Things to do near Nagoya or Tokoname?
 

So I am racing Ironman Japan 70.3 (http://ironman703.jp/e/) in June, and I'll have a few days to kill after the race.

I'm not too keen to spend a ton of time in a train or bus, so is there anything relatively near Nagoya or Tokoname that would give me a taste of authentic Japanese culture?

I'm thinking a day trip with an overnight stay somewhere relatively nearby so I don't spend the day parked inside public transportation...

Ideas?

Heck, Kyoto is only 35 minutes from Nagoya by bullet train. Just run over there, do the major sights and return same day. You don't even need to change hotels.

Or, change hotels to Kyoto and give yourself 2 days in and around Kyoto and Nara. Assuming you are departing Japan from Nagoya (NGO,) you can just as easily start from Kyoto to the airport as from a Nagoya hotel. Just leave 45 minutes or so earlier to allow for connection time.

Yes, see post 4 in this thread.

When I created an itinerary so that my non-fiction book phobic mother could learn about Japanese history I took my parents to stay in the village of Tsumago first so they could experience life in the olden days before Commodore Perry's Black Ships 'opened' Japan and we then went on to Meiji Mura so they could see first hand how the traditional architecture evolved over the last century into what we have now in the modern era.
Worked a treat, and I'm sure she enjoyed her time in Kyoto and Tokyo much more as a result of this instructive tour.

Great idea. Thanks! Any recommendations on a killer B&B or hotel near the station where the bullet train arrives?

Also...are any of the bike tours of Kyoto any good?

Hotels depends on how much you want to spend. The Granvia is in the Kyoto Station building but a bit pricey. There are several others nearby. Take a look at what is available on: http://www.japanhotel.net/area.aspx?area=Kyoto or http://travel.rakuten.com/ .

I don't bike but have heard good things about the bike tours. Can't really help there. I do know of a good walking tour with English speaking guides: http://web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/people/h-s-love/ . Johnny is getting up in age but apparently still leads one of the tours personally.

Thanks! I'll check these out!