A few small tips for anyone going to Japan:

1. Very difficult to find souvenirs in Japan
2. Every tourist attraction, train station, most hotels, and almost everywhere, there are ink stamps to stamp in a stamp book.  Be ready.  Great for kids!
3. If using Japan Rail (includes Shinkansen trains), the Japan Rail Pass is SO CONVENIENT but is not cost effective. 
4. If using a JR Pass, train reservations are easy at the machines at all stations but requires you to enter all passport information every time to prove you are from overseas.  This is very time consuming and annoys the hundreds behind you in the queue for the machines.  We just went to a ticket office and got them to do it much more quickly.  Beware ticket office assistance has an usual wait time of 15 to 45 minutes.
5. All other public transport (trams, buses, subways and JR if you don't have a rail pass) uses an IC Card.  All public transport is owned by different companies and has separate ticketing which will drive you crazy.  Answer purchase an IC card (like a Miki Card - but more like a credit card).  It solves all public transport and convenience store problems.