Travel dates are March 31st to April 8th.
Arrive at 19:35 on March 31st at KIX, and head to my hotel in Naniwa to drop my luggage.
I’ve looked at going to the Namba Shopping Mall due to the late flight, or Tempozan Marketplace to get in some time.
The first full day (April 1st): I wake up early anyways so, Osaka Castle, Shitennoji Temple, Tenmangu Shrine, and go to Kuromon and Dotonbori later that evening.
Day 2 (April 2nd): Tennoji Zoo, Osaka Aquarium, Floating Garden, and Museums.
Day 3 (April 3rd): Universal if I can’t get a ticket to the Ghibli Park area I’d like.
Day 4 (April 4th): I check out of my hotel and head to Kyoto via Nara. It’s the easiest looking way without a lot of transfers. I’m hoping to visit Todaiji, Kasuga Temple, and just wander a bit until I’m ready to head to my hotel in Kyoto.
I’ll go wander around Kyoto that night because I do enjoy just getting quite lost.
Day 5 (April 5th): Fushimi-Inari, Kiyomizu-dera, back to hotel area for a bit, then wander Gion.
Day 6 (April 6th): Kinkakuji, Arashiyama including the short walk through the bamboo forest, Imperial Palace, Toji.
Day 7 (April 7th): This is my unsure day. I’ve been told I can do a trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima Island from Kyoto fairly easily and I would love to visit Itsukushima.
Day 8 (April 8th): Check out from hotel at 10:00, flight from KIX doesn’t leave until 20:35. Not sure what to do between then either.