I am also from Florida - and your exact opposite (I like big cities - and I especially love the food in Japanese cities). OTOH - I've read a fair amount about rural areas of Japan - and some sound very interesting/beautiful. On the third hand - Japan - even in cities - is not the easiest place to travel. Because of the language. To get a feel for this - read Dave Barry Does Japan (I assume you know - but - for other readers - Dave Barry is a humor writer from Florida). Here's an excerpt:

http://static.dpsk12.org/gems/montbe...turalHumor.pdf

Your trip is in late September. If you apply yourself - you'll be able to learn some basic conversational Japanese in 9 months. And prepare flash cards for your visit (many people in Japan read English a lot better than they speak it). You will not be able to read a word (except perhaps in places like train stations where the station names are written in Romaji - Japanese words written in the western alphabet).

It will probably be pretty hard to plan such a trip. Although it is perhaps possible that you will be able to find local guides in one or two rural areas you want to visit. Nevertheless - it is probably doable if you're willing to sink a fair amount of time into the planning - and are adventurous.

FWIW - if you only have 2 weeks - I'd do the first 3-4 days in Tokyo (it is a very long trip from Florida to Japan - and you'll feel like you've been hit over the head with a hammer the first day or two you're there). And the last 3 or so in Kyoto. With a week "on the road". And you'll have to pay close attention to seasonal weather if you plan on hiking (for example - the "official season" on Mt. Fuji - near Tokyo - ends in late August). Also keep in mind that September is still typhoon season in Japan.

Anyway - if you have the time and don't mind the planning - I think you'll find that Japan is a wonderful place to visit. And the Japan forum here on Flyertalk is a great resource . Robyn