Let's Get Lost: Japan

I'm so psyched to say that our plans to visit Japan in May are coming together. And my head is spinning with the prospect of exploring Kyoto alleys, hiking the Japanese Alps, dipping into a real onsen bath and tasting Tokyo nightlife. I'm also reading Murakami's 'The Wind-up Bird Chronicles' so the combination has me dreaming strange and surreal Japanese dreams. The plan so far includes a good chunk of time in Tokyo (staying in Shimokitazawa which seems like the prefect 'hood for us); zig-zagging north to Nikko; spending a few days in the Alps near Nagano and Takayama; then it's over to a ryokan in Kyoto; and some biking in and around Hiroshima with a day trip to Naoshima (thanks for the tip Emma!); a stop on Ise peninsula and back to Tokyo.

Any and all recommendations for stuff to eat/see/do are welcome!

We'll have have wheels for most of our trip (thus plenty of chances to get super lost!). What is driving in Japan like? We're pretty good at navigating but it'll be our first time on the 'other' side of the road while interpreting kanji signs. GPS a must?

And now some dreamy ukiyo-e prints paired with Murakami's 'Windup bird' quotes. Enjoy. Get Lost.