Pre-planning

Will be attending a conference in Kobe, Japan at the end of May. Last-minute planning, yet again…
Here are some useful websites I found (with the help of my Japanese friend).

Japan National Tourist Organization
Japan National Tourist Organization - Accommodation
Japan Ryokan Association (Japanese-style inn)
Welcome Inn Reservation Center (non-profit organization with a list of reasonable accommodations)
Japan Rail Pass
Some [...]