Kyoto

Kyoto needs 3 days: Fushimi Inari (thousands of red torii gates) and Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) on one, the Arashiyama bamboo grove on another, and the Gion district (geishas) on the third. March-May brings cherry blossoms, though November (autumn colors) is equally spectacular and less crowded. It's somewhat cheaper than Tokyo, though the main temples charge individual admission that adds up quickly. It was Japan's imperial capital for over 1,000 years and holds 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the highest density of historic temples and shrines in the entire country.