Hi folks.
I was wondering if someone could provide feedback on my 2-day plan to Kyoto / Osaka.
And, is Kansai pass worth getting for my travel plan?
Really confused and a bit overwhelmed by the train system in Japan tbh. Any tip or advice would be greatly appreciated.
——————————
Day 1
9:30~10:00 – Lands @ Osaka airport at around
11:30~ – Arrives at Kyoto Station (Haruka)
11:30-12:00 – Lunch
Travel Time – 30 min? (K Loop)
Hotel check-in & Quick unpack
Heian Jingu Shrine – 1:00 ~ 2:30
Travel Time – 15 min? (Walk)
Nanzen-ji Temple – 2:45 ~ 3:45
Travel Time – 15~ min (K Loop)
Kiyomizu Derar 4:00 ~ 5:00
5:10~ 5:40 Dinner
Enjoy the evening scene in Gion / Yasaka Shrine at dusk
—————————————————————-
Day 2
5:30 Wake up and get ready & check out.
6:00 – Take the early train down to Fushimi Inari Taisha
6:00 ~ 9:30 Enjoy the temple at the fullest
30 min Travel Time (K Loop)
10:00 ~ 11:00 Toji Temple
30 min Travel Time (K Loop)
11:30 ~ 12:00 Lunch
12:00 ~ 1:00 Nijo Castle
30 min Travel Time (K Loop)
1:30 ~ 2:30 Kinkakujiu
15 min Travel Time (on foot)
2:45 ~ 4:00 Ryoan-Ji
30 min Travel Time
4:30 Kyoto Station
5:30~ Osaka Umeda
6:00~ Hotel Check-In
Dinner & Sightseeing at Todonbori
Sleep & fly back in the morning.
5 comments
I don’t see much Osaka in your plan but Kyoto is good. Umeda has more than enough to see and do that you night not even have to go down to Dotonbori. I honestly find Dotonbori boring, everyone crowded around to just to take a picture with the Glico man.
You might not find 2 days is enough but it’s a good start.
Do not buy the Kansai pass with this itinerary, you won’t get your money’s worth. Just a regular Suica/Pasmo card will be good. I don’t see a lot of train travel so you could probably get away with just paying by coins at the stations but would highly recommend getting Suica/Pasmo and just tapping in and out.
I don’t think you’ll be able to check in that early. At best you can drop your bag at the hotel. You could leave your bag in a locker at the station.
I’d get an IC card, you can use it on the bus and local trains and charge it as you go, or just do everything with cash. Re: train system, download the Navitime app, it’s really helpful
The number of temples makes sense I think but it’s so fast, where are you flying from that 2 days looks worth the trip?
We just came back from a 14 day trip to Japan and did one full day in Kyoto: highlights we’re Fushimi Inari Temple and Nijo Castle – you’ve way too many places to visit in two days unless it’s literally to take a photo and then move to the next one. Kyoto is lovely – have a wonderful time and do as much as you can!
Just got back from Japan during the Golden week period a few weeks ago and I must say we had similar itineraries in Kyoto. My biggest mistake was the type of shoes I was wearing (I thought sketchers were good for walking) I ended up sitting alot and giving first aid on my feet. Just make sure you have the right gear because you will walk alot and so you wont suffer like I did xDD PS: I do hiking a lot so this was a big oof for me xDD
For travel, I would say take the bus unlimited for 1 day for 600 yen. I find it more worth with the price and it stops at the places you need to go.
Also, not sure what time your check in time at your hotel usually they start around 3pm so I suggest you store them in a coin locker when you arrive preferably near the hotel you will be staying at so you can check them in when you arrived from Yasaka Shrine/Gion.
Heian Jingu has a garden you can stroll inside with a fee (I think it was about 600 yen per person). I thought it might be good to ponder about when you visit the shrine. Because of my poor feet, I took the bus to Nanzenji Temple, it took about 5 minutes to get to the next stop instead of walking 15 minutes.
You can then take the bus to Kiyomizu-dera it stops you at Sannenzaka and then you walk up, the area there is good for shops and food xDD Then walk down to Yasaka Shrine/Gion for the night since I find Kyoto stores close early unless it is in Gion so it is better to visit before dusk.