Help on Japan Itinerary over New Years (Osaka, Kyoto, Hakuba ski)

Hi everyone,

Me and my friends (4 of us) are currently planning our Japan itinerary and was hoping to get some advice or recommendations on what we have planned so far. We are landing in Osaka on the 24th December 2024 and leaving from Tokyo on 13th January 2025. We are first time travellers to Japan so want to get the most of our trip.

Note: I understand new year's will be extremely busy in Kyoto, but have no other way to plan our itinerary without fitting all the shrines, temples and other touristy spots on 31/12/2024 and 1/01/2025. So if we get some suggestions on how to plan our itinerary over this holiday period, that will be great!

Also any suggestions on where to eat around the locations in our itinerary for lunch and dinner will also be greatly appreciated.

Here's what we have roughly planned so far for Osaka and Kyoto with a mini skip trip in Hakuba (assuming the rest of our trip is spent in Tokyo which we haven't got to planning yet)…

Tue 24/12/2024 (Osaka)

1. Land in Osaka during the evening so planning to spend the rest of the day exploring Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping St /Dotonbori

Wed 25/12/2024 (Osaka)

1. Osaka Castle
2. Tenjimbashi-suji shopping st
3. Nakazakizo District
4. Umeda – shopping
5. Umeda Sky Building

Thu 26/12/2024 (Osaka)

1. Universal studios

Fri 27/12/2024 (Osaka)

1. Kuromon market
2. Den Den Town
3. Shinsekai – Tsutenkaku tower
4. Namba Yasaka Shrine
5. Namba Ebisu Bashi-Suji Shopping District
6. Dotonbori – Hozenji Temple & Yokocho

Sat 28/12/2024 (Day trip to Miyajima Island and Hiroshima)

1. Miyajima Island: Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street, Hokokujinja Senjokaku Pavilion, Grand Torii Gate & Itsukushima Jinja Shrine, Miyajima Ropeway Momijidani Station, Momijidani Park
2. Hiroshima: Shukkeien Garden, Hiroshima Castle, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Atomic Bomb Dome

Sun 29/12/2024 (Osaka)

1. Kuromon market
2. Animeal Cafe
3. Round One Stadium, Sennichimae
4. Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping St
5. Shinsekai

(Basically fitting whatever we can on this last day in Osaka and doing more shopping)

Mon 30/12/2024 (Osaka -> Kyoto)

1. Nishiki Market
2. Kinkakuji Temple
3. Gion district

Tue 31/12/2024 (Day trip to Uji and Nara)

1. Uji: Nakamura Tokichi Honten (matcha), Byodo in temple, Ujibashi Bridge & Byodo-In Omotesando, Torikiku (lunch)
2. Nara: Nakatanidou (Fresh pounded mochi), Kofuki-ji Temple, Isuien Garden, Todai-ji Temple, Nara Park, Kasuga Taisha
3. NY Fireworks somewhere?

Wed 01/01/2025 (Kyoto)

Arashiyama *consider hiring a kimono here?*:

1. Tenryuji Temple
2. Tahoden (Hall of Treasures)
3. Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
4. Okochi Sanso Garden
5. Arashiyama Park Kameyama Area
6. Hozu River – %Arabica Coffee
7. Arashiyama Togetsukyo Bridge
8. Iwatayama Monkey Park
9. Pontocho Alley
10. Yasaka Shrine

Thu 02/01/2025 (Kyoto)

1. Fushimi Inari Shrine
2. Ninenzaka – Sannenzaka *Consider hiring a kimono here?*:
3. Starbucks kyoto nizeizaka yasaka chaya
4. Kiyomizudera temple
5. Maccha house – Kiyomizudera address (if we keen for again)
6. Hokanji temple
7. Nene no michi
8. Kodaiji Temple
9. Maruyama Park
10. Chion-In Temple
11. Yasaka Shrine
12. Hanamikoji Street (Dinner)

Fri 03/01/2025 to Mon 06/01/2025: Hakuba skiing (is this too many or too little days for skiing? we are complete beginners lol)

06/01/2025 to Mon 13/01/25: Tokyo

Thank you!!