Some more stuff.

I recommend you make it to at least Kyoto as it is a city that takes you back in time. Some world famouse sites include: Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavillion), Ryoan-ji (most famous zen rock garden), Kiyomizu-dera (a famous temple on the hillside with one of the best view points of Kyoto), near Kiyomizu, there is a walking street that has the traditional townhouse style buildings but unfortunately many shops are geared to tourists, another walking street is Nishiki market that is a block north of the main downtown street. Toji temple (oldest pagoda) south of the train station has a flea market I think the last sunday of the month and you can find some kool stuff there. The Gion is the traditional geisha area/bars (you can't get in without an introduction but you might see geisha or maiko going to appointments). The Kyoto Train Station is a very modern building and you can take escalators to the top to see Kyoto. At the base of the Kyoto Tower building just north of the station is a JNTO tourist service agency office. They speak english and give you maps or directions to where you want to go in the city. (There is also an office in Tokyo so it helps to get some directions rather than being lost.)

Japan is not the easiest country to travel in if you don't speak or read some Japanese. You might go to your local Japanese restaurant and see if you can translate some food dishes you like so you can order it. Most restaurants have models of what they serve so you can always just point to order. I'd also recommend buying a phrase book. You can also find a guide book at your local library too.

Other:
- Nara has Todaiji Temple which has live deer and the largest wood building housing a large buddha statue.
- Best castle is Himeji Castle in Himeji south of Kobe.
- If you make it to Hiroshima, a stop south is where you can take a ferry using the rail pass to Miyajima (famous floating shrine with the Tori gate in the sea)

This distance would make good use of the rail pass. Read up on being able to reserve a seat on the bullet train. At the many JR stations there is a green colored JR train office where you are able to make a train and seat reservations to other cities. They do allow standbys but you might get stuck in a smoking car or standing if it's crowded.