No. of Recommendations: 2
It has been many years since I was in Japan but at the time Nara was well worth the visit and not that far from Kyoto. Nara was the first capital of Japan and (had) some pre-1000 AD silks and caligraphy. This was in the 1980's so things may have changed. In Tokyo is a museum dedicated to Japanese swords (
en.wikipedia.org - Japanese Sword Museum). They have moved into a new and (quite elegant by the pictures) facility since I visited.
Much further afield but very moving is Hiroshima, site of the first offensive use of nuclear weapons.
If you have a chance to stay in a traditional ryokan rather than a modern hotel I strongly recommend it.
Rgds,
HH/Sean
