Itinerary check please! Suggestions to POI replacements are welcome!
Travelling with husband + 2 friends; friends may do their own thing at different points during the trip. This will be my husband and I’s second time in Kyoto, first for the 2 friends. I tried to group places in close proximity together where it makes sense and not to do more than 3-4 places a day. Additionally, it’s meant to be flexible, meaning a lot of these are not required aside from some of the must-see sites such as Kiyomizu-dera and Kinkaku-ji — and I’m also fully aware that this itinerary is basically 80% temples/shrines lol!
*Note: My husband and I have been to Nijo Castle, Fushimi Inarii, Museum of Kyoto, Honnoji, Nishiki Market, and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove off the top of my head*
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**Arrival Day (Day 0):** April 2023 at 9:35am
activate Kansai Area Pass
activate eSims
take Haruka from KIX to hotel in Kyoto
Ginkaku-ji
Path of Philosophy (Optional)
Nanzen-jiHeian Shrine
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**Day 1:**
Sanneizaka and Ninnen-zaka
Kiyomizu-dera
Maruyama Park – Yasaka Shrine, Shoren-in, and Chion-in (Optional)
Shopping by Kyoto Station area
Gion Shimbashi (Optional post dinner nighttime stroll)
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**Day 2:**
Kinkaku-ji
Ninna-ji
Tenryu-ji
Shopping in Nishiki Market area specifically
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**Day 3:** Osaka Day Trip
Universal Studios Japan when they open – get entry ticket Nintendo World
Osaka Castle
Dotombori in the evening
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**Day 4:** Departure to KIX. 12:25pm flight.
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I have additional questions as well:
1. What’s the best app to use for navigation for train routes? Hyperdia now has 30 day usage limit and something about needing “new coupon” past that date, and I’m very confused by it. I’ve also downloaded Japan Official Travel App and Japan Travel app and checked them out, but any recs?
2. If I’m using Kansai Thru Pass, and I set the above app as such, that means I should be travelling by trains only and no buses?
3. Additionally in regards to buses, do buses in Kyoto have obviously indicator which stop it stops at? do they skip bus stops if no one is at the stop or anyone on the bus indicating they need to get off?
4. When playing around with google maps with routes and whatnot, I see taxi is often an option. I’ve also looked up some Kyoto taxi guides and sees that MK Taxi is where it’s at that I should definitely taxi-ing here and there; all I would need is simply need to have cash + address/name of the place I would like to go in Japanese then I should be good; do I have that right and anything else I should know about?
5. What’s the best way to buy USJ tickets? Is it directly from their site ahead of time prior to entering Japan, or through Klook also prior to entering Japan, or something else?
6. Based on this [this crowd calendar](http://www15.plala.or.jp/gcap/usj/), the day (Monday) I’ll be going is in yellow, which I’m presuming it’s not going to be too bad. If I go right when USJ is open and get my entry ticket at the kiosk, I should make it into Nintendo World with no issue and presumably will not need any Express Tickets, correct?
7. Additionally, where are those entry ticket kiosks (lol) inside the park?
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Thanks!
v
2 comments
>activate Kansai Thru Pass
take Haruka from KIX to hotel in Kyoto
Kansai Thru Pass doesn’t cover Haruka. The rest of your day can be covered with 700 yen Kyoto City Bus 1-day pass.
>What’s the best app to use for navigation for train routes?
Just in Kyoto city area and Osaka? Google Maps and Apple Maps works fine for those. They can also show bus route.
>If I’m using Kansai Thru Pass, and I set the above app as such, that means I should be travelling by trains only and no buses?
Kansai Thru Pass cover bus in both Kyoto and Osaka.
>Additionally in regards to buses, do buses in Kyoto have obviously indicator which stop it stops at?
They do have sign in both English and Japanese what the next stop is and what stops there are. There are also in-car English announcement for stops that is frequently used by tourist.
>do they skip bus stops if no one is at the stop or anyone on the bus indicating they need to get off?
Yes they do.
Kansai Area Pass… No… instead get the discount Haruka + Icoca ticket to Kyoto and just pay for everything else with your Icoca. There is a tourist version called Kansai One Pass (it’s not a pass, it’s just an IC card) that also gives rebates in different tourist attractions.
1. I like Japan Travel by Navitime as it have more filters than Google Maps.
2. Kansai Thru pass is also not especially a good value if you stay local in Kyoto/Osaka. Likely cheaper to just use whatever and pay with Icoca.
3. There is signs inside the bus that say what is the next stop ([see picture](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Kyoto_City_Bus_6279_inside.JPG)) and like any city bus, they can skip stop if there is nobody waiting to take the bus or you do not indicate you want to stop.
4. Cash and address… or name of famous spot. That being said, I’ve never used a taxi in Kyoto, you can absolutely visit without it.