Hello everyone! I would appreciate any suggestions for my trip in Jan 2025. Will be going with my partner, both in our late 20’s. We have not been to this region before and prefer a more laid back travel itinerary. We love taking our time to explore different places and soak in the vibes instead of rushing around to tick off places.
The Kyoto part is honestly stressing me out quite a bit since there’s so much information out there so it’s a bit of everything I’ve researched. For Osaka, I’ve only planned the outline so it’s not that detailed.
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**17 Jan, Fri**
8.35am reach Japan after a \~6hr red eye flight.
Ard 9.30am done with airport stuffs.
Train to Kyoto via Airport Express HARUKA, 70mins.
Ard 11am reach Kyoto hotel, put luggage down.
Lunch/explore Nishiki Market.
**Please suggest what should we do here? I’m thinking either**
* Southern Higashiyama area (Gion, Ishibei-koji Lane , Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka Preserved Districts , Hokan-ji Temple, Kiyomizu-dera…) >> dont have to hit all the places, just a general gist so we roughly know where we can explore
* OR Northern Higashiyama (Path of Philosophy, Eikan-do Temple, Garden of Fine Arts Kyoto Kyoto Botanical Gardens)
3-5pm: Check in. We would be quite tired so a short nap is needed. Latest check in time would prob be 4pm for us, otherwise we would just crash from being too tired.
Pontocho Alley?
**18 Jan, Sat**
Thinking of doing a Day trip to Nara & Uji, since there’s many ppl saying to avoid Kyoto on a weekend? Or would this be better from Osaka?
**19 Jan, Sun**
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Tofuku-ji Temple
Depending what we do on D1: Northern Higashiyama OR Southern Higashiyama area
**20 Jan, Mon**
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Gio-ji Temple
Otagi Nenbutu Temple
Togetsukyo Bridge
Tenryu-Ji Temple
Sagano Scenic Train & Hozugawa River Boat Ride back
**21 Jan, Tues**
Kyoto to Kinosaki Onsen
**22 Jan, Wed**
Kinosaki Onsen to Osaka. Explore the city
**23 Jan, Thurs**
Universal Studios
**24 Jan, Fri**
Hit up the tourist attractions in Osaka, Look into getting osaka amazing pass
**25 Jan, Sat**
Maybe a day trip out of Osaka (Kurashiki, Okayama & Kobe)?
**26 Jan, Sun**
Flight back home
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Based on my itinerary, which hotel would yall recommend for Kyoto? From what I’m seeing, Southern Higashiyama or near Kyoto Station would be good?
Would any of these be good for travelling around?
* sotetsu fresa inn kyoto
* Hotel Resol Kawaramachi Sanjo
* Tokyu Stay Kyoto Sakaiza
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Kinkaku-ji > heard it’s not that worth it to go.. but again there’s the other half saying that it’s beautiful in winter. Should I add that into my plan and if so, which day? Since I know it’s kinda far
Also heard about amanohashidate, would it be worth to go there for another day trip from Kyoto and reduce a day in Osaka?
by angie_26