Japan Spring Trip 2019 : A complete guide to Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka on budget (places to go, what to eat, and how to get there) - Part 2
April 27, 2020
For details on my trip in Tokyo, please view Part 1: Japan Spring Trip 2019 : A complete guide to Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka on budget (places to go, what to eat, and how to get there) - Part 1
Day 5: Kyoto Day 1
09.00 - 11.00 : Fushimi Inari Taisha
For details on my trip in Tokyo, please view Part 1: Japan Spring Trip 2019 : A complete guide to Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka on budget (places to go, what to eat, and how to get there) - Part 1
Day 5: Kyoto Day 1
11.30 - 14.00 : Nishiki Market
14.30 - 16.30 : Kiyomizudera Temple
17.00 - 18.00 : Yasaka Shrine and Maruyama Park
18.00 - 19.00 : Head back to Osaka
Fushimi Inari Taisha
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| Fushimi Inari Station |
Since our accommodation was located in Osaka, we had to take rapid train that will take us to Kyoto area. It took us around 1-1.5 hours of commuting. Yes, the commuting time was not that rapid, and it was not cheap at all. However, kindly note that it is way much cheaper than purchasing JR Pass. It's your call whether you want to be fast or be on budget.
Kyoto is divided into 5 areas: northern, southern, central, western, and eastern area; each area offers its own distinctiveness. If you have time, please use it to explore each and every corner. You will not be dissatisfied, 100%!
Nishiki Market
Kiyomizudera Temple
Previously, I was warned by my cousin that buses can be pretty confusing in Kyoto. However, Kyoto was not Tokyo. To reach the next destination, we need to hop on a local bus. It proved to be convenient, to my surprise. With Google map on my grip, I simply followed the direction on which bus to take and which was the nearest stop to Kiyomizudera. We got off at Kiyomizu-michi bus stop and did a little hiking to reach Kiyomizudera temple. Souvenir shops and dessert shops were lining on both side of the streets that lead us to the temple. It was such a pleasant hike as we can stop by the shops at anytime, to take some rest and shop for unique souvenirs. Kiyomizudera is popular among tourists for enjoying fascinating view before sunset.
Yasaka Shrine and Maruyama Park
From Kiyomizudera, take a 20-minute stroll to Yasaka Shrine, one of a famous temple in Gion district. The long walk was supposed to be exhausting but the enjoyment of sightseeing in Kyoto fueled my energy. Yasaka Shrine was located adjacent to Maruyama Park, which was said to be one of the best cherry blossom viewing spot. Sadly, it appears I was a bit earlier for Sakura Season in Kyoto. However, strolling in the streets of Kyoto has been a humble yet one of the best experience I had in Japan.
Day 6: Arashiyama and Osaka
09.00 - 11.00 : Arashiyama Bamboo Forest11.00 - 12.30 : Tenryuji Temple
14.00 - 16.00 : Abeno Harukas
16.30 - 17.30 : Early dinner at Tempura Makino
17.30 - 20.00 : Shopping at Shinsaibashi - Dotonbori area
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
One thing I learnt about visiting popular tourist destination: go as early as possible. It is best to visit Arashiyama Bamboo Forest on early morning, where it became less touristy. Since I lived in Osaka, I needed to take a one-hour train ride from Osaka to Kyoto, plus a bus ride from Arashiyama Station to the bamboo grove. When I finally arrived at Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, the site was already flooded with tourists. It was basically a walking path inside the bamboo grove, which was popular for a great photo shoot spot. With scenery so picturesque, walking through the bamboo forest will also be relaxing, if only I arrived early in the morning.
Tenryuji Temple
There are a lot of attractions in Arashiyama area other than the bamboo grove. Among other temples, Tenryuji Temple is definitely a must-visit. It is located just a walk away from the bamboo grove. It is ranked among Kyoto's five great Zen temples and the largest temple in Arashiyama. Stroll around the garden to absorb the zen atmosphere.
Abeno Harukas
We finally bid farewell to Kyoto and head to Osaka. The two cities are located only around an hour away, yet offer a contrasting ambiance. In Kyoto we could easily spot temples and traditional Japanese houses, while Osaka is a modern city similar to Tokyo. To get a thorough view of the city, we went to Abeno Harukas, the tallest skyscraper in Japan. The observation deck is called Harukas 300, for being 300 meters tall. It offers 360 degree views of Osaka. Try visiting Harukas 300 at night for a magical view of City Light Fantasia show.
Early Dinner at Tempura Makino
Never tasted tempura as good as this one! We sat in front of the chef, waiting for the freshly fried tempura to be served on our plates. The tempura was so crispy, but really juicy on the inside. Flavorful seasonings are not required, the shrimp itself was already sweet and tasty. As simple as it looks, the dish brought warmth to our hearts.
Shop at Shinsaibashi - Dotonbori area
We closed off the night by doing some shopping and eating street food around Shinsaibashi - Dotonbori area. A good place to literally shop for everything is Donquijote. You can find a variety of makeup, skincare, snacks, collectibles, and even unique souvenirs. During the night, after spending a long hours of shopping, we bought Takoyaki from a random stall, and it turns out really good! Even better than the famous ones I ate in Indonesia.
Day 7: Universal Studio Japan
As a huge fan of Harry Potter, I must not miss USJ, indeed! It is very important to be as early as possible as the queue could get as long as 3 hours. Here is how interesting Klook can be: they have a package bundle for Harukas 300 and USJ VIP entry for as cheap as $20. This is a really good alternative if the Express Pass is too expensive for your budget. Oh and don't forget to buy Butterbeer!
You need to go to Abeno Harukas the day before USJ to redeem the VIP bracelet. It can guarantee you the exact entry time for USJ so you can enter the theme park before anyone else. I use the VIP bracelet to get to Harry Potter rides as early as possible. Since we went earlier than park opening time, we could enter the ride without queuing. The VIP bracelet was really worth every penny!
Note that the bracelet only gave you early entry to the park, not each of the ride. After that, we need to queue for every ride. Other than Harry Potter, the most popular ones were the Minions and Spiderman. Expect around 2-3 hours of queuing, especially since I went to USJ on peak season.
At night, do not go home early. This is the climax part of my entire journey in Japan. Just after sunset, we marched to Hogwarts to watch the light show. I couldn't describe how fascinating it was and how lucky I was to be able to be there. Next was the night parade. Characters from Universal Studio were lining up, from Harry Potter to Transformers, showcasing light performances under the darkness of the night. Time spent in USJ was no doubt one of the most memorable experience.
Day 8: Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori
Last day means more shopping! Since there are a lot to explore around Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori area, we decided to explore the area for the last time. We dropped our luggage at coin locker in nearby station, then stroll around the area. I hunted for street foods, while my mom wanted to do last minute shopping before our flight at 7 PM. Luckily, we arrived at Dotonbori on time for lunch, cos I really can't wait to try Osaka's authentic foods. Plus I was so starving!
It seems I wasn't the only one thinking of going to Dotonbori for lunch. Due to its popularity, the area was so crowded with tourists and locals alike. There were queues everywhere. Fortunately, I was able to order gyoza (pork dumpling) from the infamous Osaka Osho without queuing. As expected, it was so yummy, the pork meat was so juicy and well seasoned. Next, we went to queue on a popular okonomiyaki (octopus pancake) restaurant, but since it was too long, we opted for the restaurant just across the street. Turns out it tastes good as well, the okonomiyaki filling is so generous. I really enjoyed the meals I had in Osaka, and would certainly come back for another good meals to satisfy both my tongue and belly! As the kitchen of Japan, Osaka surely has a lot to offer.
Sadly, it was already time for me to bid farewell to Japan and went back to reality. I've never thought that my trip to Japan would be so meaningful, thanks to the culture, food, and vivid scenery. Made a promise to myself to go back to Japan and explore other parts of the country someday!
