After landing at Narita Airport or Haneda Airport, allow roughly 2–2½ hours door to door for immigration, luggage, the airport train, and hotel check-in. From Narita, the Narita Express takes about 55–90 minutes to Shibuya or Shinjuku; from Haneda, the train takes around 35–50 minutes depending on your hotel area. Load an IC card such as Suica or Pasmo for city travel, and avoid carrying large luggage through the busiest stations if possible—coin lockers or a hotel luggage drop will make the first afternoon much easier.
Start at Meiji Jingu, entering through the broad forested approach from Harajuku. It is free and usually open from around sunrise until sunset, though December’s short daylight means arriving by approximately 3:30–4:00pm is wise. Keep the visit quiet and respectful: bow once at the torii, rinse at the temizuya if open, and avoid walking in the center of the shrine approach. From there, walk to Takeshita Street for about an hour of people-watching, small fashion shops, and snack stalls; it is lively but crowded, and many shops close around 7:00–8:00pm. For vegetarian food, check ingredients carefully—dashi and bonito are common even in seemingly vegetable-based snacks.
Continue to Shibuya Crossing, about 10–15 minutes on foot from Takeshita Street or one short train ride from Harajuku. Spend around 45 minutes crossing with the crowds and exploring the neon side streets around Center-gai; the area is especially atmospheric after dark. Finish with dinner on Tsukishima Monjayaki Street, reached from Shibuya in roughly 35–45 minutes via the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin and Yurakucho lines, usually with one transfer. Choose a restaurant that clearly offers vegetarian monjayaki and ask for no pork, seafood, or bonito; staff may cook it for you on the table grill. Budget approximately ¥2,000–4,000 per person, and expect queues at popular shops—arriving around 7:30pm or reserving ahead is helpful.
Start at Senso-ji around 8:00–8:30am, before the main crowds arrive. Enter through Kaminarimon and take time in the temple precincts; the main hall is free, though opening access and worship areas can vary. Allow about 1½ hours, including the surrounding lanes. From there, follow Nakamise-dori toward the gate, browsing for ningyoyaki cakes, rice crackers, folding fans, and small souvenirs. Many shops generally open around 9:00–10:00am, so an early visit may mean window-shopping first and returning to anything you want to buy.
Continue on foot toward Kappabashi Dougu Street—roughly 15–20 minutes from Senso-ji. This is a great place to look for Japanese knives, lacquerware, tea utensils, bento boxes, and the wonderfully realistic plastic food displays used by restaurants. Shops commonly keep daytime hours but may close in the late afternoon; allow about an hour, and remember that knife purchases may involve packing or shipping arrangements. For lunch, choose a small vegetarian-friendly place around Asakusa or Kappabashi, checking for dashi or bonito in soups if you avoid fish strictly.
Walk or take the short local connection to Ueno Park, allowing around 15–25 minutes depending on where you finish on Kappabashi. Spend an unhurried hour among the broad paths, ponds, and museum exteriors; in late December, expect crisp air and bare trees rather than autumn foliage. If you want an indoor break, the park’s museums are nearby, but check their closing days and last-entry times before committing, as weekday schedules vary. Finish at Afuri Ueno for dinner, conveniently located around Ueno Station. Expect roughly ¥1,500–2,500 per person; ask specifically for the vegetarian ramen option and confirm whether the broth contains fish, chicken, or pork if that matters to you. Ueno’s station area is easy for returning to central Tokyo by JR or Tokyo Metro, but leave a little time to navigate the large station complex.
Begin at teamLab Borderless in Azabudai Hills, ideally for the first available morning entry. Allow around two hours, though the interconnected rooms are deliberately easy to lose time in. A timed ticket is strongly recommended and should be booked in advance; entry is not something to rely on buying on the day. From central Tokyo, use the Tokyo Metro to Kamiyacho Station, which connects directly with Azabudai Hills. Wear comfortable shoes, and avoid carrying bulky luggage—some installations involve dark rooms, reflective floors, and low seating.
Walk or take a short taxi ride to Tokyo Tower—roughly 15–20 minutes on foot from Azabudai Hills, depending on the exit and your pace. Spend about 1½ hours between the main deck and the surrounding FootTown area; reserve observation-deck admission ahead if the booking calendar requires it, particularly for a clear-weather day. Continue downhill to Zojo-ji, one of Tokyo’s most atmospheric temple settings, where the pagoda, broad grounds, and tower rising behind the roofline make for excellent photographs. The temple grounds are generally free, while any special interior areas may have separate hours or fees. From Daimon Station, take the Toei subway toward Aoyama-Itchome, then walk to Nezu Museum; allow about 30–40 minutes door to door. Check the museum’s opening calendar before setting out, as it closes on some weekdays and around exhibition changeovers. Give yourself roughly 1½ hours for the galleries and the beautifully landscaped garden.
Finish with dinner at Brown Rice Canteen in Omotesando, a short walk from Nezu Museum. Its organic, Japanese-style vegetarian set meals are a good fit after a full day, with dinner typically around ¥2,000–4,000 per person. Check the latest evening service and holiday schedule before going, and arrive reasonably early if you prefer not to wait. From Omotesando, the Ginza, Hanzomon, and Chiyoda subway lines make it easy to return toward Shibuya, Shinjuku, or central Tokyo; budget roughly 20–35 minutes depending on your hotel.
Start at Imperial Palace East Gardens around 9:00am, entering via Otemachi Gate or Hirano-bashi Gate. Allow about 90 minutes to wander the former Edo Castle grounds, including the stone walls, seasonal plantings, and Ninomaru Garden. Admission is free, but check the official opening calendar shortly before going: the gardens close on some weekdays and may have special year-end closures around this period. Wear comfortable shoes, as the paths are extensive; from central Tokyo, Otemachi Station is the easiest access point.
Walk 10–15 minutes toward Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building for a change of pace. The restored red-brick station facade is best viewed from the Marunouchi side, while the building’s upper floors offer open city views without requiring a ticket. This is a useful coffee or light-lunch break, with plenty of counters and cafés inside the station complex. Allow around 45 minutes, and expect busier pedestrian traffic around lunchtime.
Continue on foot for roughly 10 minutes to Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, housed in a handsome red-brick reconstruction near Marunouchi Park. Its Western-art exhibitions are rotating, so confirm the exhibition calendar and opening hours before committing; admission is commonly around ¥2,000–¥2,500, and a reservation may be useful for popular shows. Spend about 90 minutes here, then stroll southeast toward Ginza Six, roughly 15 minutes away. Browse its design-focused shops and public art, and head to the rooftop garden for a quiet skyline pause. Most shops generally operate around 10:30am–8:30pm, though holiday hours can differ.
Have dinner at Ain Soph. Ripple in Ginza, known for vegan burgers, fries, and filling comfort food. Budget approximately ¥1,500–3,000 per person, and check the current service hours before setting out because independent restaurant schedules can change. Ginza Station and Higashi-Ginza Station are both convenient for the return journey; allow extra time for end-of-year crowds and note that restaurants may publish special Christmas Eve hours or require a booking.
Start at Toyosu Market around 7:30am, when the wholesale district is active but before the public areas become busiest. From central Tokyo, take the Yurikamome to Shijo-mae Station; allow roughly 30–45 minutes, plus a little extra for finding the market buildings. The tuna auction viewing area requires an advance application and is not essential for this plan. Instead, spend about two hours exploring the market walkways and having breakfast at one of the public eateries—ask clearly about dashi, fish stock, and bonito if you want a vegetarian dish. Market hours and individual restaurant openings can vary, so check the official schedule shortly before going.
Walk or take the Yurikamome one stop to teamLab Planets TOKYO, aiming for a late-morning timed entry. Allow around two hours, and book well ahead: admission is tied to your selected time, and popular December slots can sell out. You will remove your shoes, walk through water, and encounter dark, reflective installations, so wear clothing that can be rolled above the knees and avoid anything precious on your feet. Afterward, take the Yurikamome toward Shiodome and enter Hamarikyu Gardens; the journey is about 20–30 minutes. The garden generally closes in the late afternoon, with last entry before closing, so leave enough time for its ponds, teahouse views, and quiet paths. Admission is about ¥300.
Continue by Yurikamome to Odaiba Seaside Park for an easy waterfront hour. In late December it will be chilly and dark arrives early, but the views toward the Rainbow Bridge are especially good around dusk. You can linger by the promenade rather than adding another attraction; allow about 30 minutes from Shiodome and bring a warm layer, as the bay wind is noticeable. Then return via the Yurikamome or walk across to Tsukiji Outer Market using the subway, allowing roughly 30–40 minutes. Browse the lanes for seasonal produce, pickles, fruit, and sesame-based snacks, checking ingredients carefully because many apparently vegetarian items contain bonito or fish stock. Shops often begin closing in the early evening, so arrive promptly rather than treating this as a late-night market.
Finish at T’s Tantan Tokyo Station, a convenient vegan ramen stop inside the station complex. Allow about ¥1,000–2,000 per person and follow the station’s paid-area directions carefully; you may need to enter through the relevant ticket gates, so confirm the exact access instructions with staff if you are not travelling onward by train. Expect a short queue at dinner, and check the restaurant’s holiday hours in advance—25 December is not a public holiday in Japan, but seasonal schedules can still change.
Check out in time for a morning Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station, ideally departing between 7:30 and 8:30am. The train ride is about 2 hours 15 minutes, but allow 4–5 hours door to door for hotel checkout, reaching the station, finding the platform, and getting to your Kyoto accommodation to drop bags. A reserved seat costs roughly ¥14,000–¥15,000; book through SmartEX or JR Central, especially for the busy year-end period. If you have a large suitcase, reserve an oversized-baggage seat area or use luggage forwarding.
After settling your bags, take the subway or walk toward Nishiki Market—from Kyoto Station, the Karasuma Line to Shijo Station is about 4 minutes, followed by a 10-minute walk. Arrive around lunchtime and allow 1½ hours to browse the covered market’s pickles, tofu products, yuba, grilled vegetables, and seasonal sweets. It is much easier for a vegetarian here if you ask before buying, as dashi or bonito stock appears in many savoury items; look for clearly labelled vegetable dishes and avoid eating while walking, since the market requests that visitors eat beside the stall or in designated areas. Individual stalls generally operate from late morning into the afternoon, but closing times vary and some may be closed around the New Year period.
At the eastern end, pause at Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine, a small, atmospheric shrine tucked among the shops. Spend about 30 minutes here, then continue into the connected Teramachi Shopping Arcade for an easy late-afternoon wander. This covered arcade is good for Kyoto-made crafts, stationery, sweets, and small gifts, and it is convenient in winter weather; most shops are open roughly late morning to early evening, though independent businesses keep their own schedules.
Finish with dinner at Mumokuteki Café in Kawaramachi, a short walk from Teramachi Shopping Arcade. Its Japanese-style vegetarian and vegan plates are a welcome first meal in Kyoto, with a relaxed setting and typical prices of about ¥1,500–3,000 per person. Check the latest holiday hours before setting out, as restaurants may shorten service near the end of December. Keep the evening unhurried: after dinner, the illuminated downtown arcades and quieter side streets around Kawaramachi are pleasant for a first look at Kyoto before heading back to your accommodation.
Start around 7:30am at Komizu-dera reaching the hillside temple before the approach becomes crowded. From central Kyoto, take a bus toward Gojozaka** or a taxi; the final walk uphill takes about 10–15 minutes. Allow roughly two hours for the wooden stage, pagoda views, and the quieter temple grounds beyond the main terrace. Admission is usually around ¥500, but check the official site for seasonal opening times and any special illumination arrangements.
Walk downhill through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, allowing about 90 minutes to browse pottery, sweets, crafts, and small cafés. These lanes are prettiest before midday and become congested later, so keep your pace relaxed but avoid stopping in the narrowest sections. Continue west to Kodai-ji, where an hour is enough for its landscaped gardens, bamboo grove, and refined temple buildings; admission is generally around ¥600. For a vegetarian snack, look for yuba, soy-milk doughnuts, or vegetable-filled rice crackers, while remembering that bonito-based broth is common in otherwise vegetable dishes.
Walk north to Yasaka Shrine in around 15 minutes, or take a short taxi if your feet need a break. The shrine grounds are free and open throughout the day, and 45 minutes is plenty to see the main buildings and lantern-lined precincts. Continue into Gion Shirakawa for an early-evening stroll beside the canal and traditional machiya; be respectful around residents and do not photograph geiko or maiko without permission. Aim to arrive before dusk, then linger as the lanes light up.
Finish at Veg Out near the Kamo River, reached in about 15–20 minutes on foot from Gion Shirakawa or by a short taxi ride. Its vegetarian and vegan-friendly menu, relaxed café atmosphere, and river outlook make it a good dinner stop after a long walking day; budget approximately ¥2,000–4,000 per person. Check its holiday opening hours and reserve if possible, since late December schedules can change.
Start at Fushimi Inari Taisha around 7:00am, reaching the shrine before the torii paths become crowded. The shrine grounds are open around the clock and there is no admission fee. Walk beyond the first dense tunnel of vermilion gates toward Yotsutsuji viewpoint; completing the full mountain loop takes considerably longer, so allow about 2½ hours and turn back when you have had enough. From Fushimi Inari Station on the Keihan Line, it is a short walk to the entrance; Inari Station on the JR Nara Line is also convenient.
Continue to the Fushimi Sake District, roughly 10–15 minutes by train or taxi. Spend about 1½ hours around the traditional brewery streets and canals, visiting the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum if open—typically 9:30am–4:30pm, with admission around ¥600. Tastings are usually available to adults, but check holiday schedules in advance. For a vegetarian lunch, look for tofu, yuba, vegetable set meals, or soba nearby; confirm dashi and fish ingredients rather than assuming a dish is vegetarian.
Take the Keihan Line or a short taxi ride to Tofuku-ji, allowing around 1½ hours for the temple precincts and gardens. The temple is particularly atmospheric in winter, when the grounds are quieter; paid areas such as Hojo Garden generally cost around ¥500, though opening times and access can vary. From there, travel north toward Philosopher’s Path by taxi—public transport is possible but involves a less direct connection—and begin the 1½-hour canal-side walk at the southern end. Leave some flexibility here: winter light fades early, and the path is most pleasant before dusk.
Finish at Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion, at the northern end of the route. Its moss gardens and carefully shaped sand garden are best seen before closing, which is commonly around 4:30–5:00pm in winter; verify the exact seasonal time before setting out. Admission is usually about ¥500. For dinner, head to Sanjo by bus or taxi and choose a vegetarian-friendly restaurant such as Mumokuteki Café or Choice, budgeting roughly ¥2,000–4,000 per person. Ask specifically whether soup stock contains bonito or other fish, as this is common even in otherwise vegetable-based Kyoto dishes.
Take a morning Tokaido Shinkansen from Kyoto Station to Shin-Osaka, then allow another 30–45 minutes for the local connection and walk to Osaka Castle Park. With luggage, hotel checkout, station navigation, and possible platform waits, leaving Kyoto around 8:00–9:00am should put you at the park late morning. If you are staying near central Kyoto, the JR Kyoto Line Special Rapid to Osaka Station is cheaper and often more convenient overall, although it involves a further connection to the castle.
Spend about 1½ hours around Osaka Castle Park, focusing on the broad moats, stone walls, gardens, and exterior views of Osaka Castle. The castle museum is optional; allow extra time for queues and check the day’s opening arrangements before committing, especially during the holiday period. Coin lockers are available at major stations, but travelling with a large suitcase will make the park and later market much less comfortable—arrange hotel luggage storage or use a station delivery service if possible.
From Osaka Castle Park, take the subway toward Nippombashi and walk into Kuromon Ichiba Market, allowing roughly 25–35 minutes depending on your exit and connection. Browse slowly rather than treating it as a formal lunch stop: the market is lively, but individual stalls vary in their vegetarian choices and some foods are prepared alongside seafood or meat. Look for grilled vegetables, fruit, pickles, tofu-based snacks, and freshly made sweets, and ask clearly for “bejitarian” or “bīgan” where needed. Allow around 1½ hours, with cash and a little patience for narrow, busy aisles.
A short walk south-west brings you to Hozenji Yokocho, a compact stone-paved lane of traditional eateries beside Hozenji Temple. It is best enjoyed as a quiet contrast to the market and the brighter streets ahead; allow about 45 minutes to wander, see the moss-covered Fudo Myoo statue, and explore nearby Namba lanes. Continue on foot to Dotonbori in roughly 5–10 minutes, arriving in the late afternoon when the neon signs begin to stand out and the canal promenade becomes especially atmospheric. Keep valuables secure in the crowds and expect busy pavements around the main bridge and famous signs.
Finish at Paprika Shokudo Vegan in Namba, a fully vegan restaurant where dinner generally costs about ¥2,000–4,000 per person. Check its holiday opening hours and reserve if possible, since late December can be busy and restaurant schedules may change. From Dotonbori, it is an easy walk, though allow extra time if you need to queue; this is a good place to end the itinerary without adding another long transfer.
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