oh really ah?? ohh damn hahaha, so i guess best not to use AA then??

1124 not included luggage

yea planning to go around early nov, starting winter in dec so won't be so cold also mah haha

i see, thanks for letting know hehe
AA about 3.3k+ from KK
if got cheap ticket, might go around October too, but Tokyo autumn falls around Late Nov - Early Dec right

i think the problem here is...for certain passes (e.g: Hiroshima Pass), can only be collected at Klook KIX, no other alternatives

i have checked with Klook on this, they only can advise you to collect the next day
indeed optin #1 is risky if you are travelling alone, for me...i rushed thru and got my family to collect the luggage

the thing is...when i livechat with them..they never suggested the bolded method to me

need some opinion frm those who went to osaka and kyoto
because as i'm reading the previous thread, i notice some would stay in kyoto
some say do day trips to kyoto

need opinion which is better?...spend a few days in kyoto or do day trip from osaka?

and need confirmation suica can be used in osaka & kyoto..right?

When are you going?
Kyoto prices during autumn are quite outrageous, I only managed to find a hotel in a decent location for $196 per night (including brekkie).

If you don't mind travelling a bit or are just visiting Kyoto for a couple of days, staying in Osaka would be a better option budget wise.

oh ya, am going autumn too
early october
going on 4 person family, looking for airbnb instead

my flight is AA to KIX, the usual 9.30PM arrive time
yup, plan namba area and kyoto station area(if i ever plan to stay in kyoto, near to transport)
but initially i was planning to go kyoto 1st, thn only move back to osaka so don't need osaka >> kyoto thn osaka again for flight back
but seem doesn't make sense due to my late arrival

now i'm pretty confused on how to plan my itinerary
the USJ is also giving me a headache

How about spending your first night in Osaka (since you arrive late), then move to Kyoto the next day for a few days before ending off your last 2 or 3 nights in Osaka for your shopping?
Yeah a bit of a hassle changing hotels 3 times, but you can always use the luggage forwarding service if lazy to bring your luggage around.

I think there are a few in Japan but the one I used was TA-Q-BIN, the symbol is like a little black cat.
Normally it takes one day to deliver for standard distances like between Tokyo & Osaka (2 days for Okinawa/Hokkaido).

For your case, I think you can use them to forward your luggage to your next destination on the day you leave for your cycling course and it will arrive on day 2.
Makes sense since you only need to travel light on day 1.
I think you can also request them to delay the next day delivery if you prefer them to collect your luggage the day before your cycling course so that it arrives on day 2 and not day 1.

Your hotels/Airbnb host should be able to arrange this for you, they have a form that you can fill (in Japanese) but they may have English forms now not sure.
A standard luggage should cost around 2,000 Yen.

All in all, it's a very safe and convenient to use them so that you can travel without lugging your luggages around 

not even osaka amazing pass?

Ok after a bit of researching and planning, I've come up with my "attack plan" for this November's trip (yay autumn again) 
Appreciate any comments and feedback and of course suggestions for improvement.

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

Might need to use a bus on some days/routes, will they be super packed on weekdays in the morning?
Any good temples/shrines for autumn illuminations? Not too fussed if there are none as we have seen some in Nikkko.
Any good onsens in Osaka worth checking out?

Don't think it's that tiring to be honest, should be nice just strolling along the path and popping into any temple or shrine that looks nice with autumn leaves. We are used to walking and hiking a lot so shouldn't be a big deal.

Looks like most of the night illuminations will be packed, I might give them a miss if that's the case.

Kibune is interesting, thanks for pointing that out. Not sure how to fit that into my itinerary though haha!

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?

thanks for the tips
ya, kyoto seem like cheapest is airbnb and even at that price...fuuh, it's expensive
not yet even including osaka accommodation

for the bamboo forest, i don't think i'm coming back via train
i read first page, based on regentcid, stated using bus to go back kyoto station from golden pavilion

will consider stopping by uji but IMO just not much things to visit in uji based on my list right now

and do u mean can skip ginkakuji and philosopher's path?

Philosopher's path is only nice during spring or autumn. With your timing, only go if you have  time, otherwise skip

For arashiyama, it's better to be there early to avoid crowds and also to get a better chance of scoring seats on the sagano train, then bus it to kinkakuji. Can skip ginkakuji if you've already seen kinkakuji

Nara is sorta a must cos it has todaiji

Is Spa World artificial as well? If so, any natural hot springs in Osaka?

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.

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.

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

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.