Hi All!
As the title suggests, this is the itinerary I made up for my partner and I for our little over 2 week Christmas/New Years trip to Japan!
I’m mainly looking to see if going to Nara on New Year was the smart move as I’m aware that many shops/businesses will be closed on New Year. I left the New Year’s time as open as I could in terms of activities as to easily move things around if suggestions are made.
I’m also hoping to see if there any suggestions to be made that can better maximize our trip! (i.e moving activities around that are close to each other location wise! I tried to my best to do that already but open to suggestions!)
***Some things to note about my partner and I:***
\- This is my first time in Japan during the winter, this will be their second time
\- We have both traveled to Japan separately but this is our first trip together!
\- We are big anime nerds
\- I’m somewhat of a foodie (have a willingness to try new foods but not wait in long lines for trendy food)
\- We did NOT get the JR Pass
\-We are staying in a hotel in Shinjuku and getting an AirBnb in Osaka
\-My partner is very much into JDM and overall Japanese car culture
\- It will be my partner’s birthday on 12/27!
\- We decided to make Osaka our “homebase” and will make the everyday train train to Kyoto
\- We are not big drinkers nor night-clubgoers
\- My partner does vape while I don’t smoke
\*\*\*Anything with an Astros is a timed event that can’t be moved around!\*\*\*
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**12/20:** Arrive via Haneda at around 5:50am
\-Grab our luggage, suica cards and get on the move! (we will not be getting pocket wifi or esims as we both have tmobile 5g)
\- drop off luggage at hotel in Shinjuku
\- Go to Sunshine City Mall, Animate in Ikkeubukuro and finish the night walking around Ginza
**12/21:**
\-Akihabara in the morning/afternoon
\-Rest in Hotel to go back out at night for Shinjuku (Kabukicho) and see the lights along Shinjuku
**12/22:**
\-Tsukiji Market in the morning
\*\*\*Team Labs at 1pm
\- Unicorn Gundam
\-APit
\-Shibuya Crossing/ Tokyo Midtown at night
**12/23:**
\-Meji Shrine in the morning
\-Takeshita Street
\*\*\*-Daikoku PA (via tour guide found on AirBNB)
**12/24:**
\-Kiminarimon Gate
\-Nakamise Shopping Street
\-Sensoji Temple
\-Sky Tree
\-Rest
\- Roppongi Hills
**12/25: DAY TRIP TO YOKOHAMA**
\*\*\*Gundam Factory
\-Cup Noodles Museum (did not get reservations)
\-China Town
\-end the night with Red Brick Warehouse Christmas Market
**12/26:**
\*\*\*Tokyo Disneyland
**12/27:** (Partner’s Birthday)
\*\*\*Tokyo Disney Sea
**12/28: TRAVEL DAY**
\- Check out of Hotel
\*\*\*Haircuts for Partner/I at 1pm/2:30pm
\- Ride Bullet Train to Osaka at 6pm
\- Arrive to AirBnB
**12/29:**
\-Osaka Aquarium (did not get tickets early, planning to get day of)
\-Osaka Castle
\-Kurmon Market
**12/30:**
\*\*\*\*Universal Studios Japan (with timed entry tickets to Super Mario World)
**12/31:**
\-Shinsekai
\-Shinsaibashi-Suji Street
\-Dontonbori
\-Nintendo Store
**1/1: \*\*\*This day I’m a bit unsure of what to do so I placed Nara as a safe bet!\*\*\***
\-Nara/Rest Day
**1/2:**
\-Fushimi Inari Shrine
\-Nijo Castle
**1/3:**
\-Bamboo Forest/ Monkeys on the mountain
\-Golden Pavillion
**1/4:**
\*\*\*Ring Making Class at 10:30am
\-Nishiki Market
\-Kiyomizu Temple
**1/5:**
Early Flight Home flying out of Osaka!
EDIT: Thank you to those who let me know that the owl cafe!! I have gone ahead and canceled our reservation! I hadn’t done much research on animal cafes as a whole so thank you to those letting me know!