Dude your guides that you've posted are awesome. I've cut and pasted a bunch of stuff from here and I'm up to 25 pages
not to mention your Zippo tricks
I just plan on being very fluid and going with flow, there are really only two must do's on internary.
1. Nara
2. Yokosuka, I'm a big fan of Shenmue and walking the streets of Dobuita would just rock.
I don't see this as a once in a lifetime trip, more like getting my bearings as I will be coming back.