Did an impromptu trip and will be flying end of Oct to early Nov!
Day 1 (Land in Osaka > Kyoto)
– JR Haruka Limited Express from Kansai Airport to Kyoto station (reach about 5pm)
– Kyoto Station roof top for sunset
– Explore around station and have dinner
Day 2 (Kyoto) — too packed?
Kiyomizu-dera Temple > Walk to Sannenzaka / Ninezenka (enjoy starbucks) > Yasaka Pagoda (took this route to take picture of hopefully empty street leading up to Pagoda) > Yasaka Shrine Gion > Keage Incline > Nanzen-ji Temple > Philosopher’s Path
> Higashiyama > Heian Shrine > Kyoto Imperial Palace > Walk around Pontocho / Shinbashi Dori / Gion
Day 3 (Day trip Nara)
– JR pass to Nara with Nara line
> Nakatanidou > Kofuku-ji Temple > Kasuga Taisha Shrine > Nara Deer Park > Nandaimon Gate > Todai-ji Temple > Taemukeyama Hachiman-gu Shrine > Nigatsu-do Hall > Todai-ji’s bell tower
– Back to Kyoto
Day 4 (Hiroshima/Miyajima)
– Shinkansen to Hiroshima / JR Sanyo / JR Miyajima Ferry covered by JR pass
> Find a place to stay at Hiroshima > Hiroshima castle > Miyajina Omotesando > Five-story pagoda > Itsukushima (really want to catch sunset here > back to Hiroshima
> Grab dinner and rest
Day 5 (Hiroshima>Kyoto)
– any recommended sunrise spot here?
> Atomic Bomb Dome > Peace Memorial Museum > Peace Memorial Park > Okonomimura for linch > JR Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen back to Kyoto (95 min)
– if back early to Kyoto, explore around? Sunset?
Day 6 (Kyoto)
> Fushimi Inari Shine > Tofuku-Ji temple > Arashiyama Bamboo Forest > Kinkaku-ji > Nishiki Market > Catch the Geisha at Gion if possible
Day 7 (Kyoto>Osaka)
> Kichi Kichi Omurice for lunch > Shinkansen to Shin Osaka > Ohatsu Tenjin Shrine Flea Market >Yodobashi Camera > Pom Pom Purin Café > Chill around (sunset?)
Day 8 (Osaka)
> Shitennoji Temple > Shinsekai > Tsutenkaku Tower > Namba Yasaka Jinja
> Kuromon Ichiba Market > Hozenji Temple > Shinsaibashijuji > Amerika-Mura > Osaka castle
Day 9 (Osaka)
Free day — Utsubo Park? Tempozan Ferris Wheel?
Day 10 (Osaka > Airport)
Generally free day, need to be at airport at 4pm
Questions:
– Any chance for me to catch autumn leaves next week? And anywhere did I miss that allow me to catch them?
– I enjoy catching sunrise and sunset, would definitely love any recommendations!
– I shoot 35mm films, and other than Yodobashi Camera, anywhere else to get 35mm film?
– Day 4: Since I wish to catch sunset at Miyajima, is it wise to stay at Hiroshima? I read from here that Miyajima is empty at night. I checked the timings for ferry and I will have ferry back
– Recommendations for capsules hotel/hostel is appreciated too!
Thank you!