Hello everyone, and thanks for checking our itinerary.
Our first trip to Japan, We’re spending about 5 days in Kyoto/Osaka in time for the Gion Festival! I’ve tried to group most places as close to each other as possible , but if you think it’s too much or not enough time for just 1 place, please let me know. We do have the 7day JR pass for this leg.
Please check our itinerary for any suggestions (mainly attractions nearby) , fixable mistakes, and helpful tips. Thank you in advance!
**July 13**
* Land at HND by 3PM, – (get passes, mail luggage to Kyoto) – expect to arrive to Asakusa Hotel by 5PM
* Explore & shop Sensoji/Asakusa/Riverside for the rest of the night – maybe Tokyo Skytree if we’re not jet lagged
**July 14**
* Sleep in or Early Sensoji temple walk/breakfast
* 10:45AM Shinkansen to Jomogoken Station for Takaragawa Onsen
Relax, enjoy rotenburo and kaiseki dinner
**July 15**
* Leave onsen by 9:30AM , Head to Kyoto, estimate arrival to Hotel by 3PM/4PM
* **Hotel is near Karasuma-Oike station**
* Yukata Shopping / Nishiki Market (Harajuku Chicago Kyoto Store)
* YoiYama Festival night party
**July 16**
* Arrive to Arashiyama Bamboo forest by 6/7am and explore Tenryu-ji , Bamboo Forest, Riverside
* \* Get to Kurama Sta. by 12.30
* 1PM Hike to Kurama-Dera Temple (2 Hrs)
* Kawadoko Lunch after 2pm-4pm
* Explore Kifune Shrines or go back to Hotel to refresh for YoiYama festival night
**July 17**
* **Gion Matsuri Morning (How early do we need to be to get good views for the 9AM start?)**
* Hotel refresh at 12PM (nap)
* Fushimi Inari shrine / Bamboo Forest Afternoon (preferably at the lookout by sunset)
* Nishiki Market or Pontocho Alley dinner Or do Shinkosai of Gion Festival???
**July 18** **(which one of these shrines is a must for early morning photo ops?)**
* 6AM Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka, Kiyomizudera, Kodai-ji
* Yasaka Shrine complex / lunch
* **Night out in kyoto (?) nowhere to go after lunch???**
**July 19**
* Nara Morning to Noon
* Osaka Afternoon to night
Suggestions for Osaka would be greatly appreciated
**July 20**
* Lazy morning / Check out
* KIX by noon
We’ll be back in August 4 – 9 for our Tokyo Leg of the trip. Should I include it here or make a separate post?
1 comment
> July 18
Kiyomizudera opens at 6:30am and is a zoo after 8-9am. Definitely wake up very early and do Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka, Kiyomizudera first thing in the day. The shops don’t open until 9/10 but the photography will be much better.
The Starbucks is very crowded and if you’re over 5’10” or so watch your head on the second floor, I banged my head against a beam ):
> July 17
Nishiki Market is not a night market so it will be closed by dinnertime. In any case it is so crowded and touristy that one visit (you’re already going on July 15) is sufficient.