Visit Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Kobe for 5 to 7 days sample itinerary

4 to 6 days
Fushimi Inari shrine is most popular spot in Kyoto in these days. ©Kyoto Convention Bureau /©JNTO
2014.08.26
Yasaka shrine in Kyoto Higashiyama area. ©JNTO
Yasaka shrine in Kyoto Higashiyama area. ©JNTO

I have received inquiries about the trip to Kansai area many times. So I make a basic itinerary that includes Kansai area, such as Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and Nara only. This is 7 days itinerary. But you can shorten or extend as you can.

Now I would like to tell you the best route and most economical deals about this trip.

Day 1 – Kansai airport (KIX) to Kyoto

Central exit of Kyoto station. (C) JP Rail
Central exit of Kyoto station. (C) JP Rail

Kansai One Pass and Haruka one way trip to Kyoto at 4,600 yen.
Overnight around JR Kyoto station

If you arrive in Kyoto early, you can visit somewhere around Kyoto station. Fushimi Inari is only 5 minutes away from Kyoto station. Kyoto Tower is just located in front of Kyoto station. You can use Kansai One Pass to get there.

Day 2 and 3 – Sightseeing in Kyoto

Togetsukyo bridge in Arashiyama, Kyoto. ©Yasufumi Nishi/©JNTO
Togetsukyo bridge in Arashiyama, Kyoto. ©Yasufumi Nishi/©JNTO

There are several deals available. I recommend you to use both Kansai One Pass and Kyoto City Bus Pass. Kansai One Pass covers city bus too but Kansai One Pass does not give you unlimited travel. It offers only convenience. On the other hand, Kyoto City Bus Pass is sold at 600 yen for one day. You can take a bus as many as you want. You can get the worth of it by only 3 rides. You can use Kansai One Pass only for taking a train and/or a subway.

Kyoto City Bus and Subway Pass (Kyoto Sightseeing Card) is also available. But this does not cover other railways, such as JR, Hankyu, Keihan railways. You will take various trains in Kyoto. Please see the link below to find the train route in Kyoto:

Kyoto train guide

You can get anywhere in downtown Kyoto by bus. It is possible to visit all places only by city bus. However city bus is always crowded and the traffic in Kyoto has been very heavy in these days. I recommend you to take a train or a subway as much as you can.

Kansai One Pass and Bus Pass are the best combination for sightseeing in Kyoto, in my opinion.

Day 4 – Trip to Nara and transfer to Osaka

Todai-ji temple in Nara ©Nara Prefecture/©JNTO
Todai-ji temple in Nara ©Nara Prefecture/©JNTO


Visit Nara on the way to Namba, Osaka from Kyoto.

You can take either Kintetsu Railway or JR to get Nara. Both trains depart from Kyoto station. But Kintetsu railway’s Nara station is better location. It is 1 km closer to most of tourist spots in Nara than JR Nara station.

After Nara, you can take either JR or Kintetsu to get Osaka. Please see the link below to find the route to Nara:

Nara access guide

Day 5 – Trip to Kobe and Himeji from Osaka

There are lots of castles in Japan. But Himeji castle is one of four existing original catle buildings. (C) JNTO
There are lots of castles in Japan. But Himeji castle is one of four existing original catle buildings. (C) JNTO

You may use JR Kansai Area Pass one day at 2,200 yen if you book it online in advance. If you buy it online, you have to exchange the pass at Shin-Osaka, Osaka, Kyoto or Kansai airport.

JR West Pass official site

You can purchase this pass at many major stations in downtown Osaka but the price is a bit higher. There is other trains to Kobe and Himeji, like Hanshin railway. But JR is the fastest to get Himeji. Please see the post, How to access to Himeji and Kobe from Osaka to get the details.

Day 6 – Sightseeing in Osaka

Dotonbori is very popular place to eat and shop near Namba. ©Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau/©JNTO
Dotonbori is very popular place to eat and shop near Namba. ©Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau/©JNTO

There are lots of deals available in Osaka. Please see the link below to find the deal:

How to choose the pass for sightseeing in Osaka

Day 7 – Osaka to Kansai airport (KIX)

If you want to take Haruka again, you can purchase Haruka discount ticket. This discount ticket is available for overseas tourist who has ICOCA or Kansai One Pass only.

ICOCA and Haruka, Kansai One Pass and Haruka

Otherwise you can choose other deal in the link below:

How to choose the deal for trip to/from KIX

I hope this sample helps you to build your trip plan.

Comments

  1. Mac J says:
    August 16, 2016 at 6:04 am

    Hi Takeshi!

    This coming November, my wife and I will visit Kansai and plan to visit Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe and Himeji in 6 days. Here is our itinerary:

    Day 1: Arrive in Kansai Airport around 8am and purchase ICOCA+Haruka round way tickets, then travel to Kyoto Station.Plan to visit Kiyomizu dera, Yasaka shrine and Gion. Is is possible to slot in Fushimi Inari trip here? Stay at Piece Hostel Sanjo.

    Day 2: Sightseeing in Nijo Castle, Arashisyama, Kinkaku-ji Temple, Nishiki market, Pontocho.

    Day 3: Checkout then visit Fushimi Inari then back to Kyoto for luggages. Travel to Nara in the afternoon. Visit Todaiji Temple and Isuien Garden in Nara. Then travel to Osaka and check-in somewhere in Tennoji Station.

    Day 4: Travel to Himeji (Himeji Castle) using Shinkansen (a must try for me) from Shin-Osaka. Travel to Kobe using rapid train and do sightseeing in Kobe until evening (Kitano Ijinkan, Chinatown, port Kobe, mount rokko possible?). Then travel back to Osaka.

    Day 5: Buy Osaka Amazing pass for 2 days and enjoy Osaka.

    Day 6: Use Osaka Amazing pass and enjoy Osaka. Checkout and en-route to KIX via Tennoji in the evening for the midnight flight (return).

    Given this itinerary, what is our best pass to use especially in day 4 (Himeji & Kobe trip)? I am thinking of Kansai Surutto Pass but it doesn’t cover Shinkansen. I never ride shinkansen before, therefore I want to give it a try for one way trip to Himeji but return using rapid train. How about my plan for Kyoto visit, I hope it is possible to do.

    Thanks for feedback.

    regards,

    Mac

  2. Soozys says:
    August 11, 2016 at 1:14 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I’m Soozys,
    Very appreciate about all your blog and the guide about Japan, really helpful to me for make itinerary !

    I and a friend will be travelling to Osaka by 19/10-1/11 and this is our first time visit Japan. Below are my planned itinerary and us hostel just stay at Sembayashi Omiya (nearby the station and subway) for the whole travel, so we are day trip every day. Kindly advise me whether there is more suitable pass that we can use or an easy route. Thank you!

    Day 01: Reach KIX around 4pm, night hang around Namba and Sembayashi.

    Day 02: Explore Kobe city. To Kobe Sannomiya station with icoca, using Kobe City Loop Pass at Koke town.

    Day 03: Explore Mount Rokko. To Rokko station by icoca, and buy Rokkosan Tourist Pass.

    Day 04: Explore Himeji city. to Himeji station by KTP.

    Day 05: Explore Kyoto city. to Kyoto station by icoca, hang around Kyoto station, Shijo, Gion, Sanjyo and Kiyomizutera Area. (I’m not sure need buy any tourist pass or coupon not)

    Day 06: Koyto, visit Nijyojyo castle, Nisijin, Kinkakuji and Kitanon by icoca. (I’m not sure need buy any tourist pass or coupon not)

    Day 07: Kyoto, visit Fushimi Inari Taisha and Uji by icoca.

    Day 08: Kyoto, visit Arashiyama by take Sagano station line, use KTP.

    Day 09: Nara, use Nara 1Day Pass of Keihan Line.

    Day 10: Osaka, visit Umeda and Osaka castle area by Osaka Amazing Pass 2Day.

    Day 11: Osaka, visit Namba, Shitennōji, Osakako by Osaka Amazing Pass 2Day.

    Day 12: Osaka, visit Shinsaibashi and Nippombashi by icoca.

    Day 13: Hang around Osaka and Namba by icoca.

    Day 14: Byebye Japan!

    I arrange the most far away destination to be first and Namba,Osaka to be last, cause I think we will be tired between day 8 – 10.

    Many thanks!

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      August 11, 2016 at 12:58 pm

      Hi Soozys,

      First of all, please see the link below:
      https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/how-to-build-the-itinerary-and-choose-the-deals-for-osaka-stay-5-to-7-days.html

      Kansai thru pass is the best choice for the trip to outside Osaka in most cases. You will stay in Sembayashi-Omiya. You will take subway Tanimachi line from Sembayashi Omiya everyday. You have to go to Umeda, Namba or Yodoyabashi to take other trains to get other cities, like Kyoto and Kobe. It costs 240 yen one way from Sembayashi Omiya to Higashiumeda. Higashiumeda is same location as Umeda and JR Osaka. Kansai thru pass covers this cost but other deals do not.

      I mentioned “after trip” in Osaka in the link above. If you go to Nara, you may come back a bit earlier. You may go to other spots in Osaka. Kansai thru pass covers this situation.

      As I checked your plan, Kasnai thru pass is the best choice for day 2, and from day 5 to 9. You can purchase Hanshin railway rokko pass at Hanshin railway Umeda station. That covers the trip to Kobe from Umeda too.

      For the trip to Himeji, Kansai area pass is better than Kansai thru pass. Kansai area pass covers JR train that is much faster than trains that is covered by Kansai thru pass.
      https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/how-to-access-to-himeji-and-kobe-from-osaka.html

      ICOCA gives you convenience but it does not give you unlimited travel. It is not a good idea to use ICOCA for the trip to outside Osaka.

      These tips are written in the first link in this reply. Please refer it.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. Eleen says:
    August 4, 2016 at 6:57 pm

    Hello Takeshi

    I have read many of your post and the comment but I’m still confused.

    Should I buy a ICOCA and Haruka round trip ticket or one way if my travel plans is

    Kix – Kyoto – Osaka – kix

    Because I’m not too sure if you said that it Will be cheaper if buy separately.

    Thank you

  4. Jose Manuel says:
    July 28, 2016 at 4:50 am

    Hi Takeshi! It will be my family’s first time to travel to Japan next week and already, I am feeling intimated and confused by the many transport options that I have been reading in several travel blogs. Here is our itinerary:

    Day 1: Arrive in Kansai Airport, then enroute to Kyoto Station.
    Day 2: Sightseeing in Kyoto (Kinkaku-ji Temple, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kiyomizudera Temple, Arashisyama)
    Day 3: Kyoto to Nara Park, then back to Kyoto for luggages.
    Kyoto to JR Namba Station in late afternoon.
    Day 4: Sightseeing in Osaka (Dotonburi, Shinsaibashi, Kuromon Market)
    Day 5: Mitsui Outlet Store, then back to hotel for luggages
    Enroute to Kansai Airport from JR Namba.

    Given this itinerary, what is our best transport option. Will the Kansai Area Pass serve our requirements? How about the Nankai Thru Pass? Please help.

    Did we miss any other “must-see” tourist spots.

    Thanks for feedback.

  5. Tan says:
    July 26, 2016 at 12:16 am

    Hi Takeshi,
    I will arrive Kansai Airport aroudn noon on 26th Aug and plan to base myself in Kyoto for 3-4 nights to visit Golden Pavillion, Arashimyaya, and Nara deer park. Do you recommend staying near Kyoto station or in the city itself? (I am afraid there are no restaurants around Kyoto station). Which is the best transport option?
    Next, I will move to Osaka to do Universal Studios for a full day and another day for sight seeing in Osaka (last day as plane departs 6pm). Do I stay near Osaka station too?

  6. Joanne says:
    July 23, 2016 at 8:08 am

    Hai Takashi

    I will be going to kyoto,nara ,uji n osaka thru kansai airport in november 2016 for 9 days. Kindly advise me on d cheaper way to travel along d way.
    Tq

  7. Suying says:
    July 22, 2016 at 12:06 am

    Hi Takeshi,
    I am from Singapore.
    I will be traveling to Tokyo in Sept 9 to 19.
    In between we would also like to visit Kyoto and Osaka for 4 to 5 days before going back to Tokyo.
    Just wondering should we buy JR pass but I was told it is not valid for Nozomi train.
    Please advise.
    Thanks!
    Thank you

  8. Gen says:
    July 15, 2016 at 11:16 pm

    Hi Takeshi,
    First of all, thank you for your prompt reply on previous message. I have further read the link that you provided about Kobe. I would like to explore spots nearby sannomiya stations only so I think it is better for me to use Hanshin Tourist Pass (which only 500 yen/1 day)? If I use ICOCA without the pass, the round trip from Umeda to Kobe sannomiya already costs 640 yen.
    And the offical webpage of Hanshin Tourist Pass stated that it can be used on Kobe Rapid Transit Railway lines as well. Correct me if I am wrong. Thank you

    Cheers,
    Gen

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      July 15, 2016 at 11:41 pm

      Hi Gen,

      You have understood how to use Hanshin Tourist Pass correctly. This is the best deal and you can take Kobe Rapid Railway. Actually many of Hanshin Railway trains go through this railway. You may not find the difference between Hanshin and Kobe rapid.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  9. Gen says:
    July 14, 2016 at 6:01 am

    Hi Takeshi,
    Below is my planned itinerary based on your recommendations. Kindly advise me whether there is more appropriate pass to use instead. Thank you
    Day 1:
    Reach KIX 4pm. From KIX to Kyoto (use ICOCA
    2000yen+Haruka 1600yen)

    Day 2: Explore Kyoto using ALL DAY CITY BUS PASS 500yen
    Places to visit: Nishiki market, Kinkakuji Temple, Kiyomizudera, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Gion District (the bus pass does cover all these areas?)
    OR you recommend to use KYOTO SIGHTSEEING PASS that includes bus/subways 1200yen?

    Day 3: Kyoto to Nara using KINTETSU KYOTO LINE 620yen (can I use ICOCA for Kintetsu?)
    In Nara, would you recommend to buy Nara Bus Pass (500yen) as I checked the visiting spots are mostly within walking distance
    From Nara to hotel near Osaka Kitakagaya Station (change station at Tennoji 470yen + change station at Daikoducho 240yen) – use ICOCA

    Day 4: Osaka Kitakagaya station use HANSHIN LINE to Kobe-Sanomiya (round trip 1200yen using ICOCA)
    In Kobe, do you recommend walking distance visiting spots or A-DAY PASS 660yen?

    Day 5 and Day 6-plan to explore OSAKA using 2-DAY AMAZING OSAKA PASS 3000yen (since one day is 2300yen, if use ENJOY ECO CARD also wont be much different in price)

    Day 7: From Osaka Kitakagaya Station to KIX
    Go to Namba 240yen, change NANKAI 920yen
    (can I use ICOCA here for NANKAI?)

  10. Jorine says:
    June 21, 2016 at 1:01 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    i going to Osaka & Kyoto & Nara, but planning to stay in Namba only for whole trip..which pass should i get?

    Thanks

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