After 25 years, I find myself finally returning to Japan. In the early 90's, I went to Japan for a work trip. I was excited to go then, and I'm excited to go now - I'm sure much has changed and much is still the same.

While I hope I don't need any specific help, any advice or suggestions are more than welcome. For background, I'm really an infrastructure/cool technology person, and less so someone who seeks out the traditional & historical - but I do think I'll try to get to Kyoto this time.

Arriving NRT, first 5 days are at the Hilton Shinjuku (points stay). I then have a night I still need to arrange, then I have two nights Hilton Osaka (also points stay), followed by another free night and then depart NRT later that next day.

I am considering the Century Hotel Southern Tower for the one night in Tokyo after my Hilton Shinjuku stay, mainly for their panoramic view rooms overlooking the station and the rest of Tokyo. I'm hoping to do some time-lapse work from that room - I suspect the Hilton doesn't have good views given what I've seen on Google Earth. Yes, I know it means schlepping bags for just one night.

I'm going to try to get a front seat on the Odakyu Romancecar service to Hakone and back for a day when I'm in Tokyo; but it doesn't have to be any particular day. Hopefully I can swing that through the website, but they (Odakyu) have an email address I might try as well.

Being a bit of a geek, I'll want to hit the interesting train lines and stations in Tokyo, which I'm generally fairly familiar with already. Some of these will be non-JR so I'm still figuring if a JR rail pass is going to be anything that makes sense financially - especially since I'd like to use the Nozomi, and possibly even in the green car (feedback on green car on that route? Is it much of an upgrade? Certainly doesn't look like Gran Class).

I have considered taking the Shinkansen all the way to Hiroshima from Tokyo, briefly visiting there and then getting into Osaka - but it's likely I'll have all my bags with me if I can't figure out how to keep one in Tokyo, so that might be cumbersome to deal with.

My time in Osaka previously is a bit of a blur to me now; I really don't have any real ideas as to what do do there. This isn't a problem necessarily, just a statement - I'm sure I'll find things to do, places to go. The Hilton is right next to Osaka station, and I do remember having to transfer between Shin-Osaka and Osaka.

This is somewhat obviously a potential time for going up to Kyoto for a few hours.

I'd prefer to stay the last night in Tokyo, and I was thinking the Shinagawa Prince. It would have great Shinkansen access for the return and also good access for the NEX or Limousine Bus, whichever makes the most sense given the time of day. I spent my last visit in the Dai Ichi Seafort Square, so I'd like to re-visit the Shinagawa area to some small extent.

Besides "Domo" and "Hai" I don't speak any Japanese; it wasn't a problem last time and I doubt it will be a problem this time - except for eating here and there. I do want to try some of the smaller places, but let's say I'm not an adventurous eater as compared with many of you. Toss in a new allergy to shrimp (specifically, only shrimp that's starting to decay) and this is the only part of the trip that I'm somewhat unsure of - but I'm sure it will be fine.

Really looking forward to this trip!