日本へ行くなら...

Even though I spent less than three years total living in Japan, I was lucky enough to travel extensively, visit many friends on all four of the main islands, and sample the wide variety of sites this small country has to offer.
It's hard to choose my top five picks, but I'm gonna give it a shot.

井の頭公園・吉祥寺
This is number one, hands down. When I studied in Tokyo, this park was near my homestay residence. It's an oasis of nature in the middle of this bustling metropolis, and it is beautiful in any season. I have lots of great memories here. Drinking beer with my friend Kaz when he used to stay with his sister in nearby Mitaka, meeting up with Wendy for oishii yakitori at the quaint Iseya, and adding to my postcard collection while bargaining with the flea market vendors plying their artistic wares.

報国寺・鎌倉
Any time I visit Kamakura, this beautiful temple is one of the stops. I remember the first time I went there. It was a rainy October day, and my host mother was giving me a tour of this beautiful seaside town just outside of Tokyo. The bamboo garden is small but exquisite, and visitors can enjoy a fresh brew of 抹茶 while overlooking a serene view.

名古屋
I had such a blast when I visited my friend Chihiro and stayed with her family here for a brief two days. I met her while she was studying at CSUF, and we quickly became friends. Nagoya may be short on sights, but the local dishes are excellent. It also touts itself as the home of pachinko, which her father taught me how to play for the first time.

長崎
Guidebooks didn't begin to prepare me for the beauty that is Nagasaki. The rolling green hills abut a calm seaside, and small, Chinese-influenced temples dot the scenery. Of course most people know this city for its tragic WWII history, but it has much more to offer than a requiem against atomic weapons.

もちろん、横浜！

I lived in Yokohama longer than Tokyo, and quickly discovered why this city is superior to the capital. All the same conveniences, none of the hassle. It's also funny to hear Tokyoites wax poetic about their neighbor, while Hama-kos tsk tsk about how Tokyo is ちょうめんどくさい！