10D/9N Kansai Trip Itinerary Feedback

Hi, first time trip there, need advise for transportation & anything i miss out.

Itinerary as follows,

30th May – Day 1 [MON]
2130 - Arrival at Kansai Airport, proceed to Hotel Sunroute Osaka Namba

31st May – Day 2 [TUES]
0930 - Osaka Aquarium / Osaka Bay Area
1400 - Minami (Namba) Amerikamura / Shinsaibashi / Dotonbori - Shopping

1st Jun – Day 3 [WED]
Full day - Universal Studios Japan

2nd Jun – Day 4 [THURS]

0900 - Osaka Castle
1100 - Kita (Umeda) Osaka Station City / Grand Front Osaka / HEP - Shopping
1900 - Kitashinchi District
2030 - Umeda Sky Building

3rd Jun – Day 5 [FRI]

0800 - Kuromon Ichiba Market
1200 - Lucky Owl Café
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1500 - Check in to Kobe Motomachi Tokyu REI Hotel
Sorakuen Garden
Nankinmachi
Meriken Park
Kobe Harborland

4th Jun – Day 6 [SAT]

1000 - Himeji Castle / Kokoen Garden
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1500 - Check in to Kyoto Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura Urushitei
1530 - Nishiki Market
1800 - Gion

5th Jun – Day 7 [SUN]

0900 - Arashiyama
Monkey Park
Togetsukyo Bridge
Tenryuji Temple
Bamboo Groves
1300 - Toei Uzumasa Eigamura
1800 - Pontocho

6th Jun – Day 8 [MON]

0700 - Fushimi Inari Shrine
1100 - Bicycle Rental at Kyoto Eco Trip
1200 - Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
1300 - Kinkakuji
1500 - Ryoanji Temple
1600 - Ninnaji Temple
1800 - Kyoto Station / Kyoto Tower

7th Jun – Day 9 [TUES]

Full day - Eastern Kyoto
Kiyomizudera Temple
Higashiyama
Yasade Shrine
Maruyama Park
Heian Shrine
Nanzenji Temple
Philosopherfs Path
Ginkakuji

8th Jun – Day 10 [WED]

0845 - Nijo Castle
1200 - Naramachi / Nara Park
1700 - Rinku Premium Outlet Mall
2330 - Departure from Kansai Airport

Is the timing you state, the time you start to set off to go to those places or is it the time you expect to be at those places?

"1200 - Lucky Owl Café" no idea what this is.

From what I see Osaka, is well paced. May want to slot in a trip to Sumiyoshi Taisha if you have the time. It is out of the way but the architecture is unique.

I don't see the point in staying in Kobe. It only takes about 45 minutes or less to get from Namba to Kobe. Not worth the time and effort to change hotels just for Kobe/Himeji.

3pm onward to do all that seems challenging. I would like to spend some time atop the mountain range overlooking Kobe/Osaka.

Day 7, your first day in Kyoto seems possible... if you are not eating lunch. I recommend trying something interesting like the Shojin Ryori at Tenryuji Temple, or the Yudofu restaurants across Tenryuji and around the Arashiyama station. There are also some tendy cafes and specialist eateries in the area. Though I would still choose the Yudofu and Shojin Ryori as it is difficult to get in other parts of Japan.

Day 8
1200 - Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
1300 - Kinkakuji
1500 - Ryoanji Temple
1600 - Ninnaji Temple
1800 - Kyoto Station / Kyoto Tower
I do not see how the above is possible. One hour to see and then get to Kinkakuji? Makes more sense if the two hours is placed for Kinkakuji since its grounds are smaller and the distance between it and the next stop is nearer. Of them all, Ryoanji takes the most time to view; due to being a meditation spot... If there are no noisy background noises (read other tourist).

7th Jun – Day 9 [TUES]
Full day - Eastern Kyoto
Kiyomizudera Temple
Higashiyama
Yasade Shrine
Maruyama Park
Heian Shrine
Nanzenji Temple
Philosopherfs Path
Ginkakuji
This day is packed. I recommend Eikando, Chono-in, and Honen-in too. But time seems to be against you. Can you start early.

Lastly, would like to say to spend one night in Fushimi Inari. It is illuminated at night giving it a mystical feel.
Note: the weather may be hot and wet. Dress appropriately and travel light.

Time is expected time to reach those destination, actually just a rough guide since i don't know how long i will take at each place.

3 pm is more of check in time to the accommodation, will try to reach earlier to cover more ground.

For Day 6, is a 1 day JR Kansai Area Pass better or Kansai Thru Pass will do?

Your Kyoto itinerary is packed! I don't think you considered travel time between places (there are some traffic in central Kyoto) or breaks for lunch.

Temples/shrines in Kyoto is best appreciated when you take your time admiring the details, and looking around. Normally I only set 3 temples to visit a day (4 if they happen to be near one another). Otherwise, you'll just feel rushed and not have full appreciation for the beautiful and unique things that you're seeing.