Wow! I can tell I will get some terrific advice here.

I think the next thing I need to do is get a general guidebook to Japan (Frommers, Fodors, etc.) and reacquaint myself with where everything is in Japan. I then need to make a list of "must sees" and "would like to sees" and then figure out the most efficient and cost-effective transportation option. It sure looks like we'll be getting around by train, and probably with a rail pass (boy -- from an expense standpoint, I'd love to find some deal where "kids travel free" with adults).

From more than a decade ago, I remember Kurashiki (if my memory is right I recall it's an easy stop on the Shinkansen) with great fondness, but I don't think I've been to Miyajima. I also remember a "really cool" castle, which I think was Himeji, but I've got to look at pictures to make sure.

I suspect my greatest challenge will be finding nice affordable family-sized accomodations for my crowd. Ideally, I'd like to spend under $125 a night, unless dinner was included. Not yet sure if that's possible. We'd like to experience boths traditional inns (at least those that are family friendly!) and modern hotels. From the suggestions here and what little I've picked up elsewhere, I can tell there are plenty of discount websites that might help (hard to believe, but on my last trip to Japan the internet didn't really exist, so the availability of English-language info/deals was a small fraction of what is available now). BTW, if anyone is a frequent Starwood member, I do have some points I can use (if I can get 4 in a room or get a good cash/points deal), so If there are any Starwood Japan experts, I'd love to get their advice, too.

My general thought on train travel would be to do the longer distances (say, over 1 1/2 hours) in the early evening, leaving our days free for sightseeing. With children in tow and the generally high price of meals in Japan, we probably won't be doing a lot of fine dining in the evening. If we buy a rail pass, we will probably want to adopt that near universal approach of doing enough travel to get our money's worth.

BTW, since we'll be gone 10-11 days, is there an efficient affordable laundry option for travellers in Japan, or is it like Europe, where the cost and inconvenience sometimes makes lugging all your clothes the better option?

Thanks again for all the help.