[Autumn] Kansai

[zanyduke]

I am thinking of taking the opporunity of Malaysia Airline sales to go to Osaka for 15 - 18 days with my mum. She fell in love with Japan when she went Hokkaido early this year. This is my first time going to Japan.
Just wondering if my aim is to enjoy the autumn views, should i stay in Kansai area only? Will it get boring as it seems that there are a lot of temples. I notice a lot of people go to Tokyo. Should i go early or late november? So many questions

 

[marandaz]

I am thinking of taking the opporunity of Malaysia Airline sales to go to Osaka for 15 - 18 days with my mum. She fell in love with Japan when she went Hokkaido early this year. This is my first time going to Japan.
Just wondering if my aim is to enjoy the autumn views, should i stay in Kansai area only? Will it get boring as it seems that there are a lot of temples. I notice a lot of people go to Tokyo. Should i go early or late november? So many questions

Kansai area is big...

I was there in early Nov last year...

Usually the peak of autumn colours in Kansai is starting from Mid-Nov onwards though you can see little-some colours changes in early Nov. And I am talking about areas that are around sea-level e.g. Osaka, Kyoto, etc...

For Osaka, you can go Minoo Natural Park (箕面公園)

Minoo Park

For Kyoto, there are a lot more places to see the autumn colours e.g. Kiyomizudera Temple (清水寺) and the surrounding temples/attractions,

Not sure about Nara or Kobe as I have never been there...

For those of higher elevation in Kansai e.g. Mount Koya, then the peak Autumn colours is in early Nov

Mount Koya

Overall autumn colours is highly dependable on weather.

Not sure about your definition of "fun" or "boring", so can't really give you examples of attractions in Kansai.

 

[evilerniex]

I am thinking of taking the opporunity of Malaysia Airline sales to go to Osaka for 15 - 18 days with my mum. She fell in love with Japan when she went Hokkaido early this year. This is my first time going to Japan.
Just wondering if my aim is to enjoy the autumn views, should i stay in Kansai area only? Will it get boring as it seems that there are a lot of temples. I notice a lot of people go to Tokyo. Should i go early or late november? So many questions

mid to late nov will be a good time to catch autumn leaves, but that will ultimately depend on the weather.

kansai has a lot more than temples. it is a big region, other that the usual osaka and kyoto, u can also visit kumano region, koyasan, okayama etc. for city sightseeing, u can visit osaka and kobe. for natural sceneries and onsens, kumano region is a good place to go.

u can also consider travelling out of kansai to hiroshima and miyajima in chugoku region. of course u can also do both tokyo and kansai, and in this case, u may want to get open jaw tickets to fly into kansai and out from tokyo.

 

[James Tang]

I am also in the midst planning for Kansai autumn as well for this year. 15-18 days can definitely go a lot of places.

IMHO (after reading various threads and FRs in this forum, and some excellent photos posted as well), we have planned (still in the process lah) to go:

1. Kyoto: Few of the temples like Kiyomizudera have night autumn leaf lightings/illuminations

2. Osaka: Mainly for shopping and base for moving to other areas for one day trip

3. Kobe: For beef actually

4. Hiroshima/Miyajima: Historical (atom bomb) and Otorii gate in the sea (in my readings, there is an Autumn leaf garden in Miyajima, wondering if that area have lots of momiji)

5. Nara: for the deers and temples.

I think it depends on what your mom likes. Temples and nature for Kyoto; more interesting shopping in Osaka (and aquarium and Universal Studio too).

I have planned it to be around 12-13 days and very free-and-easy and still have about 1.5 days worth of free time. I even included half a day in Cat cafe haha.

As for autumn leaves, I think just go around the time and let nature works on the amount of momiji. Last year we planned exactly the right time to see momiji in Hokkaido, but it was delayed for 1-2 weeks due to extended hot weather.

And a few years back we didn't plan at all for Sakura and when we got to Tokyo and Kyoto, both area was just nice having full bloom. So this time, we just don't plan exactly and just go... surely can see some if not the whole mountain.


PS: Thanks evilerniex for doing the compilation of FRs for easy reference!

 

[jgyy1990]

Go japan try yamazaki whisky?

 

[evilerniex]

4. Hiroshima/Miyajima: Historical (atom bomb) and Otorii gate in the sea (in my readings, there is an Autumn leaf garden in Miyajima, wondering if that area have lots of momiji)

for miyajima if i recall correctly, between the main area where the temples are, and the cable car station to mount misen, there is a trail/park called momiji-something. so instead of taking the shuttle bus to the station, u take a short walk for about 10min to enjoy the momiji

 

[James Tang]

for miyajima if i recall correctly, between the main area where the temples are, and the cable car station to mount misen, there is a trail/park called momiji-something. so instead of taking the shuttle bus to the station, u take a short walk for about 10min to enjoy the momiji

Ya you are right. According to JNTO PDF file on Miyajima. Misan is at the further north of the island. They recommended walking and the whole hike takes 4 hours for the whole island. Don't think we are going to do that.

My plan is to walk from pier to the Otorii gate, the temple there, along the way looking at the pagodas. Then turn north for the Momiji Park/Garden slight north, at the foot of Misan. Well, may hike Misan a bit depending on the time actually.

Lets hope the timing is right. Should be quite nice

 

[zanyduke]

Thanks you all for the advice. Most likely i will stay with Kansai and Chugoku Area rather than travelling way up to Toyko. Will live Tokyo for my next round. God, I haven't even go 1st round yet The top aim is enjoy beautiful momiji and post office shopping.

A bit worried because i don't speak any japanese and will travel using the trains. I love taking trains. A lot of homework to do. A lot of links to go through. I didn't know about cat cafe. I read somewhere about a cat station master. Was thinking going to see that famous cute cat.

[James] Hope that you can share your itinerary too. Thanks.

 

[James Tang]

Thanks you all for the advice. Most likely i will stay with Kansai and Chugoku Area rather than travelling way up to Toyko. Will live Tokyo for my next round. God, I haven't even go 1st round yet The top aim is enjoy beautiful momiji and post office shopping.

A bit worried because i don't speak any japanese and will travel using the trains. I love taking trains. A lot of homework to do. A lot of links to go through. I didn't know about cat cafe. I read somewhere about a cat station master. Was thinking going to see that famous cute cat.

[James] Hope that you can share your itinerary too. Thanks.

Sure... still planning. Will share some time next week....

 

[evilerniex]

Thanks you all for the advice. Most likely i will stay with Kansai and Chugoku Area rather than travelling way up to Toyko. Will live Tokyo for my next round. God, I haven't even go 1st round yet The top aim is enjoy beautiful momiji and post office shopping.

A bit worried because i don't speak any japanese and will travel using the trains. I love taking trains. A lot of homework to do. A lot of links to go through. I didn't know about cat cafe. I read somewhere about a cat station master. Was thinking going to see that famous cute cat.

[James] Hope that you can share your itinerary too. Thanks.

dun worry, i dunno any japanese either and i have survived a few japan trips
key thing is to plan the transportation, everything else not much of a problem

the famous station master is at Kishi station in Wakayama. u can make a day trip down to wakayama from osaka.

 

[James Tang]

dun worry, i dunno any japanese either and i have survived a few japan trips
key thing is to plan the transportation, everything else not much of a problem

the famous station master is at Kishi station in Wakayama. u can make a day trip down to wakayama from osaka.

There are Tama and Nitama.

first saw this on Sam's photos actually.... going there for half a day as well...

Wakayama City Tourist Association | Wakayama Marina City

For Cat cafes:

http://en.japantourist.jp/view/neko-no-jikan-cat-cafe-osaka-city

http://www.necocha.jp/top001.html

We make it a tradition to visit one whenever we go Japan. Went to one in Tokyo and Hokkaido already

 

[James Tang]

Just a very prelim plan but the days should be around there. And We may switch depending on the weather as well:

Day 1:
Arrives at Kansai Airport-- Check in at hotel in Osaka ---- Umeda City/Sky garden --- Underground Shopping Belt

Day 2:
Osaka Aquarium and walk around that area---- Dontonbori area shopping and eating
(KIV: Osaka Fish Market and Endo sushi)

Day 3:
Kobe

Day 4:
Cat Cafe (Neko no Jikan)(This will take 2 hours aka half day gone); Namba Shopping area

Day 5: Wakayama themed trains and cat stationmasters (Tama and Nitama). Still have 1/3day for lazing around and night unplanned (probably covering what we didn't manage to go on day 1 and 2 (shopping)

Day 6:
Hiroshima/Miyajima

Day 7:
Nara; Take night train (around dinner time) to Kyoto

Day 8:
Fushimi Inari Shrine (Morning); Higashiyama area. Stay around Kodaiji and Kiyomizudera for night illumination

Day 9:
Kinkakuji/Ryoanji (Morning); Old train tracks/Nanzenji/Philosopher's Path/Gingakuji. Night still free.

Day 10:
Arashiyama

Day 11:
Nishiki market, Nijo Castle. Gion

Day 12:
See how
(May fly back)

Day 13:
Fly back

 

[coldmilk]

Day 2:
Osaka Aquarium and walk around that area---- Dontonbori area shopping and eating
(KIV: Osaka Fish Market and Endo sushi)

For me, Endo Sushi is a MUST! Very good quality sushi for a reasonable price. For my coming trip, I plan to visit them at least twice!