Kansai area this Dec !!!

[Sauron]

Planning a trip there, currently looking at 22 to 27 Dec.

In addition to Osaka and Universal Studios, will also be going to Kyoto, Nara and Kobe.

Just wondering if it will be worth going Kyoto as it is winter and probably the scenery will not be quite bleak and not nice. Any comments/advise? (Unfortunately, the dates are quite fixed)

 

[James Tang]

Planning a trip there, currently looking at 22 to 27 Dec.

In addition to Osaka and Universal Studios, will also be going to Kyoto, Nara and Kobe.

Just wondering if it will be worth going Kyoto as it is winter and probably the scenery will not be quite bleak and not nice. Any comments/advise? (Unfortunately, the dates are quite fixed)

Just my opinion:

YOu may not see snow but a bleak Kyoto has its charm as well. We are probably going 2 weeks after yours hee. Have seen Kyoto during sakura and autumn leafs. So this time trying winter

 

[Sauron]

Just my opinion:

YOu may not see snow but a bleak Kyoto has its charm as well. We are probably going 2 weeks after yours hee. Have seen Kyoto during sakura and autumn leafs. So this time trying winter

I guess I don't have much choice as the dates are fixed unless I skip Kyoto entirely.

Do you think it will be too cold to be outdoors? Since there will probably quite a lot of walking around.

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Have you been to Tokyo?
That period can see Christmas illumination in Tokyo.

 

[Sauron]

Have you been to Tokyo?
That period can see Christmas illumination in Tokyo.

Yeah, been there before but last visit was 10 years ago - so I guess I am very out of date with the latest attractions there.

More or less decided on Kansai area as some of my family members have not been there before and we have not been to USJ as well ...

 

[Wood41]

To me Kyoto shrines without cherry / autumn leaves are not worth going .
Snow in Kyoto is rarer.

My 3rd Kyoto autumn leave in 3rd week of Nov.

Tokyo was still full of brilliant yello Ginkgo
a week before Xmas 2015 when I was there.
A few red autumn trees in Shinjuku Gyeon were spotted.

 

[Ruriel]

To me, Kyoto at any time of the year is worth going. I went kokedera last December and I still managed to see two full bloomed sakura trees in the garden. I'm not a fan of sakura though. I went there to see moss, not sakura.

I too, thought in December there will be nothing much to see in Kyoto anymore. But nope, there were still much to see as long as you manage your expectations. It's not as bleak and botak (as in the trees) as I thought. There were still occasional koyo that can be seen! Not as flourishing and definitely not in the peak la, but there's still some. (I went in mid Dec though.)

And Kyoto station has a very nice towering Christmas trees on the higher levels usually, with some light show on the steps. Not as grand or as extravagant as other Christmas illuminations elsewhere in other cities, but still brings a smile to our faces.

 

[purpleberry]

How much did you get for the airtix?

 

[Sauron]

How much did you get for the airtix?

Haven't buy yet but went online to check and disappointed to see that it will cost about 1.2k per person

 

[dudered]

I went Kyoto in the first two weeks of December in 2015, as part of my Osaka-Kyoto leg, and the fading autumn leaves were still a sight to see. I imagine it can't be compared to the scenery in true autumn season.

Winter does make it more enjoyable to walk around, it won't be too cold if you're actively walking about. Plus as a day trip from Osaka is definitely worth it in any season imho.

 

[kifo]

kyoto anytime is great as long as it is not end of July till mid august.... (ie stay as long as the gion matsuri is over and go somewhere cooler!)

 

[purpleberry]

Haven't buy yet but went online to check and disappointed to see that it will cost about 1.2k per person

You may need to commit soon. Prices are very high this year somehow.

 

[Jamesky]

Booked my ticket last March on Thai Airways.. Ill be there in Kyoto-Osaka in 18 Dec. to 27 Dec. Also interested in your feedback.

 

[James Tang]

Can definitely walk around if you wear the right clothing. We walked in Otaru when it was snowing quite heavily..... during last Jan 2016.

Speaking of which, yeah the area is quite nice even when it is winter. That Cmas tree is quite tall although located on the platform around level 3.

You may want to purchase as early as possible if everything is confirmed. Price will go up drastically.

For example for SQ flights in October, the price difference if you buy now and in September is over 500 bucks for premium economy

 

[dungeonalley]

Just went last year early Dec. Kyoto in Dec in my opinion is nice as well! although not much of orangey leaves but it has its beauty. Weather was also nice to walk around as it's still not so cold yet. Tokyo would be colder.

Somehow i feel that airtix this year seems to be more pricey as compared to last few years. I managed to book on 600+ when I went last year, and early this year as well.

 

[purpleberry]

Booked my ticket last March on Thai Airways.. Ill be there in Kyoto-Osaka in 18 Dec. to 27 Dec. Also interested in your feedback.

Good decision. Did you get yours at $400?