23 Dec – 28 Jan Osaka
28 Dec – 1 Jan Tokyo (itinerary not needed but have a relevant question below)
**Overview**
Going to Osaka for 5 days with my mother and grandmother. Both are heathy, can walk, but not for super long periods.
I’ve never been to Kansai region. Need to check if the following plan is okay 🙂
**23 Dec Osaka night**
Arriving at 3 pm, check in at hotel, and spend the evening at Namba/Dotonbori area.
Booked Kani Doraku (tourist crab place)
**24 Dec Osaka day and night**
Kuromon Ichiba Market for a breakfast
America-mura to take a quick look
Osaka Castle and Osaka park
Umeda Sky Building
Dinner around Umeda
*1) This is pretty light, not sure what else to do*
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**25 Dec Nara day trip**
Planned a straight walk
Nara – Tōdai-ji – Isui-en Garden and Neiraku – Nakatanidou – Kofuku-ji – Kasuga Taisha
Booked Christmas back in Osaka
*2) Will Nara shrines be open for Christmas?*
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**26 Kyoto day trip**
Planned a straight walk
Fushimi Inari Taisha – Kiyomizu-dera temple – Sannenzaka Hill – Ninenzaka – Kodaiji – Yasaka Shrine -Chion-in
Gion in the evening
*3) Is this walk okay in terms of time and distance? We will find lunch and a tea shop to break*
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**27 ???**
Honestly not sure. I am considering going back to Kyoto to finish off Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Kinkaku-ji
Another idea is Mount Fuji day trip? Any suggestions?
*4) What JR Pass should I purchase for all these day trips, including the trip to Tokyo?*
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Let me know if I am under or over planning, if I missed out any must-see attractions, and especially question 4. Thanks!
2 comments
As far as I understand, Christmas is like a date day in Japan. It won’t affect shrines hours at all. Since the 24 is on Sunday tourist spots and restaurants might be more crowded than usual.
Hey OP,
Your Osaka itinerary is fine.
Osaka Castle might be busy during the time you plan to visit. When I arrived at about 11am, I waited for about 30 minutes to get in, and only because my partner and I opted to climb to the top. The line for the lift was way longer. It might be more time and energy efficient to go earlier in the morning so you’re not standing around for long (for your mum and grandma).
Otherwise your itinerary is well paced. What I did notice however, is that there isn’t much seating anywhere I went (recently visited Kansai area and Tokyo). Outside of some train platforms and restaurants, I barely found any seating anywhere. Please keep this in mind for your family members.