KANSAI GUIDE

May 10
Arrival at KIX

Take the Kansai Airport Express "HARUKA"
-this is a direct train to Shin-Osaka Station, travel time is about 50 mins
Ticket: Buy the IC +ICOCA Card (one way only) for 3300yen at the JR West Ticket Office in the airport
*note: keep the ICOCA Card, we will still use it for the return trip to the airport
* Last train to Shin Isaka departs at 9:00pm

IF YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO RIDE THE LAST HARUKA TRAIN

You can take:
JR Airport Rapid Express, alight at Osaka Station
1190yen, 1 hr and 10 mins
transfer train
Take JR Kyoto Line, alight at Shin-Osaka Station
160 yen, 4 mins. 


May 11, 2017
OSAKA

Buy: One day eco-card at any Subway Station
*800 yen
(note: Subway Line is different from JR Lines, but usually located at the same place)

Plan
Osaka Castle
Sakuya Konohana Kan located at Tsurumiryokuchi Park for the Osaka Rose Festival
Shinsaibashi/Namba/Dotonbori

>Osaka Castle

Directions:
From Shin-Osaka Station, take Subway Midosuji Line, alight at Honmachi Station(M18)
Transfer train, take Subway Chuo Line, alight at Tanimachi-4 chome(C18)
Walk to Osaka Castle
Entrance to castle grounds 200 yen. 
Link https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4000.html

>Tsurumiryokuchi Park
Sakuya Konohana Kan
For the Osaka Rose Festival

Directions:
Go back to Tanimachi4-chome, take Subway Chuo Line, alight at Morinomiya Station(C19)(next station)
Transfer train, take Subway Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line, alight at Tsurumi-Ryokuchi Station(N26).
https://osaka-info.jp/en/page/events-osaka-roses-festival
link http://www.sakuyakonohana.jp/english/

>Shinsaibashi/Namba/Dotonbori
For Sightseeing, shopping
Directions:
Go back to Tsurumi-Ryokuchi Station, take Subway Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line,alight at Shinsaibashi Station(C16)
Walk to Dotonbori
Link https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4001.html

GOING HOME
Find Namba Station, take Midosuji Line, alight at Shin Osaka Station(M13).



May 12

KYOTO

7:30am 

How to get there:
>from Shin Osaka Station board JR Special Rapid Service going to Kyoto Station via JR Kyoto Line
travel time: 29 minutes

Plan
Arashiyama Bamboo Groves
Tenryuji Temple
Togetsukyo Bridge
Kinkaku-ji Temple
Gion District (Maruyama Park and Yasaka Shrine)
Fushimi Inari Taisha

8:30am
1. Arashiyama, Kyoto
to see Arashiyama Bamboo Groves, Tenryuji Temple and Togetsukyo Bridge

How to get there:
>from Osaka Station board JR Special Rapid Service going to Kyoto Station via JR Kyoto Line
travel time: 29 minutes

>transfer train going to Saga-Arashiyama
JR Sagano or JR Sagano Rapid Service
travel time: 16 minutes

What to see:

Arashiyama Bamboo Groves
Tenryuji Temple 
entrance is 500 yen
Togetsukyo Bridge

see link: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3912.html

10:00am
2. Nijo Castle
UNESCO World Heritage Site

How to get there
>go back to Saga-Arashiyama Station, alight at JR Nijojo station
entrance: 600yen
link: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3918.html
Lunch

After Lunch
4. Kinkaku-ji Temple
Golden Pavillon

How to get there:
take bus no. 101 from Nijo to Kinkakiju
entrance: 400 yen


5. Gion District, Maruyama Park and Yasaka Shrine
Geisha District

free
How to get there:
take Bus No. 59 to Gion


6. Fushimi Inari Taisha
free

How to get there:
take Keihan Railway from Gion station to Inari station (around P100/210yen)

Go back to Kyoto Station via JR Nara Line



May 13
Nara & Uji

Plan
Nara
Naramachi
Kofukuji Temple
Nara Park
Todaiji Temple
Kasuga Taisha
Uji
Byodoin Temple


How to get there:
>From Osaka Station go to Tennoji Station via Osaka Loop Line
>From Tennoji Station go to Nara Station via Yamatoji Line (Yamatoji Rapid Service)

*from JR Nara Station, every place is walking distance
please wear your walking shoes. :)
p.s. If you get tired from walking, you can ride Loop Bus number 2

1. Naramachi
see link: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4108.html

2. Kufukuji Temple
UNESCO World Heritage Site
entrance: 300 yen
see link : https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4101.html

3. Nara Park 
see link: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4103.html

4. Todaiji Temple
UNESCO World Heritage Site
entrance 500 yen
see link: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4100.html\

5. Kasuga Taisha
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Note: this one is a bit far, you can board the Loop Bus 2
see link: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4102.html


afternoon

UJI
What to See
Omotesando Street
Byodoin Temple
Matcha Shops


How to get there from Nara: Take the Miyakoji Rapid train or the Rapid train in the Nara Line going to Kyoto. Travel time: around 30 mins. 

Omotesando Street
Matcha Shops

Byodoin Temple
UNESCO World Heritage Shrine
*the Phoenix Hall is the one in the 10yen coin
entrance: 600yen
closing time 5:30pm
link:https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3923.html

Uji River
For Sightseeing
link: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3980.html

Uji Teahouses
link:https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3977.html


Going back to Osaka
Nara Line to Kyoto
Miyakoji Rapid Train (30 mins)
Kyoto Line to Osaka (30 mins)



May 14

Himeji/Kobe

Plan 
Himeji Castle
Kobe


From JR Osaka Station to JR Himeji Station vi JR Kobe Line
Travel time: 1 hour and 4 minutes

1. Himeji Castle
How to get there:
15-20 minute walk from the JR Himeji Station or 5 min. bus ride (100yen)
Entrance: 1000yen
see link: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3501.html

2. Kobe
How to get there:
JR Himeji Station to JR Motomachi Station via JR Kobe Line
travel time 40 minutes

2.1 Meriken Park 
see link: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3552.html


May 15

Osaka

Namba/Shinsaibashi
For Shopping

Namba 
What to see here: Dotonbori
Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade
>You can do your shopping here
How to get there:
Nishiumeda Station to Namba Station via Midosuji Line
see link: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4001.html

Namba to KIX
Jr Namba Station to Tennoji Station
160yen (use the remaining balance of the ICOCA card)
Transfer trains From Tennoji Station to KIX
Take JR Airport Rapid Line
1060 yen (50 mins) (Use ICOCA Card)


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