Planning a trip to Kansai Region in late summer / early fall
From Southern CA, I see that JAL has direct flights to KIX from LAX for under $1000 round trip for most of summer and early, seems like a good deal.
Here is my rough itinerary. For some context, I plan on staying at hotel in Kyoto the whole time (likely either The M’s or Resol, something budget friendly but not a capsule). I enjoy nature, hiking, food, coffee (I need it daily), and all things Nintendo.
Not everything listed is a ‘must hit’ but just options in the area I’ll be for that day.
For food options I have listed places that have been recommended from vloggers, friends, etc but open to other recommendations or insights.
Also, is it necessary for me to get a JR pass if I am really only using that line a handful or times to get to and from Airport to Kyoto, are there other options? The train system is a bit confusing.
Planned on getting ICOCA, Kansai Thru Pass and Osaka Amazing Pass for those 2 days.
**Day 1 (Friday)**
. Arrive 7pm…
. Take train line to Kyoto (75 min)
. JR Haruka express ticket: $9
. Check in at Hotel (8-9pm)
. Hotel The M’s Kyoto (near station)
. Grab food nearby 7/11 or Lawsons?
. Sleep
**Day 2 (Saturday) Higashiyama Ward and Gion**
. Kiyomizudera Temple
. Sannenzaka St
. Starbucks
. Ghibli Shop
. Kodaiji Temple
. Yasaka Shrine
**Day 3 (Sunday) Fushimi Inari and Downtown Kyoto wandering**
. Wake up early (7:30am)
. Take Keihan Line to Fushimi Inari station
. Fushimi Inari
. Not full hike, up to Shin-Ike Pond
. Train back to central Kyoto around noon
. Grab lunch Nishiki Market
. Nintendo Kyoto
. Pokemon Center Kyoto
. Kyoto Owl’s Forest
. Harajuku Chicago Kyoto store
. Pontocho Alley
. Coffee: Smart Coffee
. Okaffe Kyoto
. Kamogawakan
. Grab dinner: Kushikura, Katsukura Sanjo, Ramen Sen-no-kaze
. Drinks at Underbar
**Day 4 (Monday) Arashiyama and Northern Kyoto**
. Wake up early (7am)
. JR Sagano train from Kyoto Station
. Tenru-ji temple
. Bamboo Grove
. Gioji Temple
. Okochi villa
. Coffee at % Arabica Arashiyama
. Lunch at Unagi Hirokawa
. Dessert at Fukushichi pudding?
. Taxi to Kinkaku-ji $20
. Explore Kinkaju-ji
. Injo-ji temple nearby
. Kurusu Roastery Coffee
. Kitaoji station back to Downtown
. Explore downtown
. Dinner Options: Kara Kusa Curry, Yasubee (Okinomiyaki)
**Day 5 (Tuesday) Osaka Day 1**
. Take train to Osaka
. Osaka Station
. Pokemon Center @ train station
. Nintendo Osaka
. Shopping around Osaka station
. Take loop line to Osakajokoen station
. Osaka Castle
. lunch
. SOT coffee nearby
. Naniwa-no-Miya Palace Ruins
. America-mura
. Dotombori
. Donki Hote
. Dinner Options: Hozenji Yokocho
. Kushikatsu Daruma – Shinsaibashi
**Day 6 (Wednesday) Osaka Day 2**
. Take train to Osaka
. Shinsaibashi station
. Hozenji Yokocho
. Kamigata Ukiyo-e Museum
. Explore Den-Den town
. Super Potato Osaka
. Animate
. Suragaya
. Lunch
. Matsutake
. Explore Minami area
. Doguyasuji Arcade
. South to Shinsekai for Dinner
. Kushikatsu
**Day 7 (Thursday) Day trip to Kobe**
. Take train to Kobe
. Shin-kobe station
. Nishimura Coffee
. Nunobiki Herb Garden
. Train to Arima Onsen town (30 min)
. Shin-Kobe station to Sannomiya station
. Kin no Yu Onsen
. Check if OK with tattoos
. Lunch: Cafe de Beau, Takenaka, Soba at Dosanjin
. Back to Kobe to Shin-Kobe station
. Sannomiya Center Street
. Ikuta Shrine
. Isuzu Bakery
. Kobe Chinatown
. Kobe Beef Kisshokichi Honten
. Train back to Kyoto
**Day 8 (Friday) Nara and Uji**
. Take Kintetsu Line Train to Nara
. Todai-ji temple
. Nara Park to feed the deer – Try not to die
. Yoshiki Garden
. Lunch: Tenkaippin, Melon de Melon
. Train to Uji, take Nara line
. Uji Bridge
. Dinner: Ito Kyuemon Matcha Noodles
. Matcha Republic for a matcha latte
. Train back to Central Kyoto
**Day 9 (Saturday)**
. Pack all my stuff
. Explore around Central Kyoto in the morning
. Grab breakfast
. Maybe Happy Pancake if not crowded
. Walk back to hotel
. Check out of Hotel
. Take JR train back to KIX airport
. Flight leaves at 5:30pm
by artbystorms