Hello! My fiance and I are very lucky to have 36 days to spend on our honeymoon trip in Japan. We will be going in mid/late Dec and leaving in late Jan. It’ll be our first time in Japan and we’d like to check whether the itinerary is doable. We are in our late 20s and mid 30s, so we want a mix of exciting and relaxing days without burning out. We’d also love to allow some time for spontaneous exploration.
I have put specific questions down with the itinerary. It isn’t super detailed, again for the purpose of spontaneous exploration, but should be enough for us to hit some of the must-see spots. My main concern is during the new year period so your suggestions and recommendations are appreciated.
Thank you for your help!
# – Tokyo part 1 –
DAY 1 Wednesday, 20 Dec 2023 Arrival at Narita Airport
Arriving in the early morning > Drop our luggage at the hotel at Shinjuku > Explore the surroundings until early check-in time > Rest until late afternoon > Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building for sunset > Explore Shinjuku (Omoide Yokocho, Godzilla statue, Kabukicho, Golden Gai, Suehirotei etc.)
**DAY 2 Thursday, 21 Dec 2023 Shibuya**
Meiji Jingu & Yoyogi Park first > Explore the rest of Shibuya (Scramble Square, Shibuya Sky, Nonbei Yokocho, Center-Gai, Hachiko Memorial statue etc.)
**DAY 3 Friday, 22 Dec 2023 Odaiba, Tsukiji, Ginza, Shimbashi**
Toyosu Market tuna auction (will try the lottery-based application for a closer look) > Tsukiji Market > Art Aquarium Museum via Ginza > Rest until late afternoon > Toranomon Kotohiragu, Tokyo Tower via Shibakoen, Shimbashi
**DAY 4 Saturday, 23 Dec 2023 Gotokuji**
Gotokuji Temple > Explore the surroundings
# – Hakone –
**DAY 5 Sunday, 24 Dec 2023 (Christmas Eve) Hakone**
From Shinjuku to Hakone > Ropeway to Owakudani > Lake Ashi pirate ship > Hakone Checkpoint > Hakone Shrine > Amazaka tea house
`If it is a lot for one day we’ll have some time the next day to explore before the main activity. We’re also contemplating spending Christmas in Hakone or Yokohama. I heard that there might be fireworks at Lake Ashi on Christmas Day but couldn’t find anything about it. Does anyone know?`
**DAY 6 Monday, 25 Dec 2023 (Christmas Day) Hakone**
Fun2Drive guided tour
# – Yokohama –
**DAY 7 Tuesday, 26 Dec 2023 (Boxing Day) Yokohama**
Ramen Museum > Explore Yokohama > Night factory cruise > Nogecho
# – Kyoto –
**DAY 8 Wednesday, 27 Dec 2023 Kyoto**
From Shin-Yokohama to Kyoto in the morning > Nijo Castle > Nishiki Market > Rest until late afternoon > Explore Gion in the evening to avoid the crowd
**DAY 9 Thursday, 28 Dec 2023 Uji**
Daigoji > Uji (Byodo-in Temple & Matcha shops, Ujibashi Bridge etc.) > Fushimi Inari Taisha at night
**DAY 10 Friday, 29 Dec 2023 Shiga Prefecture**
Karasaki Jinja > Mangetsu-ji Ukimido > Omihachiman > Nagahama Black Square > (Metasequoia Avenue is a maybe) > Shirahige Jinja
`We’re thinking of renting a car at Otsu or somewhere to explore the prefecture. What do you think the road condition will be like? I heard the north of Shiga can get quite a bit of snow and we aren’t that experienced with snow.`
**DAY 11 Saturday, 30 Dec 2023 Arashiyama**
Tenryu-ji, Danrin-ji, Bamboo Grove > Togetsu-kyo Bridge > (Monkey Park is a maybe) > Hanaikada for short onsen rest > Kimono forest
**DAY 12 Sunday, 31 Dec 2023 (New Year’s Eve) Northwest Kyoto**
Kitano Tenmangu & explore the surroundings > Kinkaku-ji
**DAY 13 Monday, 1 Jan 2024 (New Year’s Day) Northern Higashiyama**
Enko-ji > Tetsugaku No Michi
# – Nara –
**DAY 14 Tuesday, 2 Jan 2024 (New Year Holiday) Nara**
Head to Nara using the Nara Line > Explore Nara (Todai-ji, Nara Park, Kasuga Taisha, Kofuku-ji etc) > Rest > Hase-dera
`We’re aware that there’ll be heaps of people returning to their hometowns during the holiday, but I also heard the local train lines are fine. Is this doable?`
# – Osaka –
**DAY 15 Wednesday, 3 Jan 2024 (New Year Holiday) Minami**
Nara to Osaka in the afternoon > Namba Yasaka Jinja (3 mins away from accommodation) > Explore Minami (Shinsaibashi-suji, Dotonbori, Hozenji & Yokocho etc.)
`We are staying in Osaka for a few days so we can be flexible here. Will shops be open on this day?`
**DAY 16 Thursday, 4 Jan 2024 (New Year Holiday) Tennoji**
Kuromon Ichiba Market > Shitennoji & Isshin-ji & Horikoshi Jinja > Harukas 300 > Shinsekai
**DAY 17 Friday, 5 Jan 2024 Universal Studio**
Universal Studios Japan & Osaka Takoyaki Park
**DAY 18 Saturday, 6 Jan 2024 Rest day**
Rest
**DAY 19 Sunday, 7 Jan 2024 Sumiyoshi & Botanical Garden**
Sumiyoshi Taisha & explore the surroundings > teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka
# – Nagoya –
**DAY 20 Monday, 8 Jan 2024 Nagoya**
Osaka to Nagoya > Osu shopping street > Kiyosu Castle
**DAY 21 Tuesday, 9 Jan 2024 Takayama**
Head to Takayama in the early morning > Morning markets (Jinya-mae and Miyagawa) > Explore the rest of Takayama (Sanmachi-suji District, Yoshijima Traditional House etc.)
# – Kanazawa –
**DAY 22 Wednesday, 10 Jan 2024 Kanazawa**
Going to try the morning service before heading over to Kanazawa > Explore Kanazawa (Kenroku-en, Naga-machi District, Oyama Shrine, Omicho Market, Kazuemachi Chaya District, Higashi Chaya District etc.)
**DAY 23 Thursday, 11 Jan 2024 Kanazawa**
Continue to explore Kanazawa (Kimono rental if possible)
# – Nagano –
**DAY 24 Friday, 12 Jan 2024 Nagano City**
Kanazawa to Nagano > Zenko-ji historical walk
**DAY 25 Saturday, 13 Jan 2024 Yamanochi**
Kanaguya > Snow Monkey Park > Obuse
**DAY 26 Sunday, 14 Jan 2024 Rest day**
Rest
**DAY 27 Monday, 15 Jan 2024 Matsumoto**
Head to Matsumoto > Daio Wasabi Farm > Matsumoto-jo Castle > Nawate Shopping Street
# – Mount Fuji –
**DAY 28 Tuesday, 16 Jan 2024 Kawaguchiko**
Head to Kawaguchiko from Matsumoto in the morning > Explore Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi, Kawaguchi Asama Shrine etc.)
**DAY 29 Wednesday, 17 Jan 2024 Shimoyoshida & Oshino**
Shimoyoshida ( 月江寺大門商店街, Chureito Pagoda, Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine etc.) > Oshino
**DAY 30 Thursday, 18 Jan 2024 Fujinomiya**
Explore Fujinomiya
# – Tokyo part 2 –
**DAY 31 Friday, 19 Jan 2024 Central Tokyo**
From Kawaguchiko to Tokyo > Nihonbashi **>** Nihonbashiningyocho
**DAY 32 Saturday, 20 Jan 2024 Yanaka, Ueno, Asakusa**
Nezu Shrine > Yanaka > Ueno Park > Ameyoko shopping street > Sensoji & Hoppy street
**DAY 33 Sunday, 21 Jan 2024 Shibamata**
Explore Shibamata
**DAY 34 Monday, 22 Jan 2024 Nikko day trip**
Explore Nikko (Shinkyo Bridge, Nikkozan Rinnoji Temple, Nikko Toshogu, Nikko Futarasan jinja etc.)
**DAY 35 Tuesday, 23 Jan 2024**
Free to explore > Sumo tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Arena> Free to explore
**DAY 36 Wednesday, 24 Jan 2024**
Head to Narita airport and fly back home