Japan Winter Itinerary (23 Dec – 6 Jan)

Day 4 – Thu 26 Dec: Tokyo Disneyland / DisneySea

Morning & Afternoon: Spend a magical day at Tokyo Disneyland or DisneySea, enjoying rides, shows, and themed attractions.

Evening: Return to the hotel via the Disney Resort Line and local trains. Dinner options include Pizza Port or Queen of Hearts Banquet Hall inside the park.

Day 5 – Fri 27 Dec: Mount Fuji Day Trip

Morning: Travel to the Lake Kawaguchi area and ride the ropeway for stunning views of Mount Fuji.

Afternoon: Relax in a hot spring, take photos at iconic spots, and enjoy the tranquil scenery.

Evening: Return to Tokyo via Shinkansen and local buses. Lunch at Hoto Fudo or dinner at Ippudo Ramen or an Italian Trattoria in Tokyo.

Day 6 – Sat 28 Dec: TeamLab + Odaiba

Morning: Explore the immersive digital art of teamLab Planets, engaging with interactive installations.

Afternoon: Head to Odaiba to see the giant Gundam statue, shop at Palette Town, and browse waterfront malls.

Evening: Admire the illuminated Rainbow Bridge view. Lunch at DiverCity food court, dinner at Uobei Sushi or Hard Rock Café.

Day 7 – Sun 29 Dec: Ski Day Trip – Gala Yuzawa

Morning: Travel by Shinkansen to Gala Yuzawa for a day of skiing and snowboarding.

Afternoon: Rent equipment and enjoy the slopes, with lunch at a ski lodge serving curry or sandwiches.

Evening: Return to Tokyo. Dinner at a Tokyo tonkatsu spot or a Western pub.

Day 8 – Mon 30 Dec: Travel Tokyo → Osaka

Morning: Journey from Tokyo to Osaka by Shinkansen (≈2.5 hr).

Afternoon: Check‑in to the Osaka hotel and settle in.

Evening: Explore the bustling Dotonbori street for food and nightlife. Lunch on the train and dinner at Ichiran Ramen or Hard Rock Café Osaka.

Day 9 – Tue 31 Dec: Kyoto Day Trip

Morning: Visit the iconic Fushimi Inari Shrine with its thousands of torii gates.

Afternoon: Wander the serene Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and visit Monkey Park for a wildlife sighting.

Evening: See the golden Kinkaku‑ji temple before returning to Osaka. Lunch at Yudofu Sagano and coffee at % Arabica . Dinner in Dotonbori with okonomiyaki or pizza.

Day 10 – Wed 1 Jan: Universal Studios Japan

Full day: Enjoy rides, shows, and attractions at Universal Studios Japan.

Evening: Return to Osaka via train or shuttle. Lunch and dinner inside the park at Mel’s Drive‑In, Three Broomsticks, and Japanese street snacks.

Day 11 – Thu 2 Jan: Nara Day Trip

Morning: Explore Nara Park and feed the friendly deer.

Afternoon: Visit the massive Todai‑ji Temple, home to the giant Buddha statue.

Evening: Visit Kasuga Taisha Shrine before returning to Osaka. Lunch at Kakinoha Sushi and dinner in Dotonbori.

Day 12 – Fri 3 Jan: Osaka Shopping & Food

Morning: Explore the lively Kuromon Ichiba Market, sampling fresh seafood and street snacks.

Afternoon: Shop the fashionable Shinsaibashi Arcade and eclectic Amerikamura district.

Evening: Stroll through Dotonbori for local specialties like takoyaki; dinner at an Italian trattoria or Japanese curry shop; finish with dessert at Rikuro’s Cheesecake.

Day 13 – Sat 4 Jan: Travel Osaka → Tokyo

Morning: Travel back to Tokyo by Shinkansen (≈2.5 hr).

Afternoon: Check‑in to a Tokyo hotel and relax.

Evening: Light sightseeing in Shibuya, Harajuku, and upscale Ginza for shopping. Dinner at Sushi Zanmai or a steakhouse; enjoy afternoon tea in Ginza.

Day 14 – Sun 5 Jan: Tokyo Leisure Day

Morning: Flexible time for shopping or sightseeing in preferred districts.

Afternoon: Option to revisit Asakusa or Akihabara for any missed attractions.

Evening: Pack for departure; enjoy dinner at the hotel or nearby restaurant.

Day 15 – Mon 6 Jan: Departure

Morning: Enjoy free time and a leisurely breakfast.

Evening: Take a train or limousine bus to Narita Airport (≈1.5 hr) for the 18:00 flight.

Time and Cost Estimates

• Narita Airport – Arrival, 0.5 hr, $0
• Narita Express to Shinjuku – 1.5 hr, $30
• Shinjuku – Stroll, 2 hr, $0
• Omoide Yokocho – Evening, 2 hr, $20
• Kabukicho – Evening, 2 hr, $0
• Shibuya Crossing – 1 hr, $0
• Hachiko Statue – 0.5 hr, $0
• Shibuya Sky – 1 hr, $20
• Harajuku – 2 hr, $0
• Meiji Shrine – 1 hr, $0
• Daikoku PA / Tatsumi PA – Evening, 3 hr, $0
• Senso‑ji Temple – 2 hr, $0
• Akihabara – 3 hr, $0
• Disneyland / DisneySea – Full day, $80
• Lake Kawaguchi – 3 hr, $25
• Mount Fuji – 4 hr, $0
• Hot Springs – 2 hr, $15
• teamLab Planets – 2 hr, $25
• Odaiba – 3 hr, $0
• Gundam Statue – 0.5 hr, $0
• Rainbow Bridge – 0.5 hr, $0
• Gala Yuzawa – Day, $70
• Shinkansen Tokyo–Osaka – 2.5 hr, $120
• Dotonbori – Evening, 3 hr, $30
• Fushimi Inari – 2 hr, $0
• Arashiyama Bamboo Grove – 2 hr, $0
• Monkey Park – 1 hr, $0
• Kinkaku‑ji – 1 hr, $0
• Universal Studios Japan – Full day, $70
• Nara Park – 2 hr, $0
• Todai‑ji Temple – 1.5 hr, $0
• Kasuga Taisha – 1 hr, $0
• Kuromon Ichiba Market – 2 hr, $0
• Shinsaibashi & Amerikamura – 3 hr, $0
• Ginza – 2 hr, $0
• Travel to Narita Airport – 1.5 hr, $25
• Total Estimated Cost: $698

Tips

If you want to extend your trip, consider adding a day in the Kyoto area to explore additional temples such as Nijo Castle or a day‑trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima for a broader cultural experience. To shorten the itinerary, you could combine the Tokyo Disneyland/DisneySea day with the nearby Mount Fuji day trip, using a faster transportation option, or skip one of the Osaka shopping days to reduce travel time and focus more on the major attractions.