Two of us a planning a very touristy visit to Japan over Christmas. I have sketched out some sightseeing plans for brief stops in Tokyo & Kyoto: comments are welcome, remembering only that we don’t want to get too ambitious (just ambitious enough). Our interests are pretty square: architecture, urban design, parks-gardens, temples, and museums. We’re not much interested in shopping, early morning fish, or late night clubbing (though we might take a look at Shinjuku, where we’ll be staying the first 2 nights).

The schedule is two nights in Tokyo (so full day 1), 2 nights traveling around central Japan, 2 nights in Kyoto (1 full day), and another 2 nights in Tokyo (for full day 2). Assuming it’s not raining, we’d like to maximize walking (within reason) and logical subway-ing. OK, here goes:

Tokyo day 1 (starting from Shinjuku)- Beginning from west Shinjuku, it seems fun to start with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Offices & the observatory; then perhaps a stroll around east Shinjuku, and maybe to the Meiji-jingu. In the afternoon, up to Ueno, the Tokyo National Museum, and its surrounding park & cemetery. That seems to be full day already. Dinner in Ueno or back to Shinjuku(?)

Tokyo day 2 (starting from Minato-ku)- Beginning with a walk around the imperial palace gardens, then definitely want to visit the Yasukuni shrine/museum, perhaps via Kitanomaru Park and the martial arts museum. Maybe toward afternoon to the Mori Art Museum and Roppongi Hills (which might not be fully our style). Maybe to look at Tokyo Bay at some point…

Tokyo bits- A Ginza stroll seems called for; and/or a look at Harajuku color; and Akihabara (one of us is a technophobe but the other is a technophile & early adopter). I assume the Akihabara electronics stores are open late?

Kyoto day- The “Southern Higashiyama Walking Tour” suggested by the “Lonely Planet” looks like a good way to selectively see a lot at your own pace—starting along Chawan-zaka to the Kiyomizu-dera and then basically northward around various temples, parks, and “quaint streets”.

Kyoto bits- The above plan looks like a full day, even without stopping at the National Museum. But perhaps a couple half-days would get us to a few more sites to in the northwest part of the city—Nijo-jo, Ryoan-ji, and Kinkaku-ji. The Philosopher’s Walk and the Botanical Garden sound pleasant but maybe not priorities in December. And if it’s raining, there’s the Manga Museum, I guess (otherwise, probably not absolutely required).

If there are any must-do gems you insist on, please hold forth. Likewise for restaurants (good-hearty-not-too-expensive) that would be really convenient for our proposed schedule (I’ve put together numerous lists of restaurants, but it’s a little hard to figure out exactly where they would all fit in).