Fourth trip to japan itinerary (xmas 2019)

Hi,
next december I will make my forth trip to Japan, i will land to Tokyo on 29th december and i will leave from Narita on 8th january. In the past trips i have been in the following places :
- tokyo/kyoto/nara/kamakura (summer 2016)
- tokyo/sendai/yamadera (may 2017)
- tokyo/fuji/hakone (fall 2018)

which itinerary do you suggest for xmas ? I'm travelling with my girlfriend (she has been with me only in the summer 2016 travel), i would like to visit tokyo and a new place, something off the beaten path. Do you suggest anything in the northern area (ginzan onsen?) ?

thanks a lot for your help guys :)

How about Takayama/Shirakawago/Kanazawa? These areas are close to each other and you could spend a few days to a week exploring them. Consider using the Three Star Route bus pass to do so.

You didn't mention Nikko at al yet. That's well worth a day or two.
Himeji is another very good pick.
https://goo.gl/65ZtRi

Another option is Koyasan. It will be pretty chilly, but it is a tremendous sight and well worth it.
https://goo.gl/uAi9oX

Izu is another possibility.

Needless to say though, since you are traveling around the end/start of the year, you should check all the places you'd like to go to and make sure they're open.

I'd second a visit to Nikko, also Kanazawa, and as an alternative to Takayama/Shirakawa you could have a day or two on the Noto Peninsula.

Also very much like Matsumoto, in the alps near Nagano.

Have a wonderful time in Japan.

thanks everyone for suggestions.
i forget to say that i have been nikko.
Koyasan or Takayama are really good suggestions but i would like to avoid long train distance (i don't have too much days and i think i will spend some days in tokyo)

How about a night at Karuizawa and a night at Bessho Onsen (they are close to each other and within 2 hours of Tokyo)? I'm a big Karuizawa fan and Bessho Onsen is nice as well.

How is karuizawa in winter/during xmas? Any other suggestions?

I am glad to hear that you have been to Japan so many times! Since you know well Japanese famous places, what about Hokkaido or Fukuoka (Kyushu)?

Hokkaido is the northernmost prefecture and it's quite cold in winter. However, you can skii with wonderful powder snow and have great meal. You can go to Hokkaido by plane in 2 hours.
https://jw-webmagazine.com/why-you-should-visit-hokkaido-in-winter-tim...

Fukuoka sits on the northern shore of Japanfs Kyushu Island. It is famous for local gourmet. You must enjoy many local foods and shochu/sake if you like drinking.
https://www.fun-japan.jp/intl/articles/1322

Enjoy your trip :)

If you donft mind the long 3+hr shinkansen ride from Tokyo Ginzan Onsen would indeed be a very good choice. We had a memorable stay there during a winter trip to Tohoku. The only concern is whether you can still secure any accommodation at this glateh date. Our first choice of lodging was fully booked even we tried almost 4 months in advance.
Sendai is the gateway to the lovely region of Tohoku and it can be reached by direct shinkansen from Tokyo in about 1.5 hr. Possible side trips from Sendai are popular Yamadera and Matsushima. Visiting Matsushima during winter months donft miss out its famous oyster dish. During your time of visit you can also go for the spectacular winter illumination event in Sendai known as Sendai Pageant of Starlight.
http://www.hikapa.jp/

thanks everyone for suggestions.
i forget to say that i have been nikko.
Koyasan or Takayama are really good suggestions but i would like to avoid long train distance (i don't have too much days and i think i will spend some days in tokyo)

Just some things to observe, since you write "xmas", those festivities will be over by the 29th. In case you expected to fanciful decorations and such. Some might be left but not much.

And of course, like someone also pointed out, the trains are often fully booked around new year.

And lastly, many places are closed for the new year and the days after.

On the bright side, the weather can be really good with clear blue skies. ILve had some wonderful views of Fuji during the winter period.

There is a great hot spring which is not known in Gunma Prefecture

The largest open-air bath in Japan Takaragawa Onsen
https://www.takaragawa.com/sp/

Siliyaki Onsen with a river hot spring
https://hikyou.jp/report/dayuse/58972/


yDEEP JAPANz
https://www.youtube.com/user/mightywigs

@sullon : i tought tokyo would be full of decoration and xmas lights in that period. last year i've been in tokyo in november and shibuya/shinjuku was full of decoration and ligths.

do you suggest to book shinkansen in advice ?

i have 2 itineraries in mind (sitll looking for suggestions...) :
- tokyo (until 2nd january) and osaka/himeji/hiroshima/miyajima/arishayama/fushimi inari (until 7th january)
- tokyo (until 2nd january) and matsumoto/kanazawa/takayama (until 7th january)
- different options ?

the first itinerary is similiar to my first trip, but i'm considering spots that i have missed in the past trips (i have been only in kyoto and nara).