyo harbor tour in a boat (Symphony). Hiroshima was meaningful, but not sure if that would work for you with your plan to go to Okinawa. If your kids are older (like teens at least), it would be educational for them. We arrived in Japan by flying into Haneda and took the train to the Via Inn/Ooimachi. It was a fine place for our first night. The rooms were a bit on the small side, but not a problem. Next morning we went to a restaurant downstairs which had a wide range of breakfast items which was good for that first morning. After that first night in Tokyo, we transferred to the ryokan Tsurugata in Kurashiki, Okayama, mentioned above where we spent two nights. It really is a charming place. I recall it was a little pricey but included breakfast and dinner. We spent two nights there. Other places we stayed were less expensive, so it evened out somewhat, and it was worth the expense to be in that traditional setting. After that we went to the thatched roof village, Miyama, for one night. We then stayed one night at the Granvia Hotel in Kyoto, which is at the train station. Very nice hotel. From there we went to the Disneyland resort (Hilton Tokyo Bay) so the Disney-lovers could get their fill of Disney Sea theme park. Maybe not too interesting to you, but I must share with you that we visited an elementary school since one of us had a contact there. It was really fun to see a Japanese classroom, and the kids were thrilled to have us as visitors. If you are out shopping and see a Daiso store, it's a good place to stop in to pick up odds and ends affordably, maybe little souvenirs. Not joking here: check 7-11 for affordable food. They have fresh, good food available, meals. (I know, sounds wrong, but they are better in Japan than in the US.) It can save you quite a bit if you can pick up some meals there. If anyone in your group cannot function without coffee, take a couple of packets of instant coffee. Every place but one had coffee. Here's the Fushimi-Inari shrine with over 1,000 gates. It's reachable from Kyoto and is very interesting, amazing actually. The fox is significant to Shinto believers, so there are a few statues at the Fushimi-Inari shrine. Very charming. Bullet train (shinkansen). Comfortable, clean, well maintained. (Local trains are more crowded, often packed. When you think no more can fit in the car, many more come in and everyone bunches up! You get to know your fellow travelers!) The shrines offer an opportunity to write a special message like a prayer on these small wood plaques. At shrines you can purchase inexpensively small, beautiful charms of all sorts to help you get a wife, heal your knee, make more money--anything you want. Fabric with the message inside. I bought several as gifts but neglected to make a note of what each one was for and so never gifted them. Last, the Golden Pavilion, near Kyoto

* The Ginza in Japan is a must-see if you like old-fashioned department stores. Definitely time-warp yourself to 1962 with a department-store restaurant lunch (but with tastier food). Picking a menu item will not be a problem because most restaurants in Japan have models of the food they serve in the front area. * If you are taking a train trip of more than 2 hours, get to the station early and pick up an "ekiden"--to-go packaged train lunch--from one of the stores in the station. You will be able to get a packaged lunch with local specialties (the equivalent of, say, clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl in San Francisco). Very tasty, not expensive. * Japanese temples are very interactive and fun for children. Pack some change so that you can make wishes. * People in Japan carry handkerchiefs and they come in very handy. The souvenir handkerchiefs at gift shops can be gorgeous--definitely put some money aside. You will need handkerchiefs while you're there, and they make great souvenirs for you and surprisingly great presents for people at home. I gave my mother a handkerchief I bought in Japan one Christmas and was surprised to hear BOTH my sisters draw in their breath and say--in stereo--"That is a BEAUTIFUL HANDKERCHIEF."

DawninCal, it was so hot and humid when we were in Tokyo that it made us sick. All the walking and sightseeing in the heat made us all lose our appetite and Rachelle really got sick, making us leave early on our first day out with family. I was surprised when we got to Kyoto, for some reason I thought it would be warmer but it was nice and cool. I think it only rained one or two days when we were there. By-the-way, got on the scale today and found that I had lost about 6 pounds during the trip!

Sashimi/sushi is usually both artfully presented and very delicious but not exotic compared to many things that are commonly eaten in Japan. I was an adventurous eater during my first trip there. Two things I remember eating in particular were grasshoppers and tadpoles. Both tasted fine if you didn't think about what you were eating nor look too closely at what you were putting into your mouth. There were some other things I questioned myself about and decided to just eat them and not ask what they were. I like octopus and it's a common seafood in the big European Mediterranean seafood eating areas like in Iberia, Italy and Greece. Whether eaten cooked or raw (sashimi) Japanese style, the flavor isn't that different from squid (calamari).