My husband and I will be going on our 4th trip to Japan in a few weeks! First time going in the winter and around Christmas/New Year’s so I could use some advice and feedback on our current plan! Also will be our first time going to Osaka/Kyoto.
We are big nerds, but also enjoy temples, gardens, shopping and animals.
December 16th- Arrive at Haneda in late afternoon, redeem JR pass and get shinkansen reservations. Take the shuttle to Kabukicho for our hotel
December 17th- Visit Koenji, plan is just to take it easy browsing antique/vinyl stores and enjoying cute cafes. Currently have the Jules Verne cafe flagged as interesting.
December 18th- Akihabara. Have morning reservations for Eorzea Cafe, will spend the rest afternoon browsing shops and arcades.
December 19th- Leave early for Shinkansen to Osaka, check into hotel there. Take train to Kyoto.
Trying to avoid going to the most crowded tourist spots.
Ideas for Kyoto: New Kyoto Nintendo store, Okazaki Shrine, Gion, Kennin-Ji, Nishiki Market
December 20th- Spend morning hanging out in Osaka. Have 12:30 reservations at SmileBase Shinsaibashi store for a Atelier Ryza collab cafe.
In afternoon head to Universal Japan, have 7pm time slot for Mario World
December 21st- Nara/Kobe day.
Head to Nara in the morning. Plans there: Nara Deer Park, Nara National Museum, Toshodaji Temple, eat lunch at Wakakusa curry.
Stop back at the hotel in the afternoon, then go to Kobe.
Kobe plans: 5:30 pm reservations at Royal Mouriya for Wagyu. Nunobiki Ropeway, Kobe Harborland
December 22nd- Osaka/Tokyo
Potential plans for Osaka in the morning: Nipponbashi, Osaka Castle/Gardens, Osaka Aquarium
In the afternoon take Shinkansen back to Tokyo and return to hotel
December 23rd- Odaiba day.
We’ve been here a few times and enjoy it, so we know generally what we want to see here. Thinking of maybe trying to stay for the fireworks at 7pm.
December 24th- Kamakura day.
Again, another place we’ve visited a couple times. We love doing the temple walk and ending up by the ocean. Any special recommendations here would be appreciated!
December 25th- Harajuku/Ometesando day.
Breakfast at Bills, shopping on cat street, visiting Meiji Jingu, another place we always visit.
December 26th- Kichijoji day.
Have reservation for Ghibli Museum at 10am, then Inokashira Park and Zoo, followed by visiting Sunroad
December 27th- Asakusa/Skytree Day.
Visit Sensoji, Skytree, ect. Any unique recommendations here would be appreciated!
December 28th- Nakano Day.
Potential Plans: Fujiya camera, Nakano Broadway, Sunroad, grab coffee at Coffee Zingaro, lunch at Unatoto
December 29th- Shibuya day.
Want to grab lunch at Burger Mania.. otherwise could use some unique suggestions outside the usual shopping!
December 30th-January 1st:
These days are a bit fuzzy, I’m not really sure what we will be able to do with things closing around the new years. Will probably want to do Hatsumode somewhere on Jan 1st that isnt TOO crazy. Would also like to go out fukubukuro hunting, but not sure what will be open for shopping.
Main place I could use advice for!
January 2nd- Free day open for us to go back to anywhere we want to visit again, but still expect some things to be closed
January 3rd- Yokohama Day
Ideas: Cup Ramen Museum, Ramen Museum, Gundam Factory, China Town, Minato Mirai 21
January 4th- Spend some last bit of time in Shinjuku, Head to Haneda for afternoon flight.
Thank you in advance for any feedback and advice!
