EXPLORING JAPAN OVER THE HOLIDAY SEASON
From bustling cities to waterfall hikes, we explore Japan via Tokyo to Osaka
In the prior year, we stopped briefly in Japan for 4 days before heading off to Taiwan. This year, we decided to return to Japan and explore more cities as well as retracing and exploring areas that we felt needed more time.
Unlike our New Years experience in Taiwan, Japan's celebration of the new year is much more low-key and spiritually focused. However, there's still no lack of visitors and tourists who come to experience Japan over the holidays. Most of the major tourist areas are packed! Riding the metro during rush hour can sometimes feel frustrating and claustrophobic.
But Japan also offers visitors many escapes to get out of the cities and explore more of what it has to offer including quaint trails along the coastline and up into the mountains.
Join us as we explore Japan from Tokyo to Osaka to Kyoto to Nara and back to Tokyo for the New Years!
Days
Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo NRT
A late afternoon arrival
<p>We arrived in the later afternoon and made our way out of Tokyo Narita airport via the Skyliner towards Tokyo city center.</p><p>By the time we were settled into the hotel, there was much time (nor energy) left to wander too far and we ended up grabbing a quick set of curry and katsudon at nearby Sunshine City.</p>
Visit
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SUNSHINE 60 OBSERVATORY TENBOU-PARK サンシャイン60展望台 てんぼうパーク
A hotel and shopping center with options for grabbing a bite https://sunshinecity.jp/observatory/ -
J WiFi & Mobile × グローバルWiFi 成田空港第2ターミナル1階店
Note: we ended up picking up a hotspot here but it did have some issues with speed and connectivity once we were outside of Tokyo proper.
Eat
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CoCo Ichibanya Ikebukuro Sunshine City
A tasty stop to grab a quick bite! Lots of options to customize each order.
Stay
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2-chōme-34-5 Higashiikebukuro
Homestay for start of trip.
Transit
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Tokyo Narita Airport
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Nippori Station 日暮里駅
http://www.jreast.co.jp/estation/stations/1184.html -
Ōtsuka Station
Transit here for homestay
Photos
Day 2: Harajuku and Asakusa
Exploring Tokyo
<p>We started our first full day by visiting Meiji Jingu which is a shrine dedicated to the emperor Meiji. Despite the rain, we enjoyed the stroll through the quiet park and towering trees to visit the shrine.</p><p>From here, we visited a nearby snake cafe to get a quick snack in the presence of a variety of snakes. Hognoses included (a favorite of Sydney).</p><p>The surrounding area of Harajuku has plenty of shops and dining worth visiting, but we wanted to make our way towards Asakusa. We visited the area late in the afternoon on our previous trip and found that many of the shops tend to close early. This trip, we wanted to arrive a bit earlier to explore the lively side streets and shopping areas around Asakusa.</p><p>One of our favorite stops? The Hokkaido Milk Bar which features dairy and desserts from various regions around Japan. Here, you can really enjoy the subtle flavors of the milk produced by various cows and regions of the island.</p><p></p>
Visit
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Meiji Jingu
A historical shrine that houses the spirit of emperor Meiji. Visit in the warmer months to enjoy the gardens as well! -
Tokyo Snake Center ~Cafe & Snake~ - Cafe & Snake - 東京スネークセンター
A small cafe which features...snakes! The snakes are brought to your table and there is an option to handle them as well (separate charge) https://snakecenter.jp/ -
Ameyoko market
Way too crowded to be enjoyable! -
Nakamise Shopping Street 仲見世商店街
The area around Asakusa is filled with shops and food so be sure to wander around http://www.asakusa-nakamise.jp/ -
Asakusa Nishi-sandō Shopping Street 浅草西参道商店街
https://www.asakusaomatsuri.com/ shopping street by Senso-ji -
Sensō-ji
An imposing temple with lively streets all around it
Eat
-
Oreryu Gyoza Meshi Harajuku
The gyoza and noodles here were priced well and delicious! -
HOKKAIDO MILK BAR Asakusa Milk Cafe HOKKAIDO MILK BAR 浅草ミルクカフェ
A small shop tucked into the side streets of Asakusa which features various dairy-based desserts from around the country. Try the milk flights! http://hokkaido-milkbar.com/
Stay
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2-chōme-34-5 Higashiikebukuro
Homestay for start of trip.
Transit
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Harajuku Station 原宿駅
https://www.jreast.co.jp/estation/station/info.aspx?StationCd=1256 Station for snake cafe
Photos
Day 3: Enoshima Island
A day trip to the coast
<p>Enoshima Island is located just about an hour south of Tokyo city by train. The route through Ofuna includes a leg on one of the few functional suspension monorails in the world! The monorail station at Enoshima is just a few minutes walk away from the island.</p><p>We arrived early and decided to explore the island and spend some time on the nearby Koshigoe beach. Here, we watched as a school was holding a field day on the beach and surfers rode the waves.</p><p>Enoshima is a small island and easily covered on foot in half a day. We missed out on the pier on the east side where the waves crashed dramatically against the pier. Consider starting your trek on this east side before making your way up the main route down the center of the island.</p><p>The main street is lined with shops and snacks as you make your way up. We made our way to the Daini-Iwaya caves at the southern edge of the island before back tracking along the coast. On a clear, sunny day, the waves here would have been breathtaking for sure! </p><p>We finished the evening at Sea Candle park which was lit up by countless lights which created a magical atmosphere.</p><p></p>
Visit
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Enoshima 江の島
Small island with illuminations for the holidays -
Koshigoe Beach
Black sand beaches opposite of Enoshima Island -
Enoshima Shrine Okutsumiya 江島神社 奥津宮
Shrine at the edge of Enoshima island http://enoshimajinja.or.jp/okutsumiya/ -
Enoshima Sea Candle 江の島シーキャンドル
Beautifully lit park which features winter tulips and lots of festive lights for the holidays https://enoshima-seacandle.com/ -
Tennoumae
Coastal walkway which is a perfect place to watch the waves crash against the island. -
Enoshima Iwaya - Second Cave
A series of caves at the end of the trail.
Eat
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7-Eleven
Breakfast -
Enoshima Pudding 麦こがしプリン専門店 江の島プリン
https://enoshima-pudding.com/ stop in for a local treat -
UMITO café by n
A cozy cafe serving coffee and light meals with an ocean view. The mushroom taco was incredible! -
Wood-Fired Oven Heidi
Stop in this tiny shop for hand made, wood fired pizza (it was delicious!) -
Yurantei
A family-run eatery to grab a quick bite on the way down from Enoshima
Stay
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2-chōme-34-5 Higashiikebukuro
Homestay for start of trip.
Transit
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Tokyo Station 東京駅
Take Tokaido Line JT Orange to Ofuna Station for Monrail -
Ōfuna Station 大船駅
Monorail to Enoshima Shonan-Shinjuku Line to Yokohamo Station -
Shōnan-Enoshima Station
Monorail station - arrive here and depart from here. -
Tokyo Station 東京駅 → Ōfuna Station 大船駅 → Shōnan-Enoshima Station
Estimated an hour by transit
Photos
Day 4: Transit to Osaka
A two hour journey from Tokyo to Osaka
<p>From Tokyo, we started the second leg of our tip by taking the Shinkansen to Osaka which would be our base for the next few days. The route will take passengers along the coast and past sweeping views of Mt. Fuji along the way.</p><p>We arrived early and decided to stow our luggage at the station while heading out to historic Osaka castle. While peaceful today, it is easy to imagine the epic battles that took place here in Japan's past as various clans fought to unify Japan. The main castle itself is tight and can get quite packed with people, but the castle grounds are worth the trip.</p><p>The rest of the evening was spent wandering the area and exploring the lively Osaka night scape.</p>
Visit
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Osaka Castle 大阪城
https://www.osakacastle.net/ castle and park
Eat
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Ekiben-ya Matsuri 駅弁屋 祭 グランスタ東京
https://shop.jr-cross.co.jp/eki/spot/detail?code=f13280 Bento for Shinkanesan -
Central Square LIFE Morinomiya
Groceries and fruit here
Stay
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〒550-0013 Osaka, Nishi Ward, Shinmachi, 1-chōme−6−21 岡島新聞舗
Apartment @ Home-Shinmachi 101. Include washing machine. -
2-chōme-34-5 Higashiikebukuro
Homestay for start of trip.
Transit
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Tokyo Station 東京駅
https://www.tokyoinfo.com/ Shinkansen station to transit to Osaka. Platforms 14-19 - follow blue signs -
Shin-Osaka Station
Arrival station for the Shinkansen -
Morinomiya Station 森ノ宮駅
https://www.jr-odekake.net/eki/top.php?id=0610510 Station outside Osaka Castle. Coin lockers located here. Take Osaka Metro Nagahori Tsurumi Ryokuchi Line to homestay -
Shinsaibashi Station 心斎橋駅
https://subway.osakametro.co.jp/station_guide/M/m19/ Station closest to homestay
Photos
Day 5: MInoh Park Day Trip
Day trip to Minoh
<p>Located about an hour north of Osaka by train, we planned this day as another day to get out of the cityscapes of Japan.</p><p>Here, a paved trail starts from the terminal station and guides hikers up to Minoh falls. Along the way are temples, various food vendors, as well as an insectarium! The insectarium is worth the stop to visit the fantastic butterfly garden.</p><p>The hike is easy and a great way to get a change of scenery and a change of pace. The train to and from were relaxed and not nearly as crowded as many of our other trips.</p>
Visit
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ARAIBA Shinmachimise Coin Laundry コインランドリーARAIBA新町店
https://araiba.jp/ right by homestay -
Minoh Park 箕面公園
http://www.mino-park.jp/ beautiful park -
Minoh Park Insectarium
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Bhz14MXjXKGMhQ4c7 -
Falls Trail, Minoh Park 箕面公園 滝道
https://minohkankou.net/sights/area/minohtakimichi/ Trail to Mino Falls -
Shoten Bridge 聖天橋
Bridge along the way
Eat
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Lawson
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ky44k3sErnoKBgg46 -
Coos Conservo
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YUZUYA滝前店
Ice Cream and treats right by Minoh Falls -
Franc et élégant YUZUYA CAFE
Waffle on a stick with dipping sauces -
Derailleur Brew Works 山ノ麓TAP ROOM
Excellent place to stop after the hike for some delicious toast, cheesecake, and local beers -
Hanshin Dai-Shokudo ( Restaurants & FOOD HALL )
Grabbing a quick bite on our way back
Stay
-
〒550-0013 Osaka, Nishi Ward, Shinmachi, 1-chōme−6−21 岡島新聞舗
Apartment @ Home-Shinmachi 101. Include washing machine.
Transit
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Osaka-Umeda Station 大阪梅田駅
http://www.hankyu.co.jp/station/umeda.html Take Takarazuka Main Line to Ishibashi Handai Mai Station -
Mino-o Station 箕面駅
Transit here for hiking -
Ishibashi Handai-Mae Station 石橋阪大前駅
https://www.hankyu.co.jp/station/ishibashi.html Transfer to Hankyu Mino Line
Photos
Day 6: Aquarium/Osaka Bay
Rare encounters
<p>The Osaka aquarium is unique as one of the few in the world that has housed a whale shark and an ocean sunfish as well.</p><p>It is definitely worth the visit as the experience of being up close with these majestic giants is something. that is hard to describe and cannot be experienced anywhere else in the world.</p><p>We wrapped our evening at Namba Parks which is a large shopping complex. The rooftop are is decorated with holiday lights and creates a great ambiance for enjoying the cityscape.</p>
Visit
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Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan 海遊館
https://www.kaiyukan.com/ Whale Sharks! -
Tempozan Harbor Village 天保山ハーバービレッジ
https://www.kaiyukan.com/thv/general/ shopping and eating on the harbor -
Namba Parks
Large shopping complex in Namba with pretty holiday lights. -
Glico Sign Dotonbori
Eat
-
7-Eleven Osaka Yotsubashi Itachibori
Our go to for early breakfast -
天ぷら えびちゃん 定食
A tempura shop near the aquarium; a bit too greasy! -
PANSHIROU TEZUKAYAMA Panshiro Tezukayama
Snack waffle in Dontonburi
Stay
-
〒550-0013 Osaka, Nishi Ward, Shinmachi, 1-chōme−6−21 岡島新聞舗
Apartment @ Home-Shinmachi 101. Include washing machine.
Transit
-
Hommachi Station 本町駅
https://subway.osakametro.co.jp/station_guide/M/m18/ Osaka Metro Chuo Line (Green line) to head to aquarium and waterfront -
Osakako Station 大阪港駅
https://subway.osakametro.co.jp/station_guide/C/c11/index.php Station for Aquarium
Photos
Day 7: Kyoto Day Trip
From modern to historical
<p>Kyoto was a day trip for us from Osaka with a transit time of ~1h by train.</p><p>We visited the newest teamLabs: Biovortex first thing in the morning (after visiting Borderless and Planets last year in Tokyo). Biovortex shares some similar exhibits and designs as the others, but offers unique tactile experiences that are definitely worth the trip. You can easily spend half a day here wandering the exhibits and experiencing the artwork.</p><p>Nearby, we grabbed our most expensive meal of the trip in a hole in the wall serving hand-selected wagyu and it was definitely worth it with both girls proclaiming it their favorite meal of the trip.</p><p>In the afternoon, we headed to Fushimi Inari to the south. The famed torii gates here were a bit underwhelming and unfortunately packed to the gills with tourists. But take any of the side trails and you can get a lot more breathing room and find more tranquil paths up to the top of Inari through the bamboo forests to the south.</p><p></p>
Visit
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teamLabs biovortex
The latest teamLabs to open and features some truly fantastic displays! Our favorite was the "vortex room" which used a wind tunnel to create an amazing display using balloons. -
Mount Inari 稲荷山
https://inari.jp/ This is located just south east of where teamLabs is. The main path will be quite crowded (with many folks randomly stopping to take photos). We recommend taking one of the side routes up through the bamboo forest and hiking up to the top of the mountain. -
Fushimi Inari Bamboo Forest
Access the bamboo forest by taking a right from the main trail and heading south. This path is much more serene and with far less people.
Eat
-
VIE DE FRANCE Rêve de Paris Kyoto
A quick snack stop inside of the train station early in the morning. It's worth it to snack up before heading into teamLabs as you may end up wandering inside for 3+ hours! -
Wagyu Beef (Halal Vegan) Steak Hamburger Kyoto Station Restaurant Beef-Tei
A small hole-in-the-wall serving delicious, tender wagyu burgers, steaks, and ramen. -
McDonald's マクドナルド 四ツ橋店
Quick dinner...because we had to try McDonald's and because we got back late.
Stay
-
〒550-0013 Osaka, Nishi Ward, Shinmachi, 1-chōme−6−21 岡島新聞舗
Apartment @ Home-Shinmachi 101. Include washing machine.
Transit
-
Osaka-Umeda Station 大阪梅田駅
http://www.hankyu.co.jp/station/umeda.html -
Kyoto Station 京都駅
https://www.jr-odekake.net/eki/top.php?id=0610116 Transit into Kyoto - closest to teamLabs
Photos
Day 8: Nara Day Trip
From historical to modern
<p>Another day trip out of Osaka, Nara is also ~1h from Osaka city center.</p><p>Nara Park is actually the site of numerous temples and spiritual sites including one of the largest wooden temples in the world (Todai-ji). We had actually planned to hike one of the nearby forest trails, but found it closed for the winter. Still, there's plenty to do in the area and many small shops around the park.</p><p>Do be wary of the deer, though, as they can get aggressive!</p><p>In the evening, we returned to Osaka to experience another teamLabs exhibit at Osaka Botanical Gardens. This exhibit is quite small, but had a spectacular display that was made all the more outstanding in the darkness of night.</p>
Visit
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Higashimuki Shopping Street 東向商店街
http://higashimuki.jp/ A covered shopping street mall with restaurants, snacks, and various shops. -
Shimomikado Shopping Street 下御門商店街
https://www.shimomikado.com/ another shopping street -
Nara Park 奈良公園
https://www3.pref.nara.jp/park/ park with shrines and temples, garden and deer -
teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka チームラボ ボタニカルガーデン 大阪
https://www.teamlab.art/jp/e/botanicalgarden/ teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka - Opens 6PM. Striking installations that mirror some of the themes from the Kyoto Biovortex exhibit.
Eat
-
7-Eleven Osaka Yotsubashi Itachibori
Our go-to for breakfast! -
Tenpyoan Todaiji
A quaint shop selling traditional Japanese confections and snacks. -
Nakatanidou 中谷堂
http://www.nakatanidou.jp/ famous mochi pounding and snacks -
Satei Yusui
An udon noodle shop at the edge of the park just before it turns into wilderness. We had initially planned to hike into the woods from here, but unfortunately, the route was closed until spring. -
Nakau
A fast-food place near our hotel where we grabbed a quick bite for dinner.
Stay
-
〒550-0013 Osaka, Nishi Ward, Shinmachi, 1-chōme−6−21 岡島新聞舗
Apartment @ Home-Shinmachi 101. Include washing machine.
Transit
-
Kintetsu-Nara Station 近鉄奈良駅
http://www.kintetsu.co.jp/station/station_info/station03023.html train stop to visit Nara -
Nagai Station (Osaka Metro) 長居駅(地下鉄)
https://subway.osakametro.co.jp/station_guide/M/m26/#nav Transit to Botanical Garden
Photos
Day 9: Transit back to Tokyo for New Years
Exploring Tokyo New Year's Eve
<p>From Osaka, we transited by Shinkansen back to Tokyo for New Years eve.</p><p>NYE in Japan is a very different experience from the one we experienced in Taiwan where it was more celebratory with hundreds of thousands of visitors gathered to watch fireworks at Taipei 101. Here, it is much more low key and experienced as a spiritual day visiting temples instead (no fireworks to be heard or seen and even Tokyo Tower shuts off their lights by 11 PM).</p><p>We spent most of the daytime finishing up our shopping and then headed towards Zojo-ji temple in Shiba park. While Tokyo feels like it normally shuts down in the evening, NYE found many of the shops in the area open for extended hours. Shiba park was quite bustling with visitors and packed. The experience was very different from the one we had the year prior in Taipei where even though the crowds were large, the city was well prepared for it. </p><p>Our evening ended enjoying traditional end-of-year ceremonies carried out by the priests and enjoying the lively atmosphere.</p>
Visit
-
Fuji Soba
https://maps.app.goo.gl/kKn52sY7Zmc5UyeB7 Lunch -
KUROGI JAPANESE SWEETS LAB
https://maps.app.goo.gl/TXwax3Y2RvPipjnz9 -
Zojo-ji Temple 増上寺
https://www.zojoji.or.jp/ New Year's Eve Traditional Celebration Area
Eat
-
山東菜館
https://maps.app.goo.gl/grZUtua63JTNpMqMA
Stay
-
Sotetsu Fresa Inn Daimon Ekimae 相鉄フレッサイン 大門駅前
https://sotetsu-hotels.com/fresa-inn/daimon-ekimae/ -
〒550-0013 Osaka, Nishi Ward, Shinmachi, 1-chōme−6−21 岡島新聞舗
Apartment @ Home-Shinmachi 101. Include washing machine.
Transit
-
Shin-Osaka Station
High Speed Station
Photos
Day 10: Tokyo and transit home
Shopping and transit!
<p>While not many places may be open on New Years Day, Tokyo Skytree Town (large shopping complex at the base of Tokyo Skytree) as open for business and absolutely bustling with people seeking out deals. it turns out that NYD is similar to Black Friday in the US...except the deals are actually worth it!</p><p>Vendors offer "Lucky Bags" which are bags which contain an assortment of goods at a discount price. We picked up a lucky bag of Japanese hand-made leather goods for what feels like an absolute steal for the quality of the leather and craftsmanship. It is absolutely worth it to get out on NYD and find some great deals.</p><p>There is also a convenient rail option from Skytree directly to Narita where we would board for our afternoon flight back to Newark.</p>
Visit
-
Tokyo Skytree Town
This area was bustling on New Years day and all of the shops were open with many visitors out shopping. New Years is apparently like Black Friday in the US...except with real deals. Be sure to check out the "lucky bags"
Eat
-
7-Eleven
Breakfast! -
CAMPO SOLARE
Snack before lunch
Transit
-
Tokyo Station
Transit back to airport -
Narita Airport Terminal 2 - 5:15 PM - 3:50 PM
Photos
FAQ
-
What's open in Tokyo on New Year's Day?
New Year's Day at Tokyo Skytree is akin to Black Friday in the US. The shops here are open and offering "lucky bags" which are grab bags of deals ranging from leather goods to fruits! You can find many great deals by exploring the shops in the Skytree mall.
-
Does it snow in Tokyo in the winter?
Yes! While most of beginning of our trip was overcast and rainy, we did encounter snow during our trip (see the video).
-
Is teamLabs Biovortex in Kyoto worth visiting?
Yes! While it features some of the same exhibits or variants that are in other teamLabs locations, it also offers very unique experiences that are much more visceral and engage all of your senses. Biovortex is definitely worth the visit even if you've already visited Planets or Borderless in Tokyo.
Summary: Japan 2026
Despite the crowds in the cities of Japan, we enjoyed every day of our exploration from the modern cityscapes to our escapes out into the coasts and the mountains of Japan. From delicious food to bountiful shopping, we always found our travels to be abundant in ways to catch our attention. Like every trip we take as a family, we find these moments where we travel together to be the ones where we feel closest and it is an experience that we've come to cherish as a way to create lasting memories.
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