LapLap,

In rereading your OP, I can't tell if you'll be joining your friend for some or all of the trips. If you woln't be joining her for the whole time and she's at all intimidated by travel in japan, it might be good to take her around for a long weekend if you can.

If you can't join her at all, perhaps we need to take that into consideration.

While I've mentioned Tochigi, there's also Izu which is a quick jaunt from Tokyo. It's supposedly very nice with great onsen and fun outdoor activities. It was the place i didn't get a chance to go to on my last trip to Japan, so maybe my predjudices are showing :-)

_m