I definitely think that sounds right up my alley! My GF is very about visiting the gardens and the shrines, so Kobori Enshu for sure

We're planning on visiting Osaka, any reason why you'd give it a miss?

Our plan (as of now) is spending the first 4 nights in Tokyo, hitting up shops, restaurants as well as Disney Sea (lol)

Then we'll spend 3 nights in Kyoto, 1 night in Osaka including a day trip to Nara, and the last 4 nights in Tokyo.

Thank you for the recs, I'll look into the ones that aren't on our list already



>Though my tastes tend more toward the rural/traditional, so
>if that’s less your thing, My answers might not be up your
>alley.
>
>In Tokyo, the Palace, the Kaminarimon, the Edo Museum, just
>checking out the neighborhoods and people watching.
>
>Day Trip from Tokyo, Nikko is really something.
>
>Kyoto: Silver Pavilion/Philosophers’ Walk; Golden Pavilion;
>Heian Shrine; Nijo Castle; any garden your guidebook tells you
>was designed by Kobori Enshu; kokedera; Ryoan-ji; Kyomizu-dera
>and the surrounding neighborhood.
>
>Give Osaka a miss unless there’s something you really want
>to see. I would recommend s day trip to Nara instead to see if
>you fit through the big Buddha’s nostril.
>
>If you really want to see. A castle, I’d recommend Himeji, s
>but further west from Kobe. Or a more off the beaten path,
>there’s an all original castle I think called Takahashira.
>Still doable as a day trip in the Kansas region but would
>involve slower trains and far fewer people.
>
>It’s been 20+ years since I’ve been there but any
>questions I may be able to answer, Fire away.