Itinerary check Kansai, first timers in the region

3 comments

1. >P.S. Our hotel (aparthotel) in Osaka is near Imamiyaebisu Shrine. Is this a good area?

   No it isn’t. But that’s by Japan standard — it’s still pretty safe overall, but for the peace of mine, I would chose other area.

   >Would a rail pass/ICOCCA card be helpful for us?

   You probably want ICOCA, because it is a charge card that you can use to take almost everything you wanted in the area. It also give you a discount for Haruka train in a ICOCA&HARUKA package.

   If you go to Yogo/Nagahama, you will want Kansai Area Pass 1-day. Round-trip Kyoto to Nagahama is already exceeding the pass price.

   >Wanted to ask if this is too tight or if there’s anything we should see.

   I would say this is too tight for me, but if you are a fast traveller and early rise it should be doable.

   But…

   >Heading to Nagahama to visit Lake Yogo, which is a pretty site in the winter. Lunch in Nagahama near main station and museum/parks nearby.

   I have been to Nagahama multiple time (I live in Osaka). It’s one of the town I love. But I can’t say I would recommend a first-timer to visit. You have much better place to spend in Kyoto city proper than in Nagahama. Uji, for example. Kinkakuji, etc.

   If you really want to visit Lake Biwa, Hikone and Omi-Hachiman is IMO a better option. It’s also closer.

   >Minoh Falls,

   I live in Minoh City, and I can’t say I recommend anyone to visit the Minoh park outside the fall foliage. It’s a nice place, but as I said about Nagahama, you are probably better spending time in other place especially since it’s your first time. Himeji, for example.

2. The itinerary:

   * I would probably combine Nagahama with a stop at Hikone to see the castle and the surrounding garden.
   * If you want to do Cup Noodle Museum that works best with Minoh Falls itinerary.
   * If I had to choose one museum in Osaka at the moment, I would go with teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka or check whether the running exhibition at Abeno Harukas is within your interests. If you choose to go to Abeno Harukas, some people like it better for the night view.

   The problematic area in general starts around Shin-Imamiya/Dobutsen-mae station and goes about 3/4 way to Tengachaya station and this has to do with three things: provenance of seedy sex businesses, flophouses (accommodation for day-labourers) and the fact that is by far the poorest neighbourhood in Osaka. Now, the seedy sex businesses are not going to go away (and they do not cater to foreigners), while the day-labourer and homeless though visible for Japan are slowly dying out.

   Unless you are planning to get drunk or do absolutely silly things – you should be safe, probably safer than almost everywhere else in the world.

   Shinsekai is not the safest district in Japan, but this means that you need to just use common sense. It’s getting gentrified, but still got some rough patches (so probably if you want to go bar-hopping use Umeda or Dotonbori/Shinsaibashi area instead).

3. I’d suggest staying in the Namba/Dotonbori area. This way you’ll be near the lit up signs at night and there’s a great covered shopping arcade and lots of restaurants, cafes, and bars in the area. You’ll likely end up spending some significant time in this area anyways. We loved staying at the [Cross Hotel](https://www.booking.com/Share-UKzfvu) but there’s tons of lodging options in this group real area if you search sites like Booking.

   Here’s some places we really enjoyed while there. Osaka it’s just fun to wander and eat your way down all the covered shopping arcades so if it’s rainy or very cold weather head to the shopping arcades or the aquarium on that day.

   In Osaka:
   – [Senkoji: Heaven and Hell Temple](https://soranews24.com/2021/12/16/senkoji-the-japanese-temple-thats-more-like-a-theme-park-to-heaven-and-hell/)
   – [Save Cat Rescue Cafe (good for cold/rainy day)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/DCCLbRcT47JP2tcw9?g_st=ic)
   – [Silver Ball Planet (Pinball Arcade)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/sbTkovgEMmhUi7mM9?g_st=ic)
   – [PC and Retro Bar Space Station](https://maps.app.goo.gl/c2kSRGF8YaGoPrPB8?g_st=ic)
   – [TNT Craft Beer Pub](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Df1oX3dgqcPznWF3A?g_st=ic)
   – [Moonshine Karaoke Bar](https://maps.app.goo.gl/yxdMejQEfN1Zeuzz6?g_st=ic)

   It’d be hard to combine Arashiyama and Nara on the same day. They really are each their own stand alone day trips. We spent a full day at Arashiyama doing the sightseeing train and riverboat ride and ended our day at the bamboo forest and the area near the bridge.

   – [Kyoto Day Trip: Arashiyama Sightseeing Train and Riverboat Ride](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/mibm8t/kyoto_sagano_scenic_train_hozugawa_riverboat/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
   – [Arashiyama Overview](https://www.insidekyoto.com/arashiyama)

   Then, save Nara for the day you checkout of your hotel in Kyoto. Checkout and take your luggage with you to Nara in the morning and store it at a luggage locker in the train station. Do your day sightseeing around Nara, collect your luggage, then continue on to Osaka to checkin to your hotel. If staying in the Namba/Dotombori area you’ll be well situated to grab dinner and wander around to see the Glico Man and other lit up signs that night.

   – [Lockers and Luggage Storage at Nara Stations](https://www.narastation.com/lockers-luggage-storage-at-the-nara-stations/)
   – [Nara Itineraries](https://www.insidekyoto.com/nara-itineraries)
   – [Don’t miss out on Kasuga Taisha and pay to go inside the inner shrine area where there’s a room where you can see the lanterns lit up.](https://maps.app.goo.gl/xiZGNCZ1md4fgU1r5?g_st=ic)

   Happy Planning!