Need some critics on my itinerary for my Japan trip for the 3rd week of October. I’ll be travelling solo and this will be my first time going to Japan. I had my friend who have been to Japan a few times help me draft this itinerary but other inputs might be helpful. I will be staying in Osaka for the whole trip except for the one night i will be in Nagoya. Not really fixed on the first day in Nagoya, open to suggestions since i really don’t have any idea yet on what might be best to see there. Just added an extra day there so i can go early the next day for the Studio Ghibli Park.
I know this post might be a little long but any input will be great. I don’t know if this itinerary is a bit much, I just want to enjoy my time there as much as possible.
I don’t mind walking long walks but i also really love biking so i’m thinking of renting a bike while going through everything. Any bike rental suggestions in Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Nagoya? And are there places that biking would not be a smart choice? Thanks!
**Day 0 – Osaka**
\- Arrival in KIX at 7:00 PM
\- Check-in at hotel accommodation (\~1hr from KIX)
\- Maybe walk around Dotonbori and eat dinner
**Day 1 – Nagoya**
Travel to Nagoya from Osaka (use Kintetsu Pass)
Morning:
Nagoya Castle
Railway Museum
Atsuta Shrine
TOYOTA Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
Afternoon:
(No plans yet)
Check-in at hotel
**Day 2 – Nagoya**
Studio Ghibli Park
Travel back to Osaka
**Day 3 – Kyoto**
Travel by train from accomodation at Osaka to Gojo-Kawaramachi intersection
Morning:
\- Kiyomizu-dera Temple
\- Sannen-zaka and Ninnen-zaka, then Maruyama-koen Park
\- Chion-in Temple
\- Shoren-in Temple
Afternoon:
\- Nishiki Market
\- Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine
\- Gion Shimbashi
\–Dinner–
Travel by train back to accomodation at Osaka
**Day 4 – Kyoto**
Travel by train from accomodation at Osaka to Arashiyama
Morning:
\- Tenryu-ji Temple
\- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
\- Okochi-Sanso Villa
Afternoon:
\- Kinkaku-ji Temple
\- Daitoku-ji Temple
\–Dinner–
Travel by train back to accomodation at Osaka
**Day 5 – Nara**
Travel by train to Nara
Morning:
\- Nara Park
\- Isui-en Garden
\- Yoshiki-en Garden
\- Todai-ji Temple
\- Daibutsu-den
Afternoon:
\- Kasuga-Taisha Shrine
\- Kofuku-ji Temple
\- Sarusawa-no-ike Pond
\- Koshi-no-Ie
Travel by train back to Osaka
**Day 6 – Kobe**
Travel by train from Osaka to Kobe
\- Kitano
\- Ikuta Shrine
\- Kobe Chinatown Nankinmachi
\- Kobe Port
Travel by train back to Osaka
Rest
**Day 7 – Osaka**
Morning:
Osaka Castle
Osaka Tennoji Zoo
Keitakuen Garden
Afternoon:
Tsutenkaku Tower Slider
Osaka Museum of Housing and Living
Night:
Umeda Sky Building
HEP Five Ferris Wheel
**Day 8 – Osaka**
Morning:
Legoland
Santa Maria Day Cruise
Afternoon:
Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel
Glion Museum
Night:
Tombori River Cruise”
**Day 9 – Osaka**
Universal Studio Japan
**Day 10 – Osaka**
Morning to Afternoon:
Shopping
Kumon Ichiban Market
Night:
teamLab Osaka
**Day 11 (Last Day) – Osaka**
Osaka Museum of Natural History
Namba Yasaka Shrine
\- Check-out from hotel
\- Commute to Kansai International Airport
\- Flight from Kansai International Airport at 8:25 PM
1 comment
Nothing to critique tbh. You have a very good friend and this trip is very reasonable, I see a lot of opportunities to switch things around should the weather not be ideal and that’s very ideal. Would recommend maybe at least an onsen experience to tie off around the end of the trip. Bonus if it’s a ryokan with halfboard (dinner and breakfast).