Hi all! My husband and I are planning a 10 day trip to Japan with his sister and her boyfriend. We are all in our 20s and first timers in Japan, so we have a lot of typical tourist stuff planned. We will be there during the New Year’s holiday. As I understand it, there will be a lot of businesses that close or have reduced hours/staff from January 1-4. Since it’s a unique time of year to visit I’m hoping that anyone who has more experience or just advice in general can give me some. I have a detailed hourly itinerary but this is the basics. Thanks in advance!
Day 1 Dec. 30
Arrive at NRT around 3:30 PM
Baggage/Customs/Passmo Card/etc.
Grab some food, check into the hotel and call it a night.
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Day 2 Dec. 31
Morning in Odaiba: Teamlabs Toyko, Unicorn Gundam, Tokyo Joypolis(maybe), Rainbow bridge
Afternoon: Skytree and Solamachi plaza. Explore surrounding area.
Nap and recover from jet lag in early evening
Later go to Asakusa. Shopping and exploring until heading to Nakamise dori/ Sensoji temple. Ring in the New Years at Sensoji. Head back to the hotel in the early AM.
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Day 3 Jan. 1 2024 (Disney Sea day as a backup plan)
Mid AM: Boot and Rally. Find breakfast.
Afternoon: Roppongi Hills. I read online that last year they had events running from noon to 3 PM, so I think we’ll shop around there and attend events provided they do them again this year.
Evening: Mori Art Museum, Dinner, Tokyo city view. Turn in around 21:00
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Day 4 Jan. 2
Morning: Fukubukuro and deal hunting in Ginza. Chuo dori, 12 story Uniqlo, whole shebang.
Afternoon: Walk through Yoyogi Park, go to Harajuku and Omotesando. (will anything here even be open?)
Night: Dinner at Kura sushi
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Day 5 Jan. 3
Morning: Breakfast and coffee at Starbucks Reserve Roastery. Spend the morning and early afternoon in Shibuya- Scramble crossing, Gyoen Garden, Nintendo Tokyo, Parco, Mandrake, Shibuya Sky (if possible)
Late afternoon and evening: Akihabara. Gigo, Animate, Gachapon, Don Quiote. Dinner possibly at a maid cafe (cringe)
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Day 6 Jan. 4
Things should be mostly back to normal from what I understand.
Early shinkansen into Kyoto. Store bags at hotel. Morning at Kinkakuji.
Afternoon: Arashiyama- check out the bamboo grove and monkey park. See the kimono forest. Check into hotel.
Evening: Gion district no specific sights planned but hoping to see a maiko or geisha going about their business.
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Day 7 Jan. 5
Morning: Arrive at Fushimi Inari by 7 AM. Spend a few hours there then go to Kiyomizudera. I read that most people spend about 3 hours there?
Afternoon: Lunch then Nijo Castle. (any additional suggestions?)
Evening: Sake tasting tour/dinner
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Day 8 Jan. 6
Day trip to Nara. Deer park and Todai Ji. Spend evening back in Kyoto either in Gion or bar hopping.
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Day 9 Jan. 7
Early morning at Nishiki market before going back to Tokyo via train.
Afternoon: rest back at hotel before going out at night. Kabukicho, Golden gai, Omoide yokocho or at least one of these areas.
Day 10 Jan. 8
Last full day in Japan.
Morning at Tsukiji Outer market
Afternoon: Ikebukuro Sunshine aquarium, Otome road, Mejiro Garden. See the Yanaka District.
Evening Omakase Sushi, Tokyo Tower, and Revisit Roppongi for the nightlife.
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If anyone has any advice on what to do/skip and what to plan for New Year’s please let me know! Thanks!