What we think is probably a lot different from what actually is popular in Japan. AS there are a lot of shows that either don't get fansubbed, or licensed here in R1 land.
1.I'd say Kimi ni Todoke would be popular, A Certain Scientific Railgun, Major, Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, anything that has more than 26 episodes, and is still airing. But those I wouldn't know.
I'd like to visit Osaka, Kyoto and all the historic places there. The island of Hokkaido, because of Noein, and it's probably more like here than most places in Japan, and is famous for good seafood, especially crab! Go visit the Tokyo Tower, to see why so many shows and films crash it to the ground! lol I'd like to see Nagasaki more than Hiroshima. And I'd like to see the home port of the battleship Yamato. (See Kamichu). If I ever learn how to read Japanese, it would be nice to visit the Jimbo-chou and go to all the bookstores. And go see Yokousaka again! Go to an onsen in the mountains. Find Totoro's forest. Hike the trail from Edo to Osaka, just like people used to do before the railway.
A maid cafe would be lost on me, unless I could learn to speak Japanese, in my opinion. That and my wife would kill me! lol