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<\/a><\/a>Day 1 (Nagoya – Kyoto)<\/h1>\n
Travel from Chubu Centrair International Airport (Nagoya) to Kyoto<\/strong> (1.5 hrs): this is a reasonably easy journey to make after we decided to fly to Japan via Nagoya Airport. Basically, from the airport, we took the Meitetsu Limited Express train from the airport to Nagoya, then from Nagoya it is easy to get to Kyoto itself. Our 4 Day Kansai Wide Pass was starting only on Day 02, so we had to pay for the Nagoya to Kyoto ride separately. There is also the Shinkansen option between both cities, so go for it if you’d like to shave some time off the journey. The tickets for the Meitetsu Limited Express airport-to-station transfer can be purchased from Klook.<\/p>\n Kyoto: Philosopher’s Walk<\/strong> (2 hrs) [blog post here<\/a>]: this was a lovely way to get started on our first day in Japan – but I suspect due in large part also to the fact that we started the walk past mid-afternoon where there really weren’t many visitors still wandering the area. It’s also because unlike the 2010 trip, we didn’t begin the walk from Jodoji Nishidacho – which might be a bit congested as many visitors would start from there because of ease of transportation options. Rather, we got in from around the mid-point of the walk – Shishigatani Honenin Nishimachi – then followed the path northwards. You could just as well walk southwards too, and I suspect any crowds would be even less dense there.<\/p>\n Nara Deer Park<\/strong> (0.5 hrs) [blog post here<\/a>]: An unmissable experience for any visitor to Nara. A couple of things to keep in mind though: firstly, the park is fairly large, and the deer will congregate around the stalls that sell biscuits as they know that is where they get fed. I’ve put only 0.5 hrs as a visitation time here within the park itself as the deer’s interest in you is largely dependent on whether they sense you have food on you! If you have the money to spend, then by all means buy as many stacks of biscuits and have the very tame deer follow you around the city haha. If the spot you’re checking out in the park is congested with visitors, feel free to move on and find another area.<\/p>\n Yoshikien Garden and Todai-ji<\/strong> (2 hr+) [blog post here<\/a>]: Yoshikien Garden is a small landscaped garden you can check out when in Nara. Keep in mind though that there are larger and – arguably – far better known gardens in Japan, so if you’re already visiting those, there might not be much in Yoshikien that you won’t see elsewhere. Still, this garden sees few visitors, so if you’d like a peaceful and serene stroll through a landscaped garden, Yoshikien remains worth checking out.<\/p>\n Todai-ji is a different matter: the temple grounds are large, and if you haven’t already gotten your fix of having deer harass you for food, there are plenty roaming the temple grounds here too. How much time you spend here will depend on whether you want to enter the main temple itself. There is an admission charge, and there were plenty of large tour groups entering the temple on the day we visited.<\/p>\n Uji-Bashi Bridge and Byodo-in Street<\/strong> (1 hr) [blog post here<\/a>]: Uji as a city was sort of “on the way” as we returned from Nara to Kyoto, so we opted to spend the second half of Day 02 in this small city. Uji is particularly famous for its matcha products, so you’d want to spend some time at Byodo-in Street sampling those products. Uji-Bashi Bridge is worth spending a few minutes taking photos to post on social media, but there isn’t much else there, and there are prettier bridges around the Uji Prefecture Park area just further on.<\/p>\n Uji Prefecture Park<\/strong> (2 hrs+) [blog post here<\/a>]: We loved this park! No, there’s nothing particularly unique about it, but it’s a spot largely frequented by locals and not tourists, and the trees and flora were showing their best late autumn colors the afternoon we visited. The park is quiet and has many river-facing benches for you to sit down and contemplate life.<\/p>\n Kobe Animal Kingdom<\/strong> (2 hrs+) [blog post here<\/a>]: We listed three cities outside Kyoto for this 2022 trip in order to make good use of the 4 Day Kansai Wide JR Pass: Kobe, Himeji and Osaka. Kobe is a pretty well-developed port city, and we did a 3D2N<\/a> stay in this city on our 2010 trip. This time round, we opted for different places to check out: starting with a visit to the Kobe Animal Kingdom in the morning. Think of this place as a children’s zoo, with a super cute cast of animals that you can pet and take pictures. The enclosure with felines and canines requires time slot reservations, so make sure you queue up for it as soon as you’re in the park. The Fish Spa is a novel experience too, so go for it if you haven’t done one before. There is also a Red Panda show that’s quite fun to watch, albeit in Japanese. But you get really up close with these lovely animals (no touching them though!). The other enclosures – including farm animals, one with a bear and another with a Sumatran tiger – are alright but won’t be anything you might not have already seen elsewhere.<\/p>\n Kobe Herb Garden<\/strong> (3 hrs+) [blog post here<\/a>]: If you’re a horticulturist or just someone who loves plants and flora, then this is a must visit! The visit starts with a scenic ride up the mountain via ropeway, and you basically make your way down through themed gardens. There are plenty of areas for you to stop and take a break too, including a herbal foot bath where the glasshouse is.<\/p>\n Mt. Shosha and Engyoji Temple<\/strong> (3 hrs+) [blog post here<\/a>]: The 1000-year-old temple that sits on a mountain and also the site where you saw Tom Cruise learning the ways of the Samurai. If you’re in a hurry, pay the necessary fee to take the bus up to the main temple, take your pictures, then take the same bus ride back. But the visit was made more memorable because of the human suffering involved in it for us – i.e. the climb up to the temple haha! Some parts are steep, and there will be places where you’d be staring very hard at the supplied map from the entrance and wondering whether to take a left or a right. There are several buildings in the very large temple compound that you can visit, but keep in mind too that this is a working temple and not a museum, so you’ll want to be alert to devotees and not be an intrusion.<\/p>\n Himeji Castle<\/strong> (2 hrs+) [blog post here<\/a>]: Arguably the most visually stunning and majestic castle in Japan, though – and at the risk of getting hate comments – I found the place more interesting from the outside than from the inside. The castle compound is really big, and you can easily spend an hour just walking along its walls and exploring the turrets and smaller keeps alone, let alone the main keep. The place is a major tourist attraction, so be prepared for crowds and visitors walking right into your lovingly framed vanity selfie. Make sure you get the combination ticket with Koko-en too (see below).<\/p>\n Koko-en<\/strong> (1.5 hr+) [blog post here<\/a>]: This garden is adjacent to Himeji Castle, and isn’t regarded among Japan’s top three landscaped gardens – but the Lord’s Residence garden with the pond in its centre is stunningly beautiful, even more so if you get to enjoy its autumn colors. The garden is mid-sized, and I reckon many visitors to Himeji Castle will also head to Koko-en. So if you’re looking for a stress-free stroll through this garden, you’d need to time it for an off-peak visit.<\/p>\n Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan<\/strong> (2 hrs+) [blog post here<\/a>]: This was our second visit to the aquarium in Osaka, and oddly, I didn’t get wowed as much as I did previously – there are better aquariums around the world. The school of dolphins though were terrifically friendly, and the wife got a really fun shot of a smiling ring seal. No kidding LOL. Still, aquariums by and large are sure hits with the kids, so go for it if you’re in the vicinity. Just manage your expectations, especially if you’re thinking the Osaka Aquarium is at the level of the S.E.A. Aquarium.<\/p>\n Osaka Castle Park<\/strong> (2 hrs+) [blog post here<\/a>]: The park is where another massively popular castle sits. On the day of our visit, we saw large tour groups all making their way to see the castle interior, and we all voted “no” – we would just admire it from the outside. From what I hear, the interior has far more to see and experience than Himeji Castle, and I guess my party – the wife, Matt and the two kids – might have been able to see and learn much if we’d joined the crowds.<\/p>\n Arashiyama Bamboo Forest<\/strong> (1 hr) [blog post here<\/a>]: Japan has a number of bamboo groves, but the one in Arashiyama easily takes the crown for being the most beautiful. The web is filled with scary pictures of crowds walking the path and leading others to conclude that it’s impossible to get those Instagrammable pictures of the forest. But it’s doable. You just have to visit when no one else is there: either very early, or very late. We went with the former option and saw perhaps half a dozen other visitors that morning scattered along the walking path through the grove.<\/p>\n Fushimi Inari Shrine<\/strong> (1 hr+) [blog post here<\/a>]: Another iconic image of Kyoto is the thousands of torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine. We got to the shrine mid-morning and joined several hundred visitors already there, including a large number of high school students. Fortunately, the crowds thin out about ten minutes into the path, so if you want your pictures without people, keep walking until you reach quieter sections. Unfortunately, the density of gates also gets lower the further in you go. I reckon you’ll want to take pictures whenever an opportunity presents itself as you start on the path, as there are often brief moments without human traffic.<\/p>\n Gion<\/strong> (2 hrs+) [blog post here<\/a>]: The famed geisha district. We debated whether the lady we saw during our visit was a maiko or a geisha, and concluded that we were lucky enough to see a geisha. Beyond that, the district is pretty touristy and can get quite congested. Still, make the trip to soak in the atmosphere, and observe where local photographers are congregating – you can often tell from their pro gear and that many are middle-aged Japanese men haha – they might just be waiting for a geisha to appear.<\/p>\n Higashi Chaya District<\/strong> (1 hr+) [blog post here<\/a>]: There are actually two historical districts separated by a river in Kanazawa. The Higashi Chaya District is the more famous one and correspondingly more congested with visitors with its shops for dining and craft products. Both feature the signature wooden houses of old, and this district is arguably the more atmospheric of the two. You’ll want to visit both just to see the difference in vibes.<\/p>\nDay 2 (Nara – Uji)<\/h1>\n
Day 3 (Kobe)<\/h1>\n
Day 4 (Himeji)<\/h1>\n
Day 5 (Osaka)<\/h1>\n
Day 6 (Kyoto – Arashiyama)<\/h1>\n
Day 7 (Kyoto – Kanazawa)<\/h1>\n