My long overdue honeymoon trip. This trip I focus my budget towards food and experience and the Osaka amazing pass helps a lot. The rest we are using Suica pass which is really useful as mentioned by the Tourist Center.
Day 1 – Depart from KUL at 11.30pm. Red eye Flight
Day 2 – Arrive KIX, bought suica at the station.
Ferry to Kobe, can take advantage of the 500 Yen Tourist ticket.
Arrive hotel , leave luggage and go for lunch at Red One Restaurant. Hotel is Kobe Hotel West, close to China Town and convienient all around.
Take a train to Arima Onsen. Walked around and come back. Wife started having some work and then somehow had tea at Konigs Krone Kobe. Afterwhich we had dinner at the Kobe beef place behind the hotel.
Walked around China Town and then rest.
Day 3 – After breakfast at hotel. Move towards Kyoto via train.
Stayed at APA hotel Eikmae. Convienient location for buses. Again, leave luggage at hotel and move towards Toji Temple.
After Toji temple. walked back towards Kyoto station. Had lunch at Aeon, Tonkatsu.
Move towards Gekeikan Museum. Had a few drinks and then move towards Inari Shrine.
Dinner in a Kushikatsu Shop in front of the hotel. Very special place as it is like a kushikatsu omakase. Worth it even though it is a bit expensive.
Day 4 – Breakfast across a famous clam ramen place across the street
Bus towards Arashiyama.
Stopped at a cafe because need to do an online meeting with the minister. Made we waited for 1 hour plus.
Time lost because of a meeting but we manage to squeeze the bamboo grove and a few shrine around the area. Had lunch at a Mom and Pops place in the middle of nowhere. We had TKG and Curry rice which cast 1000yen.
Went back to the city and had Oyster at Daiyasu in Nishiki market. The day’s catch is almost finished and some of the items we ordered is almost sold out, was lucky that we got a few free half portion and quarter portion of the seafood that was almost sold out.
Then walk around in Shijo and Gion. Crowded but still have the old Kyoto Charms, no Geisha spotted though.
Dinner was in another Izakaya across the street. The rating is 4.7 on google and it show case quite a few old Kyoto Favorite such as tofu and yakitori. The best single dish was the Braised Oyster and the Oden is good too.
Day 6 – We go to Kiyozumi Deira first thing in the morning. Had some onigiri for breakfast. Good half a day hike around the area and proceed towards the shopping street down the hill. Very lively place with good quality product in the middle of a tourist area.
Tea time we had matcha and sweet rice wine at a tea house called Otowa Saryo. We didn’t opt for lunch at the place as we go back to Aeon and had a Shabu shabu Buffet. After picking up our luggage, we head towards Osaka.
In Osaka the timing went a bit off as my wife is too distracted shopping. We shopped at Umeda first before going to out hotel. The hotel was at premium super hotel honmachi. They have a decent onsen and a free bar from 1700-2100. Good to load up before heading out.
Dinner was at another Izakaya and generally is good.
Day 7 – We started early at Kuromon early. Note that never go too early in Kuromon market as the shops opens at 9.30am. We had a few Sushi before heading towards Osaka Castle.
Remember to book the boat early as using the Amazing pass, the boat will be crowded with at least 2 hours waiting time. We made the mistake of going to the castle first but we avoided the 10am crowd. So make sure if you are visiting the castle on a weekend, go early before the rest. I think better to go to the castle first and then go towards Kuromon Market.
We went to Osaka City Museum that is near the castle. It is good for history buffs as I felt that it is an underrated attraction as you are able to see the best view of Osaka castle from the observatory in the building.
As tourist we had Kani Doraku in Dotonbori and took the boat ride using the amazing pass. More shopping as we walk towards honmachi.
Dinner was in Shinseikai area. Had motsunabe at one of the Izakaya. The programs become lesser as we both are exhausted from the walking. Something to keep in mind when travelling in Japan.
Day 8 – Suppose to go to Kaiyukan but was not aware of the crowd issue. Decided to go to the Tempozan ferris view and more shopping at Umeda. Lunch was a Kaisendon place on top of yodabashi.
More Shopping and then Dinner is at Isobiri the 300 yen Izakaya. One of the best Izakaya experience there.
Day 9 – Booked online for Kaiyukan. Lunch at the udon place in tempozan shopping center. After which we heads towards Rinku Town.
Shopping at Rinku town Premium outlet. Hotel is at Hoen Ann Hotel which has a big onsen facility adjacent. It is 300 yen per room so definitely worth it.
For dinner we had a yakiniku buffet around the area which i think is affordable.
Day 10 – First flight home.
Overall, nothing too crazy just to bring my wife for a mild and relaxing trip. the missed opportunity is that we are not able to go to proper bars as we are too exhausted from all the travelling and I hope for our next trip, we just focus on 1 city and have less walking around.
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