Hello everyone! it’s been almost a year since my first proper trip to Japan, and the country is my first port of call once the COVID-19 travel restrictions are lifted. I spent my Thanksgiving break last time in Tokyo, and this time I want to take more time enjoying Japan. I’ve been planning to visit Hiroshima and Kyoto for a few years now and, assuming Japan will open its borders to US citizens by May 2021, I am planning to spend about 10 days in the Kansai and Hiroshima areas. I like going from place to place at a relatively quick pace, but feel free to let me know if you have feedback or concerns regarding any stage of my trip.
**Day 1:** Hiroshima
*To Do*: Check into the hotel; city orientation walk in the morning; Peace Memorial afternoon; okonomiyaki early dinner
*Stay*: WeBase
*Transit*: Red eye flight SFO-HND-HIJ (plan to arrive in HIJ by 9 AM); Bus HIJ > Downtown (40 min)
**Day 2**: Hiroshima
*To Do*: Miyajima Island Full Day; hike to Mt. Misen Observatory; evening Toyo Carp game (time and NPB season permitting)
**Day 3**: Kyoto
*To Do*: Morning Shinkansen to Himeji; explore the castle; afternoon Shinkansen to Kyoto; evening in Gion
*Stay*: The Millennials Kyoto
*Transit*: Shinkansen Hiroshima > Himeji (1 hr 20 min); Shinkansen Himeji > Kyoto (1 hr)
**Day 4**: Kyoto
*To Do*: Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion morning; Nijo Castle and Gardens afternoon
**Day 5**: Kyoto
*To Do*: Zen Gardens of Ryōan-ji morning; Daisen-in Zen Rock Garden afternoon
**Day 6**: Osaka
*To Do*: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine in the morning; Train to Osaka at noon; aquarium and Ferris wheel in the afternoon; sunset drinks at Umeda Sky; dinner in Dotonburi
*Stay*: Imano Osaka Hostel (Private Room)
*Transit*: Train Kyoto > Osaka (25 min)
**Day 7**: Osaka
*To Do*: Osaka Castle morning; Cup Noodles museum afternoon; nightlife in Osaka
**Day 8**: Kinosaki
*To Do*: Train to Kinosaki; check into ryokan and relax
*Stay*: Morizuya
*Transit*: Train Osaka > Kinosaki (2 hr 30 min)
**Day 9**: Kinosaki
*To Do*: Explore the village; relax and have a holiday during my holiday!
**Day 10**: Osaka Kansai (Final Day)
*To Do*: Train to Osaka Kansai after breakfast; fly home
*Transit*: Train Kinosaki > Kansai Airport (4 hr 30 min); KIX-SFO
2 comments
You might want to consider to change the order to Himehi-Kinosaki-Kyoto. The reason is that there is a rapid train from Himeji to Kinosaki (Hamakaze) and doing 4h30 of train in the morning of your flight is a risky idea.
There is also not much to do in Kinosaki, so if you get there in afternoon, usually you want to check-in before 5-6pm, you have time for a onsen before dinner at the ryokan then walk around the city when it’s dark, next morning, you might want to go for an early onsen before breakfast, check-out. My ryokan would not keep my bag, but for really cheap, like 200 yen, they forwarded it to the tourist desk in front of the station. As you can keep your onsen pass after check out, you can still go to the onsen and check things around, I even walked on top of the mountain (instead of the ropeway) and back to town for lunch. By then, apart from going again to the onsen, there was nothing to do, so you could totally take the train in the afternoon to finish the day in Gion as you planned to do after Himeji. This would also allow you do to all long distance train within 5 days, so perfect for the JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass, that should save you money.
Kyoto, the 3 temples you want to see are located in the northern part of the city, you should aim to see them all on the same day. You said you travel at a fast pace, right. You have from 8am to 4:30pm to do it, if you start by Ryoan-ji. If you walk from one to the other, it’s doable in 1h (of walking), so you still have plenty of time to visit the 3 temples and grab lunch somewhere.
Considering that you miss two of the main area of Kyoto, Arashiyama and Hihashiyama, you should consider to do the castle and one of these area in the second day, it’s even possible to walk from the castle to Nishiki market area, cross Gion, go to Yasaka shrine, ninenzaka, Kiyomizu dera and to go back you can pass by the Yasaka Pagoda.
I don’t know at what time you’re supposed to arrive at Hiroshima, but if you arrive in the morning, then I suggest doing the Peace Memorial in the morning, eating okonomiyaki for lunch in town (it’s a speciality there), then heading straight for Miyajima and spend the night there.
Since there’s not much to see in Hiroshima compared to Miyajima, you’ll be able to have more time to visit the island and if your budget allows it, spend the night in a ryokan.
One of the best is Iwaso, +160 year of existence, onsen, and they can pick you up at the port if you want.
For Mount Misen, be careful to do it in the morning, there’s a ropeway, but you still have to hike a little to go there, so avoid noon time for your ascension… Also water !
For Himeji, if you have time, try visiting the garden, maybe I’m a garden lover, but I really enjoyed it and think it’s a shame to miss it =) you can buy combined tickets at the castle’s entrance. I hope you’ll have internet because Himeji provides adioguided tours on your phone via a QR code : you’ll have a map and explainations all the way out, written and audio + more QR codes inside. Also, there’s an Himeji app available that shows how people were living in the castle thanks to AR (haven’t tested it yet !)
Can’t help for the rest, sorry ^^’
Hope you’ll enjoy your trip ! =D