Japan Trip #5 - Suggestions?

We've been all over by now, indicated elsewhere, having visited a few
new towns every time we've gone. We'll be there for two weeks with the
first two nights and the last 3 in Tokyo. That leaves around three
potential 3-night stays in other locales.

We agree we'll likely stay at an onsen near Nagano before our final
return to Tokyo.

My wife is eager to see Kanizawa and Kurashiki.My difficulty with these
two specific destinations (which we've always slighted to my wife's
irritation) is that there seems to be nothing along the way to or from
Kanizawa with the exception of Takayama where we've already seen. And
it seems anyway in or out of Kanizawa will otherwise burn up an entire
day.

Kurashiki too is a nuisance. We've explored the coast from Fukuoka to
Osaka a number of times but never wedged Kurashiki in. Is it really
worth the time to get there? Is there any route between Kanizawa and
Kurashiki that makes sense? Is Kurashiki Hiroshima/Fukoka
Kurashiki feasible?

Or perhaps we could see Kurashiki first, then get to Kurashiki (looks
like a full day in transit) and then head head north from Kanizawa up
the west coast, which we've not seen.

We've endlessly heard conflicting information about what Nagoya offers.
Is it a viable destination? I know that south of Nagoya around the
Ise Bay, there have been hints of something interesting? Maybe that
would be better. Anybody been there?
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Thank you and have a nice day.