Itinerary check, 21 days in japan in January

Would appreciate some feedback! Hotels have been booked but on some days I feel like it’s a little packed but still doable! Tried to mix in rest days and longer days. We’re not crazy high energy but we’re relatively fit gonna be 22 and 23

It is a lot of travel back and forth but I have tried to optimize the route as much as possible.

Going with my boyfriend! Please suggest places to visit as well! He likes FLCL and evangelion!

Sorry for the format. I don’t know how to fix it

Dec 29 – Tokyo (Arrival)

• Land 5:30pm, leave airport ~7pm

• Check into hotel (asakusa)

• Explore local area

• Izakaya, 7/11 or Family Mart

• Hie Shrine (if time/energy)

Dec 30 – East Tokyo

• Sensō-ji Temple, Sumida River

• Early lunch at Nakamise Dori

• Tokyo Station: Hololive Production Official  Shop & Tokyo Character Street

• Imperial Palace (if time)

• Evening: Kabukichō → Omoide Yokocho → Golden Gai (izakaya dinner)

Dec 31 – West Tokyo & New Year’s Eve

• Shibuya: Crossing, Uniqlo, Pokémon Center, Rooftop Park

• Meiji Jingu, Yoyogi Park

• Takeshita Street (lunch)

• Nap (if time)

• Dinner

• Yokosuka: fireworks (9pm–1am)

• Return to hotel ~2–3am (either sleep or push through)

Jan 1 – Tokyo → Osaka

• Hatsumode at nearby Tokyo shrine

• Hotel checkout 10am

• Lunch in Tokyo

• Travel to Osaka (3h40 Shinkansen, busy day)

• Check into hotel, drop bags

• Evening: Dotonbori + dinner

Jan 2 – Osaka (Day 2)

• Hotel breakfast

• Tennoji Park

• Shinsekai (lunch)

• Thrift/shopping

• Osaka Aquarium 

• Tempozan Ferris Wheel

• Dinner

Jan 3 – Osaka → Himeji → Kyoto

• Hotel breakfast, checkout, luggage forward to Kyoto

• Travel to Himeji

• Himeji Castle

• Ekimaecho (lunch)

• Travel to Kyoto (Hopp Inn)

• Dinner in Kyoto

Jan 4 – Kyoto (Day 1 – Chill)

• Hotel breakfast

• Walk around/Gion District

• Lunch in Kyoto

• Kamo River

• Fushimi Inari Taisha

• Pontocho Alley

• Izakaya dinner

Jan 5 – Kyoto (Day 2 – Arashiyama)

• Hotel breakfast

• Toei Kyoto Studio Park

• Lunch

• Monkey Park Iwatayama

• Togetsukyō Bridge

• Tenryū-ji Temple

• Arashiyama Nakaoshitachō

• Ōkōchi Sansō Garden

• Fu Fu No Yu Onsen

• Dinner

Jan 6 – Kyoto (Day 3 – East End)

• Hotel breakfast

• Ginkaku-ji

• Nanzen-ji Fukuchichō

• Lunch

• Kiyomizu-dera

• Sannenzaka

• Dinner

Jan 7 – Kyoto (Day 4 – Nara Day Trip)

• Hotel breakfast

• Travel to Nara

• Tōdai-ji

• Nara Park

• Naramachi (lunch)

• Return to Kyoto

Jan 8 – Kyoto → Gero Onsen

• Hotel breakfast

• Travel to Gero Onsen (3h)

• Lunch (Hida beef)

• Walk around area (bridge)

• Dinner at ryokan

Jan 9 – Gero Onsen (Rest Day)

• Hotel breakfast

• Onsen-ji Temple

• Lunch

• Book private onsen

• Dinner at ryokan

Jan 10 – Gero → Takayama

• Hotel breakfast

• Transfer to Takayama (45 min)

• Lunch in Takayama

• Chill & dinner

Jan 11 – Shirakawa-go Day Trip (from Takayama)

• Hotel breakfast

• Nohi Bus to Shirakawa-go

• Lunch there

• Dinner back in Takayama

Jan 12 – Takayama (Rest Day – Japanese Holiday)

• Hotel breakfast

• Walk around Takayama

• Lunch

• Dinner

Jan 13 – Shinhotaka Ropeway → Matsumoto

• Big hotel breakfast (might skip lunch)

• Forward luggage Takayama → Fujikawaguchiko

• Shinhotaka Ropeway

• Travel to Matsumoto

• Lunch/snack

• Matsumoto Castle

• Dinner & relax

Jan 14 – Matsumoto → Fujikawaguchiko

• Hotel breakfast

• Travel to Fujikawaguchiko

• Chureito Pagoda

• Lunch

• Kawaguchiko-ohashi Bridge

• Dinner at Koryu

• Onsen night

Jan 15 – Fujikawaguchiko (Fuji-Q) → Tokyo

• Hotel breakfast

• Forward luggage to Tokyo, checkout

• Fuji-Q Highland

• Travel to Tokyo, check in

• Dinner in Tokyo

Jan 16 – Tokyo (Exploring)

• Evangelion Store

• Ikebukuro

• Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

• Big lunch

• Juken Bridge

• Tokyo Skytree at night

• Odaiba + dinner

Jan 17 – Kamakura Day Trip

• Tsurugaoka Shrine

• Kōtoku-in (Great Buddha)

• Hasedera Temple

• Shichirigahama Station

• Lunch in Kamakura

• Katase Higashihama Beach

• Enoshima (before 3pm)

• Hiraiso + dinner in Enoshima

• Enoshima Island Spa

• Return to Tokyo

Jan 18 – Tokyo (Shopping Day – Chill)

• Check off anything missed

• Souvenir shopping

• Lunch in Tokyo

• Akihabara

Jan 19 – Tokyo (Final Day) → Flight

• Shimokitazawa (vintage shopping)

• Tokyo National Museum

• Ueno Park

• Luggage storage at Central Station

• Plane departs 9pm

by Minute-Flight-4272