Kristy, Japan in January will be bitterly cold, but then again each season has its own atmosphere and charm. Which city will you be visiting? I live in Kyoto and work in Nara. Although I'm getting more used to living here every passing year (this is my sixth), it still feels like 'Lost in Translation'. If you want your house to really feel like the genuine Japan, just include a vending machine on each wall and a drunken salaryman being sick in the garden.
Mike
