Hello all. Spontaneously bought tickets from Korea to KIX yesterday and have been throwing together a last minute itinerary for me and my mom. We land at 7:00 PM tonight and fly out at 7:00 PM on Monday. Super short I know, but it was all of the time we could afford.
This subreddit has been immensely helpful in researching thus far. I don’t normally post on Reddit but currently could use all the advice I can get. It’ll be both of our first times in Japan!
We’ve booked a hotel in the Shimogyo Ward in Kyoto and will be staying there all three nights.
This is the general plan as of now (hoping for any feedback or tips for last minute changes):
Friday:
– Land at KIX, get the Icoca & Haruka combo at the airport.
– Check in at the hotel / get dinner near Kyoto station
Saturday:
– Get up early and head to Fushimi Inari Taisha. Maybe try and take the side route up through the bamboo forest?
– Vermillion Cafe (?)
– Kiyomizu-dera
– Nishiki Market
– Kyoto Starbucks
– Yasaka Jinja Shrine
– Dinner in gion (?) / whatever else time permitting
Sunday:
– Get up early and head to Arashiyama
– Explore, have lunch, check out an onsen (Fu-fu-no-yu), exCafe (?)
– Kinkaku-ji (?)
Monday:
– Check out of hotel
– Train to Osaka
– Eat at Dotonbori district
– check out / quickly shop at Shinsaibashisuji
– Osaka Castle (?)
– Umeda Sky Building (?)
– Head to the airport
Few questions. (1) is the holiday on monday going to impact things severely? (2) does anyone have any restaurant or cafe recommendations near the places mentioned? (3) is there anything missing that is a must see on a first visit? (4) I’ve heard the nightlife in Osaka is exciting but unfortunately our hotel is in kyoto because on the whole the city seemed to fit our preferences more. any recommendations for nights in kyoto / if it’d be feasible to go to other places / find a way to see osaka at night with such a short time frame?
Any constructive criticism is welcome. Definitely a bit thrown together so any help is appreciated!