1.Narita Express oreda Airport Transfer** — Tokyo; ~2–3 hours door-door, including immigration, luggage, station access and hotel check-in.
After landing at Narita International Airport, allow roughly 2–3 hours door to door for immigration, baggage, airport formalities, the train transfer and hotel check-in. The easiest city-center option is the Narita Express to Tokyo Station—reserve seats if possible, especially during the holiday period. From Tokyo Station, continue to your hotel by taxi or local train, and keep the first afternoon light in case of arrival delays. If you are staying elsewhere in central Tokyo, check whether the airport limousine bus is more convenient with luggage.
Begin at Tokyo Station Marunouchi, where the red-brick station façade is especially handsome in the late afternoon. Walk through Marunouchi along Marunouchi Naka-dori, browsing the polished shops and winter illuminations before continuing toward the Imperial Palace East Gardens. The gardens are free, but opening days and hours vary, and they may close around the New Year period; check the Imperial Household Agency’s official notice before relying on entry. Allow about 1½ hours for the stone walls, seasonal plantings and quiet paths, with comfortable shoes—the grounds are more expansive than they first appear.
From Otemachi or Tokyo Station, take the Marunouchi Line to Ginza—about 10–15 minutes—or walk in roughly 25 minutes. Spend the late afternoon at Ginza Six, whose upper-floor art displays and rooftop garden offer a pleasant first look at Tokyo’s cityscape. Shops generally operate into the evening, though holiday hours can differ. For dinner, head to Tsukiji Outer Market by walking or taking the Hibiya Line to Tsukiji; allow around 15 minutes from Ginza. Many market stalls close earlier than visitors expect, so arrive for an early dinner rather than waiting until late. Choose a casual sushi, seafood-donburi or grilled seafood counter, budgeting approximately ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person, and bring cash as some smaller vendors may not accept cards. During the year-end period, individual businesses may close or shorten hours, so keep a nearby Ginza restaurant as a backup.
Start at Tsukiji Outer Market around 8:00am, when the lanes are lively but not yet at their busiest. Allow about two hours for tamagoyaki, grilled seafood, sushi or a donburi breakfast, plus browsing the knife, tea and kitchenware stalls. Individual vendors set their own hours and many close once their stock sells out, so go early; expect roughly ¥1,500–¥3,000 for a generous breakfast. From Tsukiji Station, take the Hibiya Line to Kamiyacho, then walk toward Azabudai Hills—about 20 minutes door to door.
Your late-morning booking is teamLab Borderless in Azabudai Hills. Reserve a timed ticket well ahead, particularly for a Sunday during the holiday season, and arrive 15–20 minutes before the slot; entry is dependent on that reservation rather than walk-in availability. Spend around two hours inside, wearing comfortable shoes and avoiding bulky luggage. Tickets are commonly around ¥3,800–¥4,800 for adults, but prices and availability vary. Afterward, take a short taxi ride or walk toward Tokyo Tower; the walk is pleasant but uphill in places.
Visit Tokyo Tower in the afternoon for approximately 90 minutes, ideally reaching the Main Deck before the late-day haze and sunset crowds. The Main Deck generally costs around ¥1,200–¥1,500, with observation hours typically extending into the evening, though holiday schedules can change. From Akabane-bashi, ride the Toei Oedo Line to Aoyama-itchome and transfer to the Ginza Line for Shibuya, allowing about 30 minutes including station walking. Spend 45 minutes around Shibuya Scramble Crossing: the Starbucks-style overlook in the Shibuya Tsutaya area may have access rules or queues, so the pedestrian bridge and surrounding street-level corners are reliable alternatives.
Finish with dinner at Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka, a casual, good-value conveyor-belt sushi spot where plates are ordered from a screen and delivered quickly. Expect about ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person; queues are common at dinner, so put your name down before wandering nearby. After a full day, this is an easy final stop—the restaurant is a short walk from Shibuya Scramble Crossing, though allow extra time for the busy station exits and winter crowds.
Start around 8:30am at Meiji Shrine, entering from the Harajuku side and allowing about 90 minutes for the broad gravel paths, sake-barrel displays and forested approach. The shrine grounds are free and open from sunrise until sunset; the inner buildings generally open around 6:00am and close in the late afternoon, with seasonal variation. Keep voices low near the worship hall, and bring small cash if you would like an offering. From the Harajuku entrance, take the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line or a short taxi toward Nezu Museum in Minami-Aoyama—allow 15–25 minutes depending on traffic.
Spend late morning at Nezu Museum, whose collection focuses on Japanese and East Asian art and whose garden is especially pleasant even in winter. It is typically open 10:00am–5:00pm, closed Mondays, with last admission around 4:30pm; because this itinerary falls on a Monday, check the museum’s holiday calendar carefully and treat entry as a booking dependency rather than assuming it will be open. Admission is usually around ¥1,500–¥1,800, and the garden closes in wet weather. If it is closed, retain the neighborhood wander but do not count on the galleries; the nearby cafés along Kita-Aoyama are an easy unhurried lunch option.
Return to Takeshita Street after lunch, ideally after 1:00pm when the shops and snack stalls are fully active. This is the liveliest, most crowded part of Harajuku, with crepe stands, colorful sweets, vintage clothing and small fashion boutiques; allow about an hour and keep bags close in the narrow pedestrian flow. From Harajuku Station, take the JR Yamanote Line to Ueno and continue by taxi or the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line toward Asakusa, allowing roughly 35–45 minutes door to door. Then spend the late afternoon browsing Kappabashi Dougu Street, where specialist shops sell knives, lacquerware, restaurant signs, cast-iron cookware and remarkably realistic plastic food. Most stores close around 5:00–6:00pm, so arrive by about 3:30pm; knife engraving and tax-free procedures vary by shop, and passports may be required for tax-free purchases.
Finish at Sometaro, a compact, atmospheric okonomiyaki restaurant in Asakusa, for a hands-on dinner of cabbage pancakes, yakisoba and other teppan dishes. It is commonly open for lunch and dinner but may close between services or sell out, so check the current schedule and expect a queue—especially in the holiday period. Budget approximately ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person, allow 90 minutes, and follow the staff’s instructions for cooking on the table griddle. It is a short walk from Kappabashi Dougu Street; afterward, return via Tawaramachi Station on the Ginza Line or use a taxi if you are carrying cookware.
Allow roughly 4–5 hours door to door for the morning move from Tokyo to Kyoto, including getting to the station, finding your platform, handling luggage, the Shinkansen ride and reaching your hotel. A departure around 7:00–8:00am leaves enough of the afternoon for sightseeing. After arriving at Kyoto Station, drop bags at your hotel or use station lockers if the room is not ready; take the Karasuma Subway Line to Shijo Station, then walk north into downtown. Reserve a little extra time for New Year-period crowds and reduced hotel check-in flexibility.
After lunch, spend about 90 minutes browsing Nishiki Market, following the covered arcade east along Nishiki-dōri. Pick up small bites such as soy-milk doughnuts, grilled seafood, pickles and seasonal sweets rather than committing to a full meal—many stalls are cash-oriented, and eating while walking is discouraged, so pause beside each vendor. At the eastern end, step into Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine for 20–30 minutes; its compact lantern-lined approach feels especially atmospheric in the late afternoon. The market’s individual shops keep different hours, so arriving by around 2:00–3:00pm is safer than leaving it until evening.
From the shrine, walk south toward Pontocho Alley, a narrow atmospheric lane beside the Kamo River. Give yourself about an hour to wander slowly and peek down the adjoining lanes; many restaurants are reservation-only or display prices clearly at the entrance, so this is better treated as an evening stroll than a spontaneous restaurant crawl. Continue toward Gion Duck Noodles for dinner, allowing about an hour and roughly ¥1,500–¥2,500 per person. Check its same-day opening hours and queue policy before setting out, as popular Kyoto noodle shops can sell out or adjust service during the holiday period.
Start at Kiyomizu-dera around 7:00am, before the Higashiyama lanes fill with tour groups. The temple grounds usually open from 6:00am, while individual buildings and seasonal illumination schedules can vary; allow about two hours for the wooden stage, the pagoda views and the quieter paths beyond the main hall. Admission is typically around ¥500. From the temple, walk downhill through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, allowing about 90 minutes for the preserved stone streets, small craft shops and sweet stalls. Most shops open later in the morning, so treat this as a scenic walk first and shopping stop second; the slopes are uneven, and winter mornings can be icy.
Continue west toward Kennin-ji in Gion—roughly 15–20 minutes on foot, depending on stops. Spend about an hour with its raked gardens, painted screens and spacious tatami rooms; admission is generally around ¥800, but temple hours and closures can change around the New Year period, so check shortly beforehand. For lunch, stay in Gion rather than detouring: Gion Tanto is a relaxed choice for okonomiyaki, while Izuu is known for Kyoto-style saba sushi. Both can be busy, and a short queue is normal; budget approximately ¥1,500–¥3,500 per person.
From Kennin-ji, walk to Gion-Shijo Station and take the Keihan Line to Fushimi-Inari Station—about 10 minutes on the train, plus the short walk to Fushimi Inari Taisha. Arrive around 3:00pm, when the lower shrine is still lively but the higher torii paths begin to feel more spacious. The shrine grounds are free and open around the clock; allow two to three hours, continuing as far up the mountain as your energy allows. The full summit loop takes roughly two hours from the main gate and includes many steps, so good shoes and a warm layer matter. End with a break at Vermillion Espresso Bar, near the shrine’s quieter southern side, for coffee and a pastry—expect roughly ¥700–¥1,500 per person. Return via Fushimi-Inari Station or JR Inari Station; expect packed trains around the evening commute, and note that New Year crowds can make the shrine exceptionally busy even late at night.
Start early at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, ideally around 7:00am. The path is accessible before most shops open, and arriving early is the best way to experience the towering bamboo with fewer tour groups; allow about an hour. From there, walk a few minutes to Tenryu-ji, whose temple buildings and garden generally open around 8:30am. Spend roughly 90 minutes here, especially in the landscaped pond garden with its borrowed mountain scenery. Continue uphill to Okochi Sanso Garden, allowing about an hour for the beautifully maintained grounds, tea-house pause and views across western Kyoto. Admission is around ¥1,000 and traditionally includes a small tea and sweet; winter hours are usually daytime-only, so check the official schedule if weather is poor.
Walk back toward the river for lunch at Arashiyama Yoshimura, a popular soba restaurant near Togetsukyo Bridge. Expect roughly ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person, and be prepared for a queue at midday; arriving slightly before noon helps. After lunch, spend about 45 minutes around Togetsukyo Bridge, crossing for the classic mountain-and-river views and wandering along the riverside paths. Arashiyama is compact, so walking is much easier than taking a bus; from Kyoto Station, the JR Sagano Line to Saga-Arashiyama takes about 15 minutes, followed by a 15–20-minute walk to the grove. Wear shoes with good grip—winter paths can be damp—and keep the afternoon unhurried rather than trying to add another temple.
Return to your hotel to rest and eat something light before heading to Yasaka Shrine in Gion for New Year’s Eve. Go by Keihan train to Gion-Shijo or walk from central Gion; expect roughly 20–30 minutes from Arashiyama by train and walking, longer if crowds build. The shrine grounds are free, but the approach may become heavily congested later in the evening, with pedestrian controls and reduced or rerouted buses possible. Arrive around 8:30–9:00pm for the year-end atmosphere, then follow staff directions rather than relying on a late-night bus timetable. On December 31, restaurants and shops may close early, so reserve dinner or eat before leaving Arashiyama; after the shrine visit, confirm the last train back to your accommodation, as all-night public transport is not guaranteed.
Take an early JR Nara Line train from Kyoto Station toward Nara, aiming for the 7:30–8:00am window. Allow 1–1½ hours door to door, including the walk or local connection to your station, platform time and the short walk from JR Nara Station toward the park. New Year’s Day is one of Japan’s busiest shrine-visiting periods, so trains, streets and temple approaches may be much busier than usual. Begin at Todai-ji Temple, roughly a 30-minute walk from the station or a short bus ride toward the park; allow about 1½ hours for the Great Buddha Hall and surrounding grounds. Admission is typically around ¥800, but holiday hours and crowd-control arrangements can change.
Continue into Nara Park, taking your time among the open lawns and deer rather than following only the main tourist path. The park itself is free, and deer crackers are widely available, though keep food sealed once you have finished feeding—the deer are persistent. From Todai-ji, walk east through the wooded park toward Kasuga-taisha, allowing around 30–40 minutes for the approach and about 1½ hours for the shrine and lantern-lined forest. Expect a festive New Year atmosphere, queues and possible one-way pedestrian routes; wear comfortable shoes, as the forest paths can be uneven.
After Kasuga-taisha, walk back west toward Naramachi, the old merchant quarter, in roughly 25–30 minutes. This is a good point for a relaxed lunch or tea, but keep expectations flexible: many independent shops and restaurants close for the New Year holidays, while shrine-adjacent stalls and simple noodle counters are more likely to be operating. Spend about 1½ hours wandering the narrow lanes around Naramachi, looking for machiya townhouses, small craft shops and quiet side streets rather than trying to visit every museum; individual attractions may have shortened holiday hours.
Finish with dinner at Kameya Kiyonaga, budgeting approximately ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person for local Japanese fare. Confirm its New Year opening before setting out—holiday closures are common, and reservations or an early arrival may be necessary. If it is closed, stay in Naramachi or around Kintetsu-Nara Station, where the larger restaurant streets offer more backup options. From there, JR Nara Station is about a 15-minute walk, or you can use a short local bus or taxi; check the final return train timetable in advance because New Year service patterns and evening frequency may differ.
Check out of your Nara accommodation around 7:30–8:00am and allow 1½–2 hours door to door for the Kintetsu Nara–Osaka-Namba Train, collecting luggage, the 40–45-minute ride and walking from Osaka-Namba Station to your hotel or luggage drop. Use an IC card or buy a regular ticket—roughly ¥680—and leave your larger bags before continuing. From Namba, take the Osaka Metro to Morinomiya or Tanimachi 4-chome, then spend about two hours around Osaka Castle: the park and exterior views are free, while the castle museum tower is generally around ¥1,200. The tower can develop a queue on a holiday weekend, so an advance ticket is useful, but the expansive grounds are worthwhile even if you decide not to enter.
Walk or take a short subway ride to the Osaka Museum of History, beside the castle park, for roughly 1½ hours of chronological exhibits and excellent elevated views toward the castle. Check its holiday opening schedule before leaving Nara, as Japanese New Year closures and adjusted hours are common; admission is typically about ¥600. Later, head south to Kuromon Ichiba Market in Nipponbashi, allowing around 1½ hours to browse the covered arcade and sample grilled seafood, fruit and wagyu from individual stalls. This is a good place for a snack rather than a full meal—vendors vary their hours, and some close earlier than the evening crowds expect.
Walk from Kuromon Ichiba Market toward Dotonbori, taking about 10–15 minutes through the lively Nippombashi streets. Give yourself two hours to wander along the canal, see the Glico sign and explore the side lanes around Hozenji Yokocho; the atmosphere is busiest after dark, but expect substantial crowds on a Saturday night. Finish at Mizuno, a long-established okonomiyaki restaurant in Dotonbori, where dinner usually costs around ¥2,000–¥4,000 per person. Queues are normal and seating is limited, so join the line before you are very hungry; if the wait is excessive, stay nearby rather than crossing the city, since the whole Namba area is excellent for an unplanned late-night wander.
Take an early Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station, ideally in the 7:00–8:00am window. Allow 3–4 hours door to door from your Osaka hotel, including reaching the station, finding the platform, the 1½-hour ride and the tram or taxi into central Hiroshima. From Hiroshima Station, the Hiroshima Electric Railway tram toward Eba or Hiroden-miyajima-guchi takes roughly 15–20 minutes to Genbaku-Domu-mae; leave luggage at your onward hotel or use station lockers if you are returning to Osaka or Kyoto tonight.
Spend late morning walking through Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, allowing about 90 minutes for the cenotaph, the Children’s Peace Monument, the Peace Flame and the riverside paths. The park is open at all hours and is most affecting when approached quietly rather than rushed. Continue to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum for around two hours; check the official ticket page before travel because timed admission or temporary crowd controls may apply, especially during the New Year period. The museum is generally closed on December 30–January 1, but January 3 should be checked against the current holiday schedule, and queues can still be substantial.
After the museum, walk north through the park to the Atomic Bomb Dome, allowing about 30 minutes for the exterior, river views and photographs from the nearby bridges. Keep this stop reflective—the building is fenced off, and entry inside is not permitted. From there, it is roughly a 15-minute walk east to Okonomimura in Shintenchi, or you can take a short tram ride toward Hatchobori. Settle in for Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, budgeting ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person; several small counters share the multi-floor building, and individual stalls may have limited seating or short waits.
For the return, head back to Hiroshima Station by tram or taxi and allow at least 45–60 minutes from leaving Okonomimura for the station, including traffic and finding your platform. Book or verify the final Hiroshima–Osaka or Hiroshima–Kyoto Shinkansen before dinner—allow 3–4 hours door to door after the meal, and do not rely on a late connection without checking the New Year timetable. If returning to Osaka, reserve a seat through SmartEX or JR West; if continuing to Kyoto, confirm that the chosen train and onward local connection still run at a convenient time.
No packing list attached yet.