The Ultimate Itinerary for 7D6N Kansai Trip, Japan (Osaka-Kobe-Nara-Kyoto)

After a few attempts of failed booking for Japan trip in early 2017, I finally booked two places for Japan's Kansai region trip with CCBC Trip and Tour organized by Kak Nams.

CCBC (CutiCutiBajetCiput) is family friendly with very affordable budget tour guide team and since I am very sure that I will be quite busy with work and wouldn't get enough proper planning for an oversea trip (which ended up very true since I made a major career change in the middle of the year), I was glad I have the CCBC Team to handle the trip.

Why do I call it Kansai region? Because Osaka-Kobe-Nara-Kyoto is the urban cities located within the southern-central region of  Japan's main island and known as Kansai (while cities like Tokyo, Saitama and Kanagawa is located in the Kanto region)

24th Nov - 30th Nov 2017 and note that we use public transportation aka trains all the time to move from places to places with Osaka Amazing Pass and Kansai Thru Pass.

Day 1:

• Depart from KLIA2 at 1400 pm
• Arrive at KIX
• Overnight at Airport

The airport is full with festive decorations

- There is an overnight rest area at the airport where they provided rows of armless benches, coin-operated shower rooms, vending machine and a close bathroom located at the 2nd floor of Aeroplaza. There is also a 24-hours convenient store, Lawson across the rest area if you get hungry.

- There is also a few muslim-friendly / halal restaurants at the airport but be aware that if you arrive late at night they are all closed (obviously) so maybe pack a few instant noodle cups just in case (you can get hot water at Lawson)

- There are 3 established prayer rooms at KIX but I went to the 3rd Floor T1 near the Korean Air Lounge. Look for the prayer room sign near Uniqlo.

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Day 2 (Osaka-Kobe):

• Depart to Osaka Station (store luggage)
• Naan In Restaurant (Lunch)
• Kobe Mosque
• Visit the nearest shinto shrine
• Check in guesthouse

Kobe Mosque

- I honestly don't know the name of the shrine we visited, it's small and beautiful and we just really loves the atmosphere.

- Note for Muslim, do not touch the water at the shrine by washing your hands or feet as the locals do; those are for Shinto religion.

- Guesthouse address: Nakamoto 2-11-2, Higashinari-ku, Osaka-shi Noah's Ark 7F.

The front gate of the shrine

For photography purpose only haha.

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Day 3 (Nara):

• Nara Park
• Todaiji Temple
• Isuien Garden
• Quick Lunch (convenient store grabs-Family Mart/Lawson)
• Himeji Castle
• Kobe Tower - Harbourland

Himeji Castle

Welcome to Nara! The paradise of deers!

- Along the road to the Nara Park, there is a famous roadside store that makes traditional mochi and you can buy freshly made one at 130 yen per piece. It is called Nakatanidou. It is famous for live fast-pounding process of making mochi and flocks hundreds of viewers everyday.

- Mochi is japanese rice cake with red-bean paste fillings.

mochi!!!

- You can feed the deers at the Nara Park with deer biscuits at 150 yen

The deers at the park is pretty aggressive for food so be careful!

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Day 4 (Osaka):

• Osaka Castle
• Osaka Museum of Housing and Living (Yukata wearing experience-1000 yen/pax)
• Naritaya Ramen (Lunch)
• Umeda Sky Building
• Dotonbori 

You have to walk across the big park to get to the castle btw

At the top of Umeda Sky Building

- To get to Osaka Castle, take a train to the Morinomiya Station.

- To get to Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, use Sakaisuji Line to reach 6 Chome and out to exit 3. The building is right in front of the exit. It is located at 8F.

- Beware; the Umeda Sky Building is not for people who is afraid of heights!

- To get to Dotonbori, use the Midosouji Line to Nipponbashi and go out at exit 2.

Walking along the traditional Japan housing in yukata

Dotonbori

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Day 5 (Osaka):

• Tempozan Ferris Wheel
• HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel
• Vitti Halal Cafe & Restaurant (Lunch)
• Nipponbashi DenDen Town
• Dotonbori

Tempozan Ferris Wheel

Hello Kitty bag for 4500 yen aka MYR 200+

Yuri On Ice merch is everywhere!

- Denden Town is perfect for anime merch shopping experience. I actually went on a shopping spree for my friend's Yuri!!! on Ice merch and a Hello Kitty handbag for my sister.

- To get to the Halal Vitti Restaurant, take the Midosuji Line m21 to Daikokuchi.

- Yes, we went to Dotonbori twice (also for shopping)

- HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel is known for its bright red carriage.

HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel

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Day 6 (Osaka):

• USJ (Universal Studio Japan)

- I will be making a post on the ultimate USJ tips and tricks in the near future so stay tune!

- To get to USJ, use the JR Line to Nishikujo Station and transfer from JR Line to Yumesaki Line at Platform 3 to Universal City Station.

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Day 7 (Kyoto):

• Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
• Fushimi Inari
• Walking around Gion
• Depart to KIX

Entrance to Fushimi Inari

- It's quite a walk from the train station (Hankyu Arashiyama Station) to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest so be prepare with water and energy bar. But the scenery is very beautiful so it will be a pleasant walk with many instagram-worthy pictures.
- Gion is the perfect place for Geisha/Maiko sighting. Be careful to approach them because sometimes they are in hurry for their duties.

Group picture time!

There you have it! That's our itinerary for our 7D6N in Kansai Region, Japan (Osaka-Kobe-Nara-Kyoto). Feel free to use this as your guide and remember to wear comfortable walking shoes because this is a trip that is not just adventurous for your wanderlust, but also for your feet!

Have you gone to Japan before? Tell me what you like best about Japan and let's share our experiences!

Mine? I must be honest my favorite part of Japan is the warm-toilet bidet! Haha!

See you again, lovelies!