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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/Suitable-Television9 on 2024-04-25 12:46:17.
Me (32M) and wife (31F) traveled to Kansai Japan for the first time from 9/4 - 19/4. Here is our trip report and my personal travel tips.
PRELUDE
- Touched down Kansai Airport at 9.30pm.
- Took the Airport Limousine Bus to Kyoto Station.
- Reached hotel at 11.30pm.
Day 1 (KYOTO)
- Reach Fushimi Inari by 8.30am. It was already pretty crowded.
- Wife wasn't too interested after a while so we descended Mt. Inari and went to Tofukuji.
- From Tofukuji, we took the Keihan Line to Chushojima Station, where there's a river canal nearby that was full of cherry blossoms. Much less foreign tourist here too, mostly locals.
- Next, we visited Uji. Had cold matcha soba for lunch and went to Tsuen Tea Shop, which is the oldest tea house not only in Japan, but the whole world.
- Had more green tea desserts at Nakamura Tokichi and went to Byodo-in (the temple featured behind the 10 yen coin)
- Matcha stuff here were all just next level.
- Chill by Uji River and visited Ujikami Shrine.
- Took a walk to Tamakitei (famous bread shop in Uji) , but found out it wasn't open when we got there.
- By late evening, we took the train back to Kyoto downtown to Gion. Explored Pontocho Alley, Kiyamachi Street, and Hanamikoji. Had conveyor belt sushi for dinner.
- Visited Kyoto's Pokemon Centre.
- Kodai-ji for night sakura illumination.
Step count: 39,192 steps
Day 2 (KYOTO)
- Reach Sannenzaka and Ninnenzaka by 7am. Very few people around this early, and took a lot of crowd-less pictures of the traditional streets.
- Visited Kiyomizudera, the crowd started to build up considerably when we're done with this place.
- Had Arabica coffee at Ninnenzaka.
- Walked to Yasaka Shrine and visited Maruyama Park.
- Visited Chion-in Temple and head west towards Shirakawa River. Dropped by Tatsumi Bridge, Tatsumi Shrine and Shirakawa Lane. From there, followed the river towards Heian Shrine.
- Continue walking towards Keage Incline, took pictures of more cherry blossoms there.
- Headed towards north and visited Nanzenji Temple, Philosopher's Path, Honen-in and finish at Ginkaku-ji.
- Fu-ka, a good omurice place is just 5 minutes walk from Ginkaku-ji.
- Took a short hike at Yoshida Hill, there's a hidden dessert shop there (Mo-an), true hidden gem.
- Descent Yoshida Hill and visited Yoshida Shrine. Walked to Konkai Komyo-ji, a temple full of gravestones with a nice pagoda, it was quite a sight.
- Visited rabbit shrine Okazaki jinja. Bought some rabbit charms.
- Took a bus to Nishiki Market and did some souvenirs shopping.
- Had really good udon at Udon Tengu for dinner.
- Took the bus back to Gion and visited Yasaka Shrine again.
- Walked to Ninnenzaka and Sannenzaka. It was 9pm but the whole streets were just completely empty. Took a really nice picture of the streets with the pagoda.
Step count: 45,300 steps
Day 3 (KYOTO)
- Reached Arashiyama Bamboo Forest by 8.30am. Super crowded already.
- Passed Togetsukyo Bridge and walked along Katsura River. Hiked up and visited Daihikaku Senkoji Temple (awesome view of Arashiyama from up here!)
- Got back to Togetsukyo Bridge and headed to Denden-gu (a shrine with homage to Hertz and Thomas Edison)
- Walked back to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Did I mentioned that it was super crowded earlier? Now it's EXTREMELY crowded.
- Explored North Arashiyama area and Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street. Had unagi lunch at Ayu-no-Yado (best unagi we had in our lives)
- Visited both Otagi Nenbutsu-ji and Adashino Nenbutsu-ji.
- Walked to Daikaku-ji Temple. From there, took a bus to Kitano-Tenmangu Shrine. Visited Hirano Shrine.
- Had McDonald's for dinner. Tried the shrimp burger which wasn't available in our home country.
- Explored Kamishichiken (oldest geisha district in Kyoto)
Step count: 35,308 steps
Day 4 (KYOTO)
- Woke up at 5am on my own. Solo hiked the entire Fushimi Inari. It was a completely different vibe from Day 1. There were virtually nobody around, it was as if I had the whole shrine to myself. Words can't describe just how calm and peaceful this whole experience was.
- Walked back home and wife was up and ready. Took the train to Demachiyanagi Station, and from there hopped on to Bus 17, heading towards Ohara.
- Reached Ohara at 10.30am. Visited Sanzen-in (700 yen, the most expensive temple we've visited in our entire trip. But it was still worth it)
- Had really good curry udon and the specialty Sanzen-in udon for lunch at Ippukujaya Teahouse.
- Visited Jakko-in Temple.
- Walked around and explored Ohara Town. Really good countryside vibes.
- Took the bus back to Demachiyanagi Station. Visited Kamo Mitarashi Chaya and had the best mitarashi dango.
- Super good Omurice for dinner at Omura House.
- Headed back to downtown Kyoto and just explored around.
Step count: 39,403 steps
Day 5 (KYOTO >> OSAKA)
- Woke up at 5am on my own. Visited Kiyomizudera and solo hiked to Higashiyama Mount Peak Park.
- Walked back home and wife was up and ready. Checked out of our hotel and stored our luggage there.
- Took a train to Kurama Station and hiked Mt Kurama. Visited Kuramadera and reached Kibune. Visited Kifune Shrine.
- Took the train back to Kyoto Station. Had really good Ochazuke at Dashi-Chazuke En.
- Went back to the hotel, got our luggage and head towards Osaka via Keihan Line.
- Checked in at Osaka Airbnb. Had Ichiran Ramen for dinner.
- Explored Umeda area and had a good night view of the whole city at Umeda Sky Building.
Step count: 44,068 steps
Day 6 (OSAKA)
- Woke up 5.30am on my own and had a long morning walk around the city. Explored West Umeda area.
- Came back home at 9am and wife was up and ready. First stop of the day was Tenjinbashi Shopping Street & Osaka Tenmangu.
- Walked to the Osaka Mint Museum to see late blooming cherry blossoms. From there, continue on foot towards Osaka Castle and explored the park area.
- Randomly encountered a restaurant with full of Japanese salarymen standing while eating their meals in a rush. Decided to join in and despite the whole situation being super chaotic, the food was great and it was a very memorable moment, definitely a highlight of the trip!
- Had cakes and dessert at Gokan Cake House (Near Kitahama Station)
- Took a train and explored Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi.
- Walked south and explored Den Den Town. Visited the famous Namba Yasaka Shrine.
- Had the best Onigiri in our lives for dinner at Onigiri Gorichan.
Step count: 43,676 steps
Day 7 (NARA)
- Woke up 5am on my own and had a long morning walk around the city. Explored Kyobashi, Osaka Business Park and Osaka Castle.
- Came back home at 9.30am and wife was up and ready. Took the Kintetsu Line to Hasedera Station. Explored Hasedera Temple and Hase Town.
- Had the ABSOLUTE BEST udon meal here in Hase at 与喜饂飩 (food were all prepared on the spot upon order, so we had to wait a while to eat. And it was so worth the wait!)
- Took the train to Yamato-Yagi Station and explored Imaicho, a very well preserved traditional merchant town. And the best thing, there were no tourists at all!
- Walked around Kashihara Town. Visited Fujiwara Palace Ruins.
- Took the train back to Osaka and had Tsukemen for dinner at Tenjinbashi.
- Visited Dotonbori again, this time during night.
Step count: 37,667 steps
Day 8 (NARA)
- Woke up at 5am on my own and walked around town. Visited the virtually empty Dotonbori.
- Came back home at 9am and wife was up and ready. Took the Kintetsu Line to Ikoma Station.
- Switched to the cable car and rode up to Ikomasanjo Amusement Park.
- Visited Hozanji (one of the best temples we've visited in the entire trip)
- Explored Ikoma Town. After that, took the train bound for Nara Deer Park.
- Dropped by Yamato-Saidaji Station on the way and visited the street where former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated. Flower beds were made around the site to honor him.
- Continued to Nara Park and did the usual stuff here - See the deers, visit Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha.
- Took the train back to Osaka. Had very good Okonomiyaki at Hirokazuya Higashidori for dinner.
Step count: 37,186 steps
Day 9 (NARA - SOLO WALKING)
- Today was the day my wife and I had our own me-time. I chose to explore Nara, while she decided to chill and shop around Osaka.
- Woke up at 4.30am. Caught the first train and headed towards Tenri, Nara. Visited the Tenri Church.
- Completed the entire south part of Yamanobe no michi, starting at Tenri & ending at Sakurai Town. Explored some shrines along the route - Isonokami Shrine, Yatogi Shrine, Hibara Shrine, Omiwa Shrine.
- As I was entering Yatogi Shrine, a farmer old man approached me in his motorcycle and personally gave me a tour in the shrine. I used Papago to translate his words and communicate with him. He even taught me how to pay respects in the shrine - ringing the bell, clapping your hands together and take a bow. Such a really awesome & unique experience.
- Had Miwa Somen for lunch, a regional food only found in Nara.
- My wife reportedly had the best pancakes of her life at Marufuku Coffee, near Dotonbori.
- Continued walking south, passed by Kashihara and explored Asuka Village, once the capital of Ancient Japan.
- Visited Asukadera, the first temple in Japan.
- Lots of tumulus around the area, the most famous one being the Ishibutai Tumulus.
- Continue walking and arrive at Takatori Town. Wanted to take a hike to visit Takatori Castle Ruins and Tsubosakadera, but sun ...
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