JJapan Trips

6 Day Broad Itinerary for 11 people Dec 23 – 28, Kyoto – Nara – Osaka

  • December 18, 2025

Hello, I’ll finally be able to travel to Japan which has been a long time dream of mine, especially since covid cancelled our supposed 2020 trip. Im open to any and all comments, which I really do appreciate. Basically I just have some places in general that we’d like to visit but have not yet mapped out which day or when. Wanted to get your opinions before mapping out something horrible. Also very open to suggestions

11 people (58 oldest, 16 youngest)

Arrive at KIX 11:55 Dec 23
Hotel Hokke Club Kyoto 23-26
The Weekly Green in Namba 26-28
Depart KIX 18:00 Dec 28

Not sure yet if getting a JR West Pass.
KIX to Kyoto – Haruka Express. Is an hour or hour and a half enough time after landing for the seat reservation? Considering exchanging the JR West pass if ever, and getting all the necessary airport stuff out of the way (pocket wifi, suica, etc)

Kyoto –
Koyomizu-dera
Kinkaku-ji
Fushimi Inari
Arashiyama Bamboo and Monkey Park
Kyoto Tower
Higashiyama

A Nara Day tour as well

Osaka –
Osaka Aquarium
Osaka Castle
Umeda Sky
Dotonbori
Nambayasaka
Den Den Town
Shitenno-ji
Abeno Harukas

Also, planning to go to other places on my personal time, after hours. These other places are so far:
Kyoto-
Kamagawa Delta (For my Tamako Market dreams)
Osaka –
Space Station Bar
Hedonist Cocktail Bar

by immanoel

4 comments

  1. For a group this size, I’d suggest looking at tour groups itineraries to see how they handle things. It sounds really unwieldy to try and plan joint activities. 

  2. This actually looks like a solid first Japan trip, especially with a mixed-age group.

    Logistics-wise: 1–1.5 hrs after landing is fine for Haruka if you’re not rushing KIX is efficient, but with 11 people I’d buffer closer to 1.5 hrs. JR West Pass only makes sense if you’re doing multiple JR trips; otherwise Haruka + local IC cards is simpler.

    Kyoto list is classic but good just don’t try to cram everything. Group Higashiyama + Kiyomizu together, do Fushimi Inari early, and be realistic with Arashiyama (it’s a half-day). Nara as a day trip works well.

    Osaka plan is also fine Dotonbori/Namba at night, Umeda during the day. With your hotel in Namba, you’re well placed.

    I planned something similar and WanderVlogs helped me sanity check pacing and find quieter spots for evenings, which helped a lot with mixed groups. Overall nothing here is “horrible” just pace it and accept you won’t see everything.

  3. No need for seats reservation. You don’t know how much time it’ll take to get out of the airport or if your flight will get delayed. 

    No pass works for you.

    There is no SUICA in the Kansai region because it’s issued by JR East. You get the ICOCA, issued by JR West. Different companies.

    Looks pretty difficult to do everything as an 11 peron group, especially getting around and eating out. In Kyoto you’re gonna need taxis to get to/from Kinkakuji for example. 

    You’re also kinda pressed for time in Osaka if you only have a full day there and on the 26 you’re most likely gonna have to do Nara plus changing hotels between Kyoto and Osaka.

    Is everybody able to hike up to the monkey park?

    No need for a tour of Nara. Take a train, walk to the park, walk to the temples/shrines/etc. That’s it.

  4. Suggest getting an e-sim if your phone supports it, much easier than pocket Wi-Fi. I use Ubigi. Just a note that last time we went to Kyoto, it was very difficult to get into a restaurant without a reservation and there were only two of us. Will you be booking ahead for dinner reservations?

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