Hi there,
I am planning a 42-day trip to Japan during Jan-Feb 2024 (Winter).
* Tokyo → Nakasendo Trail → Kyoto → **Osaka** → Fukuoka → Sendai → Hokkaido
Currently, I am doing up an itinerary for the **Osaka** part of the trip. I would like some feedback/criticism.
I am more into nature/culture, as opposed to city nightlife/bar-hopping. However, I am open-minded and willing to explore, especially since Osaka is a nightlife hub.
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Regarding the timestamps, I have kinda factored in transport time (to-and-from my accommodation / points of interest). I will mainlny state the key places I am wandering/visiting.
***Day 01 – Arrival / Dotonbori***
* 11:45 AM → 05:30 PM
* Arrive in Osaka + Check-in Accommodation
* \[Wander\] Shinsaibashi
* Lunch
* Rest-up at accommodation
* 05:30 PM → 06:45 PM
* \[Visit\] Sakishima Cosmo Tower (Evening View)
* 06:45 PM → 10:00 PM
* \[Wander\] Dotonbori
* \[Visit\] Ebisu-bashi
* \[Wander\] Hozenji Yokocho
* Dinner
* Return to Accommodation
***Day 02 – Umeda \[Unfinished\]***
* 08:30 AM → 10:00 AM
* \[Visit\] Temmabashi Bridge
* \[Visit\] Japan Mint Head Office
* 10:00 AM → ??
* \[Visit\] Umeda Sky Building
* Window-Shopping?
* \[Visit\] Grand Front Osaka
* \[Visit\] LUCUA Osaka
* \[Visit\] Hankyu Sun Square & Underground Mall
* Lunch
* SUGGESTIONS? – I kinda do not want to window-shop for the entire day + night. ***What to do after Umeda Sky Building?***
***Day 03 – Oku-no-in***
* 10:00 AM → 01:00 PM
* \[Wander\] Takashiyama
* Lunch
* 01:00 PM → 02:45 PM
* Travel to Koyasan
* 02:45 PM → 05:05 PM
* \[Visit\] 松葉米穀店 (Sake Shop)
* \[Visit\] Kongobu-ji
* \[Visit\] The Dango-garan
* \[Visit\] Daimon (Sunset View)
* 05:05 PM → 06:30 PM
* Travel to Dinner location
* 06:30 PM → 07:45 PM
* Night walk through Oku-no-in
* 07:45 PM → 09:50 PM
* Return travel to Accommodation
***Day 04 – Kuromon Ichiba Market / Shinsekai \[Unfinished\]***
* \[Wander\] Kuromon Ichiba Market
* Lunch
* \[Wander\] DenDen Town
* \[Wander\] Shinsekai (Day)
* \[View\] Tsutenkaku Tower
* \[Visit\] Abeno Harukas (Sunset View)
* \[Wander\] Tobita Shinchi
* \[Wander\] Shinsekai (Night)
* Dinner
* Return to Accommodation
***Day 05 – Himeji Castle / Kobe***
* 07:30 AM → 11:30 AM
* Travel to Himeji
* \[Visit\] Himeji Castle
* \[Visit\] Okiku Well
* 11:30 AM → 02:00 PM
* Travel to Kobe
* Lunch
* \[Visit\] Ikuta-jinja
* \[Wander\] Kitano Ijinkan-Gai
* 02:00 PM → 03:15 PM
* \[Visit\] Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden
* \[Visit\] Nunobiki Falls
* 03:15 PM → 06:15 PM
* Travel to Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge
* \[Visit\] Maiko Marine Promenade
* Dinner
* 06:15 PM → 07:50 PM
* Travel to Maya Cable Station
* \[Visit\] Kikuseidai
* Return travel to Osaka
* Return to Accommodation
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Thank you for taking the time to go through my unfinished itinerary. Would love some suggestions:
* Day 02 – Umeda \[Unfinished\]
* Do I move the window-shopping towards the evening OR wander Dotonbori again?
* If so, any suggestions for day activities?
* Day 04 – Kuromon Ichiba Market / Shinsekai
* Will Kuromon Ichiba Market / DenDenTown / Shinsekai (Day) even take up much of the morning/afternoon?
* DenDenTown doesn’t interest me that much, but open suggestions.
* I have been to e-Earphones in Tokyo (*only category I am interested in, and will likely satisfy my interest there*).
* **Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street?** I will be going to Kappabashi in Tokyo to buy knives.
* Other recommendations.
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2 comments
Day 2 – I actually stay in Umeda often. Unfortunately that area is basically more for shopping and eating.
Besides what you listed there is Osaka aquarium kaiyukan that is reasonably close. Also Kitahama is an interesting area nearby known for coffee shops and cafes.
Closer to Osaka station, for nighttime there is sonezaki. There’s a shrine over there called tsuyuten Jinja and all the restaurants are nestled around it. Nearby is ohatsutenjin urasando, a narrow street with bars along it.
Day 4: Sennichimae doguyasuji is smaller version of kappanbashisuji. They are similar
So I love Osaka. I Typically spend over a week staying in the city every trip to Japan visiting family and friends.
But even so, I believe that staying in the city devolves into eating drinking and shopping at some point. Daytime activities and generally “things” to see are not Osaka’s strong suit. So taking day trips out of Osaka is totally cool.
Since you’re into outdoorsy stuff, you might be interested in daytripping to Nara (~45 minutes away). There’s also stuff like mino (~30-45 minutes away).
You mention Kobe, but you can go a bit further north to Arimaonsen.
Also your day 5 is actually pretty busy. You got to backtrack a bit to see Akashi-Kaikyo bridge. One idea to solve your day 2 problem, is chop day 5 in half.
One day you do Himeji and Akashi-Kaikyo bridge. In the afternoon/evening, return to Osaka do the Umeda stuff on day 2
Another day hit up Kobe, afternoon/evening fill in the gaps of what you missed in Osaka
The Okiku well, is, well, a well.