Alex went with the CSU group to Kyoto for a few days - and after much nagging, sent me a ton of pictures.  They were there in time for the cherry blossoms!  (He said it was ridiculously crowded there, since it WAS the cherry blossom festival time...)  They went quite a few places, including Hiroshima and the Nara Deer Park (the deer will bow to you for food....)