We are two guys (30s and 40s) who unfortunately realized well after buying our air tickets that we’ll be visiting over Golden Week (4/28-5/4).
It’ll be my friend’s first time in Kansai (my third), so we’re still going to visit many of the major attractions. I know how to get around but have never been there over Golden Week, so I was wondering if there’s anything we should watch out for or anything in our itinerary you think we should change?
We both like historical sites and don’t mind walking. My friend is also into manga and anime. We enjoy good food, too, and may want to try kaiseki one night. Any alternative suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
We’re spending the first 2 nights in Osaka near Namba, next 4 nights in Kyoto next to Omiya.
**Friday 4/28 – Osaka**
* 8am – arrive at KIX
* Get Osaka metro 1-day pass and Haruka Kyoto-to-KIX ticket
* Take Nankai Main Line to Namba
* Leave luggage at hotel
* Lunch – Kuromon Market
* I’ve heard it’s best to go before 11am? In which case we might push this to Sunday
* Afternoon
* Osaka Castle
* Osaka Tenmangu
* Umeda – Pokemon Center (or after Umeda Sky Building)
* Sunset
* Umeda Sky Building
* Evening
* Shinsaibashi
* Dotonburi
**Saturday 4/29 – Nara**
* Day – Nara
* Nara Park
* Todaiji
* Maybe walk inside/around Mt. Kasuga Primeval Forest (?)
* Horyuji (?)
* Is there time and is it worth it?
* Is it different enough from Todaiji?
* Night – back in Osaka
* Tsutenkaku
**Sunday 4/30 – Osaka, Kyoto**
* Morning / Lunch
* Kuromon Market (?)
* Sumiyoshi Taisha
* Tennoji Park + Shitennoji
* Denden Town / Ota Road
* Afternoon / Early evening
* Head to Kyoto
* Night
* Dinner + stroll near Kamo River
**Monday 5/1 – Kyoto Northwest**
* Arashiyama
* Bamboo Forest
* Okochi Sanso Garden
* Tenryu-ji
* Lunch around Togetsu Bridge
* Sagano scenic train to Kamoeka (?)
* Not sure if the river boat ride will be back by then, but if not, we might just take the normal train back
* Ninna-ji (?)
* By the way, is the PiPPA bike rental system in Kyoto any good?
* Kinkaku-ji
* Kitano Tenmangu (?)
* Dinner near Demachiyanagi + stepping stones at the river
**Tuesday 5/2 – Kyoto Southeast up to Gion**
* Fushimi Inari
* Komyo-in or Tofuku-ji (?)
* Kiyomizu-dera
* Sanneizaka + Nineizaka
* Kodai-ji
* Gion
* Dinner + shopping + strolling nearby
**Wednesday 5/3 – Kyoto Northeast down to Gion**
* Ginkaku-ji
* Philospher’s Path
* Eikan-do (Zenrinji)
* Nanzen-ji or Heian Shrine (?)
* Shoren-in + Mausoleum
* Yasaka Shrine (?)
* Nishiki Market
* Dinner + shopping + strolling nearby
**Thursday 5/4**
* 10am Kyoto Station to KIX
* Doesn’t look like there’s enough time in the morning to really do anything, so we’ll likely just take it easy
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**Rainy day backup plans**
* Osaka – any suggestions?
* Kyoto
* International Manga Museum
* Other ideas?