Hi I am a female solo traveller, I like slower paced travel and rather do fewer things per day but take the time to really enjoy them and explore. While I don’t hate crowds I like a mix of going to crowded areas and then less busy ones. Therefore I have skipped out on some popular spots like Fushimi Inari or the Bamboo forrest becuase they don’t appeal to me that much on the basis of crowds and I am not going to wake up at 6 am LOL. Might be controversial to skip on but that’s okay.
I would like an overall feel of Kyoto and am not trying to get everything done. I live in Asia nearby enough that I can visit again next year.
This trip is planning to be in mid to late September, which I read is when the weather becomes a little cooler. Would like to know more landmarks I should visit and am not sure about the temples I’ve selected.
I will only briefly be in Osaka, and its way too crowded for me to spend much time in so the focus is mainly on the Kyoto part, but feel free to let me know easy things to see in Osaka in my 1.5 days there. I can always add more in if I’m there and have extra time and don’t feel rushed.
**Day one – Osaka**
Arrive at 1 pmWalk around
Dontonburi area from afternoon to night
**Day two – train to Kyoto**
Kiyomizu-dera walk to Yasaka Jinja
Sannenzaka Street
Ninenzaka Street
Yasaka Jinja (Shinto shrine)
**Day Three Kyoto**
Rent Kimono/yukata at gion and explore at kodaiji temple
(This is something I REALLY want to do which is dress up in japanese wear)
Hanamikoji Street
**Day Four – Kyoto**
Nijo-jo castle (Not sure how long exploring it would take)
I could add one more sight to see this day or an area to go, let me know any suggestions.
**Day Five – Kyoto**
Philosopher’s path, exploring the temples along the way
Ginkakuji
including smaller ones like Honen-in temple
PONTONCHO for dinner
**Day Six – Osaka**
Train from Kyoto to Osaka
Shinsekai and maybe Kurimon Market
**Day 7- train to Osaka // airport**
2 comments
Kinkakuji? Walk around the Nishiki Market area for shopping? Honestly, Fushimi Inari in the early morning was my favorite thing that I did in Kyoto but I undersetand that not everyone is able to wake up early. There’s also an option to go in the evening, though.
If it were me, I would do Uji or Nara for one day instead of Osaka. I loved just walking around the streets and little shops in Nara. There was a wonderful vintage clothes store where I bought 4 gorgeous tops. And just hanging out by the river in Uji while drinking tea at various tea hosues was wonderful. You could also skip Arashiyama bamboo forest and instead just explore that area, that was another thing that I really enjoyed.
Fushimi Inari was one of my favourite activities on my trip. The crowd thins out significantly after that first section of torii. I went at 11AM on a Saturday and except for that first section, the rest of the hike was fine.