I will be flying into KIX November 27th to December 7th for a solo vacation. I dont like super strict plans, but more like mild/some planning, blueprints and basic starting points that I then can be flexible with, so this may not look like a traditional itinerary.
Some quick backround, I love walking and admiring locations and the items, and food within them and the arrangement of setup. Also love nature, music, food, games, and technology and 80s/90s aesthetic and warm water on cold days and too many other specific sensory things. I work as a head cashier at a supermarket where besides seeing/talking to hundreds of people a day, I catalog different details about specific items. I am sometimes very specific and talkative so this works out well (but on occasion, it means I want extra time for details or get bored and want to move along). I dont drive so walking /traveling up to 2 hours can seem normal to me. I dont make much money and for a while lived in some rough places in California so I am not concerned about Nishinari being rough.
Arrival Night Nov27th: When I arrive (about 5 or 6pm) show my visitjapanweb qr codes and go through lines, (I am coming with no checked luggage) go to obtain my already purchased WiFi, travelers insurance, Kansai thru pass, icoca, and Haruka train passes.
Take the Haruka train from KIX to the Tennouji station (Is the station big and confusing? I can navigate airports fine and can read menus/maps and if its even somewhat like that I am confident)
Walk 10 minutes to my hotel in Nishinari. Get everything set up with the hotel. 7 to 9pm estimated to be done. If I am tired, I go to sleep and the next day is the 28th. If I am not tired, I get a meal at Osaka Tacos or Kaarage Torisho (if they are open) then sleep, or go to Spa World after then sleep so I can be well rested to take on the next day, while still being satisfied. (Alternatively bike to and have a snack in Amemura and bike back to expend energy if I am feeling energetic. There are a few places I scoped out and can pick from then go back to my hotel and try to sync up with the hour change)
First Day 28th Tuesday: If I am tired, I’m staying the area. Maybe walk around Shinsekai, or within a 25 minute radius of my hotel (Taihei no yu, Dendentown, Hormone Marufuku, Janjan, Tensiba park,Tennouji Zoo etc) all day just looking and getting used to things.
If I feel rested and wake before/at 8am I am headed to Katsuo-ji after grabbing conbini food to picnic with. Then hiking from there to Minoh falls and then south through Minoh, maybe stopping to use the onsen at Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Minoh Kankō Hotel, also getting the tempura maple leaves somewhere during this daytrip before heading back to my hotel.
If I feel rested and its after 8:30am but before 11:00am I will start at Kuromon Market and some other shopping for most of the day.
If I feel rested and it is past noon, maybe check out Tensiba park to be in the sun and then some malls by Harukas and look for something to help me fall asleep at a good time so I can get up consistently 8am about.
November 29th second day: Katsuo-ji/Minoh if up and rested 8:00am or before (goal is to go any time before December) if I did that the day before I relax and look around locally shinsekai etc. If still tired when waking start shifting into mild caffiene usage when awake and go a bit futher out like Dontonburi and Amemura. If well rested and its between 8:30 and 11am head to Umeda (Umeda sky, tower records, Hughes pizza, tenten) and on the way there/back check out the 10 yen/50 yen vending machine. If I wake past noon, but fully rested I go to the Tennouji Zoo, get some sun then see about things to help with rest and wakefulness, as after this day I am setting alarms and gently obligating myself a little in the name of life experiences.
Third day November 30th: If I held off, I go to Katsuo-ji and Minoh. If I did that, and Im tired I can relax in my hotel or go to Spa World or a smaller sento if I am in the mood followed by walking around. If I am feeling up to it, well rested and its before or 8am I will go to Expocity or Nara and if not I plan to go before the 3rd for one and before the 5th of December for the other.
Fourth day December 1st: day trip to Expocity or Nara optional if right time and energy. Relax and just take in things around the area (like Namba shrine) optionally get ice cream, burgers, and play video games on a day trip in Kobe (I have places marked and researched in google maps) go to Kuromon or Denden if havent already.
December 2nd: optional trip to Nara or Expocity. Maybe check out Solaniwa (will buy tickets in advance), go to nearby places again (I have a lot in my Google maps and it could take days admiring the detail of some places)
December 3rd: if it hasn’t already happened, required day trip to Expocity or Nara then the other one required by the 5th. More time between Shinsekai and Amemura if that’s what I would prefer and have done my second day trip.
December 4th: optional trip to Nara or Expocity depending what I have left and how I feel. Alternatively I can check out a park called “Nishikinohama Beach Park” or one Called “Sakai Senbokuko Shiomi Park” also hang around locally with no strict obligations.
December 5th: personal time quota for my last day trip of the vacation. Required to go to Expocity or Nara depending what I have already done, or neither if I did it already. Might be nice to check out Kishiwada Castle. Also admire my second to last full day, double checking out noteworthy things locally (If I have spare time I might go to Osaka Castle if I feel like, but its low priority)
December 6th: Harukas 300. Get a really good view of the city, and farewell pictures. Then go to all the malls and department stores around that area. Also south of those malls is a thrift shop and an arcade.
December 7th: Return and details: might be returning with checked baggage, plan to focus the day on being on time. And resting up on my flight.
I have left a lot of free time intentionally for me to thoroughly absorb whats around me and think about what I am doing so I can have a really good time. While I am in Osaka, I might want to ship some items home to help my capacity traveling, and I hope that won’t be too complicated.
I’m uninterested in Universal Studios or Teamlab, but besides that any suggestions or tips for the areas I am going to be checking out are greatly appriecated and welcome!
3 comments
Not missing much on teamlabs osaka. Fairly underwhelming. The whole experience is people trying to get the best photos it was honestly a drag trying enjoy it in that sense.
With Osaka as your base, may I suggest a day trip to Himeji Castle and/or Kyoto. Osaka offers a lot of flexibility to easily explore the Kansai region 🙂
Haha I was in Nishinari for 6 weeks, it’s honestly fine, not that you were worried anyway.
I never see anyone mention Kuromon Ichiba Market. Plenty of food and it’s near enough to the canal so you can walk to it and head down to Dotonbori.