Very nice scenery!! But the cherry blossom or Sakura season is bit hard to catch and one rainfall can cause all flowers gone.

By the way, when is the best period to go? 1st week of April?

1. We have experienced staying overnight at KIX in November this year which was also Kyoto's peak season. I think there are plenty of chairs at 2nd floors and we did manage to find places to sleep but it won't be very comfortable for sure. There was a resting room located at Aeroplaza (next to Refresh Square) which I think is a better place to sleep (for free) as there also have few seats like sofa bed but very limited and this resting area provide blankets also. Since you have 4 adults here, I suggest 2 adults go straight to Aeroplaza after clear custom to check if there are empty chairs there as this place is occupied fast. Then 2 adults book the chairs at 2nd floors, here would be easier to find places to sleep but no blanket lah.

Aeroplaza also located at 2nd floor, from terminal 1 2nd floor, look for the signage to train stations. There is a link bridge (if I could remember clearly) after the Nankai and JR station. The Refresh square is near to Nikko Hotel. Aeroplaza has coin operated shower room (500 yen for 15 mins) operate 24 hours.

2 & 3. Whether Kansai Thru Pass pay off, you need to do the comparison of cost. I notice you want to activate on day 3 to visit Hieizan? But Hieizan is more convenient to reach by JR and JR is not covered by KTP. The direct bus to Hieizan and the Eizan ropeway is not operating during winter. I never been to this place before but based on the information given in Japan's guide, the most convenient way is to reach Hieizan is through Hieizan Sakamoto station (1 transfer if come from Emmachi station) using JR trains. KTP can only use for the Hieizan cable car ride. (1620 yen round trip) For KTP to pay off, you need to ride 5200 yen in 3 days or 4000 yen in 2 days.

5. KTP might paid off if you visit Kobe and Hemeji but not the most convenient way to reach Hemeji, you may refer to their model course. From your itinerary, it look like day 3, 4 and 5 for KTP but the place that you stay (near Emmachi) is more convenient by JR. Since you already have ICOCAcard, perhaps just use ICOCA instead? For me, I think I will just use ICOCA pass to KOBE and Nara, JR 1 day pass to Hemeji based on the place that you stay.

I read from the backpacker (Chinese) forum that they are launching a new card/pass which combined private railway and JR in December this year, you may Google more information on this new pass?

This post has been edited by jefferenelee: Dec 24 2015, 07:49 AM

We just came back from Japan last year November. During our last visit, I have put Fushimi Inari early in the morning and we started to hike up to the peak of Mount Inari as early as 7am, no crowd and fresh air. It took about 2-3 hours to complete the course. We went to Nishiki market and Kodaiji after Fushimi Inari and already damn exhausted after all the walking, so have decided to drop the Kiyomizu-Dera night illumination.

Hence, I am just wondering the day 3 per Lee90's itinerary is it too much? We went 3 places also exhausted already, my smart phone shown that we have walked 28k steps and about 21km for that day.

I think it's better that you put the hotel address instead of the Airbnb address since Airbnb is still illegal in Japan for now. I have experienced the custom officer asked and clarified on the Minshuku address in Kanazawa which I booked through Booking.com.

The 1st link said the new law to be submitted in December 2017?