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The Kansai Area
Home » Japan » Japan - Week Itinerary » The Kansai AreaDay 1 – Arrive in Osaka by train or by plane and transfer to Osaka Station (a 30-min. trip from the airport). Settle into your hotel and then start your trip out right by heading for Spa World, one of Japan's most sophisticated hot-spring spas, where you can swim and relax in whirlpools and hot baths; you can even get a massage to smooth out those travel kinks.
Day 2 – Spend the day in Osaka, visiting Osaka Castle, the aquarium and maybe even Universal Studios. In the evening, explore the Dotonburi nightlife area or take in a Bunraku puppet performance.
Day 3 – From Kintetsu Namba Station, take the Nankai Koya Line to Mount Koya, Japan's most sacred temple village. Here you can spend the night in a Buddhist temple and dine on prime vegetarian food.
Day 4 – Return to Shin-Osaka Station and transfer to a train to Himeji (a 40-min. trip), where you can tour the magnificent Himeji Castle and delightful Koko-en Garden. In late afternoon, take the Shinkansen to Kyoto, where you can stay in one of Kyoto's many traditional Japanese-style inns.
Day 5 – In Kyoto, visit Ryoanji Temple with its rock garden, the Golden Pavilion, the Kyoto Imperial Palace, and Nijo Castle. Top off the day with a walk through Kyoto's central shopping area, stopping off to see the Museum of Kyoto. In the evening, take a walk in Gion and along Pontocho.
Day 6 – Start the day with a self-guided walk through eastern Kyoto, seeing Sanjusangendo Hall, Kiyomizu Temple, and Heian Shrine, followed by shopping at the Kyoto Handicraft Center. If it's summer, spend the evening watching cormorant fishing in nearby Arashiyama.
Day 7 – Take a day trip to Nara, where you can see the Great Buddha and Kasuga Shrine in Nara Park.
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