diff --git a/compiler/rustc_ast_lowering/src/index.rs b/compiler/rustc_ast_lowering/src/index.rs
index e77c0fb3a3e..6289966561f 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_ast_lowering/src/index.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_ast_lowering/src/index.rs
@@ -226,6 +226,14 @@ impl<'a, 'hir> Visitor<'hir> for NodeCollector<'a, 'hir> {
         });
     }
 
+    fn visit_opaque_ty(&mut self, opaq: &'hir OpaqueTy<'hir>) {
+        self.insert(opaq.span, opaq.hir_id, Node::OpaqueTy(opaq));
+
+        self.with_parent(opaq.hir_id, |this| {
+            intravisit::walk_opaque_ty(this, opaq);
+        });
+    }
+
     fn visit_anon_const(&mut self, constant: &'hir AnonConst) {
         // FIXME: use real span?
         self.insert(DUMMY_SP, constant.hir_id, Node::AnonConst(constant));
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_ast_lowering/src/lib.rs b/compiler/rustc_ast_lowering/src/lib.rs
index 9275308cccb..b26797f4203 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_ast_lowering/src/lib.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_ast_lowering/src/lib.rs
@@ -1603,7 +1603,8 @@ impl<'a, 'hir> LoweringContext<'a, 'hir> {
         lower_item_bounds: impl FnOnce(&mut Self) -> &'hir [hir::GenericBound<'hir>],
     ) -> hir::TyKind<'hir> {
         let opaque_ty_def_id = self.local_def_id(opaque_ty_node_id);
-        debug!(?opaque_ty_def_id);
+        let opaque_ty_hir_id = self.lower_node_id(opaque_ty_node_id);
+        debug!(?opaque_ty_def_id, ?opaque_ty_hir_id);
 
         // Map from captured (old) lifetime to synthetic (new) lifetime.
         // Used to resolve lifetimes in the bounds of the opaque.
@@ -1676,7 +1677,7 @@ impl<'a, 'hir> LoweringContext<'a, 'hir> {
             }
         }
 
-        self.with_hir_id_owner(opaque_ty_node_id, |this| {
+        let opaque_ty_def = self.with_def_id_parent(opaque_ty_def_id, |this| {
             // Install the remapping from old to new (if any). This makes sure that
             // any lifetimes that would have resolved to the def-id of captured
             // lifetimes are remapped to the new *synthetic* lifetimes of the opaque.
@@ -1714,7 +1715,10 @@ impl<'a, 'hir> LoweringContext<'a, 'hir> {
 
             let lifetime_mapping = self.arena.alloc_slice(&synthesized_lifetime_args);
 
-            let opaque_ty_item = hir::OpaqueTy {
+            trace!("registering opaque type with id {:#?}", opaque_ty_def_id);
+            let opaque_ty_def = hir::OpaqueTy {
+                hir_id: opaque_ty_hir_id,
+                def_id: opaque_ty_def_id,
                 generics: this.arena.alloc(hir::Generics {
                     params: generic_params,
                     predicates: &[],
@@ -1725,19 +1729,9 @@ impl<'a, 'hir> LoweringContext<'a, 'hir> {
                 bounds,
                 origin,
                 lifetime_mapping,
-            };
-
-            // Generate an `type Foo = impl Trait;` declaration.
-            trace!("registering opaque type with id {:#?}", opaque_ty_def_id);
-            let opaque_ty_item = hir::Item {
-                owner_id: hir::OwnerId { def_id: opaque_ty_def_id },
-                ident: Ident::empty(),
-                kind: hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(this.arena.alloc(opaque_ty_item)),
-                vis_span: this.lower_span(span.shrink_to_lo()),
                 span: this.lower_span(opaque_ty_span),
             };
-
-            hir::OwnerNode::Item(this.arena.alloc(opaque_ty_item))
+            this.arena.alloc(opaque_ty_def)
         });
 
         let generic_args = self.arena.alloc_from_iter(
@@ -1750,10 +1744,7 @@ impl<'a, 'hir> LoweringContext<'a, 'hir> {
         // Foo = impl Trait` is, internally, created as a child of the
         // async fn, so the *type parameters* are inherited. It's
         // only the lifetime parameters that we must supply.
-        hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(
-            hir::ItemId { owner_id: hir::OwnerId { def_id: opaque_ty_def_id } },
-            generic_args,
-        )
+        hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(opaque_ty_def, generic_args)
     }
 
     fn lower_precise_capturing_args(
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_borrowck/src/diagnostics/region_name.rs b/compiler/rustc_borrowck/src/diagnostics/region_name.rs
index d4598a1f582..1a5f9bdb154 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_borrowck/src/diagnostics/region_name.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_borrowck/src/diagnostics/region_name.rs
@@ -830,20 +830,14 @@ impl<'tcx> MirBorrowckCtxt<'_, '_, 'tcx> {
     ///
     /// [`OpaqueDef`]: hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef
     fn get_future_inner_return_ty(&self, hir_ty: &'tcx hir::Ty<'tcx>) -> &'tcx hir::Ty<'tcx> {
-        let hir = self.infcx.tcx.hir();
-
-        let hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(id, _) = hir_ty.kind else {
+        let hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(opaque_ty, _) = hir_ty.kind else {
             span_bug!(
                 hir_ty.span,
                 "lowered return type of async fn is not OpaqueDef: {:?}",
                 hir_ty
             );
         };
-        let opaque_ty = hir.item(id);
-        if let hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(hir::OpaqueTy {
-            bounds: [hir::GenericBound::Trait(trait_ref, _)],
-            ..
-        }) = opaque_ty.kind
+        if let hir::OpaqueTy { bounds: [hir::GenericBound::Trait(trait_ref, _)], .. } = opaque_ty
             && let Some(segment) = trait_ref.trait_ref.path.segments.last()
             && let Some(args) = segment.args
             && let [constraint] = args.constraints
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_borrowck/src/region_infer/opaque_types.rs b/compiler/rustc_borrowck/src/region_infer/opaque_types.rs
index 2f90e916281..a16c1931a55 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_borrowck/src/region_infer/opaque_types.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_borrowck/src/region_infer/opaque_types.rs
@@ -329,8 +329,8 @@ fn check_opaque_type_well_formed<'tcx>(
 ) -> Result<Ty<'tcx>, ErrorGuaranteed> {
     // Only check this for TAIT. RPIT already supports `tests/ui/impl-trait/nested-return-type2.rs`
     // on stable and we'd break that.
-    let opaque_ty_hir = tcx.hir().expect_item(def_id);
-    let OpaqueTyOrigin::TyAlias { .. } = opaque_ty_hir.expect_opaque_ty().origin else {
+    let opaque_ty_hir = tcx.hir().expect_opaque_ty(def_id);
+    let OpaqueTyOrigin::TyAlias { .. } = opaque_ty_hir.origin else {
         return Ok(definition_ty);
     };
     let param_env = tcx.param_env(def_id);
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir/src/hir.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir/src/hir.rs
index f58ec22aea9..2ef6fa53f4e 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir/src/hir.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir/src/hir.rs
@@ -2749,6 +2749,8 @@ pub struct BareFnTy<'hir> {
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, HashStable_Generic)]
 pub struct OpaqueTy<'hir> {
+    pub hir_id: HirId,
+    pub def_id: LocalDefId,
     pub generics: &'hir Generics<'hir>,
     pub bounds: GenericBounds<'hir>,
     pub origin: OpaqueTyOrigin,
@@ -2762,6 +2764,7 @@ pub struct OpaqueTy<'hir> {
     /// This mapping associated a captured lifetime (first parameter) with the new
     /// early-bound lifetime that was generated for the opaque.
     pub lifetime_mapping: &'hir [(&'hir Lifetime, LocalDefId)],
+    pub span: Span,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, HashStable_Generic)]
@@ -2868,7 +2871,7 @@ pub enum TyKind<'hir> {
     /// possibly parameters) that are actually bound on the `impl Trait`.
     ///
     /// The last parameter specifies whether this opaque appears in a trait definition.
-    OpaqueDef(ItemId, &'hir [GenericArg<'hir>]),
+    OpaqueDef(&'hir OpaqueTy<'hir>, &'hir [GenericArg<'hir>]),
     /// A trait object type `Bound1 + Bound2 + Bound3`
     /// where `Bound` is a trait or a lifetime.
     TraitObject(
@@ -3337,8 +3340,6 @@ impl<'hir> Item<'hir> {
         expect_ty_alias, (&'hir Ty<'hir>, &'hir Generics<'hir>),
             ItemKind::TyAlias(ty, generics), (ty, generics);
 
-        expect_opaque_ty, &OpaqueTy<'hir>, ItemKind::OpaqueTy(ty), ty;
-
         expect_enum, (&EnumDef<'hir>, &'hir Generics<'hir>), ItemKind::Enum(def, generics), (def, generics);
 
         expect_struct, (&VariantData<'hir>, &'hir Generics<'hir>),
@@ -3451,8 +3452,6 @@ pub enum ItemKind<'hir> {
     GlobalAsm(&'hir InlineAsm<'hir>),
     /// A type alias, e.g., `type Foo = Bar<u8>`.
     TyAlias(&'hir Ty<'hir>, &'hir Generics<'hir>),
-    /// An opaque `impl Trait` type alias, e.g., `type Foo = impl Bar;`.
-    OpaqueTy(&'hir OpaqueTy<'hir>),
     /// An enum definition, e.g., `enum Foo<A, B> {C<A>, D<B>}`.
     Enum(EnumDef<'hir>, &'hir Generics<'hir>),
     /// A struct definition, e.g., `struct Foo<A> {x: A}`.
@@ -3496,7 +3495,6 @@ impl ItemKind<'_> {
             ItemKind::Fn(_, ref generics, _)
             | ItemKind::TyAlias(_, ref generics)
             | ItemKind::Const(_, ref generics, _)
-            | ItemKind::OpaqueTy(OpaqueTy { ref generics, .. })
             | ItemKind::Enum(_, ref generics)
             | ItemKind::Struct(_, ref generics)
             | ItemKind::Union(_, ref generics)
@@ -3519,7 +3517,6 @@ impl ItemKind<'_> {
             ItemKind::ForeignMod { .. } => "extern block",
             ItemKind::GlobalAsm(..) => "global asm item",
             ItemKind::TyAlias(..) => "type alias",
-            ItemKind::OpaqueTy(..) => "opaque type",
             ItemKind::Enum(..) => "enum",
             ItemKind::Struct(..) => "struct",
             ItemKind::Union(..) => "union",
@@ -3806,6 +3803,7 @@ pub enum Node<'hir> {
     Ty(&'hir Ty<'hir>),
     AssocItemConstraint(&'hir AssocItemConstraint<'hir>),
     TraitRef(&'hir TraitRef<'hir>),
+    OpaqueTy(&'hir OpaqueTy<'hir>),
     Pat(&'hir Pat<'hir>),
     PatField(&'hir PatField<'hir>),
     Arm(&'hir Arm<'hir>),
@@ -3871,6 +3869,7 @@ impl<'hir> Node<'hir> {
             | Node::Crate(..)
             | Node::Ty(..)
             | Node::TraitRef(..)
+            | Node::OpaqueTy(..)
             | Node::Infer(..)
             | Node::WhereBoundPredicate(..)
             | Node::ArrayLenInfer(..)
@@ -3996,6 +3995,7 @@ impl<'hir> Node<'hir> {
             | Node::TraitItem(TraitItem { generics, .. })
             | Node::ImplItem(ImplItem { generics, .. }) => Some(generics),
             Node::Item(item) => item.kind.generics(),
+            Node::OpaqueTy(opaque) => Some(opaque.generics),
             _ => None,
         }
     }
@@ -4055,6 +4055,7 @@ impl<'hir> Node<'hir> {
         expect_ty,            &'hir Ty<'hir>,           Node::Ty(n),           n;
         expect_assoc_item_constraint,  &'hir AssocItemConstraint<'hir>,  Node::AssocItemConstraint(n),  n;
         expect_trait_ref,     &'hir TraitRef<'hir>,     Node::TraitRef(n),     n;
+        expect_opaque_ty,     &'hir OpaqueTy<'hir>,     Node::OpaqueTy(n),     n;
         expect_pat,           &'hir Pat<'hir>,          Node::Pat(n),          n;
         expect_pat_field,     &'hir PatField<'hir>,     Node::PatField(n),     n;
         expect_arm,           &'hir Arm<'hir>,          Node::Arm(n),          n;
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir/src/intravisit.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir/src/intravisit.rs
index d0a8aaa85bb..58916d05865 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir/src/intravisit.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir/src/intravisit.rs
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ impl<'a> FnKind<'a> {
 pub trait Map<'hir> {
     /// Retrieves the `Node` corresponding to `id`.
     fn hir_node(&self, hir_id: HirId) -> Node<'hir>;
+    fn hir_node_by_def_id(&self, def_id: LocalDefId) -> Node<'hir>;
     fn body(&self, id: BodyId) -> &'hir Body<'hir>;
     fn item(&self, id: ItemId) -> &'hir Item<'hir>;
     fn trait_item(&self, id: TraitItemId) -> &'hir TraitItem<'hir>;
@@ -123,6 +124,9 @@ impl<'hir> Map<'hir> for ! {
     fn hir_node(&self, _: HirId) -> Node<'hir> {
         *self;
     }
+    fn hir_node_by_def_id(&self, _: LocalDefId) -> Node<'hir> {
+        *self;
+    }
     fn body(&self, _: BodyId) -> &'hir Body<'hir> {
         *self;
     }
@@ -423,6 +427,9 @@ pub trait Visitor<'v>: Sized {
     fn visit_poly_trait_ref(&mut self, t: &'v PolyTraitRef<'v>) -> Self::Result {
         walk_poly_trait_ref(self, t)
     }
+    fn visit_opaque_ty(&mut self, opaque: &'v OpaqueTy<'v>) -> Self::Result {
+        walk_opaque_ty(self, opaque)
+    }
     fn visit_variant_data(&mut self, s: &'v VariantData<'v>) -> Self::Result {
         walk_struct_def(self, s)
     }
@@ -536,11 +543,6 @@ pub fn walk_item<'v, V: Visitor<'v>>(visitor: &mut V, item: &'v Item<'v>) -> V::
             try_visit!(visitor.visit_ty(ty));
             try_visit!(visitor.visit_generics(generics));
         }
-        ItemKind::OpaqueTy(&OpaqueTy { generics, bounds, .. }) => {
-            try_visit!(visitor.visit_id(item.hir_id()));
-            try_visit!(walk_generics(visitor, generics));
-            walk_list!(visitor, visit_param_bound, bounds);
-        }
         ItemKind::Enum(ref enum_definition, ref generics) => {
             try_visit!(visitor.visit_generics(generics));
             // `visit_enum_def()` takes care of visiting the `Item`'s `HirId`.
@@ -894,8 +896,8 @@ pub fn walk_ty<'v, V: Visitor<'v>>(visitor: &mut V, typ: &'v Ty<'v>) -> V::Resul
         TyKind::Path(ref qpath) => {
             try_visit!(visitor.visit_qpath(qpath, typ.hir_id, typ.span));
         }
-        TyKind::OpaqueDef(item_id, lifetimes) => {
-            try_visit!(visitor.visit_nested_item(item_id));
+        TyKind::OpaqueDef(opaque, lifetimes) => {
+            try_visit!(visitor.visit_opaque_ty(opaque));
             walk_list!(visitor, visit_generic_arg, lifetimes);
         }
         TyKind::Array(ref ty, ref length) => {
@@ -1185,6 +1187,15 @@ pub fn walk_poly_trait_ref<'v, V: Visitor<'v>>(
     visitor.visit_trait_ref(&trait_ref.trait_ref)
 }
 
+pub fn walk_opaque_ty<'v, V: Visitor<'v>>(visitor: &mut V, opaque: &'v OpaqueTy<'v>) -> V::Result {
+    let &OpaqueTy { hir_id, def_id: _, generics, bounds, origin: _, lifetime_mapping: _, span: _ } =
+        opaque;
+    try_visit!(visitor.visit_id(hir_id));
+    try_visit!(walk_generics(visitor, generics));
+    walk_list!(visitor, visit_param_bound, bounds);
+    V::Result::output()
+}
+
 pub fn walk_struct_def<'v, V: Visitor<'v>>(
     visitor: &mut V,
     struct_definition: &'v VariantData<'v>,
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir/src/target.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir/src/target.rs
index 155270ca6a7..6ff57396b4a 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir/src/target.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir/src/target.rs
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ pub enum Target {
     ForeignMod,
     GlobalAsm,
     TyAlias,
-    OpaqueTy,
     Enum,
     Variant,
     Struct,
@@ -79,7 +78,6 @@ impl Target {
             | Target::ForeignMod
             | Target::GlobalAsm
             | Target::TyAlias
-            | Target::OpaqueTy
             | Target::Enum
             | Target::Variant
             | Target::Struct
@@ -114,7 +112,6 @@ impl Target {
             ItemKind::ForeignMod { .. } => Target::ForeignMod,
             ItemKind::GlobalAsm(..) => Target::GlobalAsm,
             ItemKind::TyAlias(..) => Target::TyAlias,
-            ItemKind::OpaqueTy(..) => Target::OpaqueTy,
             ItemKind::Enum(..) => Target::Enum,
             ItemKind::Struct(..) => Target::Struct,
             ItemKind::Union(..) => Target::Union,
@@ -137,7 +134,6 @@ impl Target {
             DefKind::ForeignMod => Target::ForeignMod,
             DefKind::GlobalAsm => Target::GlobalAsm,
             DefKind::TyAlias => Target::TyAlias,
-            DefKind::OpaqueTy => Target::OpaqueTy,
             DefKind::Enum => Target::Enum,
             DefKind::Struct => Target::Struct,
             DefKind::Union => Target::Union,
@@ -191,7 +187,6 @@ impl Target {
             Target::ForeignMod => "foreign module",
             Target::GlobalAsm => "global asm",
             Target::TyAlias => "type alias",
-            Target::OpaqueTy => "opaque type",
             Target::Enum => "enum",
             Target::Variant => "enum variant",
             Target::Struct => "struct",
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/check.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/check.rs
index 785258d011c..eb62ff86c71 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/check.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/check.rs
@@ -252,10 +252,7 @@ fn check_static_inhabited(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, def_id: LocalDefId) {
 /// Checks that an opaque type does not contain cycles and does not use `Self` or `T::Foo`
 /// projections that would result in "inheriting lifetimes".
 fn check_opaque(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, def_id: LocalDefId) {
-    let item = tcx.hir().expect_item(def_id);
-    let hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(hir::OpaqueTy { origin, .. }) = item.kind else {
-        tcx.dcx().span_bug(item.span, "expected opaque item");
-    };
+    let hir::OpaqueTy { origin, .. } = tcx.hir().expect_opaque_ty(def_id);
 
     // HACK(jynelson): trying to infer the type of `impl trait` breaks documenting
     // `async-std` (and `pub async fn` in general).
@@ -265,16 +262,16 @@ fn check_opaque(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, def_id: LocalDefId) {
         return;
     }
 
-    let span = tcx.def_span(item.owner_id.def_id);
+    let span = tcx.def_span(def_id);
 
-    if tcx.type_of(item.owner_id.def_id).instantiate_identity().references_error() {
+    if tcx.type_of(def_id).instantiate_identity().references_error() {
         return;
     }
-    if check_opaque_for_cycles(tcx, item.owner_id.def_id, span).is_err() {
+    if check_opaque_for_cycles(tcx, def_id, span).is_err() {
         return;
     }
 
-    let _ = check_opaque_meets_bounds(tcx, item.owner_id.def_id, span, origin);
+    let _ = check_opaque_meets_bounds(tcx, def_id, span, origin);
 }
 
 /// Checks that an opaque type does not contain cycles.
@@ -481,8 +478,7 @@ fn sanity_check_found_hidden_type<'tcx>(
 /// 2. Checking that all lifetimes that are implicitly captured are mentioned.
 /// 3. Asserting that all parameters mentioned in the captures list are invariant.
 fn check_opaque_precise_captures<'tcx>(tcx: TyCtxt<'tcx>, opaque_def_id: LocalDefId) {
-    let hir::OpaqueTy { bounds, .. } =
-        *tcx.hir_node_by_def_id(opaque_def_id).expect_item().expect_opaque_ty();
+    let hir::OpaqueTy { bounds, .. } = *tcx.hir_node_by_def_id(opaque_def_id).expect_opaque_ty();
     let Some(precise_capturing_args) = bounds.iter().find_map(|bound| match *bound {
         hir::GenericBound::Use(bounds, ..) => Some(bounds),
         _ => None,
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/compare_impl_item/refine.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/compare_impl_item/refine.rs
index 35c2b7e7ce2..80334c6efe7 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/compare_impl_item/refine.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/check/compare_impl_item/refine.rs
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ pub(super) fn check_refining_return_position_impl_trait_in_trait<'tcx>(
         // it's a refinement to a TAIT.
         if !tcx.hir().get_if_local(impl_opaque.def_id).is_some_and(|node| {
             matches!(
-                node.expect_item().expect_opaque_ty().origin,
+                node.expect_opaque_ty().origin,
                 hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::AsyncFn { parent, .. }  | hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::FnReturn { parent, .. }
                     if parent == impl_m.def_id.expect_local()
             )
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect.rs
index 93b021be245..bb517eec64d 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect.rs
@@ -260,8 +260,8 @@ fn reject_placeholder_type_signatures_in_item<'tcx>(
         | hir::ItemKind::Trait(_, _, generics, ..)
         | hir::ItemKind::Impl(hir::Impl { generics, .. })
         | hir::ItemKind::Struct(_, generics) => (generics, true),
-        hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(hir::OpaqueTy { generics, .. })
-        | hir::ItemKind::TyAlias(_, generics) => (generics, false),
+        // FIXME: how to handle opaque types since no longer items
+        hir::ItemKind::TyAlias(_, generics) => (generics, false),
         // `static`, `fn` and `const` are handled elsewhere to suggest appropriate type.
         _ => return,
     };
@@ -731,18 +731,8 @@ fn lower_item(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, item_id: hir::ItemId) {
             }
         }
 
-        // Don't call `type_of` on opaque types, since that depends on type
-        // checking function bodies. `check_item_type` ensures that it's called
-        // instead.
-        hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(..) => {
-            tcx.ensure().generics_of(def_id);
-            tcx.ensure().predicates_of(def_id);
-            tcx.ensure().explicit_item_bounds(def_id);
-            tcx.ensure().explicit_item_super_predicates(def_id);
-            tcx.ensure().item_bounds(def_id);
-            tcx.ensure().item_super_predicates(def_id);
-        }
-
+        // FIXME: ok to ignore opaque tys in collection?
+        //
         hir::ItemKind::TyAlias(..) => {
             tcx.ensure().generics_of(def_id);
             tcx.ensure().type_of(def_id);
@@ -1852,12 +1842,8 @@ fn coroutine_for_closure(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, def_id: LocalDefId) -> DefId {
 }
 
 fn is_type_alias_impl_trait<'tcx>(tcx: TyCtxt<'tcx>, def_id: LocalDefId) -> bool {
-    match tcx.hir_node_by_def_id(def_id) {
-        Node::Item(hir::Item { kind: hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(opaque), .. }) => {
-            matches!(opaque.origin, hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::TyAlias { .. })
-        }
-        _ => bug!("tried getting opaque_ty_origin for non-opaque: {:?}", def_id),
-    }
+    let opaque = tcx.hir().expect_opaque_ty(def_id);
+    matches!(opaque.origin, hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::TyAlias { .. })
 }
 
 fn rendered_precise_capturing_args<'tcx>(
@@ -1870,12 +1856,10 @@ fn rendered_precise_capturing_args<'tcx>(
         return tcx.rendered_precise_capturing_args(opaque_def_id);
     }
 
-    tcx.hir_node_by_def_id(def_id).expect_item().expect_opaque_ty().bounds.iter().find_map(
-        |bound| match bound {
-            hir::GenericBound::Use(args, ..) => {
-                Some(&*tcx.arena.alloc_from_iter(args.iter().map(|arg| arg.name())))
-            }
-            _ => None,
-        },
-    )
+    tcx.hir_node_by_def_id(def_id).expect_opaque_ty().bounds.iter().find_map(|bound| match bound {
+        hir::GenericBound::Use(args, ..) => {
+            Some(&*tcx.arena.alloc_from_iter(args.iter().map(|arg| arg.name())))
+        }
+        _ => None,
+    })
 }
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/dump.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/dump.rs
index d76d9213129..8648a7d1e32 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/dump.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/dump.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-use rustc_hir::def::DefKind;
 use rustc_hir::def_id::{CRATE_DEF_ID, LocalDefId};
 use rustc_hir::intravisit;
 use rustc_middle::hir::nested_filter::OnlyBodies;
@@ -10,12 +9,10 @@ pub(crate) fn opaque_hidden_types(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>) {
         return;
     }
 
-    for id in tcx.hir().items() {
-        let DefKind::OpaqueTy = tcx.def_kind(id.owner_id) else { continue };
-
-        let ty = tcx.type_of(id.owner_id).instantiate_identity();
-
-        tcx.dcx().emit_err(crate::errors::TypeOf { span: tcx.def_span(id.owner_id), ty });
+    for id in tcx.hir_crate_items(()).opaques() {
+        let ty = tcx.type_of(id).instantiate_identity();
+        let span = tcx.def_span(id);
+        tcx.dcx().emit_err(crate::errors::TypeOf { span, ty });
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/generics_of.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/generics_of.rs
index 8ff9640a874..14b6b17ed18 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/generics_of.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/generics_of.rs
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ pub(super) fn generics_of(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, def_id: LocalDefId) -> ty::Generics {
     if let Some(ty::ImplTraitInTraitData::Trait { fn_def_id, opaque_def_id }) =
         tcx.opt_rpitit_info(def_id.to_def_id())
     {
+        debug!("RPITIT fn_def_id={fn_def_id:?} opaque_def_id={opaque_def_id:?}");
         let trait_def_id = tcx.parent(fn_def_id);
         let opaque_ty_generics = tcx.generics_of(opaque_def_id);
         let opaque_ty_parent_count = opaque_ty_generics.parent_count;
@@ -207,36 +208,33 @@ pub(super) fn generics_of(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, def_id: LocalDefId) -> ty::Generics {
         | Node::Expr(&hir::Expr { kind: hir::ExprKind::Closure { .. }, .. }) => {
             Some(tcx.typeck_root_def_id(def_id.to_def_id()))
         }
-        Node::Item(item) => match item.kind {
-            ItemKind::OpaqueTy(&hir::OpaqueTy {
-                origin:
-                    hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::FnReturn { parent: fn_def_id, in_trait_or_impl }
-                    | hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::AsyncFn { parent: fn_def_id, in_trait_or_impl },
-                ..
-            }) => {
-                if in_trait_or_impl.is_some() {
-                    assert_matches!(tcx.def_kind(fn_def_id), DefKind::AssocFn);
-                } else {
-                    assert_matches!(tcx.def_kind(fn_def_id), DefKind::AssocFn | DefKind::Fn);
-                }
-                Some(fn_def_id.to_def_id())
+        Node::OpaqueTy(&hir::OpaqueTy {
+            origin:
+                hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::FnReturn { parent: fn_def_id, in_trait_or_impl }
+                | hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::AsyncFn { parent: fn_def_id, in_trait_or_impl },
+            ..
+        }) => {
+            if in_trait_or_impl.is_some() {
+                assert_matches!(tcx.def_kind(fn_def_id), DefKind::AssocFn);
+            } else {
+                assert_matches!(tcx.def_kind(fn_def_id), DefKind::AssocFn | DefKind::Fn);
             }
-            ItemKind::OpaqueTy(&hir::OpaqueTy {
-                origin: hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::TyAlias { parent, in_assoc_ty },
-                ..
-            }) => {
-                if in_assoc_ty {
-                    assert_matches!(tcx.def_kind(parent), DefKind::AssocTy);
-                } else {
-                    assert_matches!(tcx.def_kind(parent), DefKind::TyAlias);
-                }
-                debug!("generics_of: parent of opaque ty {:?} is {:?}", def_id, parent);
-                // Opaque types are always nested within another item, and
-                // inherit the generics of the item.
-                Some(parent.to_def_id())
+            Some(fn_def_id.to_def_id())
+        }
+        Node::OpaqueTy(&hir::OpaqueTy {
+            origin: hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::TyAlias { parent, in_assoc_ty },
+            ..
+        }) => {
+            if in_assoc_ty {
+                assert_matches!(tcx.def_kind(parent), DefKind::AssocTy);
+            } else {
+                assert_matches!(tcx.def_kind(parent), DefKind::TyAlias);
             }
-            _ => None,
-        },
+            debug!("generics_of: parent of opaque ty {:?} is {:?}", def_id, parent);
+            // Opaque types are always nested within another item, and
+            // inherit the generics of the item.
+            Some(parent.to_def_id())
+        }
         _ => None,
     };
 
@@ -272,13 +270,14 @@ pub(super) fn generics_of(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, def_id: LocalDefId) -> ty::Generics {
                 ItemKind::TyAlias(..)
                 | ItemKind::Enum(..)
                 | ItemKind::Struct(..)
-                | ItemKind::OpaqueTy(..)
                 | ItemKind::Union(..) => (None, Defaults::Allowed),
                 ItemKind::Const(..) => (None, Defaults::Deny),
                 _ => (None, Defaults::FutureCompatDisallowed),
             }
         }
 
+        Node::OpaqueTy(..) => (None, Defaults::Allowed),
+
         // GATs
         Node::TraitItem(item) if matches!(item.kind, TraitItemKind::Type(..)) => {
             (None, Defaults::Deny)
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/item_bounds.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/item_bounds.rs
index 2418037ae96..4346504450d 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/item_bounds.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/item_bounds.rs
@@ -335,8 +335,7 @@ pub(super) fn explicit_item_bounds_with_filter(
         // RPITIT's bounds are the same as opaque type bounds, but with
         // a projection self type.
         Some(ty::ImplTraitInTraitData::Trait { opaque_def_id, .. }) => {
-            let item = tcx.hir_node_by_def_id(opaque_def_id.expect_local()).expect_item();
-            let opaque_ty = item.expect_opaque_ty();
+            let opaque_ty = tcx.hir_node_by_def_id(opaque_def_id.expect_local()).expect_opaque_ty();
             let item_ty = Ty::new_projection_from_args(
                 tcx,
                 def_id.to_def_id(),
@@ -347,7 +346,7 @@ pub(super) fn explicit_item_bounds_with_filter(
                 opaque_def_id.expect_local(),
                 opaque_ty.bounds,
                 item_ty,
-                item.span,
+                opaque_ty.span,
                 filter,
             );
             assert_only_contains_predicates_from(filter, bounds, item_ty);
@@ -369,11 +368,7 @@ pub(super) fn explicit_item_bounds_with_filter(
             span,
             ..
         }) => associated_type_bounds(tcx, def_id, bounds, *span, filter),
-        hir::Node::Item(hir::Item {
-            kind: hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(hir::OpaqueTy { bounds, origin, .. }),
-            span,
-            ..
-        }) => match origin {
+        hir::Node::OpaqueTy(hir::OpaqueTy { bounds, origin, span, .. }) => match origin {
             // Since RPITITs are lowered as projections in `<dyn HirTyLowerer>::lower_ty`,
             // when we're asking for the item bounds of the *opaques* in a trait's default
             // method signature, we need to map these projections back to opaques.
@@ -412,7 +407,7 @@ pub(super) fn explicit_item_bounds_with_filter(
             }
         },
         hir::Node::Item(hir::Item { kind: hir::ItemKind::TyAlias(..), .. }) => &[],
-        _ => bug!("item_bounds called on {:?}", def_id),
+        node => bug!("item_bounds called on {def_id:?} => {node:?}"),
     };
 
     ty::EarlyBinder::bind(bounds)
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/predicates_of.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/predicates_of.rs
index 33f6623edfd..6d30f7c7b9d 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/predicates_of.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/predicates_of.rs
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ fn gather_explicit_predicates_of(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, def_id: LocalDefId) -> ty::Gen
     // Opaque types duplicate some of their generic parameters.
     // We create bi-directional Outlives predicates between the original
     // and the duplicated parameter, to ensure that they do not get out of sync.
-    if let Node::Item(&Item { kind: ItemKind::OpaqueTy(..), .. }) = node {
+    if let Node::OpaqueTy(..) = node {
         let opaque_ty_node = tcx.parent_hir_node(hir_id);
         let Node::Ty(&hir::Ty { kind: TyKind::OpaqueDef(_, lifetimes), .. }) = opaque_ty_node
         else {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/resolve_bound_vars.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/resolve_bound_vars.rs
index a15621bf28b..513d4e9b4a5 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/resolve_bound_vars.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/resolve_bound_vars.rs
@@ -486,6 +486,31 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> Visitor<'tcx> for BoundVarContext<'a, 'tcx> {
         }
     }
 
+    #[instrument(level = "debug", skip(self))]
+    fn visit_opaque_ty(&mut self, opaque: &'tcx rustc_hir::OpaqueTy<'tcx>) {
+        // We want to start our early-bound indices at the end of the parent scope,
+        // not including any parent `impl Trait`s.
+        let mut bound_vars = FxIndexMap::default();
+        debug!(?opaque.generics.params);
+        for param in opaque.generics.params {
+            let (def_id, reg) = ResolvedArg::early(param);
+            bound_vars.insert(def_id, reg);
+        }
+
+        let hir_id = self.tcx.local_def_id_to_hir_id(opaque.def_id);
+        let scope = Scope::Binder {
+            hir_id,
+            bound_vars,
+            s: self.scope,
+            scope_type: BinderScopeType::Normal,
+            where_bound_origin: None,
+        };
+        self.with(scope, |this| {
+            let scope = Scope::TraitRefBoundary { s: this.scope };
+            this.with(scope, |this| intravisit::walk_opaque_ty(this, opaque))
+        })
+    }
+
     #[instrument(level = "debug", skip(self))]
     fn visit_item(&mut self, item: &'tcx hir::Item<'tcx>) {
         match &item.kind {
@@ -513,38 +538,6 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> Visitor<'tcx> for BoundVarContext<'a, 'tcx> {
                 // These sorts of items have no lifetime parameters at all.
                 intravisit::walk_item(self, item);
             }
-            hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(&hir::OpaqueTy {
-                origin:
-                    hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::FnReturn { parent, .. }
-                    | hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::AsyncFn { parent, .. }
-                    | hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::TyAlias { parent, .. },
-                generics,
-                ..
-            }) => {
-                // We want to start our early-bound indices at the end of the parent scope,
-                // not including any parent `impl Trait`s.
-                let mut bound_vars = FxIndexMap::default();
-                debug!(?generics.params);
-                for param in generics.params {
-                    let (def_id, reg) = ResolvedArg::early(param);
-                    bound_vars.insert(def_id, reg);
-                }
-
-                let scope = Scope::Root { opt_parent_item: Some(parent) };
-                self.with(scope, |this| {
-                    let scope = Scope::Binder {
-                        hir_id: item.hir_id(),
-                        bound_vars,
-                        s: this.scope,
-                        scope_type: BinderScopeType::Normal,
-                        where_bound_origin: None,
-                    };
-                    this.with(scope, |this| {
-                        let scope = Scope::TraitRefBoundary { s: this.scope };
-                        this.with(scope, |this| intravisit::walk_item(this, item))
-                    });
-                })
-            }
             hir::ItemKind::TyAlias(_, generics)
             | hir::ItemKind::Const(_, generics, _)
             | hir::ItemKind::Enum(_, generics)
@@ -689,17 +682,14 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> Visitor<'tcx> for BoundVarContext<'a, 'tcx> {
                 };
                 self.with(scope, |this| this.visit_ty(mt.ty));
             }
-            hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(item_id, lifetimes) => {
+            hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(opaque_ty, lifetimes) => {
+                self.visit_opaque_ty(opaque_ty);
+
                 // Resolve the lifetimes in the bounds to the lifetime defs in the generics.
                 // `fn foo<'a>() -> impl MyTrait<'a> { ... }` desugars to
                 // `type MyAnonTy<'b> = impl MyTrait<'b>;`
                 //                 ^                  ^ this gets resolved in the scope of
                 //                                      the opaque_ty generics
-                let opaque_ty = self.tcx.hir().item(item_id);
-                match &opaque_ty.kind {
-                    hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(hir::OpaqueTy { origin: _, .. }) => {}
-                    i => bug!("`impl Trait` pointed to non-opaque type?? {:#?}", i),
-                };
 
                 // Resolve the lifetimes that are applied to the opaque type.
                 // These are resolved in the current scope.
@@ -722,9 +712,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> Visitor<'tcx> for BoundVarContext<'a, 'tcx> {
                     {
                         // Opaques do not declare their own lifetimes, so if a lifetime comes from an opaque
                         // it must be a reified late-bound lifetime from a trait goal.
-                        hir::Node::Item(hir::Item {
-                            kind: hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy { .. }, ..
-                        }) => "higher-ranked lifetime from outer `impl Trait`",
+                        hir::Node::OpaqueTy(_) => "higher-ranked lifetime from outer `impl Trait`",
                         // Other items are fine.
                         hir::Node::Item(_) | hir::Node::TraitItem(_) | hir::Node::ImplItem(_) => {
                             continue;
@@ -740,8 +728,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> Visitor<'tcx> for BoundVarContext<'a, 'tcx> {
 
                     let (span, label) = if lifetime.ident.span == self.tcx.def_span(lifetime_def_id)
                     {
-                        let opaque_span = self.tcx.def_span(item_id.owner_id);
-                        (opaque_span, Some(opaque_span))
+                        (opaque_ty.span, Some(opaque_ty.span))
                     } else {
                         (lifetime.ident.span, None)
                     };
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/type_of.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/type_of.rs
index 3af4d1f5eda..470bcaeded1 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/type_of.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/collect/type_of.rs
@@ -529,10 +529,6 @@ pub(super) fn type_of(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, def_id: LocalDefId) -> ty::EarlyBinder<'_
                 let args = ty::GenericArgs::identity_for_item(tcx, def_id);
                 Ty::new_adt(tcx, def, args)
             }
-            ItemKind::OpaqueTy(..) => tcx.type_of_opaque(def_id).map_or_else(
-                |CyclePlaceholder(guar)| Ty::new_error(tcx, guar),
-                |ty| ty.instantiate_identity(),
-            ),
             ItemKind::Trait(..)
             | ItemKind::TraitAlias(..)
             | ItemKind::Macro(..)
@@ -545,6 +541,11 @@ pub(super) fn type_of(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, def_id: LocalDefId) -> ty::EarlyBinder<'_
             }
         },
 
+        Node::OpaqueTy(..) => tcx.type_of_opaque(def_id).map_or_else(
+            |CyclePlaceholder(guar)| Ty::new_error(tcx, guar),
+            |ty| ty.instantiate_identity(),
+        ),
+
         Node::ForeignItem(foreign_item) => match foreign_item.kind {
             ForeignItemKind::Fn(..) => {
                 let args = ty::GenericArgs::identity_for_item(tcx, def_id);
@@ -603,42 +604,25 @@ pub(super) fn type_of_opaque(
     def_id: DefId,
 ) -> Result<ty::EarlyBinder<'_, Ty<'_>>, CyclePlaceholder> {
     if let Some(def_id) = def_id.as_local() {
-        use rustc_hir::*;
-
-        Ok(ty::EarlyBinder::bind(match tcx.hir_node_by_def_id(def_id) {
-            Node::Item(item) => match item.kind {
-                ItemKind::OpaqueTy(OpaqueTy {
-                    origin: hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::TyAlias { in_assoc_ty: false, .. },
-                    ..
-                }) => opaque::find_opaque_ty_constraints_for_tait(tcx, def_id),
-                ItemKind::OpaqueTy(OpaqueTy {
-                    origin: hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::TyAlias { in_assoc_ty: true, .. },
-                    ..
-                }) => opaque::find_opaque_ty_constraints_for_impl_trait_in_assoc_type(tcx, def_id),
-                // Opaque types desugared from `impl Trait`.
-                ItemKind::OpaqueTy(&OpaqueTy {
-                    origin:
-                        hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::FnReturn { parent: owner, in_trait_or_impl }
-                        | hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::AsyncFn { parent: owner, in_trait_or_impl },
-                    ..
-                }) => {
-                    if in_trait_or_impl == Some(hir::RpitContext::Trait)
-                        && !tcx.defaultness(owner).has_value()
-                    {
-                        span_bug!(
-                            tcx.def_span(def_id),
-                            "tried to get type of this RPITIT with no definition"
-                        );
-                    }
-                    opaque::find_opaque_ty_constraints_for_rpit(tcx, def_id, owner)
+        Ok(ty::EarlyBinder::bind(match tcx.hir_node_by_def_id(def_id).expect_opaque_ty().origin {
+            hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::TyAlias { in_assoc_ty: false, .. } => {
+                opaque::find_opaque_ty_constraints_for_tait(tcx, def_id)
+            }
+            hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::TyAlias { in_assoc_ty: true, .. } => {
+                opaque::find_opaque_ty_constraints_for_impl_trait_in_assoc_type(tcx, def_id)
+            }
+            // Opaque types desugared from `impl Trait`.
+            hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::FnReturn { parent: owner, in_trait_or_impl }
+            | hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::AsyncFn { parent: owner, in_trait_or_impl } => {
+                if in_trait_or_impl == Some(hir::RpitContext::Trait)
+                    && !tcx.defaultness(owner).has_value()
+                {
+                    span_bug!(
+                        tcx.def_span(def_id),
+                        "tried to get type of this RPITIT with no definition"
+                    );
                 }
-                _ => {
-                    span_bug!(item.span, "type_of_opaque: unexpected item type: {:?}", item.kind);
-                }
-            },
-
-            x => {
-                bug!("unexpected sort of node in type_of_opaque(): {:?}", x);
+                opaque::find_opaque_ty_constraints_for_rpit(tcx, def_id, owner)
             }
         }))
     } else {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/hir_ty_lowering/mod.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/hir_ty_lowering/mod.rs
index 95f83836d75..28a1fc88741 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/hir_ty_lowering/mod.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/hir_ty_lowering/mod.rs
@@ -2087,43 +2087,36 @@ impl<'tcx> dyn HirTyLowerer<'tcx> + '_ {
                 let opt_self_ty = maybe_qself.as_ref().map(|qself| self.lower_ty(qself));
                 self.lower_path(opt_self_ty, path, hir_ty.hir_id, false)
             }
-            &hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(item_id, lifetimes) => {
-                let opaque_ty = tcx.hir().item(item_id);
+            &hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(opaque_ty, lifetimes) => {
+                let local_def_id = opaque_ty.def_id;
 
-                match opaque_ty.kind {
-                    hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(&hir::OpaqueTy { origin, .. }) => {
-                        let local_def_id = item_id.owner_id.def_id;
-                        // If this is an RPITIT and we are using the new RPITIT lowering scheme, we
-                        // generate the def_id of an associated type for the trait and return as
-                        // type a projection.
-                        match origin {
-                            hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::FnReturn {
-                                in_trait_or_impl: Some(hir::RpitContext::Trait),
-                                ..
-                            }
-                            | hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::AsyncFn {
-                                in_trait_or_impl: Some(hir::RpitContext::Trait),
-                                ..
-                            } => self.lower_opaque_ty(
-                                tcx.associated_type_for_impl_trait_in_trait(local_def_id)
-                                    .to_def_id(),
-                                lifetimes,
-                                true,
-                            ),
-                            hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::FnReturn {
-                                in_trait_or_impl: None | Some(hir::RpitContext::TraitImpl),
-                                ..
-                            }
-                            | hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::AsyncFn {
-                                in_trait_or_impl: None | Some(hir::RpitContext::TraitImpl),
-                                ..
-                            }
-                            | hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::TyAlias { .. } => {
-                                self.lower_opaque_ty(local_def_id.to_def_id(), lifetimes, false)
-                            }
-                        }
+                // If this is an RPITIT and we are using the new RPITIT lowering scheme, we
+                // generate the def_id of an associated type for the trait and return as
+                // type a projection.
+                match opaque_ty.origin {
+                    hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::FnReturn {
+                        in_trait_or_impl: Some(hir::RpitContext::Trait),
+                        ..
+                    }
+                    | hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::AsyncFn {
+                        in_trait_or_impl: Some(hir::RpitContext::Trait),
+                        ..
+                    } => self.lower_opaque_ty(
+                        tcx.associated_type_for_impl_trait_in_trait(local_def_id).to_def_id(),
+                        lifetimes,
+                        true,
+                    ),
+                    hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::FnReturn {
+                        in_trait_or_impl: None | Some(hir::RpitContext::TraitImpl),
+                        ..
+                    }
+                    | hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::AsyncFn {
+                        in_trait_or_impl: None | Some(hir::RpitContext::TraitImpl),
+                        ..
+                    }
+                    | hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::TyAlias { .. } => {
+                        self.lower_opaque_ty(local_def_id.to_def_id(), lifetimes, false)
                     }
-                    ref i => bug!("`impl Trait` pointed to non-opaque type?? {:#?}", i),
                 }
             }
             // If we encounter a type relative path with RTN generics, then it must have
@@ -2289,7 +2282,7 @@ impl<'tcx> dyn HirTyLowerer<'tcx> + '_ {
                     span_bug!(
                         tcx.def_span(param.def_id),
                         "only expected lifetime for opaque's own generics, got {:?}",
-                        param.kind
+                        param
                     );
                 };
                 let hir::GenericArg::Lifetime(lifetime) = &lifetimes[i] else {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/variance/dump.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/variance/dump.rs
index dbaf9c2c6f0..a0fdf95a831 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/variance/dump.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_analysis/src/variance/dump.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 use std::fmt::Write;
 
-use rustc_hir::def::DefKind;
 use rustc_hir::def_id::{CRATE_DEF_ID, LocalDefId};
 use rustc_middle::ty::{GenericArgs, TyCtxt};
 use rustc_span::symbol::sym;
@@ -24,18 +23,18 @@ fn format_variances(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, def_id: LocalDefId) -> String {
 }
 
 pub(crate) fn variances(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>) {
-    if tcx.has_attr(CRATE_DEF_ID, sym::rustc_variance_of_opaques) {
-        for id in tcx.hir().items() {
-            let DefKind::OpaqueTy = tcx.def_kind(id.owner_id) else { continue };
+    let crate_items = tcx.hir_crate_items(());
 
+    if tcx.has_attr(CRATE_DEF_ID, sym::rustc_variance_of_opaques) {
+        for id in crate_items.opaques() {
             tcx.dcx().emit_err(crate::errors::VariancesOf {
-                span: tcx.def_span(id.owner_id),
-                variances: format_variances(tcx, id.owner_id.def_id),
+                span: tcx.def_span(id),
+                variances: format_variances(tcx, id),
             });
         }
     }
 
-    for id in tcx.hir().items() {
+    for id in crate_items.free_items() {
         if !tcx.has_attr(id.owner_id, sym::rustc_variance) {
             continue;
         }
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_pretty/src/lib.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_pretty/src/lib.rs
index 1c52283d537..9fe6a8ee342 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_pretty/src/lib.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_pretty/src/lib.rs
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ impl<'a> State<'a> {
             Node::Ty(a) => self.print_type(a),
             Node::AssocItemConstraint(a) => self.print_assoc_item_constraint(a),
             Node::TraitRef(a) => self.print_trait_ref(a),
+            Node::OpaqueTy(o) => self.print_opaque_ty(o),
             Node::Pat(a) => self.print_pat(a),
             Node::PatField(a) => self.print_patfield(a),
             Node::Arm(a) => self.print_arm(a),
@@ -568,11 +569,6 @@ impl<'a> State<'a> {
                     state.print_type(ty);
                 });
             }
-            hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(opaque_ty) => {
-                self.print_item_type(item, opaque_ty.generics, |state| {
-                    state.print_bounds("= impl", opaque_ty.bounds)
-                });
-            }
             hir::ItemKind::Enum(ref enum_definition, params) => {
                 self.print_enum_def(enum_definition, params, item.ident.name, item.span);
             }
@@ -665,6 +661,15 @@ impl<'a> State<'a> {
         self.print_path(t.path, false);
     }
 
+    fn print_opaque_ty(&mut self, o: &hir::OpaqueTy<'_>) {
+        self.head("opaque");
+        self.print_generic_params(o.generics.params);
+        self.print_where_clause(o.generics);
+        self.word("{");
+        self.print_bounds("impl", o.bounds);
+        self.word("}");
+    }
+
     fn print_formal_generic_params(&mut self, generic_params: &[hir::GenericParam<'_>]) {
         if !generic_params.is_empty() {
             self.word("for");
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/fn_ctxt/suggestions.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/fn_ctxt/suggestions.rs
index 487cc7e55cd..2c5f8adcb5d 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/fn_ctxt/suggestions.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/fn_ctxt/suggestions.rs
@@ -847,11 +847,8 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> FnCtxt<'a, 'tcx> {
                 return true;
             }
             hir::FnRetTy::Return(hir_ty) => {
-                if let hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(item_id, ..) = hir_ty.kind
+                if let hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(op_ty, ..) = hir_ty.kind
                     // FIXME: account for RPITIT.
-                    && let hir::Node::Item(hir::Item {
-                        kind: hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(op_ty), ..
-                    }) = self.tcx.hir_node(item_id.hir_id())
                     && let [hir::GenericBound::Trait(trait_ref, _)] = op_ty.bounds
                     && let Some(hir::PathSegment { args: Some(generic_args), .. }) =
                         trait_ref.trait_ref.path.segments.last()
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_lint/src/async_fn_in_trait.rs b/compiler/rustc_lint/src/async_fn_in_trait.rs
index d9040207300..63a8a949e96 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_lint/src/async_fn_in_trait.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_lint/src/async_fn_in_trait.rs
@@ -104,8 +104,9 @@ impl<'tcx> LateLintPass<'tcx> for AsyncFnInTrait {
                 return;
             }
 
-            let hir::FnRetTy::Return(hir::Ty { kind: hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(def, ..), .. }) =
-                sig.decl.output
+            let hir::FnRetTy::Return(hir::Ty {
+                kind: hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(opaq_def, ..), ..
+            }) = sig.decl.output
             else {
                 // This should never happen, but let's not ICE.
                 return;
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ impl<'tcx> LateLintPass<'tcx> for AsyncFnInTrait {
                 cx.tcx,
                 sig,
                 body,
-                def.owner_id.def_id,
+                opaq_def.def_id,
                 " + Send",
             );
             cx.tcx.emit_node_span_lint(
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_lint/src/impl_trait_overcaptures.rs b/compiler/rustc_lint/src/impl_trait_overcaptures.rs
index 5aeaad42069..d029ad93407 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_lint/src/impl_trait_overcaptures.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_lint/src/impl_trait_overcaptures.rs
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ where
             && self.seen.insert(opaque_def_id)
             // If it's owned by this function
             && let opaque =
-                self.tcx.hir_node_by_def_id(opaque_def_id).expect_item().expect_opaque_ty()
+                self.tcx.hir_node_by_def_id(opaque_def_id).expect_opaque_ty()
             && let hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::FnReturn { parent, .. } = opaque.origin
             && parent == self.parent_def_id
         {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_lint/src/opaque_hidden_inferred_bound.rs b/compiler/rustc_lint/src/opaque_hidden_inferred_bound.rs
index 342ebfa0b06..ffbcf7f808e 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_lint/src/opaque_hidden_inferred_bound.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_lint/src/opaque_hidden_inferred_bound.rs
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ declare_lint! {
 declare_lint_pass!(OpaqueHiddenInferredBound => [OPAQUE_HIDDEN_INFERRED_BOUND]);
 
 impl<'tcx> LateLintPass<'tcx> for OpaqueHiddenInferredBound {
-    fn check_item(&mut self, cx: &LateContext<'tcx>, item: &'tcx hir::Item<'tcx>) {
-        let hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(opaque) = &item.kind else {
+    fn check_ty(&mut self, cx: &LateContext<'tcx>, ty: &'tcx hir::Ty<'tcx>) {
+        let hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(opaque, _) = &ty.kind else {
             return;
         };
 
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ impl<'tcx> LateLintPass<'tcx> for OpaqueHiddenInferredBound {
             return;
         }
 
-        let def_id = item.owner_id.def_id.to_def_id();
+        let def_id = opaque.def_id.to_def_id();
         let infcx = &cx.tcx.infer_ctxt().build();
         // For every projection predicate in the opaque type's explicit bounds,
         // check that the type that we're assigning actually satisfies the bounds
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_lint/src/types.rs b/compiler/rustc_lint/src/types.rs
index 75611d71025..db4413149a4 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_lint/src/types.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_lint/src/types.rs
@@ -1419,7 +1419,6 @@ impl<'tcx> LateLintPass<'tcx> for ImproperCTypesDefinitions {
             hir::ItemKind::Impl(..)
             | hir::ItemKind::TraitAlias(..)
             | hir::ItemKind::Trait(..)
-            | hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(..)
             | hir::ItemKind::GlobalAsm(..)
             | hir::ItemKind::ForeignMod { .. }
             | hir::ItemKind::Mod(..)
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/hir/map/mod.rs b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/hir/map/mod.rs
index 72e6c96e6f6..8fd5ff1f369 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/hir/map/mod.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/hir/map/mod.rs
@@ -732,6 +732,19 @@ impl<'hir> Map<'hir> {
         }
     }
 
+    #[track_caller]
+    pub fn expect_opaque_ty(self, id: LocalDefId) -> &'hir OpaqueTy<'hir> {
+        match self.tcx.hir_node_by_def_id(id) {
+            Node::OpaqueTy(opaq) => opaq,
+            _ => {
+                bug!(
+                    "expected opaque type definition, found {}",
+                    self.node_to_string(self.tcx.local_def_id_to_hir_id(id))
+                )
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn expect_expr(self, id: HirId) -> &'hir Expr<'hir> {
         match self.tcx.hir_node(id) {
             Node::Expr(expr) => expr,
@@ -923,6 +936,7 @@ impl<'hir> Map<'hir> {
             Node::Ty(ty) => ty.span,
             Node::AssocItemConstraint(constraint) => constraint.span,
             Node::TraitRef(tr) => tr.path.span,
+            Node::OpaqueTy(op) => op.span,
             Node::Pat(pat) => pat.span,
             Node::PatField(field) => field.span,
             Node::Arm(arm) => arm.span,
@@ -1006,6 +1020,10 @@ impl<'hir> intravisit::Map<'hir> for Map<'hir> {
         self.tcx.hir_node(hir_id)
     }
 
+    fn hir_node_by_def_id(&self, def_id: LocalDefId) -> Node<'hir> {
+        self.tcx.hir_node_by_def_id(def_id)
+    }
+
     fn body(&self, id: BodyId) -> &'hir Body<'hir> {
         (*self).body(id)
     }
@@ -1139,7 +1157,6 @@ fn hir_id_to_string(map: Map<'_>, id: HirId) -> String {
                 ItemKind::ForeignMod { .. } => "foreign mod",
                 ItemKind::GlobalAsm(..) => "global asm",
                 ItemKind::TyAlias(..) => "ty",
-                ItemKind::OpaqueTy(..) => "opaque type",
                 ItemKind::Enum(..) => "enum",
                 ItemKind::Struct(..) => "struct",
                 ItemKind::Union(..) => "union",
@@ -1191,6 +1208,7 @@ fn hir_id_to_string(map: Map<'_>, id: HirId) -> String {
         Node::Ty(_) => node_str("type"),
         Node::AssocItemConstraint(_) => node_str("assoc item constraint"),
         Node::TraitRef(_) => node_str("trait ref"),
+        Node::OpaqueTy(_) => node_str("opaque type"),
         Node::Pat(_) => node_str("pat"),
         Node::PatField(_) => node_str("pattern field"),
         Node::Param(_) => node_str("param"),
@@ -1228,6 +1246,7 @@ pub(super) fn hir_module_items(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, module_id: LocalModDefId) -> Mod
         impl_items,
         foreign_items,
         body_owners,
+        opaques,
         ..
     } = collector;
     ModuleItems {
@@ -1237,6 +1256,7 @@ pub(super) fn hir_module_items(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, module_id: LocalModDefId) -> Mod
         impl_items: impl_items.into_boxed_slice(),
         foreign_items: foreign_items.into_boxed_slice(),
         body_owners: body_owners.into_boxed_slice(),
+        opaques: opaques.into_boxed_slice(),
     }
 }
 
@@ -1256,6 +1276,7 @@ pub(crate) fn hir_crate_items(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, _: ()) -> ModuleItems {
         impl_items,
         foreign_items,
         body_owners,
+        opaques,
         ..
     } = collector;
 
@@ -1266,6 +1287,7 @@ pub(crate) fn hir_crate_items(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, _: ()) -> ModuleItems {
         impl_items: impl_items.into_boxed_slice(),
         foreign_items: foreign_items.into_boxed_slice(),
         body_owners: body_owners.into_boxed_slice(),
+        opaques: opaques.into_boxed_slice(),
     }
 }
 
@@ -1280,6 +1302,7 @@ struct ItemCollector<'tcx> {
     impl_items: Vec<ImplItemId>,
     foreign_items: Vec<ForeignItemId>,
     body_owners: Vec<LocalDefId>,
+    opaques: Vec<LocalDefId>,
 }
 
 impl<'tcx> ItemCollector<'tcx> {
@@ -1293,6 +1316,7 @@ impl<'tcx> ItemCollector<'tcx> {
             impl_items: Vec::default(),
             foreign_items: Vec::default(),
             body_owners: Vec::default(),
+            opaques: Vec::default(),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -1338,6 +1362,11 @@ impl<'hir> Visitor<'hir> for ItemCollector<'hir> {
         intravisit::walk_inline_const(self, c)
     }
 
+    fn visit_opaque_ty(&mut self, o: &'hir OpaqueTy<'hir>) {
+        self.opaques.push(o.def_id);
+        intravisit::walk_opaque_ty(self, o)
+    }
+
     fn visit_expr(&mut self, ex: &'hir Expr<'hir>) {
         if let ExprKind::Closure(closure) = ex.kind {
             self.body_owners.push(closure.def_id);
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/hir/mod.rs b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/hir/mod.rs
index 7a07ef80ded..ad0d70152e1 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/hir/mod.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/hir/mod.rs
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ pub struct ModuleItems {
     trait_items: Box<[TraitItemId]>,
     impl_items: Box<[ImplItemId]>,
     foreign_items: Box<[ForeignItemId]>,
+    opaques: Box<[LocalDefId]>,
     body_owners: Box<[LocalDefId]>,
 }
 
@@ -65,6 +66,10 @@ impl ModuleItems {
             .chain(self.foreign_items.iter().map(|id| id.owner_id))
     }
 
+    pub fn opaques(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = LocalDefId> + '_ {
+        self.opaques.iter().copied()
+    }
+
     pub fn definitions(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = LocalDefId> + '_ {
         self.owners().map(|id| id.def_id)
     }
@@ -96,6 +101,13 @@ impl ModuleItems {
     ) -> Result<(), ErrorGuaranteed> {
         try_par_for_each_in(&self.foreign_items[..], |&id| f(id))
     }
+
+    pub fn par_opaques(
+        &self,
+        f: impl Fn(LocalDefId) -> Result<(), ErrorGuaranteed> + DynSend + DynSync,
+    ) -> Result<(), ErrorGuaranteed> {
+        try_par_for_each_in(&self.opaques[..], |&id| f(id))
+    }
 }
 
 impl<'tcx> TyCtxt<'tcx> {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/context.rs b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/context.rs
index 2ffb273cb6f..d6547b51186 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/context.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/context.rs
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ use rustc_type_ir::lang_items::TraitSolverLangItem;
 pub use rustc_type_ir::lift::Lift;
 use rustc_type_ir::solve::SolverMode;
 use rustc_type_ir::{CollectAndApply, Interner, TypeFlags, WithCachedTypeInfo, search_graph};
-use tracing::{debug, instrument};
+use tracing::{debug, trace};
 
 use crate::arena::Arena;
 use crate::dep_graph::{DepGraph, DepKindStruct};
@@ -2073,9 +2073,11 @@ impl<'tcx> TyCtxt<'tcx> {
     }
 
     /// Returns the origin of the opaque type `def_id`.
-    #[instrument(skip(self), level = "trace", ret)]
+    #[track_caller]
     pub fn opaque_type_origin(self, def_id: LocalDefId) -> hir::OpaqueTyOrigin {
-        self.hir().expect_item(def_id).expect_opaque_ty().origin
+        let origin = self.hir().expect_opaque_ty(def_id).origin;
+        trace!("opaque_type_origin({def_id:?}) => {origin:?}");
+        origin
     }
 }
 
@@ -3031,8 +3033,7 @@ impl<'tcx> TyCtxt<'tcx> {
 
         loop {
             let parent = self.local_parent(opaque_lifetime_param_def_id);
-            let hir::OpaqueTy { lifetime_mapping, .. } =
-                self.hir_node_by_def_id(parent).expect_item().expect_opaque_ty();
+            let hir::OpaqueTy { lifetime_mapping, .. } = self.hir().expect_opaque_ty(parent);
 
             let Some((lifetime, _)) = lifetime_mapping
                 .iter()
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/diagnostics.rs b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/diagnostics.rs
index d98e18c1b0c..751f0c71eb4 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/diagnostics.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/diagnostics.rs
@@ -507,14 +507,8 @@ impl<'v> hir::intravisit::Visitor<'v> for TraitObjectVisitor<'v> {
                     ..
                 },
                 _,
-            ) => {
-                self.0.push(ty);
-            }
-            hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(item_id, _) => {
-                self.0.push(ty);
-                let item = self.1.item(item_id);
-                hir::intravisit::walk_item(self, item);
-            }
+            )
+            | hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(..) => self.0.push(ty),
             _ => {}
         }
         hir::intravisit::walk_ty(self, ty);
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/sty.rs b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/sty.rs
index 489bd49f3e4..a55ca5a0173 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/sty.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_middle/src/ty/sty.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ use rustc_target::spec::abi;
 use rustc_type_ir::TyKind::*;
 use rustc_type_ir::visit::TypeVisitableExt;
 use rustc_type_ir::{self as ir, BoundVar, CollectAndApply, DynKind};
+use tracing::instrument;
 use ty::util::{AsyncDropGlueMorphology, IntTypeExt};
 
 use super::GenericParamDefKind;
@@ -500,6 +501,7 @@ impl<'tcx> Ty<'tcx> {
     }
 
     #[inline]
+    #[instrument(level = "debug", skip(tcx))]
     pub fn new_opaque(tcx: TyCtxt<'tcx>, def_id: DefId, args: GenericArgsRef<'tcx>) -> Ty<'tcx> {
         Ty::new_alias(tcx, ty::Opaque, AliasTy::new_from_args(tcx, def_id, args))
     }
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_passes/src/check_attr.rs b/compiler/rustc_passes/src/check_attr.rs
index a24259a1e35..b3334bb70aa 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_passes/src/check_attr.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_passes/src/check_attr.rs
@@ -814,7 +814,6 @@ impl<'tcx> CheckAttrVisitor<'tcx> {
             | Target::Mod
             | Target::GlobalAsm
             | Target::TyAlias
-            | Target::OpaqueTy
             | Target::Enum
             | Target::Variant
             | Target::Struct
@@ -1328,7 +1327,6 @@ impl<'tcx> CheckAttrVisitor<'tcx> {
         ) {
             let article = match target {
                 Target::ExternCrate
-                | Target::OpaqueTy
                 | Target::Enum
                 | Target::Impl
                 | Target::Expression
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_passes/src/dead.rs b/compiler/rustc_passes/src/dead.rs
index 100f3e80603..af17fbf7e4d 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_passes/src/dead.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_passes/src/dead.rs
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ fn should_explore(tcx: TyCtxt<'_>, def_id: LocalDefId) -> bool {
             | Node::TraitItem(..)
             | Node::Variant(..)
             | Node::AnonConst(..)
+            | Node::OpaqueTy(..)
     )
 }
 
@@ -494,6 +495,7 @@ impl<'tcx> MarkSymbolVisitor<'tcx> {
             Node::ForeignItem(foreign_item) => {
                 intravisit::walk_foreign_item(self, foreign_item);
             }
+            Node::OpaqueTy(opaq) => intravisit::walk_opaque_ty(self, opaq),
             _ => {}
         }
         self.repr_has_repr_simd = had_repr_simd;
@@ -655,14 +657,6 @@ impl<'tcx> Visitor<'tcx> for MarkSymbolVisitor<'tcx> {
         intravisit::walk_path(self, path);
     }
 
-    fn visit_ty(&mut self, ty: &'tcx hir::Ty<'tcx>) {
-        if let TyKind::OpaqueDef(item_id, _) = ty.kind {
-            let item = self.tcx.hir().item(item_id);
-            intravisit::walk_item(self, item);
-        }
-        intravisit::walk_ty(self, ty);
-    }
-
     fn visit_anon_const(&mut self, c: &'tcx hir::AnonConst) {
         // When inline const blocks are used in pattern position, paths
         // referenced by it should be considered as used.
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_passes/src/hir_stats.rs b/compiler/rustc_passes/src/hir_stats.rs
index 903fb114744..8ad14b6eb74 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_passes/src/hir_stats.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_passes/src/hir_stats.rs
@@ -230,7 +230,6 @@ impl<'v> hir_visit::Visitor<'v> for StatCollector<'v> {
             ForeignMod,
             GlobalAsm,
             TyAlias,
-            OpaqueTy,
             Enum,
             Struct,
             Union,
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_passes/src/reachable.rs b/compiler/rustc_passes/src/reachable.rs
index 925ee262022..056318fbcb7 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_passes/src/reachable.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_passes/src/reachable.rs
@@ -236,7 +236,6 @@ impl<'tcx> ReachableContext<'tcx> {
                     // worklist, as determined by the privacy pass
                     hir::ItemKind::ExternCrate(_)
                     | hir::ItemKind::Use(..)
-                    | hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(..)
                     | hir::ItemKind::TyAlias(..)
                     | hir::ItemKind::Macro(..)
                     | hir::ItemKind::Mod(..)
@@ -287,7 +286,8 @@ impl<'tcx> ReachableContext<'tcx> {
             | Node::Field(_)
             | Node::Ty(_)
             | Node::Crate(_)
-            | Node::Synthetic => {}
+            | Node::Synthetic
+            | Node::OpaqueTy(..) => {}
             _ => {
                 bug!(
                     "found unexpected node kind in worklist: {} ({:?})",
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_privacy/src/lib.rs b/compiler/rustc_privacy/src/lib.rs
index d00e7eff752..36eada4c1d7 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_privacy/src/lib.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_privacy/src/lib.rs
@@ -634,10 +634,8 @@ impl<'tcx> EmbargoVisitor<'tcx> {
 }
 
 impl<'tcx> Visitor<'tcx> for EmbargoVisitor<'tcx> {
-    fn visit_item(&mut self, item: &'tcx hir::Item<'tcx>) {
-        if self.impl_trait_pass
-            && let hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(opaque) = item.kind
-        {
+    fn visit_opaque_ty(&mut self, opaque: &'tcx hir::OpaqueTy<'tcx>) {
+        if self.impl_trait_pass {
             let should_visit = match opaque.origin {
                 hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::FnReturn {
                     parent,
@@ -669,14 +667,16 @@ impl<'tcx> Visitor<'tcx> for EmbargoVisitor<'tcx> {
                 // in the reachability pass (`middle/reachable.rs`). Types are marked as link-time
                 // reachable if they are returned via `impl Trait`, even from private functions.
                 let pub_ev = EffectiveVisibility::from_vis(ty::Visibility::Public);
-                self.reach_through_impl_trait(item.owner_id.def_id, pub_ev)
-                    .generics()
-                    .predicates()
-                    .ty();
+                self.reach_through_impl_trait(opaque.def_id, pub_ev).generics().predicates().ty();
                 return;
             }
         }
 
+        // Visit nested items.
+        intravisit::walk_opaque_ty(self, opaque)
+    }
+
+    fn visit_item(&mut self, item: &'tcx hir::Item<'tcx>) {
         // Update levels of nested things and mark all items
         // in interfaces of reachable items as reachable.
         let item_ev = self.get(item.owner_id.def_id);
@@ -686,7 +686,7 @@ impl<'tcx> Visitor<'tcx> for EmbargoVisitor<'tcx> {
             | hir::ItemKind::ExternCrate(..)
             | hir::ItemKind::GlobalAsm(..) => {}
             // The interface is empty, and all nested items are processed by `visit_item`.
-            hir::ItemKind::Mod(..) | hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(..) => {}
+            hir::ItemKind::Mod(..) => {}
             hir::ItemKind::Macro(macro_def, _) => {
                 if let Some(item_ev) = item_ev {
                     self.update_reachability_from_macro(item.owner_id.def_id, macro_def, item_ev);
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/error_reporting/infer/nice_region_error/static_impl_trait.rs b/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/error_reporting/infer/nice_region_error/static_impl_trait.rs
index 31256bca55e..a6ecd1cc987 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/error_reporting/infer/nice_region_error/static_impl_trait.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/error_reporting/infer/nice_region_error/static_impl_trait.rs
@@ -284,14 +284,9 @@ pub fn suggest_new_region_bound(
         }
         match fn_return.kind {
             // FIXME(precise_captures): Suggest adding to `use<...>` list instead.
-            TyKind::OpaqueDef(item_id, _) => {
-                let item = tcx.hir().item(item_id);
-                let ItemKind::OpaqueTy(opaque) = &item.kind else {
-                    return;
-                };
-
+            TyKind::OpaqueDef(opaque, _) => {
                 // Get the identity type for this RPIT
-                let did = item_id.owner_id.to_def_id();
+                let did = opaque.def_id.to_def_id();
                 let ty = Ty::new_opaque(tcx, did, ty::GenericArgs::identity_for_item(tcx, did));
 
                 if let Some(span) = opaque.bounds.iter().find_map(|arg| match arg {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/error_reporting/infer/note_and_explain.rs b/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/error_reporting/infer/note_and_explain.rs
index 7802d5bf7a6..cf0ab630f2e 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/error_reporting/infer/note_and_explain.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/error_reporting/infer/note_and_explain.rs
@@ -720,7 +720,7 @@ fn foo(&self) -> Self::T { String::new() }
         if let ty::Alias(ty::Opaque, ty::AliasTy { def_id, .. }) = *proj_ty.self_ty().kind() {
             let opaque_local_def_id = def_id.as_local();
             let opaque_hir_ty = if let Some(opaque_local_def_id) = opaque_local_def_id {
-                tcx.hir().expect_item(opaque_local_def_id).expect_opaque_ty()
+                tcx.hir().expect_opaque_ty(opaque_local_def_id)
             } else {
                 return false;
             };
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/error_reporting/infer/region.rs b/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/error_reporting/infer/region.rs
index a2d717817db..94610a9e0e6 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/error_reporting/infer/region.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/error_reporting/infer/region.rs
@@ -842,14 +842,13 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> TypeErrCtxt<'a, 'tcx> {
         lifetime: Region<'tcx>,
         add_lt_suggs: &mut Vec<(Span, String)>,
     ) -> String {
-        struct LifetimeReplaceVisitor<'a, 'tcx> {
-            tcx: TyCtxt<'tcx>,
+        struct LifetimeReplaceVisitor<'a> {
             needle: hir::LifetimeName,
             new_lt: &'a str,
             add_lt_suggs: &'a mut Vec<(Span, String)>,
         }
 
-        impl<'hir, 'tcx> hir::intravisit::Visitor<'hir> for LifetimeReplaceVisitor<'_, 'tcx> {
+        impl<'hir> hir::intravisit::Visitor<'hir> for LifetimeReplaceVisitor<'_> {
             fn visit_lifetime(&mut self, lt: &'hir hir::Lifetime) {
                 if lt.res == self.needle {
                     self.add_lt_suggs.push(lt.suggestion(self.new_lt));
@@ -857,10 +856,9 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> TypeErrCtxt<'a, 'tcx> {
             }
 
             fn visit_ty(&mut self, ty: &'hir hir::Ty<'hir>) {
-                let hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(item_id, _) = ty.kind else {
+                let hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(opaque_ty, _) = ty.kind else {
                     return hir::intravisit::walk_ty(self, ty);
                 };
-                let opaque_ty = self.tcx.hir().item(item_id).expect_opaque_ty();
                 if let Some(&(_, b)) =
                     opaque_ty.lifetime_mapping.iter().find(|&(a, _)| a.res == self.needle)
                 {
@@ -905,7 +903,6 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> TypeErrCtxt<'a, 'tcx> {
         };
 
         let mut visitor = LifetimeReplaceVisitor {
-            tcx: self.tcx,
             needle: hir::LifetimeName::Param(lifetime_def_id),
             add_lt_suggs,
             new_lt: &new_lt,
@@ -1269,7 +1266,7 @@ fn suggest_precise_capturing<'tcx>(
     diag: &mut Diag<'_>,
 ) {
     let hir::OpaqueTy { bounds, origin, .. } =
-        tcx.hir_node_by_def_id(opaque_def_id).expect_item().expect_opaque_ty();
+        tcx.hir_node_by_def_id(opaque_def_id).expect_opaque_ty();
 
     let hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::FnReturn { parent: fn_def_id, .. } = *origin else {
         return;
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/error_reporting/infer/suggest.rs b/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/error_reporting/infer/suggest.rs
index 6c3f3afce11..709b6eb18e3 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/error_reporting/infer/suggest.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/error_reporting/infer/suggest.rs
@@ -731,12 +731,12 @@ impl<'tcx> TypeErrCtxt<'_, 'tcx> {
                 let exp_local_id = exp_def_id.as_local()?;
 
                 match (
-                    &self.tcx.hir().expect_item(last_local_id).kind,
-                    &self.tcx.hir().expect_item(exp_local_id).kind,
+                    &self.tcx.hir().expect_opaque_ty(last_local_id),
+                    &self.tcx.hir().expect_opaque_ty(exp_local_id),
                 ) {
                     (
-                        hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(hir::OpaqueTy { bounds: last_bounds, .. }),
-                        hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(hir::OpaqueTy { bounds: exp_bounds, .. }),
+                        hir::OpaqueTy { bounds: last_bounds, .. },
+                        hir::OpaqueTy { bounds: exp_bounds, .. },
                     ) if std::iter::zip(*last_bounds, *exp_bounds).all(|(left, right)| match (
                         left, right,
                     ) {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/error_reporting/traits/suggestions.rs b/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/error_reporting/traits/suggestions.rs
index 6df7fac949c..87834c329e1 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/error_reporting/traits/suggestions.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_trait_selection/src/error_reporting/traits/suggestions.rs
@@ -355,12 +355,12 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> TypeErrCtxt<'a, 'tcx> {
                         | hir::ItemKind::Fn(_, generics, _)
                         | hir::ItemKind::TyAlias(_, generics)
                         | hir::ItemKind::Const(_, generics, _)
-                        | hir::ItemKind::TraitAlias(generics, _)
-                        | hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(hir::OpaqueTy { generics, .. }),
+                        | hir::ItemKind::TraitAlias(generics, _),
                     ..
                 })
                 | hir::Node::TraitItem(hir::TraitItem { generics, .. })
                 | hir::Node::ImplItem(hir::ImplItem { generics, .. })
+                | hir::Node::OpaqueTy(hir::OpaqueTy { generics, .. })
                     if param_ty =>
                 {
                     // We skip the 0'th arg (self) because we do not want
@@ -421,10 +421,12 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> TypeErrCtxt<'a, 'tcx> {
                         | hir::ItemKind::Fn(_, generics, _)
                         | hir::ItemKind::TyAlias(_, generics)
                         | hir::ItemKind::Const(_, generics, _)
-                        | hir::ItemKind::TraitAlias(generics, _)
-                        | hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(hir::OpaqueTy { generics, .. }),
+                        | hir::ItemKind::TraitAlias(generics, _),
                     ..
-                }) if !param_ty => {
+                })
+                | hir::Node::OpaqueTy(hir::OpaqueTy { generics, .. })
+                    if !param_ty =>
+                {
                     // Missing generic type parameter bound.
                     if suggest_arbitrary_trait_bound(
                         self.tcx,
@@ -4542,7 +4544,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> TypeErrCtxt<'a, 'tcx> {
 
         // ... whose signature is `async` (i.e. this is an AFIT)
         let (sig, body) = item.expect_fn();
-        let hir::FnRetTy::Return(hir::Ty { kind: hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(def, ..), .. }) =
+        let hir::FnRetTy::Return(hir::Ty { kind: hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(opaq_def, ..), .. }) =
             sig.decl.output
         else {
             // This should never happen, but let's not ICE.
@@ -4551,7 +4553,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> TypeErrCtxt<'a, 'tcx> {
 
         // Check that this is *not* a nested `impl Future` RPIT in an async fn
         // (i.e. `async fn foo() -> impl Future`)
-        if def.owner_id.to_def_id() != opaque_def_id {
+        if opaq_def.def_id.to_def_id() != opaque_def_id {
             return;
         }
 
@@ -5159,7 +5161,7 @@ pub fn suggest_desugaring_async_fn_to_impl_future_in_trait<'tcx>(
     };
     let async_span = tcx.sess.source_map().span_extend_while_whitespace(async_span);
 
-    let future = tcx.hir_node_by_def_id(opaque_def_id).expect_item().expect_opaque_ty();
+    let future = tcx.hir_node_by_def_id(opaque_def_id).expect_opaque_ty();
     let [hir::GenericBound::Trait(trait_ref, _)] = future.bounds else {
         // `async fn` should always lower to a single bound... but don't ICE.
         return None;
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_ty_utils/src/assoc.rs b/compiler/rustc_ty_utils/src/assoc.rs
index e41f2c8ce48..a057caa9329 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_ty_utils/src/assoc.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_ty_utils/src/assoc.rs
@@ -316,19 +316,16 @@ fn associated_types_for_impl_traits_in_associated_fn(
 
     match tcx.def_kind(parent_def_id) {
         DefKind::Trait => {
-            struct RPITVisitor<'tcx> {
+            struct RPITVisitor {
                 rpits: FxIndexSet<LocalDefId>,
-                tcx: TyCtxt<'tcx>,
             }
 
-            impl<'tcx> Visitor<'tcx> for RPITVisitor<'tcx> {
+            impl<'tcx> Visitor<'tcx> for RPITVisitor {
                 fn visit_ty(&mut self, ty: &'tcx hir::Ty<'tcx>) {
-                    if let hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(item_id, _) = ty.kind
-                        && self.rpits.insert(item_id.owner_id.def_id)
+                    if let hir::TyKind::OpaqueDef(opaq, _) = ty.kind
+                        && self.rpits.insert(opaq.def_id)
                     {
-                        let opaque_item =
-                            self.tcx.hir().expect_item(item_id.owner_id.def_id).expect_opaque_ty();
-                        for bound in opaque_item.bounds {
+                        for bound in opaq.bounds {
                             intravisit::walk_param_bound(self, bound);
                         }
                     }
@@ -336,7 +333,7 @@ fn associated_types_for_impl_traits_in_associated_fn(
                 }
             }
 
-            let mut visitor = RPITVisitor { tcx, rpits: FxIndexSet::default() };
+            let mut visitor = RPITVisitor { rpits: FxIndexSet::default() };
 
             if let Some(output) = tcx.hir().get_fn_output(fn_def_id) {
                 visitor.visit_fn_ret_ty(output);
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_ty_utils/src/opaque_types.rs b/compiler/rustc_ty_utils/src/opaque_types.rs
index 7c4b4887b2d..5e2232ff47d 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_ty_utils/src/opaque_types.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_ty_utils/src/opaque_types.rs
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ impl<'tcx> OpaqueTypeCollector<'tcx> {
         TaitInBodyFinder { collector: self }.visit_expr(body);
     }
 
+    #[instrument(level = "debug", skip(self))]
     fn visit_opaque_ty(&mut self, alias_ty: ty::AliasTy<'tcx>) {
         if !self.seen.insert(alias_ty.def_id.expect_local()) {
             return;
diff --git a/src/librustdoc/clean/mod.rs b/src/librustdoc/clean/mod.rs
index b79458eaa78..fa73733360c 100644
--- a/src/librustdoc/clean/mod.rs
+++ b/src/librustdoc/clean/mod.rs
@@ -1828,13 +1828,8 @@ pub(crate) fn clean_ty<'tcx>(ty: &hir::Ty<'tcx>, cx: &mut DocContext<'tcx>) -> T
             Array(Box::new(clean_ty(ty, cx)), length.into())
         }
         TyKind::Tup(tys) => Tuple(tys.iter().map(|ty| clean_ty(ty, cx)).collect()),
-        TyKind::OpaqueDef(item_id, _) => {
-            let item = cx.tcx.hir().item(item_id);
-            if let hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(ty) = item.kind {
-                ImplTrait(ty.bounds.iter().filter_map(|x| clean_generic_bound(x, cx)).collect())
-            } else {
-                unreachable!()
-            }
+        TyKind::OpaqueDef(ty, _) => {
+            ImplTrait(ty.bounds.iter().filter_map(|x| clean_generic_bound(x, cx)).collect())
         }
         TyKind::Path(_) => clean_qpath(ty, cx),
         TyKind::TraitObject(bounds, lifetime, _) => {
@@ -2736,9 +2731,6 @@ fn clean_maybe_renamed_item<'tcx>(
                 type_: clean_ty(ty, cx),
                 kind: ConstantKind::Local { body: body_id, def_id },
             })),
-            // clean_ty changes types which reference an OpaqueTy item to instead be
-            // an ImplTrait, so it's ok to return nothing here.
-            ItemKind::OpaqueTy(_) => return vec![],
             ItemKind::TyAlias(hir_ty, generics) => {
                 *cx.current_type_aliases.entry(def_id).or_insert(0) += 1;
                 let rustdoc_ty = clean_ty(hir_ty, cx);
diff --git a/src/librustdoc/html/render/span_map.rs b/src/librustdoc/html/render/span_map.rs
index 2143f1ff236..7e1ea5cde83 100644
--- a/src/librustdoc/html/render/span_map.rs
+++ b/src/librustdoc/html/render/span_map.rs
@@ -243,7 +243,6 @@ impl<'tcx> Visitor<'tcx> for SpanMapVisitor<'tcx> {
             | ItemKind::ExternCrate(_)
             | ItemKind::ForeignMod { .. }
             | ItemKind::GlobalAsm(_)
-            | ItemKind::OpaqueTy(_)
             // We already have "visit_mod" above so no need to check it here.
             | ItemKind::Mod(_) => {}
         }
diff --git a/src/librustdoc/visit_ast.rs b/src/librustdoc/visit_ast.rs
index 6defe91d383..f789aca7378 100644
--- a/src/librustdoc/visit_ast.rs
+++ b/src/librustdoc/visit_ast.rs
@@ -505,21 +505,11 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> RustdocVisitor<'a, 'tcx> {
             | hir::ItemKind::Struct(..)
             | hir::ItemKind::Union(..)
             | hir::ItemKind::TyAlias(..)
-            | hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(hir::OpaqueTy {
-                origin: hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::TyAlias { .. },
-                ..
-            })
             | hir::ItemKind::Static(..)
             | hir::ItemKind::Trait(..)
             | hir::ItemKind::TraitAlias(..) => {
                 self.add_to_current_mod(item, renamed, import_id);
             }
-            hir::ItemKind::OpaqueTy(hir::OpaqueTy {
-                origin: hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::AsyncFn { .. } | hir::OpaqueTyOrigin::FnReturn { .. },
-                ..
-            }) => {
-                // return-position impl traits are never nameable, and should never be documented.
-            }
             hir::ItemKind::Const(..) => {
                 // Underscore constants do not correspond to a nameable item and
                 // so are never useful in documentation.
diff --git a/src/tools/clippy/clippy_utils/src/check_proc_macro.rs b/src/tools/clippy/clippy_utils/src/check_proc_macro.rs
index 9143d292f67..b18997e6ee4 100644
--- a/src/tools/clippy/clippy_utils/src/check_proc_macro.rs
+++ b/src/tools/clippy/clippy_utils/src/check_proc_macro.rs
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ fn item_search_pat(item: &Item<'_>) -> (Pat, Pat) {
         ItemKind::Const(..) => (Pat::Str("const"), Pat::Str(";")),
         ItemKind::Fn(sig, ..) => (fn_header_search_pat(sig.header), Pat::Str("")),
         ItemKind::ForeignMod { .. } => (Pat::Str("extern"), Pat::Str("}")),
-        ItemKind::TyAlias(..) | ItemKind::OpaqueTy(_) => (Pat::Str("type"), Pat::Str(";")),
+        ItemKind::TyAlias(..) => (Pat::Str("type"), Pat::Str(";")),
         ItemKind::Enum(..) => (Pat::Str("enum"), Pat::Str("}")),
         ItemKind::Struct(VariantData::Struct { .. }, _) => (Pat::Str("struct"), Pat::Str("}")),
         ItemKind::Struct(..) => (Pat::Str("struct"), Pat::Str(";")),