Kansai advice needed 1st week dec

[hoshiyume]

Hi, first time going to Osaka in dec
Thinking of spending 1-2 days for Kyoto day trip, then nara 1 day.

Can anyone advise if visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine around 5pm is ok - will it be dark and ulu or still ok to see see take photo? And is there any place for eating/snacking or should I buy snacks first then go there?

If not advisable to visit at such late timing, is there any things nice at the south of Kyoto since i will prob spend a day on the central/north (Daitokuji temple > Nijo Castle > Kyoto intl manga museum...)

As for Nara, do you all rec cycling in around nara park? It seems that the park has the most attractions hence ok for day trip? Otherwise, what are the rec places?

Since I'll be staying in osaka, I saw that there's the Kansai pass thru pass, Osaka Unlimited Pass. Are both passes for consecutive days usage? And can I buy both the passes for usage? for Kansai pass thru pass, i saw that it's for most lines/buses , if I were to take Keihan main line train, is it the same as Keihan electrical railway that the Kansai pass thru is referring to?

Oh ya is it better to travel to nara/kyoto on weekends or are weekdays preferred?

Lastly, where can I buy Marusei butter in Osaka? Does KIX have it?

TIA

 

[cancer81]

given the timing of the year...

Fushimi Inari area will be quite dark. I am not sure if they have lighting for the gate path.
The gate path also takes abt 30-40 to get to the halfway point which has a good view, you can turn back from here since the gates are less dense. That gives you about 1.5 hrs outlay there.

My own plan is to visit Fushimi Inari on the way back from Nara. You go to Nara park in the morning, visit Todaiji, play with (or get played by) deer, then walk through the district. That will take up a good part of the morning.

taking the JR back, Inari will be on the way. Or you can flip it around. Up to you.

Alternatively, there is Tofukuji Temple. This has operating hours and require a ticket to access the different areas.

 

[evilerniex]

sun sets early in dec. by around 5pm, the sky would be dark, so u probably will not be able to walk the entire route of the tori gates. however, u shld still be able to visit the fushimi inari shrine.

osaka unlimited pass is for 1 or 2 days. the 2 day pass must be used on consecutive days.
kansai thru pass have 2 or 3 days version, and they can be used on any days within the validity period, need not be consecutive days
Rail Pass: Kansai Thru Pass (Surutto Kansai)

no idea about the keihan line. but u are using the line to get from where to where? maybe can refer to the map to see if the line u are using is covered

 

[feryl]

The full Fushimi inari path will take ard an hour to 90 mins unless you speed-walk. Sun sets ard 5.30 - 6pm and it gets very dark there, esp from the middle onwards. Recommend you start no later than 3pm to get better views.

 

[Nalgene123]

Hi, first time going to Osaka in dec
Thinking of spending 1-2 days for Kyoto day trip, then nara 1 day.

Can anyone advise if visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine around 5pm is ok - will it be dark and ulu or still ok to see see take photo? And is there any place for eating/snacking or should I buy snacks first then go there?

If not advisable to visit at such late timing, is there any things nice at the south of Kyoto since i will prob spend a day on the central/north (Daitokuji temple > Nijo Castle > Kyoto intl manga museum...)

As for Nara, do you all rec cycling in around nara park? It seems that the park has the most attractions hence ok for day trip? Otherwise, what are the rec places?

Since I'll be staying in osaka, I saw that there's the Kansai pass thru pass, Osaka Unlimited Pass. Are both passes for consecutive days usage? And can I buy both the passes for usage? for Kansai pass thru pass, i saw that it's for most lines/buses , if I were to take Keihan main line train, is it the same as Keihan electrical railway that the Kansai pass thru is referring to?

Oh ya is it better to travel to nara/kyoto on weekends or are weekdays preferred?

Lastly, where can I buy Marusei butter in Osaka? Does KIX have it?

TIA

i actually spent an entire day just visiting the Fushimii ward in my recent trip to Kyoto. As what other forumner has said, its better to visit the Shrine and do the climb up at an earlier time as it can be quite intimdating with all the mini shrines that is scattered along the climb up and down.

The area around the shrine is a build up area where its mostly residential estate. However, there's a family mart located right in front of the shrine where you can bet a Bento for just 399JPY (pretty delicious as well) that is heated up.

The Fushimii area is located just below Higashiyama area of Kyoto and the Shrine is usually placed as a side trip where people visiting Higashiyama will make a trip down south to the Fushimii ward to see the shrine and then proceed to Gion for the night. Thus, I would recommend that you can Fushimii in the morning then take either the Keihan or JR Line to Kyoto station either from Inari Station or Tofukuji Station (it depends whether you wanna make a trip to Tofukuji, but I recommended it as I had a ball of a time there) or walk. Tofukuji official closing time is 5pm but they chase people out by 4.30pm. It definitely worth paying that 400JPY to see the gardens. For the Higashiyama area, there's Nanzenji,Ginkakuji,Heian Shrine and Philosoper Path just to name a few attractions, so there's def alot of things to see. I just like walking around Kyoto with its tree lined streets and getting lost, some of the best temples are not the most popular like I found Eikando accidentally when I was on my way to the Philosoper Path.

Central Nara attractions are more than enough to fill the entire day. If you are feeling bored, you can go Horyuji and the Palace reconstruction site on the outskirts of Nara city.

Kansai Thru Pass can be purchased from any Osaka Tourist Centre. I bought mine at Umeda Osaka Station. The Thru Pass need not be used on cosecutive days and the days used will be selected computed on the card when u insert in into the gentry. The Thru Pass allows you to use the trains of all private rail companys which includes Kiehan,Kintetsu,Nankai and Hanshin rails. I personally use alot of Nankai rail when i used the pass as I visited mostly Wakayama prefecture.

Of course for famous destinations such as Kyoto and Nara, it would be better to do it on weekdays where the crowds are thinner

Last thing note is that the Tofukuji Station is shared by both Keihan and JR. The Keihan line doesn't go to Kyoto station only the JR line does. The one station journey will cost up to JPY180.

 

[esoteric]

I visited fushimi inari shrine last year in dec at around 9am. The little food stalls/small restaurants that are at the base of the temple were just setting up and were fully set up when I descended at about 11am. Food variety wise nothing to shout about, just generic takoyaki, fried stuff. The path got pretty crowded as it got later in the morning. Its quite an easy climb . The view at the top is nothing to shout about and the inari sushi and kitsune udon at the restaurant located at the mid point also quite average.

 

[samtcy]

Hi, first time going to Osaka in dec
Thinking of spending 1-2 days for Kyoto day trip, then nara 1 day.

Can anyone advise if visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine around 5pm is ok - will it be dark and ulu or still ok to see see take photo? And is there any place for eating/snacking or should I buy snacks first then go there?

It would be winter in Dec and sun will start to set from 4pm onwards. 4:30pm over there looks like 7pm in Singapore, so go figure. I would advise you to reach Fushimi Inari latest by 4pm, and even if you arrive at 4pm, you won't have much time to explore the place before the sky becomes darker. Unless your camera can take photos in low light, otherwise you might have problems with taking photos there when it's too dark.

There's a convenience store just outside Inari station, opposite the main entrance to Fushimi Inari.

If not advisable to visit at such late timing, is there any things nice at the south of Kyoto since i will prob spend a day on the central/north (Daitokuji temple > Nijo Castle > Kyoto intl manga museum...)
Maybe Nishiki Market? But I think most stalls will close before 6pm.

As for Nara, do you all rec cycling in around nara park? It seems that the park has the most attractions hence ok for day trip? Otherwise, what are the rec places?
Yeah, I made it a daytrip when I visited Nara. Nothing much in the evening anyway. I just walked and and enjoy taking photos of the deers roaming about.


Oh ya is it better to travel to nara/kyoto on weekends or are weekdays preferred?
If you are going during autumn peak season in Kyoto, then avoid weekends because popular places like Kiyomizudera in Kyoto is going to be extremely packed.

See reply in red

 

[hoshiyume]

Hmm seeing the replies.. I need to reschedule my shrine visit to an earlier timing..
Decided to ditch some places and head for the toei and arashiyama area...

Just realise kyoto also has a pass for tourist.
One-day pass - 500 yen for buses; 600 yen for subways
1,200 yen (for one day) or 2,000 yen (for two days) for bus and subway

Going crazy with their passes... Nvm I shall do the rescheduling first

 

[hoshiyume]

More qns:
Which station do you all advise for me to stop at higashiyama? Is it kizomizu gojo station? Then from there i can walk down the downsloping street to the various temples and eventually end up in yasaka shrine and gion? Coz from map it actually shows walking up since kizomizu is at the south of yasaka on my map..

Then how long will one take to walk along the Philosopher Path? Was thinking of traveling from kiyomizu all the way to philosopher path if our legs are able to.. on the way maybe visit a few interesting temples/shrine, or whatever that caught our attention... and also if the light permits..

Plans for now:
Day 1 Sat
Arrival KIX
Take bus to Rinku premium outlet
Travel to Kyoto (Rinku town - shinimamiya (JR Yamatoji Rapid Service) - osaka (JR Special Rapid Service) - kyoto (JR Sagano Line Rapid Service) - nijo) (Any better option?)
Nijo Castle
Kyoto Intl Museum / Downtown Kyoto around station? / Gion?

Day 2 Sun
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Kiyomizu Temple
Yasaka Shrine
Philosopher's Path (哲学の道, Tetsugaku no michi)
Gion?

Day 3
Toei Eigamura (0930-1630)
Travel to Arashiyama Area
Torokko Sage Station

Day 4 Tues
Daitokuji Temple (0900-1600)
Travel to Osaka ( Take Bus/Walk to Saiin Station, take Hankyu Kyoto Line towards Umeda to Nishinakajimaminamikata Station. Take Midosuji Line to Shinsaibashi Station)(Any better option?)

Days 5, 8
Osaka - any places nice to go but not discovered by tourist? any places tourists shouldnt go?
Osaka Castle and Park (for the park is there a specific timing to enter? coz on osaka tourist site it says Open hours - Open every day; View time - 2 hours)
Umeda
Dotonbori
Den Den town
Matsuyamachisuji Shopping Street (Does anyone recommend this place?)

Day 6 Hankyu Tourist pass
Nara Park
Nara Machi
Back to Osaka
Any more things to see/do in nara? Or is this just nice since park seems to be big?

Day 7 Fri Hankyu Tourist pass
Kobe Harborland
Asia and Pacific Trade Center (ATC)
Back to Osaka
Osaka Prefecture Goverment Sakishima Office Observatory (Cosmo Tower) 55th floor (1300-2130)
Any more things to see/do in Kobe?

 

[jeremiahtong]

Btw, Marusei butter is not sold at the Kansai Airport.

The bus pass is good enough to travel around the attractions you have listed in Kyoto. When taking the bus to Kiyomizudera, you will see Yasaka Shrine first after alighting from the bus, so it can be either your first stop or your last as you have to walk back to the bus stops which are near Yasaka Shrine to take a bus. Maybe there are other bus stops... but I walked back to Yasaka Shrine to take a bus to Kyoto Station.


Travel to Osaka ( Take Bus/Walk to Saiin Station, take Hankyu Kyoto Line towards Umeda to Nishinakajimaminamikata Station. Take Midosuji Line to Shinsaibashi Station)(Any better option?)

Yours looks complicated. I took the JR Kyoto Line from Osaka Station to Kyoto Station and arrived in about 30 mins. I paid 540 yen.

 

[coldmilk]

Day 6 Hankyu Tourist pass
Nara Park
Nara Machi
Back to Osaka
Any more things to see/do in nara? Or is this just nice since park seems to be big?

I believe Hankyu Tourist pass does not cover Nara. You may want to recheck.

 

[evilerniex]

More qns:
Which station do you all advise for me to stop at higashiyama? Is it kizomizu gojo station? Then from there i can walk down the downsloping street to the various temples and eventually end up in yasaka shrine and gion? Coz from map it actually shows walking up since kizomizu is at the south of yasaka on my map..

Then how long will one take to walk along the Philosopher Path? Was thinking of traveling from kiyomizu all the way to philosopher path if our legs are able to.. on the way maybe visit a few interesting temples/shrine, or whatever that caught our attention... and also if the light permits..

Plans for now:
Day 1 Sat
Arrival KIX
Take bus to Rinku premium outlet
Travel to Kyoto (Rinku town - shinimamiya (JR Yamatoji Rapid Service) - osaka (JR Special Rapid Service) - kyoto (JR Sagano Line Rapid Service) - nijo) (Any better option?)
Nijo Castle
Kyoto Intl Museum / Downtown Kyoto around station? / Gion?
[another way to get to kyoto is to take a train back to KIX and take ltd exp Haruka directly. however, it is going to be expensive, and the time saving may not be a lot.]

Day 2 Sun
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Kiyomizu Temple
Yasaka Shrine
Philosopher's Path (哲学の道, Tetsugaku no michi)
Gion?

Day 3
Toei Eigamura (0930-1630)
Travel to Arashiyama Area
Torokko Sage Station

Day 4 Tues
Daitokuji Temple (0900-1600)
Travel to Osaka ( Take Bus/Walk to Saiin Station, take Hankyu Kyoto Line towards Umeda to Nishinakajimaminamikata Station. Take Midosuji Line to Shinsaibashi Station)(Any better option?)
[u are trying to get from kyoto to shinsaibashi?
the usual way will be to take the JR train from kyoto to osaka station (30min, 540yen as mentioned by jeremiahtong); then change to midosuji line to shinsaibashi.
what u listed is probably similar, just that u are changing at a different station.]


Days 5, 8
Osaka - any places nice to go but not discovered by tourist? any places tourists shouldnt go?
Osaka Castle and Park (for the park is there a specific timing to enter? coz on osaka tourist site it says Open hours - Open every day; View time - 2 hours)
Umeda
Dotonbori
Den Den town
Matsuyamachisuji Shopping Street (Does anyone recommend this place?)
[park shld be open all the time coz it is an open area. btw, this is the itinerary for day 5 and 8? if it is just day 5, then it is a bit too packed]

Day 6 Hankyu Tourist pass
Nara Park
Nara Machi
Back to Osaka
Any more things to see/do in nara? Or is this just nice since park seems to be big?

Day 7 Fri Hankyu Tourist pass
Kobe Harborland
Asia and Pacific Trade Center (ATC)
Back to Osaka
Osaka Prefecture Goverment Sakishima Office Observatory (Cosmo Tower) 55th floor (1300-2130)
Any more things to see/do in Kobe?
[to me, the main attraction at kobe is Mount Rokko. if u have time, do go up mt rokko for the night view. other attractions in kobe is probably meriken park with the kobe port tower, and maybe chinatown. u can also consider visiting akashi kaikyo bridge which is a few stations away from kobe city]

comments above

 

[James Tang]

comments above

Hehe based on your recommendation, I have now included Mt Rokko for our trip haha...... wonder how far away it is

 

[evilerniex]

Hehe based on your recommendation, I have now included Mt Rokko for our trip haha...... wonder how far away it is

mount rokko is just beside the city, just that u need to take a train, then bus, and finally cable car, but total travel time is less than an hour.
Kobe Travel: Mount Rokko

 

[hoshiyume]

I believe Hankyu Tourist pass does not cover Nara. You may want to recheck.

Thanks. Yup my friend misread.

mount rokko is just beside the city, just that u need to take a train, then bus, and finally cable car, but total travel time is less than an hour.
Kobe Travel: Mount Rokko

Hmm this place looks good.. Shall check with my friend

 

[hoshiyume]

Ok instead of Hankyu tourist pass, I will be using Kansai Pass thru for Osaka-Kobe, Kyoto-Nara. My stay has been lengthened... Does anyone have any day trips to recommend using the Kansai pass thru?

 

[butterbarter]

Kansei Intl Airport is nearer to Osaka than Kyoto. In fact to get to Kyoto from KIX, you'll have to pass by Osaka. Therefore, I think it makes more sense to visit Osaka first, before Kyoto. You can buy a train ticket from the airport that will take you to Osaka's Namba station (which also includes as many rides on the subway as you want for the next day).

Also, for the Kyoto 500 yen daily bus ticket, you can buy this at vending machines or on the bus itself. So you skip the long queue at the Kyoto bus station's visitor center.

For Kyoto, I think you should also include the Golden Pavilion (beautiful temple), Ryoan-ji (famous zen garden), the bustling pedestrian malls of Sanji and Shiji, and catch a geisha (aka geiko in Kyoto) dance at Gion. They have full-length geisha dances in spring, so now you'll have to settle for the compressed version which I believe is held everyday at Gion Corner. Please double-check with the visitor-center.

Note that Osaka Castle is not a real castle. It's a fake one that was built to house a museum. That said, it does make a nice photo, but you wouldn't miss much if you missed the interior. If you want to see a real castle, there are 2 options "near" Osaka : the big and famous castle at Himeji, which is under renovation, and a smaller one at Hikone. Both are real castles that are very well preserved.

You can also check out Tsūtenkaku, an old landmark of Osaka, and also the Osaka Aquarium, one of the largest aquariums in the world and one of the rare few to house both whale sharks and manta rays. Worth a visit if you are into sea-life.

 

[coldmilk]

Ok instead of Hankyu tourist pass, I will be using Kansai Pass thru for Osaka-Kobe, Kyoto-Nara. My stay has been lengthened... Does anyone have any day trips to recommend using the Kansai pass thru?

This is interesting as I happen plan to do the exact 2 day trips (ie Osaka-Kobe, Kyoto-Nara) in my coming trip!

Would you be visiting Himeji during your trip to Kobe?

I plan to buy the 3 days Kansai Thru Pass. I will be doing the Osaka-Mt Kyoto day trip as well.

 

[cpuer]

Kansei Intl Airport is nearer to Osaka than Kyoto. In fact to get to Kyoto from KIX, you'll have to pass by Osaka. Therefore, I think it makes more sense to visit Osaka first, before Kyoto. You can buy a train ticket from the airport that will take you to Osaka's Namba station (which also includes as many rides on the subway as you want for the next day).

Also, for the Kyoto 500 yen daily bus ticket, you can buy this at vending machines or on the bus itself. So you skip the long queue at the Kyoto bus station's visitor center.

For Kyoto, I think you should also include the Golden Pavilion (beautiful temple), Ryoan-ji (famous zen garden), the bustling pedestrian malls of Sanji and Shiji, and catch a geisha (aka geiko in Kyoto) dance at Gion. They have full-length geisha dances in spring, so now you'll have to settle for the compressed version which I believe is held everyday at Gion Corner. Please double-check with the visitor-center.

Note that Osaka Castle is not a real castle. It's a fake one that was built to house a museum. That said, it does make a nice photo, but you wouldn't miss much if you missed the interior. If you want to see a real castle, there are 2 options "near" Osaka : the big and famous castle at Himeji, which is under renovation, and a smaller one at Hikone. Both are real castles that are very well preserved.

You can also check out Tsūtenkaku, an old landmark of Osaka, and also the Osaka Aquarium, one of the largest aquariums in the world and one of the rare few to house both whale sharks and manta rays. Worth a visit if you are into sea-life.

Osaka castle is a fake?
Osaka Castle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[James Tang]

I don't think it is fake, but rather, most original parts have been replaced.