I've written up some of my priorities here, excluding food and tours.

I notice that kakigori is on your list. There is a very famous place called Kooriya Peace in Kichijoji. It featured in the TV series Kantaro The Sweet Toothed Salaryman.
I would ask your concierge to check the current details but it used to be that you could arrive early (so go there before heading to the Ghibli Museum) and put your name on a next to a time on a sign at the door which would secure you a reservation.
https://metropolisjapan.com/kooriya-peace/

Maybe after lunch at Ramen Kaijin, I could have dessert there?

That’s the idea. Alternatively, there is also this kakigori cafe in Kichijoji since your list suggests you are OK with alcohol
https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/restaurants/cafe-lumiere

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Just seen the bit about canned cake. It’s hideously overpriced and bound to be disappointing.
The Capitol Hotel is a 30 minute walk from The New Otani Hotel where you can find the most famous shortcakes in Japan.
https://www.newotani.co.jp/checkin/en/20200304/content05.html
Overpriced? Perhaps, but less likely to be disappointing.

Any comments on the Kyoto/Osaka portion please? Map here. Thank you :D

If you decide to go to Uji then there are several tea houses there which you may want to visit. They offer tea flavored pastries, noodles, parfaits in addition to brewed tea.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3977.html
https://thetravellingsquid.com/2018/...-visit-in-uji/

Uji is a bit out of the way and there are tea cafes in Kyoto if you want to save transit time https://hojicha.co/blogs/travel/best...ps-kyoto-japan. There weren't a lot of foreigners in Uji when I visited years ago but there were a lot of school trip students at Byodoin Temple since it is featured on the current 10,000 yen note. The new 10,000 yen note will enter circulation in July https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2...-20-years.html

If you are new to Japanese teas and wagashi:
Wagashi sweets are also traditionally consumed alongside tea https://matcha-jp.com/en/12419 Don't be too surprised if some visually stunning creation's texture or taste is not to your preference. Same with ceremonial matcha which can be bitter. Traditional Japanese tea doesn't have milk or cream added to it like British or Indian tea. It's ok, many Japanese people prefer to consume the Westernized matcha lattes and matcha flavored pastries, cakes, and ice cream/soft serve parfaits at more modern style cafes. You will be offered the traditional styles during a tea ceremony.

Japanese green teas have a shelf life so check the best by dates. It can be a bit of a waste of money if you over buy (especially if you buy first harvest top grade as it will no longer be as fresh by the time you work through your tea haul) https://marche-otoriyose-net.transla..._x_tr_pto=wapp and I'm sure your tea tour guide can provide more storage tips or guidance if you want to add milk.

I’ve had a Quick Look again at your proposed itinerary.

I would maybe look at combining the 2 Tokyo spells into 1 longer one at the beginning of the trip. Rather than spend an extra night in Tokyo to travel to Kyoto the next morning, I would look at heading to Kyoto the night before after a full day of exploring in Tokyo. That way you get more time in Kyoto on your first day there.

I would also look at travelling directly from Osaka to Haneda on the day you are leaving if you extend the amount of time in Tokyo at the beginning. This could either be via the Shinkansen or a flight. As you are travelling BA, take a JAL flight from ITM. Even if it is a separate booking, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence of JAL through checking bags to final destination on the forum.

Looking at the Yamato website, they don'y seem to have a counter in Haneda?

They have a counter on the 2nd floor arrivals area at Haneda. Their logo is a black cat on a yellow background.

https://tokyo-haneda.com/en/service/...=1703575736905

You can also use the Takkyubin services to send your luggage between hotels - that is usually a next day service so send it the day before you check in. It’s relatively cheap - I think I was about £15 to send suitcase from Tokyo to Nagoya. The main benefit of Takkyubin is it frees you up from having to cart your luggage about with you when transiting between cities.

It seems you did not really read what we wrote in the topic on the exact same subject you posted 6 months ago.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japa...itinerary.html

Your itinerary is too busy, with no sense of reality and transportation time and places.

Hoshinoya switch?
 

I'm potentially hours away from booking my family at the Hoshinoya Tokyo and just saw your post from yesterday. Any insight into why you were convinced to change hotels for your Tokyo stay? I looked at the post you linked to but it doesn't mention the Hoshinoya specfically. Any quick insights before I commit $7k to this property? Much appreciated!

I was there a few weeks ago (early December) and can confirm that throngs of school kids are still visiting Byodo-In. A beautiful temple, but not exactly a peaceful visit.

If you read this thread (starting around post #900) people have written at length about the hotel's drawbacks.

Ah, so that is the new companion thread to this one here. I hadn’t understood that concierge services in luxury hotels are now no different (and possibly less accommodating) than in the reasonably priced places I go to.

[MENTION=271796]GodAtum[/MENTION], I noted your response to [MENTION=771979]Smiley90[/MENTION] ‘s opinion that spending 6 nights in Tokyo is too long at any property.
I’ve seen your priorities, it is an opinion, not advice, and it absolutely does NOT apply to you.

I get very nervous not staying near the airport before a flight. I live in London and still stay overnight at a Heathrow airport hotel just in case there's transport issues. Travelling half-way across Japan doesn't seem like a good idea, even though their trains are extremely reliable?