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This is consolidated from our 2X trips in 2023 hehe so itโs the best of the best places and reccos! ;)
๐ฅ๐ฃ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ญ
We usually like to take a flight arriving around noon so we can grab some snacks, rest up and head out for dinner + exploring the area ๐
*Do note if you are travelling during ๐ธ Sakura Season ๐ธ youโd probably be facing some queues at the immigration. We went in Febโ23 and cleared in <30min; but waited hours and missed our dinner reservation ๐ญ in Aprโ23!!
๐ธ ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ค๐ฌ๐ด: ๐551 Horai | Eat the buns and siew mai(?) while hot, really very nice ๐คค
๐ธ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ณ: ๐Hanamaruken Hozenji | small and unassuming, we just happened to walk past but it serves reaaaally delicious dumplings, ramen & skewers!
๐ธ ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ญ: ๐Hankyu Respire | โ pros: only 4 min walk from Umeda Station, which makes it very convenient to reach the Shinkansen stations for day trips out of Osaka ๐ฅณ
๐ธ ๐๐ด๐ด๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ช๐ข๐ญ๐ด: get your Icoca card and JR Pass (can get it off Klook!) - youโre gonna need it for getting around! & if you know youโre gonna need luggage space / are worried about nor sitting together on Shinkansen, we suggest to book your confirmed trips the day you land!
๐ฅ๐ฃ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ: ๐ง๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฝ ๐๐ผ ๐๐๐ผ๐๐ผ
0630: Leave hotel and head out
0730: Reach ๐Fushimi Inari Shrine
Grab a quick bite at the convenience store and head on up! It is so beautiful when there is no crowd at this timing. It takes only about 30mins to reach the midpoint and tbh that is enough. Our friend made us walk all the way to the peak and that took us another 1.5 hours + leg pain back pain for the next 3 days and the sights are all the same ๐
OTOT
๐ธ ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ค๐ฌ๐ด: ๐Nishiki Market (opens: 10am - 6pm)
Budget 30 mins can already, honestly nothing much / fantastic but if itโs your first time, still worth a visit
๐ธ ๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ๐ด ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฅ๐ฐ: ๐Owl Forest Kyoto (opens: 12pm - 6pm) | Mameshiba Cafe (we didnโt go, queue was too long ๐ญ) | Mipig Cafe (itโs an experience ๐) | Koe Donuts | Kichi Kichi Omelette (itโs like 9min away, I think need to book!)
1400: Head to ๐Kunomocha Cafe for cute โ๏ธ cloud cakes and a refreshing drink
1530: Reach ๐Kiyomizu-dera
Try getting your fortune told and you can also contribute to Japanโs Charm Economy like Leo, who ended up buying >10 charms from each shrine we visited hahaha ๐
๐ธHirakata Park was part of our plans but we didnโt go bc we were tired from Inari ๐ but itโs a pretty park that lights up at night!
Chances are youโre not gonna need dinner, but if you feel peckish at night, just head to any Lawson (convenience store) - everything is soooo good ๐๐ค๐ป
๐ฅ๐ฃ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฏ: ๐ง๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฝ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ๐ท๐ถ + ๐๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฒ
0800: Head out for Himeji, by ๐Shinkansen, it takes ~2hours so better to be early! (Check your train hours and book the seats ahead of time)
1015: Queue for ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฉ at๐Watanabe
This was a completely random find and we were so lucky bc the kitchen is handled by only 1 chef and everything is made to order and TIMED (wow Japanese efficiency) + the place is small so it can only seat 16 at any one time (I counted ๐คฃ) so the queue cut off after us! Waited like 2 hours for our meal but it was totally worth it ๐คฉ
OTOT
๐Himeji Castle (NOT recommended for elderly / young children / anyone with leg injuries - the steps are very high and steep and you have to take off your shoes. Socks + polished floors make for a rather treacherous combination ๐คฃ)
๐Kokoen Garden
1630: Head to Kobe (~40min from Himeji by train)
1730: ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ณ at ๐Royal Mouriya (make reservations!) not only was the Kobe beef ๐ฏ๐๐ค๐ป, so were the seafood - we would totally fly back for this! (We also tried Kokubu Steakhouse the previous time, and it was nowhere near in comparison)
1900: Post dinner stroll along ๐Mosaic Kobe Harborland. (Closes 8pm) Leo is proof that if you are afraid of heights, you can still take the Ferris Wheel. Just โฆ donโt look down hahaha but say real itโs q scary all the way up and you can hear creaking LOL donโt think itโs something weโd go on again ๐ Malls here arenโt open till that late but rmb you gotta head back to Osaka anyway! So budget enough time to get back to the station to not miss your train ๐
๐ฅ๐ฃ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ: ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ณ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฝ ๐๐ผ ๐ก๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ
0900: Train to ๐Nara (~1hour)
๐ธGet your Nara Day Pass to travel around Nara region - itโll be your ezlink for the area
1000: Travel to Nara Park (10min ride)
๐ฆ Spend some time feeding the deers (the big ones are aggressive haha you have been warned!) There will be locals selling deer biscuits everywhere. Wear shoes & clothes you donโt mind getting a lil dirty bc thereโs a LOT of deer poop on the floor and the deer may also slobber on you / bite & tug on your clothes for more food hahaha
๐ Visit ๐Todai-ji Temple for a quick walk through (there are deers in there too) & contribute more to the charm economy ๐
1100: Head to ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฉ at ๐Mizuya Chaya (disclaimer: itโs a 40 min walk inclusive of uphill) but SO worth it โจ thereโs a lovely tea house and a few stray deers for the perfect chance to take a picture (waaaay less people & very scenic!) we picked the outdoor dining and everything we ordered was delicious!
1230: Explore Nara
You cannot miss ๐Nakatanidou with its iconic live mochi pounding haha a little hard to gauge the timing but see fate ๐คฃ we were lucky to have caught the men in action and you would definitely want to tapao some mochi for the road :) & if you still have space you can have ramen at ๐Kamaiki
1400: Head back to Osaka and explore Dotonburi area
๐ธ ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ณ at ๐Kano Doraku if you can (reserve months in advance ๐ฅบ) haha we missed our slot bc of the immigration sigh BUT you can still queue for crab buns outside the shop! IIRC they make it 2/3x a day (aim for the 1530 one! 1500 usually start having queue already ๐) and they sell out every single launch. It is that good!! ๐ฏ๐ฆโจ
๐ฅ๐ฃ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฑ
1030: Early ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฉ at ๐Kuromon Market
Come here on an empty stomach, you will thank us for that haha there is SO MUCH to explore. Our favourites are:
๐ธNishikawa Fish Store - for the sashimi, Uni, grilled scallops and oysters & they accept credit card ๐
๐ธMitoya - the BEST daifukus, Mik literally went 2 days in a row and the owner recognised us hahaha (go for the chocolate one!)
๐ธ่ฅ่ๅ ๆฌ่ - sorry cannot find the name in English but itโs a little shop selling tea run by these cute grandparents ๐ฅบ they brew for you to try before your purchase and they even threw in a cute tea set for us and taught us how we can make it back home!
1300: Shopping at ๐Daimaru & other stores along the way ๐
๐ธSanrio Store - we bought so many things HAHA
๐ธOur grand seiko / Tiffany purchases are all at discounted prices + tax rebate oh my god I am never buying in SG again ๐คฃ๐ญ
1800: ๐๐ช๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ณ at ๐Yakiniku Kagiya - may be a lil hard to locate this place (look out for Queenโs Court!! Then match this picture haha) the menu is all in Japanese but you really cannot go wrong (we ordered: haneshita special cut, loin & galbi, queenโs special cut) and itโs really affordable too!
#travelrecommendation #Japan #japantravel #narapark #lemon8travel #travelwithlemon8 #itinerary Kuromon Ichiba Market Nara Kyoto Himeji Kobe