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.

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

My Itinerary for Kyoto/osaka last year, 4 days 3 nights. Stay at Kawaramachi Unizo Inn. Booked the hotel at Japanica.com, consider cheap than agoda. If you can Understand/Read Chinese, here is a marvelous blog for you to do research. https://www.bigfang.tw/

All breakfast taken at FamilyMart / 7-11. We also bought sushi from there and pack in bag in case hungry we can stop by any park and have a quick bite.

Day 1
From KIX airport direct to Kyoto > 6pm reach and check in hotel > Dinner at Tendon Makino Kyoto Teramachi > Walk around and back hotel sleep.

Day 2
6am wake up > Umahori Station >walk> Kameoka torokko station (sagano scenic train) > Arashiyama Bamboo > Tenryuji Temple > Togetsu-kyō Bridge.
12.30pm > Arashiyama Station >(take Randen Tram)> Omiya Shijo >walk> Nikishi Market (LUNCH) >walk> Sanjo Station > (3.30pm)Keage Station > Keage Incline > Blue Bottle Coffee > Nanzenji Temple Gate (take photo only) > Kumano Nyakuōji Shrine (take photo only) > All the way Philosopher's Path > (8pm) Hotel to bath > Dinner at Pontocho Alley

Day 3
6am wake up > (7.30am) Fushimi Inari Taisha > (11am) Kiyomizu-dera > Ninenzaka (Starbucks) > Hōkanji Temple > Yasaka Kōshin-dō > Late Lunch at Omen Kodai-ji > Ishibei-koji Alley > Kodaiji Park > Yasaka Shrine > Gion > Hotel > Dinner at Kushikura

Day 4
Free and easy, check out around 11am > Store luggage at kyoto station > Shopping at Kyoto Station until 2pm > Toward Osaka Station and bought RINGO apple pie there.

Kyoto Unizo Inn 3 nights: Rm1600
Osaka Quintessa Hotel 3nights: Rm1400

i can't book hotel because i travel in 4 person, i have to use airbnb to lower the cost

and my god that itinerary for that 2 day, it's like touch and go visiting so many places within a day that is in different areas
i wonder how much time is spent on 1 specific location

Doable actually if you just focus on an area instead of zipping from one side of town to the other

anyone get ana flight @below 1k before?

You mean 1 way? If return, you can't even get that price for MAS.

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!

I would allocate at least half a day plus travel time to and from Arima Onsen. Arima Onsen is not that near from Osaka or Kyoto.

just found out airbnb in osaka and kyoto is expensive, it's even more expensive than what i stayed in shinjuku like 3 years ago
hotels in kyoto is even more insanely priced
The cheapest airbnb i can find for 5D4N is RM1800 for 4 person near kyoto station

this is what i can come up for kyoto so far...need opinion
Oct 3rd (Thursday) – Reached KIX, haruka/limousine bus to kyoto
Oct 4th (Friday) – Kiyomizu-dera, Kodaiji Temple, Yasaka Shrine till Gion-Shijo Station, Kawaramachi Shopping Street, Nishiki Market, Imperial palace
Oct 5th (Saturday) – Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Golden Pavilion
Oct 6th (Sunday) – Fushimi Inari, Uji(Maybe), Nara
OCt 7th(Monday) - ????, back osaka

Anyone idea where can i slip in ginkakuji and philosopher's path?..or can skip?
or put on monday morning?

allow provided you have license and registration number approved and given by gov

i have no choice but to go kyoto weekend if i wanna go USJ weekdays
unless i do daytrip from osaka of course but namba's airbnb and kyoto's airbnb price difference is just not worth the daytrip it seems(for 4 people)

Oo me too thought that airbnb was banned in japan..ok, if that is the case, i choose airbnb rather than hotel for my family trip..but need to know the area with reasonable price

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

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

go mount rokko

Its a small village on top of a mountain. A popular tourist destination. You can try staying overnight at the Ryokans with onsens there which includes meals as well. Basically, the place you will be spending most of your time would  at the center of town with restaurants, souvenir shops and onsens.  You can also try some of the local delicacies sold at the shops there.
If I were you, I would plan half a day at Kobe and then another half here.

Hmmm like wanna folo your itinerary..i am first timer and plan to japan this year ..

Am going to Osaka this May. I noticed that a lot of airbnb hosts have moved to Agoda.com. At Agoda main page, you search "Agoda Homes" instead of "All rooms", most of the airbnb rooms are filtered. You may also notice "special remarks" by the owners like check in time 4pm-8pm, instructions to collect keys from owners, etc.

I noticed also booking the same property in Agoda is cheaper than booking directly from airbnb, because the property (via airbnb) charges "cleaning fees" which is close to 1/3 of the rental.

So, for the same property, set the same dates and compare both airbnb & agoda prices, remember to add in extra charges (agoda 18%?) also.

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?