Place to visit in the country - within 2-3hrs outside Tokyo?

[chachava]

Originally Posted by Alastor

Around 40 people die like that every year, I read.

Where on earth did you read that? Yes they are harmful to humans but it is pretty rare they attack people...

We were warned about them when working in Nagasaki last summer and saw one (they are HUGE!) but it didn't bother us

[godwine]

He is "almost" accurate... you can find an article on Wiki:

Asian giant hornet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Though, i am pretty sure every single country has something that can potentially kill you, so I wouldn't worry about it, as pointed out, I don't think they will just randomly attack people

[Alastor]

Nah, not all countries. You don't find anything like that where I live, thank goodness.

But the insect I was referring to is the Vespa Mandarinia Japonica. So specifically, it's the japanese kind, which doesn't inject venoms through stinging, but rather seems to spray or drop the thing from its mouth. I saw a clip once showing how like 30 or so hornets massacred an entire bee colony. It was sick.

And according to that report, forty people died every year from those hornets. Not saying they all died outside Tokyo, but still...

[godwine]

Which is directed to the same site i posted on Wiki

I didn't say every country has insects like these, I am saying every country will have "SOMETHING" that can potentially kill you

[sujuncai]

You defintely MUST go to Nikko, no matter what! The Toshugu Shrine there is magnificent, the Kegon Falls is exhilarating, and the Lake Chuzenji is breath-taking! If you do not want to fight with the tourist crowd, just go on a Monday or Tuesday while everyone else is working. Trust me, it's definitely worth it!

I will be updating my blog (3 Really Cool Dudes In Tokyo :-D !!!) on the details of my Nikko trip in Japan, so do stay tuned!