Itinerary help. Kyoto (base) / Kanazawa / Nara / Osaka

Hello everyone. I need some insight on part of my itinerary as shown below. Is a full day in Nara a bit too much? Would it be more advisable to go for a half day trip at Nara, and the later half of the day at Osaka instead? And any other additions / spots recommended?

I feel like Kyoto-Kanazawa-Osaka in a day is a bit overwhelming (eventhough i plan to start early morning).

Also it’ll be on a weekend; any tips to avoid traffic and people would be helpful too 😆

Thanks

Day 5
– Arashiyama
– Plan 6am arrival by taxi if possible
– Kimono forest
– Arashiyama bamboo forest
– Depart to Kyoto stn by 8:30AM for train to Kanazawa

– Kanazawa, Ishikawa
– A bit of late bfast on the train on the way to Kanazawa
– (AIM 9AM LATEST DEPARTURE FROM KYOTO STN)
– Higashi chaya district
– Kenrokuen Garden
– Kanazawa stn area
– Tsuzumi-mon gate
– Tot time spent approx: 3hrs

*No interest to go to Shirakawago as theres simply not enough time, also not planning to stay the night in Kanazawa.

– Plan to depart Kanazawa by 2pm

– Lunch at Kanazawa (or train lol)

– Osaka, Dotonbori river
– From Kanazawa (depart by 2pm to Osaka)
– Take train to Namba stn, then walk north to Dotonbori
– Hozenji Yokocho to Hozenji temple
– Tonbori river walk
– Ebisu bridge (glico sign)
– Osaka food!
– Depart back to Kyoto by 7PM latest

Day 6
– A bit of kyoto strolling in the late morning
– Nara Park: Train to Kintetsu-Nara stn
– (Depart at 12pm latest?)
– Nara park
– Isuien garden
– Tōdai-ji temple
– Nakatanidou
– Depart Nara by 5pm, need to pack things for next day departure

2 comments
  1. Is it doable? Yes, it’s doable. Will you have fun doing it? I don’t think so. I would generally NOT recommend a day trip to Kanazawa, let alone half a day trip. You are spending 6 hours on the train just to spend 2.5 hour in Kanazawa.

  2. Is it possible to do a day trip to Kanazawa from Kansai – sure. Perhaps, not the best option, but assuming you take Thunderbird No. 1 (dep. Kyoto at 6:59) or No. 3 (dep. Kyoto at 7:29) – it’s a somewhat reasonable plan if your intent is to return with Thunderbird No. 40 (dep. Kanazawa at 17:31) or later.

    Making a plan such as this (max 3 hours in Kanazawa, max 2 hours in Osaka) is one for the annals of futility.

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