USChris-
Greetings from Japan. Since you seem to have an extensive break, will you travel around Japan? Unfortunately, many people (and UA too) seem to think that Tokyo (and perhaps Kyoto) are all you need to see in Japan. I live down by the Kansai KIX region. If you are down here, let me know and perhaps I can offer suggestions or show you around. Have been here for ten l-o-n-g years!