20-day Itinerary for two, Rough Draft. Arriving December 24 and departing January 8. This is my first time visit to Japan as an adult, after growing up there as a child. My travel companion has visited about 10 years ago. Have a JR pass. My biggest questions are about January 1 schedule, and determining January 7 plans, but I appreciate any and all feedback.
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# [Tokyo 0] 24.12
* 16:00 Arrive in Narita International (no checked bags)
* 19:00 Check-in to Hotel near Iwamotocho Station
* 21:00 Top-Deck Tour Tokyo Tower
# [Tokyo 1] Sun 25.12
* Fukutoku Shrine
* Namiki Dōri St
* Tokyo Midtown Hibiya Bldg: Park View Garden
* Hibiya Park
* Tokyo Christmas Market *(last day)*
* Imperial Palace Gardens East
* Nippon Budokan (depends if there’s an event)
* Akihabara
* Vending Machine Corner, Hanabusa Inari Shrine, Photos at Sunset, Radio Keikan, UDX, AmiAmi, Cosplay Cafe,
# [Tokyo 2] Mon 26.12
* Koto City
* Toyosu Market
* Teamlab PLANETS
* Unicorn Gundam Statue
* Odaiba Statue of Liberty
* Yokohama Bay
* Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama
* Gundam Factory
* Yokohama Chinatown
# [Tokyo 3] Tue 27.12
>**QUESTION:** *Are there a few suggested routes to walk between Harajuku and Shijuku? I was considering going through Meiji Jingo but I’m not sure if there was a good route for novel shops. I’m ears deep into alt-fashion for streetwear and cyber corporate goth.*
* Shibuya Crossing
* Overlook
* Mega Don Quixote
* Harajuku
* ???
* Shijuku
* Tokyo Metropolitan Gov’t Bldg Overlook
* Shinjuku Toho Bldg Godzilla
* Omoide Yokocho / Memory Lane
* Shinjuku Golden Gai
# [Tokyo 4] Wed 28.12
* Free day. Revisit areas or go wander somewhere.
# [Tokyo 5/ Nara 1] Thr 29.12
>**QUESTION:** *I’m really unsure when would be best to wander Naramachi. I want to go see the Heijo Palace Remains, but it’s a bit hard to fit in due to location. Any suggestions, or would it be best to drop Heijo Palace?*
* 10:30 hotel Checkout
* Transit to Nara
* 15:00 at latest: Hotel check-in near Kintetsu-Nara Station
* Harushika Sake Brewery
* ??? Naramachi District (option 1)
* ??? Heijō Palace Remains
# [Nara 2] Fri 30.12
* ??? Naramachi District (option 2)
* Nara Park
* Issu-en Garden
* Todai-ji
* Kasuga Taisha Grand Shrine
* Kōfuku-ji Temple
# [Nara 3/ Kyoto 1] Sat 31.12
* 10:00 hotel Checkout (prefer earlier)
* 13:00 Hotel check-in near Kyoto Station
* Nishiki Market & small detour south to a specific shop
* Gion
* Yasaka-Jinja
* Chion-in for midnight
# [Kyoto 2] Sun 01.01
>**QUESTION:** *I’m worried this is too much for one day, especially on New Years. Does this seem reasonable?*
* Fushimi Inari Taisha
* Tofuku-Ji
* Kiyomizu-dera
* Walk through Sannen-Zaka & Ninnen-Zaka
# [Kyoto 3] Mon 02.01
* Transfer to different Hotel / drop off luggage for hold until later check-in
* Philosopher’s Path Temple Tour
* Heian-Jingu
* Nanzen-Ji
* Ginkaku-Ji
* Enko-Ji
# [Kyoto 4] Tue 03.01
>**QUESTION:** *Once again, although this is the 3rd, does this seem like too much for one day between higher traffic and locations?*
* North-West Kyoto Temples
* Kifune-Jinja
* Kinkaku-Ji
* Tenryu-Ji
* Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
* Otagi Nenbutsu-Ji
# Remainder 04–08 January
>**QUESTION:** *Can anyone recommend a nice small location to stay and enjoy between Narita and Yamanashi on January 7? North of Fuji would appear to make the transit time to Narita the following day a little too long. I am wondering if I should just go EAST of Narita and do all the travel in one day, to do something along the coast, or if I should go to a halfway point and split my travel into two smaller time periods.*
* 04.01 Travel to Nagoya / Nagoya Day 1
* 05.01 Nagoya Day 2
* 06.01 Nishiyama Onsen in Yamanashi
* 07.01 ??? 1/2 day
* 08.01 ??? 1/2 day
* 16:00 Arrive Narita
* 19:30 Depart from Narita
2 comments
I can’t answer all your questions, but let’s give it a go.
You’re trying to cram a LOT of stuff into your Tokyo days. There’s a lot to do there, sure, but wouldn’t you rather take your take, instead of rushing through everything? I feel it’s better to strip a few visits out, and take more time at the ones you deem most important. Also bear in mind that travelling around Tokyo always takes more time than whatever you’re planning for. Best to leave some gaps.
> I’m ears deep into alt-fashion for streetwear and cyber corporate goth.
Playing Cyberpunk 2077 as well? 😎
Harajuku would be good for that. As for walking over to Shinjuku, if you want to come across clothing shops along the way, I guess don’t go through Meiji Jingu 😀 but instead stay on the main roads (which might be less interesting, tbh, but to each their own).
> I’m worried this is too much for one day, especially on New Years. Does this seem reasonable?
I think it’s too much, especially on New Year. Spritual places are typically extremely crowded on the first new day of the year. Also may I suggest going to Fushimiinari nearing the end of the day? The sunset over Kyoto city from the top is absolutely legendary.
> Once again, although this is the 3rd, does this seem like too much for one day between higher traffic and locations?
It seems like a bit much, but in this case you might be okay. I’d recommend Arashiyama near the end of the day, visiting the bamboo grove in the evening. It’s gonna feel kind of magical with those bamboo trees towering over you, lit from below (if memory serves).
> Can anyone recommend a nice small location to stay and enjoy between Narita and Yamanashi on January 7?
Mt. Takao is in between there. It provides a nice walk to a height of 699 metres (use the gondola, and then it’s like 45-60 minutes stroll through a temple and whatnot, towards the top). There’s a fantastic bath house at the foot of the mountain, and I’m sure there are some accommodations nearby. There always are.
As a last piece of advice: try not to plan your trip in too much detail. Things won’t always pan out as you plan, and that will be a dissappointment. Personally I would plan for a generic area, and have a few options there and some time to sit down and relax and whatall. Go to the important sights first, and have some “secondary” places (with all due respect) if you have time left. Just my take, do with it what you feel is best.
>QUESTION: Are there a few suggested routes to walk between Harajuku and Shijuku? I was considering going through Meiji Jingo but I’m not sure if there was a good route for novel shops. I’m ears deep into alt-fashion for streetwear and cyber corporate goth.
What I usually do is start at Harajuku Station – you can check out Meiji Jingu if you like, but after that go down Takashita street (touristy but worth walking through). At the end you will come to a main road – cross here and keep walking down Harajuku street. The next few blocks on the right, including Cat street, have some decent shops so I tend to explore here and Omotesando in general. After this I walk to Shibuya. There isn’t too much on the walk there but I find it’s only a 15 mins walk.