I'm in the National Guard, and will be leaving for IRaq soon (bear with me). Apparently, we are given a two-week vacation to anywhere in the world during the 12 month's I'll be over there, and one of my destinations is Japan, preferably Tokyo. However, I am not sure of it and am looking for some advice, preferably locations I can visit while I'm over there. I'll start with the questions that are uppermost in my thoughts right now?
I know Japan is generally a homogenous society and sort of xenophobic, but I heard the people are generally pleasant to tourists, how true is this to your experiences?
What are some great places to visit by ones-self? I'm into the historic, the public, the nightlife, the nerdy...any place that anyone visits regularly, has been before and loved...any place would be fantastic. (a name at the least please, please don't write "Well there was this one restaurant...food there was great, it's in Nerima" doesn't help em that much
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Where are the nearest onsen's (hot springs) that will cater to foreigners? I've always wanted to visit a hot spring, but I'd rather not let my whiteness burden the staff or their customers.
When would be the best time of the year to visit? I know June is the rainy season, but I'm not really a "cold-weather" person.
Would you recommend Japan for a two-week vacation, as a single-guy traveling by himself?
Let me make it clear, over the last 10 or so years, I have been engrossed in Japan. It started out as purely entertainment, but then i started to learn its culture and history, and even a very small amount of its language. But my knowledge of its society is limited to what I've read. I want to learn more about Japan and its people, and not through the internet and the eyes of others. I think I could love Japan for its good and its bad, any information at all would be fantastic.