Hey everyone! I’ll be spending 6 full days in January on my first trip to Japan and would love some extra eyes to check out my itinerary. Let me know if I’m missing anything or if anything is unrealistic/skippable! Thank you!
Side notes:
* I’ll be coming from Korea so I don’t need to worry about jetlag.
* I’m quite an avid traveler within Korea so I’m used to long days and lots of walking/inclines.
* Korea has turned me into a cafe person so I would love any recommendations!
* I’ll be staying within a 10 min walk from Kyoto Station (Kyoto) + 6 min walk from Namba Station (Osaka).
* I’m considering doing the Arashiyama Hozu River Boat Ride but I’m not sure if it’s worth it in January. Any advice?
* I know the temple fees will add up, but it’s worth it for me.
# Kyoto (4.5 days)
**Day 1**
8am-12:30pm
* Kyoto Imperial Palace
* Nijo Castle
* Lunch: Yoshiharu
* Cafe: Clamp Coffee Sarasa
1-5pm
* 2 hr stamp book making class
* Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (within walking distance of class)
* Kinkaku-ji
6-9pm
* Dinner: Hachidaime Gihey
* 2 hr local guided tour around Gion
**Day 2**
8am-2pm
* Gioji
* Jojakko-ji
* Nonomiya Shrine
* Tenryu-ji
* Cafe: eX Cafe
* Arashiyama Monkey Park
* Lunch: Arashiyama Yoshimura
* Souvenir shopping
3pm\~
* Shoren-in Temple
* Chion-in Temple
* Yasaka Shrine
* Kagizen Yoshifusa Shijo (sweets shop)
* Dinner: Chaos Spice Diner
* Cafe: Cafe Bibliotic Hello!
**Day 3**
9-1pm
* Kodai-ji
* Hokan-ji
* Kongo-ji
* Nineizaka street
* Sanneizaka street
* Kiyomizu-dera
* Cafe: Ichikawaya Coffee
2-3pm
* Jonangu Shrine Ceremony
4pm\~
* Fushimi Inari
**Day 4**
8-10am
* Toji Shrine Market
11:20-2:20pm
* Higashiyama Temple
* Honen-in Temple
* Eikan-do Temple
* Nanzen-ji
* Cafe: Blue Bottle Coffee
3-4:30pm
* Traditional paper postcard-making class
4:30pm\~
* Cafe: Weekenders Coffee
* Dinner: Wajoryomen Sugari
# Osaka/Nara (1.5 days)
**Day 5 (Kyoto -> Osaka)**
9-12pm
* Kurama-dera Temple
2:30-6:30pm
* Namba Yasaka shrine
* Cafe: Wad
7-9pm
* Dotonbori
**Day 6**
8:30-2pm
* Kofuku-ji
* Nara Park
* Todai-ji
* Isui-en Garden
* Lunch: Wakakusa
* Nakatanidou (mochi)
3-5pm
* Osaka Castle
5pm\~
* ???
2 comments
Note that any place that finish by ji 寺 are temples, you listed at least two of the as shrines. Temples are Buddhist and shrines are Shinto.
Personally, I’ve only done the Hozugawa river cruise once and I was not so impressed. I’ve not done it again. I don’t remember what time of year it was, because it was a long time ago. My strongest memory of the trip was towards the end a bunch of people on small boats came out to our boat to sell us drinks and snacks.
It’s not necessarily the highest quality coffee, but since you have Blue Bottle, which seems more a place to go for the architecture, you could try Cafe Alpha in Kyoto not far from Nijo Castle. They’re famous for their Cloud Coffee and they have a special pudding cup. I went with my daughter and she loved it.