Alexis is my first trip to Japan, as part of a work conference my husband has. I’ll be doing a lot of solo travel, so feedback on this would be welcome! If you have onsen recommendations for Nara and people with tattoos, I’d love them 🙂
Day 1: arrive in Osaka at 2:50pm. Get to Kyoto and have dinner. Rest day
Day 2: group travel trip to Arashiyama. Kiyoraki Fudo-In temple > Otagi Nenbutsu-Ji > Adashino Nenbutsu-Ji > Arashiyama (which Will supposedly be crowded?) > Iwatayama Monkey park. Go back to accommodations, rest, go out for dinner. Explore neighborhood/shops
Day 3: solo trip to Nara. Isui-en gardens > Todai-Ji > Uguisono falls (maybe) > Kubikiri Jizo (maybe) > Nara Kingyo museum > Heijo palace remains > hokke ji temple > back to Kyoto for evening activities and dinner
Day 4: solo: Shimogama Jinja shrine > Jisho-in temple > Kyoto imperial palace > Taishogun Street > Shosei En garden > gokoyu baths (relax here) > To-ji temple. Meet up for Kiyomizu dera > dinner > Fushimi Imari Taisha
Day 5: solo: kinkaku- ji > ruriko-in temple > ryoan-ji temple > lunch. Group: Kyoto botanical gardens > Nishiki market for dinner
Day 6: solo: philosophers path > honen-in temple > Okazaki-jinja shrine > Heian-jinja shrine >Nanzen-in temple > Yasaka-jinja shrine > maruyama park > Funaoka Onsen. Evening: Group: pontocho park > Higashiyama ward
Day 7: train to Koya, check in at 3pm to temple. Explore/hike/relax
Day 8: full day in Koya. Hiking, visiting shrines and temples
Day 9: leave to Osaka around 9:30am, go straight to Haneda airport for flight out at 5:30 pm
Overall, I just want it to be chill, no rushes (except for reservations to the Kyoto palace and a few other places).