The place you should visit
 

The best places you should visit in Japan:

Kyoto
Nara

Hot springs all over Japan
You should read 温泉教授・松田忠徳の「日本百名湯」(DVD全10巻ケース入 り) 満足度100のホンモノ温泉 (大型本)

I recommend Awara-Onsen(hotspring) in Fukui prefecture.
The best place you should stay in Awara is Beniya.
http://www.awara.co.jp/
Very authentic but rather expensive.

Shirakawa-go
http://shirakawa-go.org/

Higashi-Iyayama-mura
http://www.mbs.jp/jounetsu/2007/07_15.shtml

The best books you should read before visiting Japan are those written by an American,Alex Kerr.
http://www.globe-walkers.com/ohno/in...w/alexkerr.htm
Books & Writings