Hi everyone 👋🏻
We’re planning a 3-week trip to Japan this winter (Dec 28 – Jan 18). I’ve been once before in summer, but it’ll be my partner’s first time. We’d love to combine skiing, winter landscapes, and cultural highlights. Also I want to celebrate my birthday. Here’s our current plan:
Tokyo
• Day 1 (Dec 28): Arrival and decompress. Short walk around the hotel area.
• Day 2 (Dec 29): Tsukiji Outer Market for breakfast, Edo-Tokyo Museum, evening stroll in Asakusa.
• Day 3 (Dec 30): Explore Shimokitazawa, Shibuya Scramble, Hachiko statue, shopping in Shinjuku.
• Day 4 (Dec 31): Birthday + New Year’s Eve in Tokyo 🎉 Shrine visit at midnight, dinner celebration.
Nagano
• Day 5 (Jan 1): Travel to Nagano. Visit Zenko-ji Temple, evening walk in the city.
• Day 6 (Jan 2): Day trip: Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park + Togakushi Shrine.
Zao Onsen
• Day 7 (Jan 3): Travel to Zao Onsen, explore the village and relax in an onsen.
• Day 8 (Jan 4): Full day skiing. Evening soak in hot spring.
• Day 9 (Jan 5): Skiing in the morning, explore snow scenery around the area.
Kyoto & Day Trips
• Day 10 (Jan 6): Travel to Kyoto (train or flight). Evening around Gion.
• Day 11 (Jan 7): Full day Kyoto – Kiyomizudera, Higashiyama, Philosopher’s Path.
• Day 12 (Jan 8): Day trip to Osaka – street food in Dotonbori, Osaka Castle.
• Day 13 (Jan 9): Day trip to Nara & Uji – Todai-ji Temple, deer park, Byodo-in Temple.
• Day 14 (Jan 10): Kyoto – Arashiyama bamboo grove, Tenryu-ji, monkey park, evening in Pontocho.
Naoshima
• Day 15 (Jan 11): Travel via Okayama/Uno to Naoshima, stay overnight.
• Day 16 (Jan 12): Explore Naoshima & Teshima art islands (Chichu Art Museum, Benesse House).
Tokyo
• Day 17 (Jan 13): Return to Tokyo, dinner in Ginza.
• Day 18 (Jan 14): Ghibli Museum (if tickets available), Kichijoji.
• Day 19 (Jan 15): Day trip – Kamakura (Great Buddha, Hase-dera, beach walk).
• Day 20 (Jan 16): Sushi-making workshop + teamLab Planets in the evening.
• Day 21 (Jan 17): Shimokitazawa or Daikanyama for shopping, Odaiba for night views.
• Day 22 (Jan 18): Morning stroll + flight back home.
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Questions we’re still unsure about:
1. Is Nagano worth visiting in early January if we want nice snow scenery, or is it too early?
2. How crowded are the ski slopes in Zao Onsen around Jan 3–5? Did we dodge the holiday rush or is it still packed?
3. Is it too early in the season to see the Snow Monsters at Zao?
4. From Zao/Yamagata to Kyoto – is it smarter to take the long train via Tokyo, or fly (cheaper but afternoon flight eats up most of the day)?
5. Any unique/romantic New Year’s Eve ideas in Tokyo besides the usual shrine visit?
Thanks so much for your advice 🙏
by Either-View3331