A colleague wants to extend her business trip to Japan for a week and was looking for advice as to what to do.
She's unfamiliar with the country, doesn't speak the language, and won't have the time to put in much research before she goes... frankly she's a little intimidated by the whole prospect.

She's fit, eats fish and vegetarian food but no other meat (something I can help her with), and her last foreign holiday was to retreat in Almeria, Spain, where she did lots of Yoga. She just had a great weekend camping in unglorious British weather... so she's obviously not too 'precious'.

My instinct is to advise her to visit onsen resorts and perhaps stay a night or two in temple lodging... but where?

Her 'tour' would start on Sunday 29th October and she'd need to leave Narita on Sunday 5th November,

The following Matsuri are on at the time:

Karatsu Kunchi
November 2-4
Karatsu, Saga Prefecture
Famous in Japan for its hikiyama floats. These are carried on the shoulder like ordinary mikoshi (i.e. floats) but are topped with outlandishly decorated fish, lions, samurai helmets and other paraphernalia. They lead a boisterous, saké-fuelled parade around the town.

Ohara Festival
November 2-3
Kagoshima, Kagoshima Prefecture
At this, the largest autumn festival in Southern Kyushu, you will be treated to a street parade of no less than 22,000 dancers. Attracts crowds of over 600,000.

Betchya Festival
November 3
Kibitsu-hiko Shrine, Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture
Men wearing striking masks or dressed as lions, run around the crowded streets looking for children to 'thrash' with bamboo whisks. Legend has it that children 'beaten' in this way will be safe from illness for the coming year.

Matsue Do-Gyoretsu
November 3
Matsue, Shimane Prefecture
A drumming festival in which 30 neighbourhood teams compete to outplay each other on huge taiko drums mounted on floats.

Awa Puppet Theatre
November 3
Kisawa, Tokushima Prefecture
Though still an amateur art after, the rural puppet drama of the Awa region is just as famous in Japan as the bunraku puppet drama of Osaka. At this annual event, classic plays are performed on an outdoor stage.

....enno-ji Wasso
November 3
....enno-ji Temple, Osaka
A parade of thousands of people dressed as heroes and historical figures takes to the streets of Osaka. Colourful boat-shaped floats join the procession and add to the magnificent spectacle.

Hakone Daimyo Gyoretsu
November 3
Hakone-machi, Kanagawa
A parade of 150 in full period-dress recreating the crossings that the daimyo (feudal lords) had to make in order to present themselves to the Shogun during the Edo-period (1603-1867)
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By November it will have started to feel quite chilly, and I'm wondering if anybody thinks sending her to Kyushu would be appropriate. I'm sure she'd enjoy the hot sand baths, and the weather should be a little balmier than on Honshu. But I'm riddled with prejeudices, and I'm wondering if my own desire to visit Nagasaki is clouding my judgement.

Because MrLapLap and Onsen just don't get along, I've not really visited any Onsen resorts... which is why I tend to haunt neighbourhood sento in Tokyo instead.

Any suggestions are very welcome!