sure have a lot of temples and shrines in that plan. maybe you're religious, maybe you'll convert.....maybe not. i took a similar trip twenty years ago....wanted to see all the temples and architecture...not that i was religious nor did i want to be....but all the guidebooks told me to go see these things and so i was young, impressionable and i did it because i didn't think i'd ever get back (wrong) and i wanted to see how AMAZING these things were (according to the tour books).

after about the third or fourth temple in kyoto, i said, "ok, i need a drink now."

they're cool. nice to look at. absorb the culture. then they get monotonous. my opinion.

you got 11 days or so there...take a few day trips and cut out some shrines/temples. go hike mt. fuji. no better time than august.

or take a quick flight up to Sapporo. Just check it out and hang out. how many people do you know have been to hokkaido. optimaly, you go in the winter for the snow festival but heck, why not august?

a little more adventurous - go deep into the heartland - check out hirosaki castle. optimaly, do it cherry blossom season, but heck, why not august? place is beautiful and amazing!