Flying to Osaka tonight and haven’t finalised my itinerary yet. would appreciate any last minute suggestions! Took some inspiration from other itineraries in this subreddit. Thank you for all your suggestions!
7 Dec: (Kyoto)
-Landing at KIX (8.30-9am)
-We bought the Haruka train tickets from KIX to Kyoto which departs every 30 mins so we might find something to eat first
– Planning to visit Nara on the first day (is this a good idea)
– Nara deer park
– Todaiji
– any suggestions for night time plans and what time to head back to the hotel?
8 December: (Kyoto)
– Fushimi Inari (7.30 – 8.30am)
– Kiyomizudera Temple (10-12am)
-walk through Sannen Zaka and Ninen Zaka Path. Maybe shop a little.
-Visit Todaiji temple. Until 2.30pm
-visit Yasaka-Jinja Shrine. Walk around Maruyama park.
-Chion In temple. Until around 4pm
-Explore Gion and find dinner
9 Dec (Kyoto)
-Arashimaya Bamboo grove (8-8.30am)
– Arashimaya Monkey park (until 10am?)
– Tenruji Temple 10:30-12. Find lunch somewhere
-Taxi to Kinkakuji and explore
-Nishiki market and find dinner
10 Dec: Kyoto -> Amanohashidate (day trip) -> Night at Kinosaki
-have breakfast in hotel or nearby
– Get rental car and start drive to amanohasidate
-Could I have some suggestions on what I could do for the time I have in amanohashidate or Ine?
– Spend night at Kinosaki onsen
11 Dec: Kinosaki Onsen
-Didn’t plan since it’s just onsen hopping and chilling
12 Dec: Kinosaki Onsen -> Himeji ( day trip) -> Night at Osaka
-breakfast in Kinosaki Onsen
-drive to Himeji Castle
-Walk around find lunch
-Drive to Osaka
-Return car
– Dotomburi to explore and have dinner (or I could explore another district, would appreciate suggestions 🙂 )
13 Dec: Osaka
-Osaka Castle
-Umeda district
-Minami district
-Dontonburi again to explore more
14 Dec: flying back
-breakfast in Osaka
-flight home in afternoon
Edit: sorry for the weird formatting I’m writing this in the taxi to the airport 😅😂
Edit 2: just discussed with my family and we agree that Nara isn’t necessary. Any other suggestions for the first noon to night?
5 comments
Hi, reach your destination safely, first of all.
For your plan, I see that you have payed so much attention for visiting Kyoto and Osaka, which are the best traditional places to explore in Japan, so far. I will go for the second Edit, which is cancelling the trip to Nara as it would take some unnecessarily time comparing to the timing of your trip. My suggestion is to try all the possible food in Osaka specially street food, as it is one of the best you may have in Japan. I wish you have a great trip!
At Amanohashidate you could walk along the park, take the chair lift up the the view point.
At Ine you could take a ferry boat tour
Instead of Dotonbori twice, you could check out Den Den Town for souvenir shopping or Abeno Harukas for the sweet night view
For things to do on the first day, you could go to Nishiki Market (you have to go asap as many stalls close in the late afternoon)
You could also shop at Teramachi or explore Kyoto station. There are many free areas that are nice to walk around
Also in the winter, there are many night illumination events. Places like Heian shrine and Osaka castle have nice lights for their winter illuminations!
Izushi castle town south of Kinosaki is great if you like Soba
Welcome to Japan and take good care !
During your visit of Kyoto, you should go a bit further north east after Chion-in to visit Nanzen-ji, to see its beautiful garden and old aquaduct.
As you are driving to Himeji, I would suggest to go to Shosha-san after having visited the castle. That’s an easy hike and the temples up there are magnificent.