We are currently a small vacation from Tokyo and are in Osaka
We got about 5 1/2 days left
Where we are planning to go:
1. Nara (got to see the deers)
2. Kyoto (already saw the nijo castle, bamaboo forrest, Jojakkoji temple, Tenruji temple, Kiyomizu-dera and fushime inari)
3. Osaka castle and Tennoji zoo
4. Osaka aquarium
So we got a full day left and don’t know preciesly what to do in Kyoto and Nara…
Any recommendations? Hidden gems? Things/places we really should go to right now?
We enjoy a lot of different things, nature, the pretty illuminations, scenery. But as you can see, mostly calm stuff haha
The hirakata park was quite nice with the illuminations, already went there 😊
7 comments
What about Kobe?
I suggest reposting in r/JapanTravel for better results in finding assistance for your travel plans
I had a great time going to the Osaka aquarium (you need to book a timeslot) additionally I can recommend the Tofuku-Ji in Kyoto. There’s also a cute café nearby called memory. It’s really pretty place especially now doing Momiji
Take a JR Limited Express an hour west out to Himeji. There are two excellent things to do. One is the castle, visible from the station. I’d go there second. First I’d take a bus to Mt Shosha. It’s about twenty minutes away. Get off, walk along a path from the cable car to a small cemetery then walk uphill for 30-40 minutes. You can of course take the cable car if you want. Once you get to the top there is a stunning temple and monastery complex dating from the 800s?900s?? And it is all set amidst beautiful old forest.
Wander around the 2-3km circuit then take the cable car down, jump on the bus and go to Himeji Castle. It’s stunning, and actually original. Inside is t very interesting but it is well worth going inside the inner walls to get a look at the architecture and defences. Plus standing next to the main tower (donjon) makes you appreciate how massive the thing really is.
All easily doable in a day. 3-4 hours in the morning, lunch, then an easier afternoon, followed by a straight shot back to Osaka.
Uji (southeast of Kyoto proper) is gorgeous and absolutely worth considering—there’s the temple Byoudou-in, famous tea houses, and things related to The Tale of Genji.
Head to Iga and visit the Ninja village. Area around it is quite scenic, too
Go to Nanzenji (go up inside the gate for the view and make sure to walk up the path into the hills behind to get to the waterfall used by monks in meditation training) and then walk from there to the Philosopher’s Path, stopping at other smaller shrines/temples (like Honen-in) wherever you like on the way to Ginkakuji. That’s a day. Shimogamo Jinja is beautiful and absolutely worth seeing. I also love Kenninji (including the twin dragon ceiling painting).