I’ll be going to the Kansai region in about three weeks time and I finally did a full plan out of my schedule (I’m kicking myself for not doing this earlier). Anyone mind skimming it and checking to make sure it looks feasible? Some things to consider:
I’ve made it on the assumption that I’ll just be commuting from Osaka to Kyoto for those Kyoto days because, looking at hotels in Kyoto, the prices just seem so high compared to much cheaper and better accommodation in Osaka. But if I do find anything cheap in Kyoto, I can just move things around here and there.
The hours I’ve given in the fifth column are ballpark estimates that I’ve rounded upwards to give myself flexibility. I’ve also reserved some days off so that I have the flexibility in case I miss anything, I can just do the things I missed on those off days. Or just actually chill because this is the most activity I’ve ever done for three consecutive weeks and I’m not an outdoors person.
|Activity|Type|Hours|
|:-|:-|:-|
|**DAY ZERO – OSAKA**| | |
|Arrive at Airport 13:30|Travel| |
|Arrive at Osaka Accommodation and recover|Travel| |
|**DAY ONE – OSAKA**| | |
|Shinsaibashi Big Step/Triangle Park|Shop|2|
|America-mura|Shop|1|
|Shinsekai|Walk/Food|2|
|MEGA Don Quijote Shinsekai|Shop|1|
|Tennoji park|Garden/Park|1|
|Isshin-ji|Temple|1|
|Midosuji Lights|Festive Lights|1|
|Dotonbori|Walk/Food|2|
|**DAY TWO – OSAKA**| | |
|Universal Studio Theme Park|Theme Park|All Day|
|**DAY THREE – OSAKA**| | |
|Shinno-sai Festival – Sukunahikona Shrine|Festival|2|
|Osaka Castle|Building|3|
|Den-den town (on my way back to hotel)|Shop|1|
|Kuromon Ichiba Market (on my way back to hotel)|Walk/Food|2|
|**DAY FOUR – KYOTO**| | |
|Imperial Palace (Early Morning)|Building|2|
|Yoroi Kizome Japanese Armor Festival at Kamigamo Shrine (12:30)|Festival|3|
|**DAY FIVE – OSAKA**| | |
|Temmangu Shrine|Shrine/Temple|1|
|Toho Cinema – Watch The Boy & The Heron (or whatever else)|Entertainment|3|
|Umeda Sky Building|Observatory|2|
|Nintendo Osaka|Shop|1|
|Explore Umeda Underground|Walk/Food|1|
|**DAY SIX – OSAKA**| | |
|Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium|Aquarium|3|
|Tempozan Market Place|Shop|2|
|Naniwa Kushinbo Yokocho|Walk/Food|2|
|**DAY SEVEN – OSAKA**| | |
|National Bunraku Theatre (10am)|Entertainment|4|
|More Kuromon Ichiba Market|Walk/Food|2|
|Cool Japan Park- Asmi concert (5pm)|Entertainment|4|
|**DAY EIGHT – OSAKA**| | |
|Chill/Overflow Day| | |
|**DAY NINE – KYOTO**| | |
|Arashiyama Bamboo Grove|Garden/Park|1|
|Monkey Park|Garden/Park|1|
|Sagano Scenic Railway|Cruise|1|
|Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street|Walk/Food|1|
|Arashiyama to Jingo-Ji (Takao)|Hike|5|
|**DAY TEN – KYOTO**| | |
|Pokemon Center|Shop|1|
|Nishimiki Market|Walk/Food|1|
|1928 Building – Watch GEAR|Entertainment|2|
|Pontocho Park|Walk/Food|1|
|Kiyamachi Dori Street|Walk/Food|1|
|**DAY ELEVEN – KYOTO**| | |
|Chion-in|Shrine/Temple|2|
|Maruyama Park|Garden/Park|1|
|Saryo Tsujiri Gion Honten|Walk/Food|1|
|Gion Kōbu Kaburenjō|Entertainment|1|
|Kodai-ji Autumn Illumination|Festive Lights|1|
|Sannenzaka|Walk/Food|1|
|Kiyomizu-dera Autumn Illumination|Festive Lights|2|
|**DAY TWELVE – KYOTO**| | |
|Kencha Tea Festival at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine|Festival|3|
|Daihōon-ji (Sembon Shaka-dō) Temple|Shrine/Temple|1|
|Toho Nijo Cinema – Watch GodZilla Minus One|Entertainment|3|
|nijo castle – NAKED Flowers 2023 Autumn|Festive Lights|2|
|**DAY THIRTEEN – KYOTO**| | |
|Eikan-do Zenrin-ji|Shrine/Temple|1|
|Eishoin Temple|Shrine/Temple|1|
|Philosopher’s Path|Walk/Food|1|
|Hōnen-in Temple|Shrine/Temple|1|
|Higashiyama Jisho-ji|Shrine/Temple|1|
|Mount Zenki to Zuikō-in Temple|Hike|2|
|**DAY FOURTEEN – HIMEJI & KOBE**| | |
|Himeji – Himeji Castle|Building|3|
|Kobe – Kodo One Earth Show – 4pm|Entertainment|3|
|Kobe – Explore (Kobe beef)|Walk/Food|3|
|**DAY FIFTEEN – OSAKA**| | |
|Museum of Housing and Living|Museum|3|
|Expo 70 Park (see Museums and Sun Temple)|Garden/Park|4|
|Ramen Expo|Walk/Food|2|
|**DAY SIXTEEN – NARA**| | |
|Explore Higashimuki Shopping Street|Shop|1|
|Nakataidou – Mochi Pounding|Walk/Food|1|
|Kofuku-ji Temple|Shrine/Temple|1|
|Walk through Isuien Garden|Garden/Park|1|
|Todai-ji (South Gate, Temple and February Hall)|Shrine/Temple|1|
|Walk through Nara Park|Garden/Park|1|
|Kasuga Taisha Shrine|Shrine/Temple|1|
|Mt wakakusa|Hike|3|
|**DAY SEVENTEEN – OSAKA**| | |
|Chill/Overflow Day| | |
|**DAY EIGHTEEN – OSAKA**| | |
|Chill/Overflow Day| | |
|**DAY NINETEEN – OSAKA**| | |
|Pack bags and leave for airport at 13:30|Travel| |
​