Kansai is one of the most interesting regions to visit Japan. It is where Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe cities are located. Initially I allocated 5 days to visit this region but later on decided to make it 8 days 7 nights trip.  Covering these places requires much of time as there are lot of interesting places and must visits. Surely it needs a lot of planning to go this trip especially for first timers in the land of rising sun. This is the whole purpose I created this guide for people who wants to explore Kansai without burning their time and emptying their pocket.

Please feel free to use this guide.

 

Itinerary

8 Days/ 7 Nights

Day 1 ( Osaka Trip: Arrival, Check in, Dotombori, and Namba)

11:13 AM – 1:46 PM  Tokyo Station – Shin Osaka ( Via Shinkansen)

1:46 PM  –  2:40 PM Shin Osaka  to Capsule Hotel

2:40 PM  – 3:00 PM  Check in Shell Nell Namba – Leave Baggage

3:00 PM  – 8:00 PM  Explore Dotombori Street, Takoyaki Tasting, Glico Man and Dinner around Namba

8:00 PM  – 9:00 PM  Refresh and Doze Off

 

Day 2 ( Osaka Trip: Sumiyoshi Taisha and Park, Abeno Harukas, Shinsekai, Shitennoji Temple, Osaka Castle and Umeda Sky Building)

7:00 AM  –  8:30 AM Morning Refresh, Breakfast

8:30 AM  –  8:51 AM Train Ride from Namba Station to Sumiyoshi Station ( Via Nankai Line)

8:51 AM  – 10:00 AM Explore Sumiyoshi Taisha and Sorihashi Bridge

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM Roam around Sumiyoshi Park

10:30 AM – 10:50 AM Sumiyoshi Station to Shin Imamiya (Via Osaka Loopline) to Tennoji Station

10:50 AM – 12:00 PM Explore Abeno Harukas 16th Floor Garden and Lunch @ Caffe Ciao Presso

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Overcoming alto phobia at Abeno Harukas Observation Deck

1:00 PM  – 1:15 PM Walk from Tennoji Station to Shinsekai

1:15 PM – 2:00 PM Window Shop, Eat and Selfie with Tsutenkaku Tower at Shinsekai

2:00 PM – 2:20 PM Walk Shinsekai to Shitennoji Temple

2:20 PM – 3:30 PM Admire the old shrines at Shintennoji Temple

3:30 PM – 3:50 PM Walk Shintennoji Temple to Tennoji Station

3:50 PM – 4:02 PM Train Ride Tennoji to Osakajokoen Station (via Osaka Loopline)

4:02 PM – 4:30 PM Walk from Osakajokoen Station to Osaka Castle

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Admire, Selfie and people watching at Osaka Castle

5:30 PM – 6:00 PM Back to Osakajokoen then Train ride to Osaka Station

6:00 PM – 6:15 PM Walk Osaka Station to Umeda Sky Building

6:15 PM – 6:45 PM Marvel at the Umeda Sky Building

6:45 PM – 7:45 PM Train ride Umeda Station to Namba Station, Dinner at Dotombori

7:45 PM – 8:00 PM Walk back to Capsule Hostel

8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Refresh and Doze Off

 

Day 3 ( Osaka Trip: Universal Studios Japan)

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Morning Refresh, Breakfast

8:00 AM – 8:25 AM Train Ride Namba to Shin Imamiya Exchange for Osaka Loop Line for Universal City

8:25 AM – 9:00 AM Queue for Universal Ticket and Entrance

9:00 AM – 7:00 PM  Explore USJ Theme Park, Spiderman, Jurassic Park, Minion, Jaws, Real 4D Monster, Water World, Harry Potter Ride, Hippogliff, Terminator, and Flying Dinosaur

7:00 PM – 7:30 PM Dinner at USJ

7:30 PM – 7:55 PM Train Ride Universal City to Namba Station

7:55 PM – 8:10 PM Walk back to Capsule Hotel

8:10 PM – 9:00 PM Refresh and Doze Off

 

Day 4 (Kyoto Trip: Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizudera Temple, Higashiyama, Gion District )

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Morning Refresh, Breakfast

8:00 AM – 8:15 AM Early check out at Shell Nell Namba

8:15 AM – 8:20 AM Train ride Namba to Higobashi Station

8:20 AM – 8:30 AM Move to new hostel @ Ark Hostel Cafe dining, Drop Luggage

8:30 AM – 8:45 AM Walk Hostel to Yodoyabashi Station

8:45 AM – 9:35 AM Train Ride Yodoyabashi Station to Fushimi Inari Station (Via Keihan Line)

9:35 AM – 11:30 AM Explore Fushimi Inari Shrine and Thousand Torii Gates

11:30 AM – 11:40 AM Train Ride Fushimi to Kyoto Station

11:40 AM – 12:00 AM Bus ride Kyoto Station to Kiyomizu Michi Bus Stop ( Via Bus number 100)

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Explore Kiyomizudera Temple

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM Window Shopping, Buying Omiyage at Higashiyama district.

2:30 PM – 2:40 PM Bus Ride Kiyomizu Michi bus stop to Gion Bus Stop

2:40 PM – 4:00 PM Explore Geisha District of Gion, Window shop and sample local sweets

4:00 PM – 4:50 PM Train Ride Sanjo (Kyoto) – Yodoyabashi (Via Keihan Line)

4:50 PM – 5:05 PM Walk Yodoyabashi Station to Hostel

5:05 PM – 5:45 PM Late Check in, Refresh

5:45 PM – 8:00 PM Dinner and Chill  at Ark Cafe.

8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Refresh and Doze Off

 

Day 5 ( Kyoto Trip: Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Togetsukyo Bridge, Tenryuji Temple and Zen Garden, Kinka Kuji Temple)

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Morning Refresh, Breakfast

8:00 AM – 8:10 AM Higobashi to Umeda (3 mins ride then 7 mins walk from Nishi Umeda to Osaka Station)

8:15 AM – 9:14 AM Osaka to Saga Arashiyama

9:14 AM – 10:00 AM Walk from Station to Bamboo Forest, Rent and Donned Yukata

10:00 AM – 11:45 AM Wander at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

11:45 AM – 1:00 PM Lunch and Chill at Togetsukyo Bridge

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Explore Tenryuji Temple and Zen Garden

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM Walk back to Saga Arashiyama then Train ride to Kyoto Station

3:00 PM – 3:40 PM Kyoto Bus Station to Kinka Kuji Temple ( Bus 101 or 205)

3:40 PM – 5:00 PM Explore Kinka Kuji Temple Ground

5:00 PM – 5:40 PM Take Bus back to Kyoto Station

6:00 PM – 6:40 PM Kyoto Station to Osaka Station

6:40 PM – 7:00 PM Walk to Nishi Umeda then Train ride to Higohashi Station

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Dinner and Chill

8:00 PM – 9:00 PM  Refresh and Doze Off

 

Day 6 ( Nara Trip: Kofukuji Temple, Nara Park, Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha)

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Morning Refresh, Breakfast

8:00 AM – 8:05 AM Higobashi to Namba (4mins walk from Namba Subway to Osaka-Namba)

8:15 AM – 8:55 AM Osaka Namba to Kintetsu Nara ( Via Kintetsu Nara Line)

8:55 AM – 9:20 AM Visit Shops and Food Tasting at Sanjo Dori

9:20 AM – 9:30 AM Walk Sanjo Dori to Kofukuji Temple

9:30 AM – 11:00 AM Explore Kofukuji Temple Ground

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Meet and feed the deers at Nara Park

12:30 PM – 1:00 PM Quick Lunch at Nara Park

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Explore Todaiji Temple Ground and amaze at the largest sitting buddha in Japan

2:30 PM – 2:50 PM Photo Walk from Todaiji Temple passing Nara Park to Kasuga Taisha

2:50 PM – 4:00 PM View Wisteria flowers and Stone lantern at Kasuga Taisha

4:00 PM – 4:20 PM Walk Kasuga Taisha back to Kintetsu Nara Station

4:20 PM – 5:00 PM Kintetsu Nara to Namba Station

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Dinner at Namba

6:30 PM – 6:50 PM Walk to Namba Station then to Higobashi Station

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Refresh and Doze Off

 

Day 7 ( Kobe Trip: Akashi Daikyo Bridge, Kobe Harborland, Meriken Park, Kobe Beef, Chinatown, Ikuta Jinja Shrine )

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Morning Refresh, Breakfast

8:00 AM – 8:10 AM Higobashi to Umeda (3 mins ride then 7 mins walk from Nishi Umeda to Osaka Station)

8:15 AM – 9:04 AM Osaka Station to Maiko Station

9:04 AM – 9:14 AM Walk to Akashi Daikyo Bridge

9:14 AM – 11:00 AM Marvel at the Architectural Wonder of Akashi Daikyo Bridge

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM Lunch at Maiko Marine Promenade

11:30 AM – 11:40 AM Return to Maiko Station

11:40 AM – 12:00 PM Maiko Station to Kobe Station

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Explore and Walk Kobe Harborland

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Sightseeing at Meriken Park

2:30 PM – 2:45 PM Walk Meriken Park to Chinatown

2:45 PM – 3:30 PM Explore Chinatown and sample Sino-Japanese food

3:30 PM – 4:15PM Try Kobe Beef at Daichi

4:15 PM – 4:30 PM Walk to Ikuta Jinja Shrine

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM Explore and Window Shop at Sannomiya

5:30 PM – 5:58 PM Sannomiya to Umeda ( Osaka Station)

6:10 PM – 6:20 PM Umeda Station to Higobashi Station

6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Chill at Ark Hotel Al fresco Lounge

8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Refresh and Doze Off

 

Day 8 ( Osaka Station  Itami (Osaka)Airport, Haneda Airport, Home Sweet home)

04:30 AM – 5:20 AM Refresh and Checked Out at Ark Hostel

5:26 AM – 6:08 AM Higobashi – Umeda ( Hankyu) – Hotarugaike – Osaka Airport

6:08 AM – 7:00 AM Checked in Luggage, Pre Boarding

7:05 AM – 8:15 AM ANA flight from OSAKA to Tokyo ( Haneda Airport)

8:20 AM – 9:08 AM Haneda Airport to Roppongi

9:08 AM – 9:15 AM HOMESWEET HOME

 

Expenses

Day 1 Osaka Trip

14,650 Shinkansen Tokyo – Osaka 1 way

3,378 Food

18,028 Total

 

Day 2 Osaka Trip

1070 Train Rides ( Sumiyoshi, Tennoji, Osaka Jokoen, Umeda)

830 Lunch @ Caffe Ciao Presso

1500 Entrance Abeno Harukas 300 Skydeck

300 Entrance Shintennoji Temple

1120 Snacks

980 Dinner @ Ebinoya

5800 Total

 

Day 3 Osaka Trip

660 Train Rides

7038 Universal Studios Japan Entrance Ticket

1450 Lunch

1100 Butterbeer

700 Souvenir

2006 Snacks

1000 Dinner

13954 Total

 

Day 4 Kyoto Trip

1180 Train + Bus Rides

1585 Snacks

800 Souvenir

400 Entrance Kiyiomizudera Temple

2900 Dinner

6865 Total

 

Day 5 Kyoto Trip

2940 Train  + Bus Rides

1684 Snacks

3240 Kimono Rental

820 Entrance Tenryuji Temple and Zen Garden

400 Entrance Kinka Kuji Temple

1580 Dinner

10,664 Total

 

Day 6 Nara Trip

1480 Train Rides

1360 Snacks And Lunch

150 Deer Crackers

500 Entrance Todaiji Temple

1290 Dinner Okonomiyaki

4780 Total

 

Day 7 Kobe Trip

1810 Train Rides

1910 Snacks and Lunch

5200 Kobe Beef

8920 Total

 

Day 8

1210 Train Rides

10890 ANA Flight Osaka to Tokyo

12100 Total

 

Accommodation

9238 Shell Nell Namba Hostel ( 3 nights)

14097 Ark Hostel ( 4 Nights)

23335 Total

 

Over All expenses

104, 446 Yen –  Includes all Transportation, Food, Souvenirs, Entrance and Accommodation for 8 Days/7 Nights

 

Note: This trip happened during the golden week in May 2017. Hostels are bit expensive so as Transportation.

 

Planning to explore Kansai in the future? Don’t be shy to drop a message.