21 Days in Kansai - An Outline
I am starting off by sharing my plan for 21 days in Kansai. I did actually put this plan to the test in April of 2023 and will be make many posts telling you what worked and what didn't, along with reviews of restaurants, attractions, etc.
Here it is:
Friday, March 31st
-Arrive at KIX ~3:00PM
-exchange Haruka discount voucher for Haruka ticket at the green machine
-send luggage for delivery to hotel
-take Haruka train from KIX to Kyoto station (chances to catch the train at 3:44PM, 4:14PM, 4:44PM, and so on) (ride lasts about an hour and 20 minutes)
-we can shop and eat at Kyoto station if we feel like it
-take a cab from Kyoto station the The Chapter Kyoto
-check in to The Chapter Kyoto
-pocket Wi-Fi rental has been mailed to the hotel
Saturday, April 1st
Southern Higashiyama
-Kiyomizu-dera
-Sanneizaka (historic street)
-Ninenzaka (historic street)
-Yasaka Kōshin-dō (pom pom temple)
-Yasaka no To Pagoda
-Nene-no-Michi (historic street)
-Ishibei-koji (historic street)
-Kodai-ji (android)
-Gion Kōbu Kaburenjō (Miyako Odori dance show 12:00, 14:20, or 16:40)
-Kennin-ji
-Zenkyoan
-World’s Smallest Ukiyo-E Museum
-Hanamikoji Street (go north and you will see traditional houses and maiko schedule boards)
-Gion Tatsumi Bridge
-Tatsumi Jinja is a shrine often visited by geiko
-walk along Shirakawa
-check out the view of Kyōto Minami-za Theatre at night
-cross the Kamo river and stroll along Takase canal
Sunday, April 2nd
Downtown Kyoto
-Shinkyogoku Shopping Street
-Nishiki Market
-Daimaru Kyoto
-Walk east along Shijo-Dori
-Turn right down Kawaramachi-Dori
11:00AM sekka cotton class (at Shibori museum)
Nijo Castle
-Higashi Ote-Mon gate (entrance)
-Ninomaru-Goten garden and palace
-Honmaru-goten Palace & Garden (additional fee to enter main castle)
-Seiryu-en Garden
-Nijo-jo Castle Painting Gallery
-Shinsen-en (garden with vermillion bridge)
3:00PM papermaking class (at Kamitowa Kyoto paper store)
-Rokkaku-do (temple with flower arrangements)
-Kyotomangekyo Museum (kaleidoscope museum)
-go to Imperial Household Agency and try to book a tour of Shugakuin Imperial Villa on the morning of 4/7
-after dark, visit one of the following spots to see illuminations: Nijo Castle, Toji Temple, Philosopher's Path, Arashiyama, Kiyomizu-Dera, Maruyama-Koen, Shirakawa-suji, Hirano Shrine, or Kyoto Botanical Gardens
Monday, April 3rd
Northern Higashiyama
-Sumikkogurashido (character store)
-Ginkaju aka Silver Pavilion
-Honen-in
-Otoyo Shrine (mouse)
-Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji
-Nanzen-ji
-Keage Incline
3:45PM reservation (exchange voucher 20 minutes prior)Okazaki Jikkokubune (flat-bottom boat ride)
-Heian Shrine
-Chion-in
-Shoren-in
-Yasaka Shrine
-Hanamikoji Street
-Shirakawa-suji (historic street along a canal)
-Follow canal west to Kamogawa
-Head north along Kamogawa
-Cross river at the bridge
Tuesday, April 4th
Arashiyama
-Tenryu-ji (Zen Temple with Michelin Guide Vegetarian restaurant attached)
-Bamboo Grove
-Okochi Sanso Garden (Be sure to hold onto your ticket as it will get you a cup of matcha tea and a sweet after you explore the garden.)
-Kameyama Park
-Togetsukyo Bridge
-Arashiyama Miffy Sakura Kitchen or Arashiyama Rilakkuma Tea House
-Ride Sagano Scenic Railway
- Hozugawa River Cruises 4,100 yen for a scenic boat ride back
Bicycle rental
-Jojakkoji
-Gioji
-Saga-Toriimoto (preserved street)
-Otagi Nenbutsu
More time? Continue to “Northern Kyoto” itinerary by Taxi
Wednesday, April 5th
Nara (day trip)
-buy some biscuits and feed the deer
-Kasuga-taisha
-Nandaimon Gate of Tōdaiji
-Todaiji Temple with Great Buddha Hall (pillar with hole; “It is said that those who can squeeze through this opening will receive enlightenment in their next life and also have all their prayers answered.”)
-Todaiji Nigatsudo and Sangatsudo
-Isui-en Garden
-Yoshikien Garden
-Lunch and Sakura Burger or Nino (pizza)
-Kofuku-ji
-Nakatanaidou MOCHI SHOP
-Sarusawanoike pond to eat our mochi or lunch if we didn’t yet
-Higashimuki Shopping Street
-nearby Naramachi neighborhood (options include free toy museum, free craft museum, free Nara museum, free entry into 2 traditional residences, sake brewery)
-Mochiidono shopping street
If more time…(not walkable)
-Heijo Palace Remains
-Yakushi-ji
-Toshodai-ji
-Horyu-ji (oldest wooden building in the world)
Thursday, April 6th
Hold off on breakfast because there are lots of food options near Fushimi Inari
-Azumamaro (just to the right of Fushimi Inari entrance)
-Fushimi-Inari Hike
-Sekhoji Temple
-Komyo in
-Tofukuji
-Daigoji (not walkable, but an important location in the history for hanami)
More time? Uji day trip!
-take transport to Nakamura Tokichi Main Branch
-statue of Murasaki Shikibu
-Byodo-in Omotesando (shopping street)
-Byodo-in
-To-no-shima island
-Kyoto Prefectural Uji Park
-Eishin-in Temple
-Ujigami-jinja Shrine
-Daikichiyama Observation Deck
Friday, April 7th
-Shugaku-in Imperial Villa (if we made a reservation)
-Manshuin Temple
-Enko-ji
Kurama-Kibune
-Kuramadera
-Kifune
~3:55PM take train to Kyocera Osaka Dome
6:00PM Orix Buffaloes vs. Nippon Ham Fighters at Kyocera Osaka Dome
Reminder: Outside food IS allowed
Saturday, April 8th
-Chishaku in Buddha’s birthday 4/8
-Toyokuni Shrine: fabrics market on the 8th (over by 2:00PM)
-Sanjusangendo
-Honganji hair rope temple
-Kyoto Tower
-Toji
-Inabado handicrafts market (Byōdō-ji Temple)
Yawata
-Yodo River Park (cherry blossom tunnel)
-Iwashimizu Hachimangu Sando Cable (short tram ride up the mountain)
Sunday, April 9th
Northern Kyoto
-Kinkaku-ji aka Golden Pavilion
-Ryoan-ji ZEN GARDEN
-Ninna-ji (skip these 2 and see the next day if it’s already time for the festival)
-Kitano Tenmangu
-Konenji (procession starts here at noon)
-Imamiya (procession reaches here around 3:00PM)
Yasurai festival: Procession starts at Kōnen-ji at noon and arrives at Imamiya around 3:00PM
-Ichimonjiya Wasuke (thousand year old tea house)
-Daitoku-ji
Monday, April 10th
-Haradani-en (garden with late-blooming cherry blossoms)
-chance to see Ryaon-ji and Ninna-ji if we skipped them yesterday
-Hirano Shrine holds a cherry blossom festival every year on 10th April. To begin the festival, a ceremony is held at 10:00 in front of the shrine and then at 11:00 at the mausoleum of Emperor Kazan. They leave the shrine precincts at 13:00 and make their way around the neighborhood area before returning to the shrine.
-Taishogun Shopping Street/Yokai (Monster) Street
-Imperial Palace IS CLOSED
Tuesday, April 11th
-send luggage to Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba
-take the train to Namba station in Osaka
-check in to Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba
Namba and Dotonbori
-Namba City Main Building
-Doguyasuji Arcade
-Small animals cafe ROCK STAR
-Kuromon Market
-Sunset Owl Cafe
-Hozen-ji Temple
-Hozenji Yokocho
-Dotonbori Glico sign
-Cross Ebisu-bashi Bridge over the famous Dotonbori Canal
-Shinsaibashi-suji, one of Osaka’s famous shotengai (covered shopping arcades)
-Mickey and Friends Pop Up Cafe
-Ameri-mura
-Pokemon Cafe
-PARCO Shinsaibashi
Wednesday, April 12th
Namba and Tennoji
-Namba Yasaka Jinja
-Osaka Nipponbashi Denden
-Imamiya Ebisu Shrine
-Shinsekai (historic shopping district)
-12:30PM reservation at the Sumikko Gurashi Cafe in Abeno (4th floor Abeno Q's Mall)
-Abeno Q's Mall
-Abeno Harukas Observation Deck (tallest skyscraper in Japan)
-Tennoji MIO
-Shitennoji
-Tsutenkaku
-5:30PM Food Tour
Thursday, April 13th (or switch with Kobe day trip)
-Osaka Museum of History
-Osaka Castle
-Bluebird Rooftop Terrace (best view of the Castle)
-Cool Japan Park Osaka (see if we want/can get tickets for KEREN)
-Mint Museum (cherry blossom viewing area)
-Tenjin-bashi shopping district
-Osaka Tenmangu Shrine
Friday, April 14th
Kita/Umeda District (or switch with Kobe day trip)
-Osaka Station City
-Rikuro-ojisan no mis (jiggly cheesecake)
-Mido-Suji
-HEP Five Ferris Wheel
-Links Umeda
-Grand Front Osaka
-Kuchu Teien Observatory
-Umeda Sky Building
-Kitashinchi District (less modern bar and restaurant area)
-Nakazakicho District (“hipster” area with cafes and craft shops)
Saturday, April 15th
Kobe
-Ikuta Jinja
-Kitano-Cho historical district in Kobe with many of these foreign residences open to the public
-Take gondola ride up the hill (earliest ride at 9:30AM)
-Nunobiki Herb Garden (Japan’s largest herb garden)
-Take gondola ride down the hill
-Carpentry Museum
-lunch at Steakland of Wakkoqu (teppanyaki)
-Mt Maya Cable
-Kobe City Museum
-Nankin-Machi (Chinatown)
Next two items are for after sunset. If we finish up in Kobe early in the day, we could got to Himeji and/or Kurashiki
-Kobe Port Tower and Merikan park
-Kobe Habourland
Sunday, April 16th
-Minoo Park
-deep fried maple leaves
-Minoo Park Insectarium
-Ryuan-ji
-Minoo Falls
-10:00AM Genji Parade in Kawanishi City Hall
-Cup of Noodles Museum
12:15PM start heading back to the hotel
Dad’s flight out of KIX at 4:50PM
Monday, April 17th
-Expo ‘70 Commemorative Park
-Sorado (tower)
-NIFREL
-Tower of the Sun
-Dream Pond
-National Museum of Ethnology
-Japan Folk Craft Museum
-Expocity (shopping)
-Hirakata Park (Amusement Park)
-Hattori Ryokuchi Park (Open Air Museum of Japanese Farm Houses)
Tuesday, April 18th
-Sumiyoshi Taisha
Koyasan
-arrive at Karukayado-mae Station
-Okunoin Cemetery
-Kongobuji
-Danjo-garan
-Daimon Gate
-Dake no Benzaitan-sha
-head back toward Osaka
-teamLab Botanical Garden
Wednesday, April 19
Bay Area
-Tempozan Harbor Village
-Naniwa Food Park
-Tempozan Park
-Osaka Aquarium (2400 yen)
-Maishima Seaside Park
-Universal City
Thursday, April 20th
-Osaka Museum of Housing and Living
-Kema Sakuranomiya Park
-Himeji
-Kurashiki
-Spa World
-bunraku puppet theater
Friday, April 21st
Start to KIX at 1:20PM
Fly out of KIX via 4:50PM UA 34
Here it is:
Friday, March 31st
-Arrive at KIX ~3:00PM
-exchange Haruka discount voucher for Haruka ticket at the green machine
-send luggage for delivery to hotel
-take Haruka train from KIX to Kyoto station (chances to catch the train at 3:44PM, 4:14PM, 4:44PM, and so on) (ride lasts about an hour and 20 minutes)
-we can shop and eat at Kyoto station if we feel like it
-take a cab from Kyoto station the The Chapter Kyoto
-check in to The Chapter Kyoto
-pocket Wi-Fi rental has been mailed to the hotel
Saturday, April 1st
Southern Higashiyama
-Kiyomizu-dera
-Sanneizaka (historic street)
-Ninenzaka (historic street)
-Yasaka Kōshin-dō (pom pom temple)
-Yasaka no To Pagoda
-Nene-no-Michi (historic street)
-Ishibei-koji (historic street)
-Kodai-ji (android)
-Gion Kōbu Kaburenjō (Miyako Odori dance show 12:00, 14:20, or 16:40)
-Kennin-ji
-Zenkyoan
-World’s Smallest Ukiyo-E Museum
-Hanamikoji Street (go north and you will see traditional houses and maiko schedule boards)
-Gion Tatsumi Bridge
-Tatsumi Jinja is a shrine often visited by geiko
-walk along Shirakawa
-check out the view of Kyōto Minami-za Theatre at night
-cross the Kamo river and stroll along Takase canal
Sunday, April 2nd
Downtown Kyoto
-Shinkyogoku Shopping Street
-Nishiki Market
-Daimaru Kyoto
-Walk east along Shijo-Dori
-Turn right down Kawaramachi-Dori
11:00AM sekka cotton class (at Shibori museum)
Nijo Castle
-Higashi Ote-Mon gate (entrance)
-Ninomaru-Goten garden and palace
-Honmaru-goten Palace & Garden (additional fee to enter main castle)
-Seiryu-en Garden
-Nijo-jo Castle Painting Gallery
-Shinsen-en (garden with vermillion bridge)
3:00PM papermaking class (at Kamitowa Kyoto paper store)
-Rokkaku-do (temple with flower arrangements)
-Kyotomangekyo Museum (kaleidoscope museum)
-go to Imperial Household Agency and try to book a tour of Shugakuin Imperial Villa on the morning of 4/7
-after dark, visit one of the following spots to see illuminations: Nijo Castle, Toji Temple, Philosopher's Path, Arashiyama, Kiyomizu-Dera, Maruyama-Koen, Shirakawa-suji, Hirano Shrine, or Kyoto Botanical Gardens
Monday, April 3rd
Northern Higashiyama
-Sumikkogurashido (character store)
-Ginkaju aka Silver Pavilion
-Honen-in
-Otoyo Shrine (mouse)
-Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji
-Nanzen-ji
-Keage Incline
3:45PM reservation (exchange voucher 20 minutes prior)Okazaki Jikkokubune (flat-bottom boat ride)
-Heian Shrine
-Chion-in
-Shoren-in
-Yasaka Shrine
-Hanamikoji Street
-Shirakawa-suji (historic street along a canal)
-Follow canal west to Kamogawa
-Head north along Kamogawa
-Cross river at the bridge
Tuesday, April 4th
Arashiyama
-Tenryu-ji (Zen Temple with Michelin Guide Vegetarian restaurant attached)
-Bamboo Grove
-Okochi Sanso Garden (Be sure to hold onto your ticket as it will get you a cup of matcha tea and a sweet after you explore the garden.)
-Kameyama Park
-Togetsukyo Bridge
-Arashiyama Miffy Sakura Kitchen or Arashiyama Rilakkuma Tea House
-Ride Sagano Scenic Railway
- Hozugawa River Cruises 4,100 yen for a scenic boat ride back
Bicycle rental
-Jojakkoji
-Gioji
-Saga-Toriimoto (preserved street)
-Otagi Nenbutsu
More time? Continue to “Northern Kyoto” itinerary by Taxi
Wednesday, April 5th
Nara (day trip)
-buy some biscuits and feed the deer
-Kasuga-taisha
-Nandaimon Gate of Tōdaiji
-Todaiji Temple with Great Buddha Hall (pillar with hole; “It is said that those who can squeeze through this opening will receive enlightenment in their next life and also have all their prayers answered.”)
-Todaiji Nigatsudo and Sangatsudo
-Isui-en Garden
-Yoshikien Garden
-Lunch and Sakura Burger or Nino (pizza)
-Kofuku-ji
-Nakatanaidou MOCHI SHOP
-Sarusawanoike pond to eat our mochi or lunch if we didn’t yet
-Higashimuki Shopping Street
-nearby Naramachi neighborhood (options include free toy museum, free craft museum, free Nara museum, free entry into 2 traditional residences, sake brewery)
-Mochiidono shopping street
If more time…(not walkable)
-Heijo Palace Remains
-Yakushi-ji
-Toshodai-ji
-Horyu-ji (oldest wooden building in the world)
Thursday, April 6th
Hold off on breakfast because there are lots of food options near Fushimi Inari
-Azumamaro (just to the right of Fushimi Inari entrance)
-Fushimi-Inari Hike
-Sekhoji Temple
-Komyo in
-Tofukuji
-Daigoji (not walkable, but an important location in the history for hanami)
More time? Uji day trip!
-take transport to Nakamura Tokichi Main Branch
-statue of Murasaki Shikibu
-Byodo-in Omotesando (shopping street)
-Byodo-in
-To-no-shima island
-Kyoto Prefectural Uji Park
-Eishin-in Temple
-Ujigami-jinja Shrine
-Daikichiyama Observation Deck
Friday, April 7th
-Shugaku-in Imperial Villa (if we made a reservation)
-Manshuin Temple
-Enko-ji
Kurama-Kibune
-Kuramadera
-Kifune
~3:55PM take train to Kyocera Osaka Dome
6:00PM Orix Buffaloes vs. Nippon Ham Fighters at Kyocera Osaka Dome
Reminder: Outside food IS allowed
Saturday, April 8th
-Chishaku in Buddha’s birthday 4/8
-Toyokuni Shrine: fabrics market on the 8th (over by 2:00PM)
-Sanjusangendo
-Honganji hair rope temple
-Kyoto Tower
-Toji
-Inabado handicrafts market (Byōdō-ji Temple)
Yawata
-Yodo River Park (cherry blossom tunnel)
-Iwashimizu Hachimangu Sando Cable (short tram ride up the mountain)
Sunday, April 9th
Northern Kyoto
-Kinkaku-ji aka Golden Pavilion
-Ryoan-ji ZEN GARDEN
-Ninna-ji (skip these 2 and see the next day if it’s already time for the festival)
-Kitano Tenmangu
-Konenji (procession starts here at noon)
-Imamiya (procession reaches here around 3:00PM)
Yasurai festival: Procession starts at Kōnen-ji at noon and arrives at Imamiya around 3:00PM
-Ichimonjiya Wasuke (thousand year old tea house)
-Daitoku-ji
Monday, April 10th
-Haradani-en (garden with late-blooming cherry blossoms)
-chance to see Ryaon-ji and Ninna-ji if we skipped them yesterday
-Hirano Shrine holds a cherry blossom festival every year on 10th April. To begin the festival, a ceremony is held at 10:00 in front of the shrine and then at 11:00 at the mausoleum of Emperor Kazan. They leave the shrine precincts at 13:00 and make their way around the neighborhood area before returning to the shrine.
-Taishogun Shopping Street/Yokai (Monster) Street
-Imperial Palace IS CLOSED
Tuesday, April 11th
-send luggage to Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba
-take the train to Namba station in Osaka
-check in to Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba
Namba and Dotonbori
-Namba City Main Building
-Doguyasuji Arcade
-Small animals cafe ROCK STAR
-Kuromon Market
-Sunset Owl Cafe
-Hozen-ji Temple
-Hozenji Yokocho
-Dotonbori Glico sign
-Cross Ebisu-bashi Bridge over the famous Dotonbori Canal
-Shinsaibashi-suji, one of Osaka’s famous shotengai (covered shopping arcades)
-Mickey and Friends Pop Up Cafe
-Ameri-mura
-Pokemon Cafe
-PARCO Shinsaibashi
Wednesday, April 12th
Namba and Tennoji
-Namba Yasaka Jinja
-Osaka Nipponbashi Denden
-Imamiya Ebisu Shrine
-Shinsekai (historic shopping district)
-12:30PM reservation at the Sumikko Gurashi Cafe in Abeno (4th floor Abeno Q's Mall)
-Abeno Q's Mall
-Abeno Harukas Observation Deck (tallest skyscraper in Japan)
-Tennoji MIO
-Shitennoji
-Tsutenkaku
-5:30PM Food Tour
Thursday, April 13th (or switch with Kobe day trip)
-Osaka Museum of History
-Osaka Castle
-Bluebird Rooftop Terrace (best view of the Castle)
-Cool Japan Park Osaka (see if we want/can get tickets for KEREN)
-Mint Museum (cherry blossom viewing area)
-Tenjin-bashi shopping district
-Osaka Tenmangu Shrine
Friday, April 14th
Kita/Umeda District (or switch with Kobe day trip)
-Osaka Station City
-Rikuro-ojisan no mis (jiggly cheesecake)
-Mido-Suji
-HEP Five Ferris Wheel
-Links Umeda
-Grand Front Osaka
-Kuchu Teien Observatory
-Umeda Sky Building
-Kitashinchi District (less modern bar and restaurant area)
-Nakazakicho District (“hipster” area with cafes and craft shops)
Saturday, April 15th
Kobe
-Ikuta Jinja
-Kitano-Cho historical district in Kobe with many of these foreign residences open to the public
-Take gondola ride up the hill (earliest ride at 9:30AM)
-Nunobiki Herb Garden (Japan’s largest herb garden)
-Take gondola ride down the hill
-Carpentry Museum
-lunch at Steakland of Wakkoqu (teppanyaki)
-Mt Maya Cable
-Kobe City Museum
-Nankin-Machi (Chinatown)
Next two items are for after sunset. If we finish up in Kobe early in the day, we could got to Himeji and/or Kurashiki
-Kobe Port Tower and Merikan park
-Kobe Habourland
Sunday, April 16th
-Minoo Park
-deep fried maple leaves
-Minoo Park Insectarium
-Ryuan-ji
-Minoo Falls
-10:00AM Genji Parade in Kawanishi City Hall
-Cup of Noodles Museum
12:15PM start heading back to the hotel
Dad’s flight out of KIX at 4:50PM
Monday, April 17th
-Expo ‘70 Commemorative Park
-Sorado (tower)
-NIFREL
-Tower of the Sun
-Dream Pond
-National Museum of Ethnology
-Japan Folk Craft Museum
-Expocity (shopping)
-Hirakata Park (Amusement Park)
-Hattori Ryokuchi Park (Open Air Museum of Japanese Farm Houses)
Tuesday, April 18th
-Sumiyoshi Taisha
Koyasan
-arrive at Karukayado-mae Station
-Okunoin Cemetery
-Kongobuji
-Danjo-garan
-Daimon Gate
-Dake no Benzaitan-sha
-head back toward Osaka
-teamLab Botanical Garden
Wednesday, April 19
Bay Area
-Tempozan Harbor Village
-Naniwa Food Park
-Tempozan Park
-Osaka Aquarium (2400 yen)
-Maishima Seaside Park
-Universal City
Thursday, April 20th
-Osaka Museum of Housing and Living
-Kema Sakuranomiya Park
-Himeji
-Kurashiki
-Spa World
-bunraku puppet theater
Friday, April 21st
Start to KIX at 1:20PM
Fly out of KIX via 4:50PM UA 34
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