Rokko Mountain- Kobe Japan

In the city of Kobe, you will see the beautiful tropical mountains above the bay.  Many people wonder how to get up to the mountains.  If you are not familiar with the area, a hidden cable car awaits you at the base of the mountain! The cable car travels up the mountain every half hour and once you are up top, it's another world! The views of Kobe are amazing!  

This is actually home of the very first golf course in Japan.  They have a bus that departs the cable car station at the top and will take you to other parts of the mountain for you to explore.  There is a huge field (in the winter it is where the locals go to ski) with vast open green space to just relax.  They have boat rides, fishing ponds, go karts.  At another stop, they have an outdoor adventure park where kids and traverse the woods on planks and other obstacle courses.  It is never busy and you will seldom see tourist.  The maps are in English so pick one up at the station.  The JR station is just a 10min walk away. 

Tokyu Hands- Osaka, Japan

Do you ever wonder where to buy all those random cool stuff from Japan?  Tokyu Hands is a department store where as the picture shows, carries things like a multitude of masking tapes!  This is seven floors filled with the most unique items.  There are sections dedicated just to cosplay where you can find random outfits.  Or a floor just set for pens and pencils!  If you are in Osaka, you need to stop by this store so you can go home with a bunch of cool gifts you really can't find anywhere else! The one in Osaka is by the Shumiyoshi station of the JR and Hanku line and is within walking distance.  If you ask anyone, "Tokyu Hands?" they will understand and will guide you.  Japanese people seem like people who don't want to be bothered, but they are very friendly and will help any tourist.  Also, if you ask a younger Japanese citizen, chances are they understand a little bit of English (many signs in Japan are in english characters so they learn how to read english at a young age).

Todajii Temple "Great Eastern Temple" Nara, Japan

This temple is located in Nara, Japan (between Osaka and Kyoto).  In layman's term this was the Buddhist HQ for all of Japan.  This is also the world largest wooden structure.  The entire hall was reconstructed in the 1600's and took nearly 100 years to rebuild.  The current structure is a fraction of the size it was before reconstruction.  In Nara, you will see deers that roam freely!  It's a sight to be seen because the deers are not shy and will come near you if you have food for them.  Below is a map of the area.  From the JR Line you will need to either take a bus or taxi to get to the temple.  The entire temple complex is quite amazing.  Inside the temple is home to one of the largest bronze statue of Buddah in Japan.