My husband and I are traveling to Kyoto and Osaka at the beginning of October. We have been waiting since 2019 to do this trip, so I really want to make sure what I have planned goes smoothly and is feasible. I’ve done so much research during our years of waiting that now its starting to feel overwhelming to group our items together properly. We are huge history nerds, so there’s a lot of shrines, temples etc. Our plan is as follows:
**Day 1 – Kyoto**
* Arrive late evening to HND
* Pick up Icoca card
* Train to Kyoto ( staying in Kawaramachi area)
**Day 2 – Kyoto**
* Morning tea ceremony
* Quick lunch at a conbini
* Private guide from 12-3
* Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, Yasaka
* Self guided: Shimogamo, Higashi Tennou, Yasui Konpiragu
* Possible dinner at Gyukatsu
This day feels overly ambitious but, I was hoping to reserve more time to travel to Kifune on day 3.
**Day 3 – Kyoto**
* Nishiki Market Brunch Tour
* Train to Kifune Shrine
* Lunch at Hirobun (hopefully, can’t figure out their reservations)
* Back to Gion district to explore
* Possible dinner at En-En
* Kawaramachi Bar hopping
**Day 4 – Kyoto > Kinosaki**
* Train to Kinosaki
* Wander until hotel check-in
* Onsen hopping
* Shabu-Shabu dinner at inn
* private onset rental
**Day 5 – Kinosaki > Osaka**
* Train to USJ (about 4 hour trip)
* Arrive afternoon to USJ
* Timed entry passes for Mario Kart in SNW
**Day 6 – Osaka**
* Private guide from 9-12
* not sure what they have planned yet
* Trips to shopping places:
* Donguri Kyowakoku, Dontonbori, etc.
* Dinner at FRAKEN
**Day 7 – Nara (day trip)**
* Train to Nara
* Self guided: Todai-ji Temple, Issui-en Garden, Kasuga-Taisha Shrine, Nara-koen Park
* Lunch at Kitahara Soba, Mochi from Nakatanidou, Melon Pan from Melon-de-melon
* Return to Osaka in evening
* Dontonbori Area Bar Crawl
**Day 8 – Osaka**
* **Last minute shopping for souvenirs etc.**
* Free day?
**Day 9 – Osaka**
* Last minute packing scramble
* Check out hotel @ 10
* fly out in evening
I will definitely submit a trip report on highlights and such when we return. (:
5 comments
Fushimi and Kiyomizu in 3 hours is way too much.
If you like Gin, try out House of Ki No Bi.. it is in the Kawaramavhi area.
I feel Fushimi Inari is overrated, its very repetitive and not that spectacular in person and it takes at least 1:30 to complete the track.
I recommend having a look at Tenryu Ji temple next to the famous Bamboo Grove.
I would switch the day 5 and 6 if I were you. I would see no point of heading to USJ from Kinosaki, not from Osaka or Kyoto. It’s simply a waste of time.
>Arrive late evening to HND , Pick up Icoca card, Train to Kyoto .
I dont think you can get ICOCA before arrive at Kansai, either get 1 at Kyoto or get Welcome Suica or Pasmo passport at Tokyo.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_003.html