Ok that's good to know.
I intend to reach the entrance of the shrine around 7am and maybe spend an hour or more there before going to Tofukuji.

I must reach Tofukuji at 8:30am when it opens in order to avoid the maddening autumn crowds

Only way I can add Arima Onsen is if I drop something from my itinerary, looks pretty tough haha.
Oh well, can't see them all I reckon.

For 4 people, definitely go for Airbnb as it is much cost efficient.
For couples like us, splurging on hotels occasionally is alright

Ok let's say I want to add Arima Onsen, which part of my itinerary below can be changed to allow for that?

Day 01: Arrive into Osaka (17th Nov) around 12pm from Okinawa. Purchase a HARUKA/ICOCA package and head off to Kyoto. Hotel for the next 5 nights will be Sotetsu Fresa Shijo-Karasuma. Any suggestions on what to do after checking in for the rest of the day/night? Was thinking of taking a leisurely stroll around Southern Higashiyama.

Day 02: Ginkakuji - Honen-in - Philosopher's Path - Yojiya Cafe - Shinnyodo - Eikando - Nanzenji then free & easy for the rest of the day, maybe some shopping at night?

Day 03: Fushimi Inari - Tofukuji - Sanjusangendo - Kiyomizudera - Sannenzaka/Ninenzaka/Ishibei Koji - Kodaiji then free & easy for the rest of the day

Day 04: Visit the Arashiyama bamboo grove early morning then the plan is to do the route between Otagi Nebutsuji and Tenryuji, stopping at the various temples in between. Not sure which route to take yet, can do either directions. Finish off a long day at Fufu no yu before going back to hotel.

Day 05: Kinkakuji - Ryoanji - Ninnaji - Kitano Tenmangu - Nijo Castle then free & easy for the rest of the day

Day 06: Check out from hotel then visit Nishiki Market before heading off to Osaka around noon. Rest of the day free & easy at Osaka. Hotel for the next 5 nights will be The Bridge Hotel Shinsaibashi

Day 07: Full day at Osaka for shopping, eating and the castle maybe

Day 08: Day trip to Himeji Castle & the garden then stop by Kobe on the way back to Osaka, using Kansai Area Pass for this one I believe

Day 09: Day trip to Nara

Day 10: Day trip to Minoo Park

Day 11: Leave for Tokyo

Day 12: Free & easy in Tokyo

Day 13: Leave for KL

Thank you all for your suggestions regarding Arima Onsen.
Seems alright to squeeze Arashiyama with Kinkakuji but I rather take it easy then to tick check-boxes so it seems the only option is if I drop Minoo Park.
Arima Onsen v Minoo Park, will decide based on what the wife wants I guess haha!

Yup if I do decide on Arima Onsen, it will be a 1 day trip.
By the way, what's there besides the onsen?

Doesn't seem like much up there but it's an option if we get bored or Arima Onsen.


Just tried a dummy booking and those ryokans are quite pricey, would prefer to do a day trip from Osaka.
Good shout re Kobe, I think that's what I will mostly likely do.

Anybody thinks this is a good deal - https://www.hanshin.co.jp/global/en/images/...ex/arima_en.pdf?

Thanks for that link, very helpful snapshot indeed.
If I decide to go Mt Rokko then will get the mentioned pass for sure

Have decided to get a JR Pass for our Kansai trip so suddenly a lot of different options have opened up like Kinosaki Onsen & Okayama/Kurashiki.

Planning to stay a night at Kinosaki between our Kyoto & Osaka trip, as a break
Already booked our ryokan

Where is this Amanohashidate let me check hmm...

Yes, cannot get enough of autumn in Japan so I am back!
19 days this time haha, much longer than my last trip but also coz my brother is getting married in Okinawa ☺

Mitsuwa Ryokan, 18,700 Yen for 2 people with brekkie.
That was the absolute cheapest I could find in Kinosaki for that period.

The other one I found was Sennen no Yu Gonzaemon but this one was 42,000 Yen with the crab dinner included 😲

I agree with Human Nature, day 2 looks too hectic so I would drop Nishiki & Imperial Palace since by the time you reach Nishiki it would he quite late already and I heard the market is mostly bustling during the morning.

My own plan for Nara is 1 whole day so by including Fushimi & even Uji on day 4 for your schedule looks quite tiring.

You're staying in Kyoto or Osaka?

The Japan Guide half-day Higashiyama trip is probably viable if you don't spend too long at each destination and move fairly quickly.
From memory, you are travelling with some elderly?
If so, better to adjust the timing upwards to play it safe.

This is a hardcore jam packed day haha, 6am at Fushimi wow!
Nara feels like half a day, enough time to enjoy slowly if start at noon?

I'm doing Fushimi another day so I might drop by Uji before or after Nara depending on my timing.
Might also drop it completely if I can't finish Nara in a day.

Does the JR train stop by Uji? Or is it only via Kintetsu?

Then how about going to Nishiki first in the morning before hitting the temples/shrines?

Yes cannot get enough of Japan and probably never will but just thankful I've managed to sort out my work and holidays to make this 3.5 week trip happen.
Will hopefully be able to post up some sort or trip report once it's done.
A lot of flying though but at least business class so not too bad

Melbourne > Sydney > Shanghai > Okinawa
Okinawa > Osaka
Tokyo > KL
KL > Singapore > Melbourne

Thanks Fyonne & ChAoS, the plan is to go to Nara during the Osaka part of my trip and my JR Pass would have been activated then.
Will be boarding the train from Tennoji and getting off at JR Nara station.
I will have a look at whether Uji is a convenient stopover or not.

Ok yeah that makes sense,will be a super early start for you then
Whereabouts are you staying btw in Kyoto?

I use Hyperdia for planning all my train routes and will normally choose the one that takes the least amount of time, unless the cost difference is huge.
Like what ChAoS mentioned, there are probably 2 or 3 ways from Point A to Point B so choose the one that suits your schedule best.

6 JR Passes for you to choose from - http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/

Yes of course but pretty hard to list them all out don't you think 😅
That link should give him/her a good start.