A 2022 Two Week Itinerary Through Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka

This is the itinerary I'm working on for what to visit in Japan.  I originally planned it out on stickies and ended up rearranging things a fair bit before settling in on the schedule below. The itinerary isn't going to work for first time visitors as I'm skipping over certain things and areas I have seen before.  This is my 6th trip over.  The itinerary covers what's new and the highlights to revisit for me.

NOTE: This is a winter schedule when Christmas Illuminations are up for this time of year. It turns out that there are many Christmas decorations and light displays to see, some of which are very elaborate.  I'm going to see Shibuya Blue Cave (only in Dec), Coredo Illumination, Tokyo Midtown Hibiya Illumination, the fancy Tokyo Midtown for Xmas Illumination (Roppongi), the Roppongi Hills Xmas Market, then many displays in the Yokohama Waterfront area too.  Night time is going to be well lit!

Also, this is a very full itinerary.  I'm pretty sure even I would have to drop things.

UPDATE: actually did 80% of the items on the list on my trip, but it was grueling!  I dropped Teamlab in Tokyo and also in Osaka in the Garden.  Also saw fewer things in Osaka and skipped Roppongi/Mori, and the Shibuya Blue Cave (just ran out of gas).

I've started writing up the actual trip highlights now.  See my post below.
Highlights From My Japan Trip Visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka in December 2022

4 Days in Tokyo, which is really 3 1/2 days with the arrival day.
2 Days in Yokohama to see the Gundam and visit Enoshima.
3 Days in Kyoto to see a couple of new things and spend more time on a few previously visited highlights.
3 Days in Osaka with a half day spent going to see Himeji Castle.
3 Days in Tokyo, which is really 2 1/2 days with the departure day.

If you are a first time visitor, check my travelogue page.

My 2022 Itinerary

Click here for part 1.  Travel Planning. 

Day 1 Arrive Tokyo Nov 28, Monday	Day 2 Tokyo Nov 29, Tuesday	Day 3 Tokyo Nov 30, Wednesday	Day 4 Tokyo Dec 1, Thursday	Day 5 Yokohama Dec 2, Friday	Day 6 Yokohama Dec 3, Saturday	Day 7 Kyoto Dec 4, Sunday
Pick up data sim card Pick up japan rail pass Narita express to Tokyo station Staying near Tokyo Station Check into hotel See Tokyo Station Sensoji Temple Tori no ichi in the  evening	Ikebukuro Animate Main Store Sunshine City Mall,  Pokemon Center, Giant Gashapon Hall Seibu Kit Kat Store Go to  Shibuya Miyashita Park New Parco – One Piece, Shonen Jump, Nintendo, and Pokemon Store Shibuya Stream Sunset? Shibuya Sky observation deck Shibuya Anime center, Ichiran Ramen, Tokyu Hands,Mega Don Quijote	Mount Takao Visit Gotokuji Temple and its cat shrine Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkyo Asakasa Station Harry Potter Stairs & Cafe Shinjuku at Night. Main street Godzilla head.  Godzilla store / Seria 100 yen store 3D Billboard Shinjuku Love Live Superstar Harajuku sights New Harajuku Station.  Ikea New buildings across from Tokyu Plaza Takeshita Daiso	Skytree & Solomachi Ueno National Museum Ameyoko Market Niki no Kashi Candy Store Yamashiroya Toys Dinner near Tokyo Station Nihonbashi Pokemon Store Pokemon Café Coredo Illumination Tokyo Midtown Hibiya Illumination Hibiya or Chiyoda Line to Tokyo Midtown for Xmas Illumination	Transfer to Yokohama hotel Yokohama Gundam Bandai Namco Cross Store at World Porters Mall Yokohama Landmark and Pokemon Center Art Museum Or Ramen Museum Cup Noodle Museum Chinatown?	Enoshima Island Kamakura Yokohama Cross Night Xmas Illumination Shinko Chuo Square Harry Potter Journey Xmas Displays (3 trees) at Landmark Tower	Transfer to Kyoto Hotel Kiyo Mizu Dera Fall Colours
Day 8, Kyoto Dec 5, Monday	Day 9, Kyoto Dec 6, Tuesday	Day 10, Osaka Dec 7, Wednesday	Day 11, Osaka Dec 8, Thursday	Day 12, Osaka Dec 9, Friday	Day 13, Tokyo Dec 10, Saturday	Day 14, Tokyo Dec 11, Sunday
Fushimi Inari in the morning. Climb to top Gion North Gion South Dragon ceiling temple. Kennin-ji Other temple with 1000 buddhas. Sanjusangendo	Philosophers Path Silver Pavillion   Other temple or Nara Buddha?	Transfer to Osaka Hotel Osaka Castle and Park Namba Yasaka Lion Shrine Dontonbori at night Shinsekai food and shopping district Tsutenakau Tower	Train to Himeji See Himeji Castle Umeda Sky Building Tenjinbashisuji Shopping district Shinsaibashi Shopping district Tenmangu Shrine Shitennoji Temple	Osaka Aquarium Den Den Town Teamlab Nagai Park After Dark Show	Train to Tokyo Aklihabara Tamashi Nations Animate Gamers Kotobukiya Mandarake AmiAmi Roppongi & Mori Museum? Shibuya Blue Cave Xmas Illumination	Tokyo Station Okinawa Onigiri New Station and Star Statue Tokyo Station to Ginza underground walk Ginza Uniqlo Muji Flagship Sony, Ginza 6 Ginza Goldfish Aquarium

The last day in Tokyo is spent visiting a chosen highlight as I have a half day.  The key is to check out of the hotel, store your luggage at Tokyo Station, and then be able to pick it up from there for the trip back out to Narita to the airport.  DON'T forget to load up on pastries and those deluxe boxes of confections/baking at the airport.  They are quite fresh and will have a shelf-life of 10 to 14 days in a cool dry room - there are dates on the boxes.  These are quality treats and it is a good $30-$50 to spend.

I've started writing up the actual trip highlights now.  See my post below.
Highlights From My Japan Trip Visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka in December 2022

My trip didn't quite go as planned as I had to move a few things around and skip some things due to an injury.  Check the above post for what actually happened!

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