Japan Iterinary - Kansai Region

January 17, 2017

Japan Iterinary - Kansai Region

Guide for 8 Days Itinerary In Kansai

Kansai Region in Japan consist of 7 prefectures consist of Hyogo, Kyoto, Mie, Nara, Osaka, Shiga & Wakayama. Most popular and touristy among these are Kyoto, Nara and Osaka. Itinerary below focuses on these places only.

OSAKA BEING @ THE CENTER OF NARA, KYOTO, HYOGO & WAKAYAMA

The lists are our own itinerary when we visited Japan last November 19 to 26, 2016. It is very important to make daily schedule to maximize your time and visit many places you want before leaving your country. Struggle navigating through their rail system is real so upon arriving at airport make sure to rent a pocket WiFi. To spot where to rent just look around to see the queue of other passengers.

It took me months worrying where to book a place or the best spot nearest or at least center of all popular attractions, train stations and even convenience stores. Osaka is the heart of Kansai as well as they covers numerous suburbs. We chose to book for accommodation in this city, in between the two major train station such as Shin-Imamiya & Namba. Being first time in foreign country, you really can't rely on no one plus most local speaks their own language only. Google map is the savior on our day to day adventure as shown below. What train to ride and how much are already indicated. The only problem we had at that time is what platform should we wait for this train. One train station in Japan serves to at least 2 to 3 different train lines. Every japanese and other tourists seems like in a hurry, so we always asked the guard "Where's the train going to __________? They frequently answer "Oh at platform _____".

Day 1: Arrival at Kansai International Airport
Arriving at the airport around 9PM, one train ride to Shin-Imamiya then meters walk to Naniwa to our Airbnb apartment that costs Php6,723.00 ($137.00) for 4 days. Early bird catches the good deal at Airbnb. Here are the actual pictures.

Day 2: Narra - Japan's oldest capital

We spent one day walking and sight-seeing in Nara. Almost 1 hour train ride from Osaka. Best time to travel is during Spring & Fall.

Busy Train Station

@ Narra Park

Day 3: Universal Studios, Osaka

Ticket price is Php3,404.00 ($70.00). We decided to buy upon arrival at airport at the area selling Kansai Rail Pass, good decision because there's a long line at USJ entrance gate to buy ticket.

Day 4: Mount Rokko in Kobe, Hyogo

We included Mount Rokko in our trip for the reason of we want to experience riding a cable car. We are in Day 4, we got bored and tired of hearing japanese language everyday in train and subways and suddenly realizing why days are so slow. We are such a homebody eh?....hehe. Thinking of spending the next whole day in bed because of cold weather too. But then again the days are numbered, so must spend it productively.

Day 5: Dotonbori & Osaka Suburbs

A very popular and well-known street that offers varieties of restaurant, street food & stores.

Heart of Osaka & the Glico Man

Because of we are tired of always walking, we missed some tourist spots in Osaka such as temples & parks. There's so much more to see in Kansai, every place is awesome that is why we didn't include Tokyo in this trip, because that needs a separate travel schedule.

We checked out and headed to Kyoto in the afternoon. A lot more touristy than other cities in Kansai, Every popular places are jam-packed with visitors. The very same reason, hotel prices are seemingly high. We booked for 3 days at Agoda, a room in a traditional house at Yadowa Hiraiwa. Rate is Php13,000.00 ($265.00).

The neighborhood of Kyoto!

Yadowa Hiraiwa's traditional
japanese room with tatami
and futon as our bed.

When in Japan, lets do
the japan way!
Indian Sit & Hot Tea!

Robe provided by Yadowa

Day 6: Kiyumezu-Dera and Different Temples Nearby Kyoto
It is best known for its wooden stage that just out from its main hall, 13 meters above the hillside below. The stage affords a visitor a nice view of the numerous cherry and maple trees below that erupt in a sea of color in spring and fall.

One day gone by just walking, chilling, eating and wondering how the locals and their government maintains the cleanliness and greatness of the place. I had this strong urge to visit this instead of Fushimi Inari and the Golden Pavilion for the reason of how's the feeling taking and having your own shots of this magnificent and one of the most celebrated temple of Japan.

Kiyumezu-Dera

Day 7: Arashiyama, Nishiki Market & Kyoto Suburbs
Arashisyama is particularly popular during cherry and fall color season. During the planning of our trip I can't help imagining seeing the bamboo groves, the mountains with different color of leaves, the illumination of the Togetsukyo Bridge that is why we set the trip on fall season.