japan which part?

Depend on which part. Back in 2017, I could start skiing by November but of course, it was the heaviest snowfall in 30 years around my area (Hakusan, Ishikawa). This year winter not much snow, if I remember correctly, mid-late Dec 2018 quite a number of ski grounds (Hakuba, Nagano) are still closed due to insufficient snow, only went to ski around mid Jan 2019.

If no snow, can just enjoy ryokan onsen

i don't think it's a good idea to jump multiple location within 9 days
1. u won't be able to experience fully of 1 place
2. spend too much time on transport instead of exploring
3. cost way too much(JR pass)
4. basically just touch & go(pointless)
why not just stay the whole period in tokyo?
or split half and half with tokyo and osaka/kyoto and discard hokkaido

Hi Waliu, your travel period is a peak season, Japanese also will having their long holiday, hence chances of shinkansen overly booked is also a concern.

1) If you can read Chinese, you can refer to this video and imagine roughly how crowded the Tokyo will be during that season. If you cant, you still can watch based on body language.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2URDCwcuHX4

2） You don't have to go that far (Hokkaido) just to ski, Nagano prefecture also can ski during late December. They are tour groups picking up people (according to my friend who study there, I never experience it yet but you can google it) from Tokyo Station.

3) Tokyo has many beautiful christmas illumination, especially in Caretta Shiodome near Shinbashi station.

4) For your first day, we definitely know it is very hard to make it, because shops in Tokyo close very early, as early as 8pm or 9pm even in Shibuya and Shinjuku, only Izakaya (Japanese bar) and 24 hours shop open till late.

4) if the trip too packed, you can do side trips like Kamakura (also known as Kanto Kyoto), Kawagoe (Cute Edo themed old town in Saitama Prefecture), Hakone (onsen), Kawaguchi and Fujisan area (1/3 chances to see Fuji peak depends on weather)

Your first and second day in Tokyo is too packed though. Considering you only reached Tokyo in the late afternoon, i doubt you'll even finish either Shibuya or Harajuku. For the second day, by the time you finish with Ameya Yokocho (Assuming you skip Akihabara), it will already be at night if you're fast enough.

I have the same thoughts too last time, tried to cover Tokyo and also Kansai area in one trip but realised its too rushing. Now in the midst of arranging my itinerary in Osaka (5 nights) and Kyoto (7 nights).

Agree with the touch n go, some places might really take time to explore like dotonburi, shinsaibashi and shinsekai. In kyoto, I would really like to take my time to wander the streets of Gion; Hanamokoji Dori, Ninenzaka & Sanenzaka, Gion Shirakawa and the nearby Yasaka Shrine. Kiyomizudera is nearby too but I read its still under construction so I might give this a miss..

Ohh not to mention the beautiful Pontocho Alley!

emm.... if u drop Tokyo, y not drop Nagano skiing n choose closer option?
sry, kinda miss tat post.
tho... y drop tokyo n go Nagano skiing?

how many days you planning to do this route: Tokyo -> Osaka -> Kyoto -> Nagano -> Tokyo ?

Yup, buying through Klook is pretty straightforward.
We got our exchange orders in the mail 7 business days after ordering.

Just bring the exchange order with your passport to the JR counters when you arrive and exchange it for the actual pass.

You don't have to start your 7 days immediately after you exchange, you can tell then the specific date that you want it activated. And you can also reserve your seats for all the rides provided you know the date and time of each ride.

Maybe karuizawa? I got no experience there but from google seems doable as day trip. If you willing to go a little further and stay overnight like in Nagano / Niigata / Yamagata areas then I got more personal experience recommendations.

Snow monkey park 1/2 a day then go back to your ryokan soak onsen and sleep, then next day since you’re planning to go Nozawa Onsen anyway then why not just ski there?