1 week in Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto
A few months ago, my husband and I spent 2 weeks in Japan. We split time between Tokyo and Osaka, and these were some of the highlights!
If you missed our 1 week Tokyo itinerary, check out that post here! We also posted a vlog of our trip if you’re more of a visual person.
Whenever my husband Brandon and I travel internationally, instead of getting portable wifi or buying data from our phone provider, we like Airalo. It’s an app that allows you to use eSIMs internationally and often cheaper than other wifi options! (Not sponsored but feel free to use my code CHRIST52645 for a discount off your first purchase!)
Before leaving Tokyo, we shipped 4 of our suitcases to the airport for ~$67 with Yamato Transport, they were very helpful and efficient! We were left with 1 small luggage each, which made traveling to the smaller cities in Japan much easier.
Another app we loved was tablelog, which the locals use similar to Yelp / Google, and Brandon found a lot of good restaurants here. The reviews on this app are very trustworthy and useful if you don’t know where to eat!
Now let’s get into the itinerary! *An asterisk marks our top recommendations!
3 Days in Osaka
This was our first time in Osaka, and it was a great home base for doing day trips to Nara, Kyoto, etc BUT tbh we found it a little underwhelming! 3 days was the perfect amount of time.
We stayed at Candeo Hotel Osaka The Tower and there were 2 major subway stations nearby that we took everyday. The hotel spa was INCREDIBLE (2 hot tubs, 1 cold tub, and a sauna) and located on the top floor with the most beautiful view of the city, we ended every night here. (Note: it is a traditional Japanese spa and the men’s and women’s are separated.)
The hotel breakfast which was ~$28 USD per person and there was a decent selection of Japanese and continental breakfast foods.
Restaurants:
Wagyu Itaden* - Wagyu beef bowls that are all over tiktok. Normally there’s a pretty long line, and they close between lunch and dinner. We lucked out with no wait when we came an hour before closing. Favorites were the Tataki-ju (garlic ponzu sauce) and Wagyu Short Rib
cost: $16
Kasuya Hozenji - really good udon but the restaurant is really small, perfect for a quick or solo meal!
cost: $7 (cash only)
Yaekatsu - Was recommended this skewer place by our friend who grew up in Japan. Best skewers we’ve ever had but better for a snack instead of a whole meal
cost: $13 (cash only)
Activities:
Osaka Aquarium* - Hands down one of my favorite activities!! Spent around 2 hours here - we loved the sharks, jellyfish and for $20 per person, it’s the perfect activity for a rainy day!
Dotonbori* - Iconic Glico Running Man photo spot + so many food vendors, it’s definitely more lively and fun at night!
Don Quijote - if you’re looking to get the best priced skincare, makeup etc.
the Osaka locations had a lot of stock and the lines weren’t super long!
Day Trip to Kyoto
We took the local trains from Osaka, and it was 1 hr 30 min train ride and around $5.65 per person. If you’re in a rush, it’s 15 min bullet train (Shinkansen) for $42. For us, Kyoto is a must visit! The pace of life is much slower here but sprinkled with some busier tourist areas, temples to see and so many cute streets with Taiyaki, Dango, and matcha flavored everything.
Food and Drinks:
Enboca* - Napoli style pizza and really good cocktails! Favorite dishes were the lotus root and sardine pizza, short rib, and grilled vegetables. All the dishes were pretty small and pricier than other meals but worth it.
cost: $40 (reservations required)
Arashiyama Daizen - Small sushi restaurant but it was not super memorable tbh! It’s one of the most highly rated restaurants in the area and we ended up waiting about an hour. Would recommend making a reservation here!
cost: $24
Gokago* - Matcha near the Hōkan-ji Temple, they sell their matcha powders + loose leaf teas. I was a huge fan of the matcha, and they’re often seen on TikTok!
cost: $6
Activities:
Hōkan-ji Temple - Iconic photo spot with lots of shops nearby but can get very crowded (would recommend going early or near sunset)
Day Trip to Nara
There are no bullet trains so we took the local trains from Osaka to Nara, it took a little over an hour and $6 pp. From the Nara Station we walked 15 minutes toward the Nara National Museum, where the deer normally are!
We arrived at 4pm and the stands selling deer food were all closed for the day. Go earlier if you want to be able to feed the deer.
Before heading home we stopped by Men-ya K*, a ramen restaurant that is known for their chicken and fish ramen. You order at the machine and find a seat, your food comes almost immediately! Our favorites were the chicken ramen and the chicken and fish tsukemen.
Around Men-ya K and Nara Station is a famous mochi store, Nakatanidou*, which sold out by the time we got there but I’ve heard such great things!
If you have time, I would say the day trip to Nara was well worth it! The deer actually bow back at you, and it was one of the most memorable experiences our entire trip. We spent a half day here and were happy with that!
Day Trip to Hakone
We wanted to stay where we could see a view of Mt Fuji and this little town was the perfect stop for 2 days!
This was our first time in Hakone, we took the local trains and busses from Tokyo and it took us well over 2 hours for around $18pp. Honestly, I would recommend taking a bullet train / taking a taxi, we got lost a few times and it made for such a long frustrating travel day.
We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort and Spa. The property was gorgeous and had an onsen that we used every night! There is a complimentary shuttle service and 2 restaurants on site.
Our first day, we got dropped off at the Hakone Ropeway, a 15-minute cable car that takes you to a view of Mt. Fuji! At the top there are cute souvenir shops, and the famed black eggs (Kuro-Tamago) that are said to add seven years to your life. We tried them for science.
Gongen Karamemochi, an udon restaurant we found on tabelog, it was perfect on a cold day. Cash only!
Another highlight from our trip was the Hakone Open Air Museum,* it was $14 per person and was such a unique experience. The Picasso exhibit was filled with pieces we’ve never seen before. Highly recommend this if you’re in the area!
This concludes our Japan itinerary. I’m working on a downloadable first time visitor guide to Tokyo - so make sure you’re subscribed! Thank you for being here xx
such a fun itinerary!! makes me miss Japan