Japan

Ah shame, but yeah keep me posted!

my standard lock is a fahg (medium sized collar) and it's heavy as hell, would I be good locking my bike in japan with something less serious?

You could pretty much use a piece of string.

Which bike Shops should I be visiting in Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo?
As starters, I'll probably try and visit

Osaka: Track Supermarket
Kyoto: I's Bicycle
Tokyo: Blue Lug

Any further advice on track kinda shops? Perhaps to treat myself to a nice sparkly NJS something or other...

I've been meaning to update the map (there are a couple of new shops, including Noru Kyoto, which I would highly recommend as it's run by club-mates), but this should give you a good starting point...

http://www.cyclingkyoto.com/#!stores/cjbo

My girlfriend and I are touring from Tokyo to Osaka in May and will be in Kyoto around 23rd/24th. We're staying with some people on Warm Showers in Kizugawa city at the border with Nara prefecture so will probably get the train in to Kyoto for a few days.

Let me know if you are around for a ride/beer/food, it would be great to meet up.

Definitely. Kizugawa to Kyoto and back is a lovely ride along the river and back, too. :)

Going Japan in November - mainly in Tokyo and Kyoto for the two weeks we're there. What shall we do?

Gain a stone...
http://mai-sen.com/

Kaiseki