Your Oct 5th, Bamboo Forrest + Golden Pavilion can refer to page 1 that post by me, How to used public transport covered these 2 places.

900AUD = RM26XX
way more expensive than mine, mine no bfast
but as i check, the difference between airbnb in kyoto station and namba station is only like RM100+ difference
not worth doing day trip from osaka for 4 person

for inari, uji and nara, it's within the same train line as i read people's itinerary
so i just put them into 1 day

yes, my itinerary now is based on the itinerary u posted on 1st page right now
that's why i put it that way

from the 7th, i still have 4.5 days on osaka
not sure should slot in kobe or not
or just enough to cover dotonburi, nipponbashi, namba, tsutenkaku, america-mura and USJ
am not sure how long should i stay for each location, it seem large but all within that 1 area(except USJ)

Yes much more expensive, not that I recommend people to choose hotel over Airbnb but just an indication on the insane prices in Kyoto.
On the same train line true but just seems a bit tight to me that's all.

A lot of people have already commented on your itinerary but I just want to mention that your 4th Oct itinerary looks really packed and rushed. How do you plan to go from one location to another? Because my experience of a similar route last time was a lot of walking - by the time my wife and I reached Yasaka Shrine was already lunch time. Of course, we took our time to enjoy each location we visited before we continued on so I guess it will all depend on your pace.

Personally I thought Ginkaku-ji had one of the best gardens among all the temples we visited in Kyoto. If you want to slot that in, I would suggest doing it on 6th Oct and dropping Uji and Nara. You can visit Nara from Osaka (I think the train ride is cheaper too from Osaka compared to from Kyoto).

hotel, u can have em clean up ur room everyday. Airbnb, u need to pay to have em clean up ur room. (the last time i check)

fushimi inari > uji > nara. i did it twice.
fushimi inari doesnt close, so u can go there really early n also its best u go there early. 2nd time i visited it at night time. nice experience.
Uji, Byodoin, open at 9am. Nara is.... the only place i enjoy most is at Nigatsudo.

I prefer hotel as had bad experience with airbnb 3years back when the host cancel my reservation 1 week before my trip during autum season...

And hotel can help to keep the luggage or help to send to the next location.

For sakura season, I booked hotel in kyoto 6 month in advance for my trip during sakura season..around rm800 per night for a triple room, and surcharge during weekend, the price get insane when book later

Is hotel tax only applicable in kyoto only?

How long did you spend at Fushimi and how early is early? 7am considered early?
Only advantage of Airbnb is the much bigger space over hotels I reckon.

7am is ok, i think i went there around tat time. no much ppl. n can still see cats loitering around there.
i did go up to the top n make a loop around the mountain path. spent around an hour n half there i think.

i think most ppl go is at mid area where u can see city view. the top area basically a shrine n u cant see much.

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

i also suggest Arima onsen, nice place

don't even go for hotel
after i search on airbnb and thought it looks expensive
i go to agoda and search for the same date...it's even more expensive
starting from RM7XX to RM9XX per night


that's because i saw this link
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3950_higashiyama_half.html
it is said that it's able to be done within 4.5 hour and it end up at gion-shijo station which is where kawaramachi and nishiki is located
which is why i put it that way

already got people commented that oct 6th is pack, some say just enough
i'm not gonna add it there anymore
i might just skip it since i went kinkakuji, my mom can only take that much temple


i always saw people say early but i never know how early is actually early

4N for Rm1800 for 4 pax = RM450 / night (RM113 per pax per night) still consider expensive ?

then you would be surprise at hotel for 4 pax...good luck

one hint: acco is cheaper in osaka compared to kyoto

This post has been edited by lyc1982: Apr 12 2019, 02:49 PM

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

wake up 4am++
5am walk to Kyoto station from Shijo to catch 1st train at kyoto sta.
6am reached arashiyama. enjoy sunrise at Togetsukyo bridge.

arima onsen is nice during koyo season...

if got chance, take the hello kitty shinkansen to kobe

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

at least it's more expensive than my airbnb in shinjuku
i searched agoda, it's 7XX and up per night

and that RM1800 is the cheapest listed, not the middle range till high range airbnb

and airbnb in say namba station is only RM1XX different than kyoto per night
cheaper but not worth the day trip

that is super early
arashiyama i'm still ok, it's fushimi inari that people keep saying must go early

i would probably go arima onsen on Day 10....minoo park nothing much for me