Itineraries · 5 days
Kansai in 5 Days: The Classic Route
USJ, kimono in Kyoto, Arashiyama — the whole classic, no gaps.
Arrival — first night in Dotonbori
Kansai Airport · Namba · Dotonbori- 114:00駅 Move40 min
Kansai Airport → Namba by Nankai rapi:t 関西空港 → なんば
The Nankai rapi:t limited express reaches Namba in about 38 minutes — the easiest way into the city.
★ Buy a reserved rapi:t seat at the Nankai counter in the arrival hall; slower airport expresses on the same line are cheaper. - Drop bags first; from Namba walk 10 min
- 217:00景 Sight1 h
Dotonbori & the Glico Sign 道頓堀・グリコサイン
Osaka's neon canal strip, with the giant crab, octopus and running-man Glico sign.
★ The view from Ebisu Bridge is the classic; the canal walk below is calmer.¥ FreeMap ↗ - Walk 5 min
- 318:00景 Sight20 min
Hozenji Yokocho 法善寺横丁
A lantern-lit stone alley around a small temple, one street from the neon.
★ Pour a ladle of water on the moss-covered Mizukake Fudo statue and make a wish.¥ FreeMap ↗ - Walk 3 min
- 418:30食 Eat1–1.5 h
Dotonbori street food dinner 道頓堀の食べ歩き
Graze along Dotonbori instead of sitting down: takoyaki, kushikatsu and okonomiyaki are all within a few steps.
🍜 Eat Takoyaki ¥600–800 for 6–8, kushikatsu ¥150–300 a stick, okonomiyaki ¥1,000–1,500★ Skip the longest queue — the stall next door is usually just as good. Two hours out is plenty after a long flight.
Universal Studios Japan — all day
Universal City- From Namba: Hanshin Namba line to Nishikujo, then JR Yumesaki line to Universal City, about 25 min, walk 5 min
- 108:15景 SightAll day
Universal Studios Japan ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン
Arrive about 30 minutes before opening and head in with a ticket already on your phone.
★ In peak season 2–3 hour queues are normal — an Express Pass buys back half a day.¥ 1-Day Studio Pass ¥8,600–10,900 adults (varies by date)Map ↗ - Walk 10 min inside the park
- 208:45体 Do2 h
Super Nintendo World スーパー・ニンテンドー・ワールド
Walk through the pipe into the Mario world: Mario Kart ride, Yoshi's Adventure and Donkey Kong Country.
★ Entry on busy days needs a timed-entry ticket booked in the official USJ app right after you pass the gate — or an Express Pass that includes it. - Walk 5–10 min
- 312:00食 Eat45 min
Lunch inside the park パーク内でランチ
Eat a little before or after noon to dodge the peak; themed snacks double as a snack break in the queue.
🍜 Eat Themed snacks and meals roughly ¥800–2,500; expect theme-park prices★ Mobile ordering in the app saves you a queue at busy restaurants. - Walk 10 min
- 413:00体 Do2–3 h
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter ウィザーディング・ワールド・オブ・ハリー・ポッター
Hogsmeade village and Hogwarts castle, with the Forbidden Journey ride inside the castle.
★ Come back after dark when the castle is lit — the queues are often shorter too. - Walk 5 min from the park gate
- 519:30食 Eat1 h
Universal CityWalk dinner ユニバーサル・シティウォーク
The restaurant street between the park gate and the station, open after the park closes.
🍜 Eat Chain restaurants, ramen and takoyaki from about ¥1,000★ Eat here and let the post-closing crowd drain from the station before you head back.
Kyoto — kimono through Higashiyama
Fushimi Inari · Higashiyama · Gion- From Namba/Yodoyabashi: Keihan line to Fushimi-Inari, about 50 min (leave around 6:00), walk 5 min
- 107:00景 Sight1.5 h
Fushimi Inari Taisha 伏見稲荷大社
Thousands of vermilion torii gates climb the mountain behind the shrine; walk up to the first viewpoints and back.
★ After 8:00 the torii tunnel is shoulder to shoulder — come early for the empty shot. - Walk 5 min
- 208:30食 Eat30 min
Inari street snacks 稲荷参道の食べ歩き
The approach to the shrine has stalls and small shops opening for breakfast snacks.
🍜 Eat Inari sushi (rice in sweet fried tofu), kitsune udon ¥700–1,000★ Inari sushi is named after this shrine's fox messengers, who are said to love fried tofu. - Keihan line Fushimi-Inari → Kiyomizu-Gojo, 5 min, then walk 20 min
- 310:00体 Do1 h
Kimono rental near Kiyomizu-dera 清水寺周辺の着物レンタル
Pick a kimono and have it dressed and styled at one of the many rental shops at the foot of Kiyomizu-dera.
★ Most shops want the set back by 17:30 — plan backwards from there. - Walk 10 min uphill
- 411:00景 Sight1 h
Kiyomizu-dera 清水寺
The hillside temple whose wooden stage juts out over the trees, with a view across Kyoto.
★ Walk down past the Otowa waterfall, where visitors drink from one of three streams. - Walk 5 min
- 512:15食 Eat1.5 h
Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka 三年坂・二年坂
Stone-paved slopes of wooden shops — every corner is a kimono backdrop, with snacks all the way down.
🍜 Eat Matcha soft serve ¥500–700, yatsuhashi cinnamon sweets, yuba (tofu skin) dishes for lunch ¥1,500–3,000★ Walk slowly on the steps; it is said that tripping on Sannenzaka brings bad luck. - Walk 10 min via Nene-no-michi; Gion Shirakawa is 10 min further on foot
- 614:30景 Sight2.5 h
Yasaka Shrine → Gion Shirakawa 八坂神社・祇園白川
Walk through Yasaka Shrine and Maruyama Park, then into Gion, ending at the willow-lined Shirakawa canal after returning the kimono.
★ You may see a maiko on her way to work at dusk — do not chase her for a photo.¥ FreeMap ↗
Arashiyama — bamboo, bridge and the gorge train
Arashiyama · Kameoka · Pontocho- From Osaka: Hankyu to Katsura, then Hankyu Arashiyama line, about 1 h 10 min total
- 108:00景 Sight45 min
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove 嵐山竹林の小径
A path through towering bamboo that creaks and rustles in the wind.
★ Arashiyama peaks at midday — do the bamboo first, then eat as the crowds arrive.¥ FreeMap ↗ - Walk 5 min
- 208:45景 Sight1 h
Tenryu-ji Temple 天龍寺
A Zen temple with a pond garden that borrows the Arashiyama hills as its backdrop.
★ Its north gate opens straight onto the bamboo grove, so no backtracking.¥ Garden ¥500; halls +¥300; Cloud Dragon ceiling ¥500Map ↗ - Walk 10 min
- 310:30食 Eat1.5 h
Togetsukyo Bridge & Arashiyama main street 渡月橋・嵐山メインストリート
Cross the long wooden bridge over the Katsura River, then graze along the main street.
🍜 Eat Yudofu (simmered tofu) sets ¥2,000–4,000, matcha sweets, croquettes and skewers ¥200–500★ Prefer Nara? The deer park is about 45 min from Kyoto on the Kintetsu line — swap it in for the afternoon.¥ FreeMap ↗ - Walk 10 min to Torokko Saga station
- 413:00体 Do1 h
Sagano Romantic Train 嵯峨野トロッコ列車
An open-sided train along the Hozu River gorge from Saga to Kameoka, about 25 minutes one way.
★ It sells out fast in autumn — book as early as you can, and note it does not run on Wednesdays.¥ One way ¥880 adults / ¥440 childrenMap ↗ - From Torokko Kameoka: walk 10 min to JR Umahori, JR Sagano line to Nijo, Tozai line to Kyoto-Shiyakusho-mae, about 45 min, walk 5 min
- 518:00食 Eat1.5–2 h
Pontocho dinner 先斗町
A narrow lantern-lit alley along the Kamo River, lined with restaurants in old wooden houses.
🍜 Eat Kyoto-style small dishes (obanzai), yakitori, kaiseki; budget roughly ¥4,000–10,000 for dinner★ May to September many places set up riverside decks (kawayuka) — reserve a seat on one.¥ Free (food extra)Map ↗
Osaka Castle, last feast, and out
Osaka Castle · Kuromon · Shinsaibashi- From Namba: Sennichimae line + Tanimachi line to Tanimachi 4-chome, about 15 min, walk 20 min
- 109:00景 Sight1.5 h
Osaka Castle Keep 大阪城天守閣
Osaka's landmark keep, free with the Amazing Pass, with a museum inside and the whole city from the top floor.
★ Go straight to the top-floor deck first, then walk down through the museum floors.¥ ¥600 adults / free for junior-high age and underMap ↗ - Tanimachi line to Tanimachi 9-chome, Sennichimae line to Nippombashi, about 15 min, walk 3 min
- 211:30食 Eat1 h
Kuromon Market 黒門市場
The last seafood feast at the stalls of Osaka's kitchen market.
🍜 Eat Grilled scallops and sea urchin ¥1,000–2,500, wagyu skewers ¥1,000–3,000, tuna sashimi★ Many stalls close by late afternoon — do not leave it until last. - Walk 15 min
- 313:00買 Shop2 h
Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street 心斎橋筋商店街
Sweep up gifts: drugstores, Japanese snacks and souvenirs, all under one arcade.
★ Want a sunset view? If your flight allows, the Umeda Sky Building is 10 minutes up the Midosuji line.¥ FreeMap ↗ - Walk 10 min to Nankai Namba
- 415:30駅 Move40 min
Nankai rapi:t to Kansai Airport 南海ラピート
Namba to the airport in about 38 minutes.
★ Ship the bags to the airport the day before, and allow 2.5 hours before an international flight.