Kansai Itinerary Advice March 2026 – Preliminary Itinerary

Trip History

1) November 2015 10 days Tokyo with parents

2) November 2019 14 days solo between Tokyo and Fukuoka

Would like some advice for this Kansai 14 Night Trip I'm planning with bring my parents on, 10 years after their first Japan trip.

Day 1 Arrival 6:20 AM – Kyoto – March 2, 2026

  • JR Haruka to Kyoto + Drop off Luggage in Lockers/Hotel Front Desk
  • Nishiki Market
  • Potocho
  • Check In Accomodation

Day 2 – East Kyoto

  • Ginkakuji
  • Kiyomizudera
  • Higashiyama
  • Nanzenji

Day 3 – South Kyoto

  • Fushimi Inari 
  • Toji Temple
  • Fushimi Sake District
  • Tofukuji Temple

Day 4 – North and West Kyoto

  • Kinkakuji
  • Arashiyama
  • Suntory Yamazaki Distillery
  • 東映太秦映画村, Tōei Uzumasa Eigamura?

Day 5 – Uji – Day Trip from Kyoto

  • Byodoin Temple
  • Fukujuen Ujicha Kobo/Takumi no Yakata
  • Ujigami Shrine
  • Uji River

Day 6 – Nara – Day Trip from Kyoto

  • Todaiji Temple
  • Isuien Garden
  • Nara Park
  • Naramachi

Day 7 – Shiga – Day Trip from Kyoto

  • Omi Hachiman

Day 8 – 11 – TBD – Depart Kyoto

  • Option A – Kobe + Himeji + Onsen (Arima or Kinosaki)
    • Looking at the map Kinosaki is quite far away from everything else. Might go for Arima instead.
  • Option B – Kanazawa + Toyama + Kaga/Awara Onsen
  • Option C – ?

Day 12 – Osaka – Arrive from TBD

  • Namba
  • Kuromon
  • Dotonbori

Day 13 – Osaka

  • Americamura
  • Shinsaibashi

Day 14 – Osaka – Free and Easy – Shopping

Day 15 – Morning flight from KIX – 10 am – March 16, 2025

Notes:

1) Considered Koya-san but not our cup of tea.

2) Flight booked but accommodation to be booked.

Questions:

1) Is it overkill to spend like 4 nights in Kyoto?

2) Would it make sense to do Kyoto then Osaka or the reverse? My rationale is that it's better to end in Osaka cause of the early flight.

3) Any other day trips from Kyoto/Osaka worth considering?

Thanks in advance for the advice and feedback!

by mianghuei