[Itinerary] Japan Kansai + Hiroshima + Miyajima

Posted on 3 December 2011

Travel date: 27 Oct – 10 Nov 2010 (15 days)
Location: Kansai area (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Koyasan) + Hiroshima + Miyajima
Season: Early autumn

Sharing the itinerary of my first solo trip, also my first trip to Japan. Nothing very out of the ordinary touristy places (it’s not perfect!) but I thought I want to keep a record of where did I go and what have I done in all those places. The joy of going through the photos and journal notes keeps me going as well – feels like tripping all over again!

The itinerary itself is quite relaxing, except the first few days in Kyoto – just too much to see in that beautiful place. It’s arranged in timely order and I’ll keep this post updated until individual posts are complete, which surely will take quite a while given the speed I’m at. Anyway, here it goes!

Day 1: Arrival @ Japan

• Arrive at Kansai International Airport (KIX) at 4:10pm
• Get JR passes and buy Sagano Romantic Train tickets in advanced
• Jump on JR Airport Express Haruka and head to Kyoto (Kyoto station)
• Check in to Capsule Ryokan Kyoto

Day 2: Some Eastern & Northern Kyoto

• To the East: Nanzenji 南禅寺
• Eikando 永観堂
• Tetsugaku no michi 哲学の道 (Philosopher’s Walk)
• Yojiya Cafe よーじや カフェ
• Ginkakuji 銀閣寺 (Silver Pavilion)
• To the North: Bus ride @ Kyoto
• Ryoanji 竜安寺
• Kinkakuji 金閣寺 (Temple of the Golden Pavilion)
• Back to Central: Kyoto Station
• Capsule Ryokan Kyoto

Day 3: Western (Arashiyama) & Central Kyoto

• Breakfast @ Lawson: Rilakkuma Apple Pie Bun
• To the West: Sagano Romantic Train 嵯峨野観光鉄道
• Bamboo groves 竹林の道
• Tenryuji 天龍寺
• Nonomiya Shrine 野宮神社
• The Kyoto Arashiyama Orgel Museum
• Chirimen Craft Museum ちりめん細工館
• Togetsukyo Bridge 渡月橋
• Nishin Soba @ Choji-ya 丁字屋
• Randomly wandering around in Saga and in Arashiyama areas.
• Platform 6
• Back to Central: Nishiki Market 錦市場
• Sunset chasing
• Wandering around in city then back to Capsule Ryokan Kyoto

Day 4: More of Eastern Kyoto

• Kiyomizudera 清水寺, Otowa no taki 音羽の滝, Jishu Jinja 地主神社
• Ninenzaka 二年坂 & Sannenzaka 三年坂
• Inoda Coffee
• Kasagi-ya かさぎ屋
• Kodaiji 高台寺
• Ishibei-koji 石塀小路
• Matcha Soft Cream
• Chionin 知恩院
• Yasaka Shrine 八坂神社
• Maruyama Park 円山公園
• Gion 祇園: Hanami-koji 花見小路, Shijo Avenue 四条通
• Kamogawa 鴨川 (Kamo River)
• Potoncho 先斗町
• Capsule Ryokan Kyoto

Day 5: Southern Kyoto & Nara

• A Sunday morning @ Kyoto
• To the South: Fushimi Inari Taisha 伏見稲荷大社
• To Nara: Train ride: Kyoto ~ Nara
• Todaiji 東大寺
• Nara Park 奈良公園
• Kasuga Taisha 春日大社
• Back to Kyoto: Kyoto Cuisine @ Manshige 萬重
• Last night @ Capsule Ryokan Kyoto

Day 6: Koyasan (Mt Koya)

• Drop big luggage at Yamato Takkyubin to send to hotel @ Kobe
• Breakfast @ Café du Monde
• To Koyasan 高野山
• Check-in to Eko-in 恵光院
• Raindrops
• Wandering around at Okunoin 奥の院 part I
• Back to Eko-in for shojin ryori dinner

Day 7: Koyasan to Kobe

• Shojin ryori breakfast
• Okunoin 奥の院 part II
• Kongobuji 金剛峯寺
• From Koyasan to Kobe
• Check in to Toyoko Inn Sannomiya 2, receive my luggage :)
• Evening stroll at Meriken Park & Kobe Harborland: Port of Kobe part I, part II
• Dinner at Osteria Gaudente
• Back to Toyoko Inn

Day 8: Kobe

• Ikuta Jinja 生田神社
• Kobe back alleys
• Kobe Kitano Starbucks
• Kitano 北野町 part I, part II, part III
• Kobe beef lunch at Wakkoqu 和黒
• To Mayasan 摩耶山 (Mt Maya) for panoramic views of Kobe and Osaka
• Back to Toyoko Inn

Day 9: Kobe to Hiroshima

• Take JR Shinkansen Nozomi from Shin-Kobe station to Hiroshima station
• Keep my big luggage in Hiroshima station locker
• Check in to Hana Hostel
• Peace Park
• Wandering around in downtown Hiroshima
• Back to Hana Hostel

Day 10: Hiroshima to Miyajima

• Take JR ferry to Miyajima
• Check in to Ryoso Kawaguchi 旅庄かわぐち
• Mt Misen 弥山
• Daishoin 大聖院
• Floating Torii Gate
• Back to Ryoso Kawaguchi for dinner

Day 11: Miyajima to Osaka

• Itsukushima Shrine 厳島神社
• Miyajima Omotesando shopping arcade
• Take JR ferry back to Hiroshima, collect luggage from locker
• Take JR Shinkansen Nozomi back to Kansai, Osaka
• Check in to First Cabin (staying here for the rest of the days)
• Wandering in Southern downtown of Osaka (Minami): Dotonbori 道頓堀, Shinsaibashi 心斎橋
• Dinner at Kani Doraku かに道楽

Day 12: Church of Light & Umeda

• Visit the Church of Light
• To Northern downtown of Osaka (Kita): Umeda 梅田
• Shopping centres
• Umeda Sky Building
• Takimi-koji 滝見小路
• Back to Minami: Dinner

Day 13: Osaka Bay Area

• To Bay Area: Kaiyukan 海遊館 (Osaka Aquarium)
• Tempozan Market Place & Ferris Wheel
• Back to Minami again: Dinner

Day 14: Osaka Castle & Otaku Shopping

• Osaka Castle 大阪城
• Nipponbashi Den-Den Town 日本橋でんでんタウン
• Dinner at Duboraya Fugu づぽらや ふぐ

Day 15: Leaving Japan

• Take OCAT bus to KIX
• Sky View observation deck
• Depart @ 5pm