Hi everyone!
I’ve been using this sub to put together my husband and my first trip to Japan and it’s been wildly helpful so I thought I’d throw my itinerary on here for some tips! Thank you in advance!
We’ll be going late December for 17 days. We prefer a more active itinerary! We most interested in FOOD, culture/nature, and I like handmade crafts. Not interested in nightlife or anime.
**Day 01** \- Fly into Osaka. We land in ITM at 20:00 so will just go to our hotel in Umeda and dinner in the area (if time allows) and rest.
*How long does it usually take to get out of customs? I plan to pre-register using Visit Japan Web.*
**Day 02 – 04** \- Kumano Kodo Trek
**Day 5** \- Osaka
* Get back to Osaka from Kii Katsuura around 3pm
* Dotonbori
**Day 6** \- Osaka
* Osaka Castle
* Shitennoji Temple
* Shinsekai
* Umeda Tower
*I’ve heard that Osaka is just a big city and not a lot of touristy things to do. I feel like half a day is too short for Osaka but 1.5 days is too much for our interests so not sure if I should cut a day from Osaka and add one to Kyoto? The only thing from this day’s itinerary that I would like to see is Osaka Castle but we’re going to Himeji in a couple days so not sure if it’s worth it to stay another day in Osaka just for that.*
**Day 7** \- Nara
* Kofuku-ji Temple
* Isuien Garden
* Todai-ji Temple
* Nara Deer Park
* Kasuga-Taisha
* Return to Osaka
*Should I try to add Fushimi Inari Shrine to this day and free up more time in Kyoto? Or maybe go to Uji if I have time?*
**Day 8** \- Himeji/Kinosaki – Following [this itinerary](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/sna5au/kansai_side_trip_tattoo_friendly_kinosaki_onsen/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
* Himeji Castle
* Kinosaki
**Day 9** \- Kinosaki/Kyoto
* Kinosaki
* Travel day to Kyoto
* Check into hotel
**Day 10** \- Kyoto – Temple Day
* Nanzenji Temple
* Path Of Philosophy
* Higashiyama Jisho-ji\*
* Chion-In Temple
* Yasaka Shrine
* Kiyomizu-Dera Temple\*
* Ninen-Zaka & Sannen-Zaka Street\*
*\*Are the ones we really want to check out, the rest are optional. Let me know if there’re other temples we should definitely not miss!*
*Are there any temples that’re especially beautiful at night?*
**Day 11** \- Kyoto
* Arashiyama Area
* Kinkakuji
**Day 11** \- Kyoto
* Fushimi Inari Shrine (if not done as part of the Nara day)
* Nishiki Market
* Kyoto Imperial Palace & Park
* Nijo Castle
**Day 12** \- Tokyo
* Transfer to Tokyo
* Drop off luggage at hotel in Ginza
* Sensoji Temple and Nakamise Dori
* Asakusa Uniqlo – I heard this location has same day custom embroideries
* Kappabashi
* Yanaka
* Dinner – Gyukatsu Motomura Ueno
**Day 13** \- Tokyo
* TeamLab
* Tsujiki
* Ginza
**Day 14** \- Tokyo
* Meiji Shrine
* Shibuya & Shibuya Sky at sunset around 16:00
* Shinjuku
**Day 15** \- Kamakura/Enoshima Day Trip
* Walking around and catching the sunset over the ocean
* Enoshima illumination festival
**Day 16/17** \- Tokyo
* Free days to check out places we might not have had time to in Days 12-14.
* Flight on the night of Day 17
**General questions:**
Given we’re going the last two weeks of December, will there be anything special we need to take into account for Christmas & the week before New Year?
I don’t think we’ll need a JR pass for this trip, especially with the price increase. Is that accurate?
Thank you so much!!
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2 comments
While full JR Pass might not be good, check JR West Kansai Wide Area Pass and compare to cost of going to Kinosaki. Using it day 5 to 9 you could go Kii-Katsuura-Osaka-Himeji-Kinosaki-Kyoto, so even at the new price of 12 000 yen that might be good.
>We land in ITM at 20:00
Wow, really? This is the first time I’ve ever heard anyone flying into ITM. It’s the end of a domestic leg? Or are you actually flying into KIX instead?
I’m not sure how this works… Despite “international” in the name, Itami airport is entirely domestic, meaning that you’re probably entering customs at the airport where you first enter the country.
>Day 6 – Osaka
I think this really boils down to individual preference. You get enough “big cites” in Tokyo, so do you want more?
>Day 7 – Nara
Nara is a half-day trip if you *only* visit Todaiji and the deers. Adding a few more stops in the region could make it a full day. Fushimi Inari Taisha is also quite variable in how long it takes, depending on how deep in the trail you go. Direction-wise, a trip including Fushimi Inari usually starts from Kyoto, so you can visit Fushimi Inari in the early morning, and then head towards Uji / Nara.
>Day 9 – Kinosaki/Kyoto
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can take a different route back to Kyoto from Kinosaki, visiting [Amanohashidate](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3990.html) and [Ine-cho](https://www.ine-kankou.jp/en/enjoy) to the east. Ine-cho is only accessible by bus though, so it’s going to be harder than the rest.
>Day 10 – Kyoto – Temple Day
Doable, but possibly a bit too tight.