Travel: Japan - General
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Hi sky,
If go in autumn (sep/oct), autumn leaves turn red & yellow, go kyshu or Kyoto or Hokkaido most scenic ? Thanks -
Hihi, Arashiyama 嵐山 has the best (accessibility, panorama) momiji gari 紅葉狩り experience, as well as Kiyomizudera 清水寺 with its vantage point (+ reasonably near Kyoto 京都 station).
Hokkaido 北海道, if you do, could work efficiently if you base yourself in Sapporo 札幌 & move around the neighbouring towns. This prefecture is best covered by car (if you are looking at destinations further past Sapporo), but trains are picturesque enough for a small radius, just need to factor in the travelling time.
https://www.kyuhoshi.com/japan-autumn-foliage-forecast/
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2014_where.html
https://koyo.walkerplus.com/ranking/?gnavi
https://japancheapo.com/locations/hokkaido/
https://www.insidekyoto.com/getting-around-kyoto -
Thank you @sky mindcrafter for your advice
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mummyxoxo\" post_id=\"1914354\" time=\"1560424156\" user_id=\"131057:
mummyxoxo
Any must visit places that I should go in osaka, kyoto and nara? These are the places i have in mind so far:
Will be heading there with my family for 8 days during the september holiday. Do share if I have missed out any amazing place!
Osaka - (4) & (7) are somewhat 'unorthodox' areas that tourists with limited days venture to, but I guess if you want to find pasar steals, these shopping streets are good.
If you're going to Tennoji (zoo?), you may want to swing by Shinsekai. Shinsekai has more rank and file residents, so things there are comparatively more affordable. Btw, the main Kushikatsu Daruma outlet is located in Shinsekai. Kushikatsu (deep fried veggie/meat/seafood on skewers that taste better than Old Chang Kee) is also another street food you should try to try in Osaka. You won't miss it in Dotonbori either as its mascot is an angry uncle holding 2 skewers.
Are you going to Osaka Castle? That should be No. 1 icon in Osaka.
How about the Momofuku Ando Cup Noodles museum that Singaporean families seem to congregate at? lol!
Nestled inside the Shinsaibashi distract is America Village/mura. And there's Den Den Town (Osaka's Akihabara) in Nipponbashi if you have kids who are into anime and manga.
The Pokemon Centre at Umeda Daimaru was VERY crowded with long snaking queues at its cashier. There's a section for serious fans who collect limited ed cards who want to trade with fellow hobbyists and trainers. It has more plushies and collectibles of legendary pokemons, as compared to the SG outlet @ Jewel Changi.
I spent a considerable amt of time in Osaka's well-connected underground shopping arcades. -
mummyxoxo\" post_id=\"1914354\" time=\"1560424156\" user_id=\"131057:
(6) - I'd axed the entire North-eastern district, from Ginkakuji to Nanzenji via the Philo Path.
Kyoto
1. Nijo castle
2. Fushimi inari shrine
3. Arashiyama
4. Kinkakuji temple
5. Nishiki market
6. Ginkakuji temple
I didn't expect myself to spend that MANY hours in the Kiyomizudera, eastern Higashiyama district! I covered nearly every nook & cranny in that enclave, from Gojo dori to Shijo dori, including rustic lanes running perpendicular to the main street. There are some hidden cafes and ceramic/pottery stalls behind the machiyas. See my walking trail i.
https://postimg.cc/XpZgFyrB
Although technically you can continue walking to Maruyama Park, Yasaka Shrine, as well as cross the road to Shijo dori to cut thru Gion/Hanamikoji/Shirakawa, we had no more energy after covering the Kiyomizu district. So we had to do this area on another day, late afternoon just so to spot the maikos and geikos. See walking trail ii.
https://postimg.cc/6yRYgvBJ
If you are still very fit, you can cross over the river to visit Pontocho (like a mini Boat Quay with kyo-kaiseki restaurants and cafes). I went to Pontocho area for dinner after visiting Nishiki, Nijo castle. The famous Kabuki theatre is opposite Pontocho. There are some modern shopping malls on that side of the river, e.g. Takashimaya. See walking trail iii.
https://postimg.cc/q6rz7S6G
As for the other districts like Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari, do buffer some time for the shopping and food streets located immediately outside the temples/shrines/groves. -
.zeit
How many hours did you spend to complete trail 1?
I’m planning to start my day early (ard 7ish) at Fushimi Inari Shrine, followed by a plan that is similar to your trail 1. Do you think I can fit in a quick visit to Tofuku-ji Temple after Fushimi Inari? I’ll be there early Dec and hope to catch some autumn foliage. Not travelling with kids.
I have another day set aside for Arashiyama + Nishiki + Pontocho + Gion area. Is Nijo Castle worth going? TIA -
bebebub\" post_id=\"1914521\" time=\"1560517593\" user_id=\"23820:
Bebebub
.zeit
How many hours did you spend to complete trail 1?
I’m planning to start my day early (ard 7ish) at Fushimi Inari Shrine, followed by a plan that is similar to your trail 1. Do you think I can fit in a quick visit to Tofuku-ji Temple after Fushimi Inari? I’ll be there early Dec and hope to catch some autumn foliage. Not travelling with kids.
I have another day set aside for Arashiyama + Nishiki + Pontocho + Gion area. Is Nijo Castle worth going? TIA
About 5-6 hrs. I took a taxi from my hotel to Kiyomizu mid-hills at around 9+am. Had lunch and 2 tea breaks. By the time I reached Kodaiji & Nene street (end of my trail 1) it was mid-afternoon. Frankly, the Kiyomizudera/Higashiyama South-eastern district can be covered in 2-3 hours if you drop some alleys and breaks. We are shopaholics so we took quite long to browse in each shop.
Yes, Tofukuji is pretty close to Fushimi. But I didn't include Tofukuji in my itinerary as I was in Kyoto in mid-Dec. 50% of the maple leaves had fallen in Week 3-4 of Dec. Maybe you'll have better luck in Week 1 Dec.
https://postimg.cc/QVDmbfkv
Surprisingly, we enjoyed the minimalist Nijo Castle as we are fans of samurais and interested to learn about the last shogunate. Nijo was the residence of Tokugawa Ieayasu, as well as the historical site where the young emperor Meiji issued the edict / charter oath to end the Tokugawa shogunate and to return power to the emperor. Nijo's main palace could be done in an hour (by listening to audio guide in full). Unlike Osaka Castle which has a lot of exhibits, a moat cruise and an attic, Nijo Castle is rather empty. But it has something quite intriguing - the nightingale timber floors, and lacquered screens
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.zeit\" post_id=\"1914450\" time=\"1560488835\" user_id=\"171271:
Hi zeit,
mummyxoxomummyxoxo\" post_id=\"1914354\" time=\"1560424156\" user_id=\"131057:
Any must visit places that I should go in osaka, kyoto and nara? These are the places i have in mind so far:
Will be heading there with my family for 8 days during the september holiday. Do share if I have missed out any amazing place!
Osaka - (4) & (7) are somewhat 'unorthodox' areas that tourists with limited days venture to, but I guess if you want to find pasar steals, these shopping streets are good.
If you're going to Tennoji (zoo?), you may want to swing by Shinsekai. Shinsekai has more rank and file residents, so things there are comparatively more affordable. Btw, the main Kushikatsu Daruma outlet is located in Shinsekai. Kushikatsu (deep fried veggie/meat/seafood on skewers that taste better than Old Chang Kee) is also another street food you should try to try in Osaka. You won't miss it in Dotonbori either as its mascot is an angry uncle holding 2 skewers.
Are you going to Osaka Castle? That should be No. 1 icon in Osaka.
How about the Momofuku Ando Cup Noodles museum that Singaporean families seem to congregate at? lol!
Nestled inside the Shinsaibashi distract is America Village/mura. And there's Den Den Town (Osaka's Akihabara) in Nipponbashi if you have kids who are into anime and manga.
The Pokemon Centre at Umeda Daimaru was VERY crowded with long snaking queues at its cashier. There's a section for serious fans who collect limited ed cards who want to trade with fellow hobbyists and trainers. It has more plushies and collectibles of legendary pokemons, as compared to the SG outlet @ Jewel Changi.
I spent a considerable amt of time in Osaka's well-connected underground shopping arcades.
Thank you for your advice! I didn't include cup noodle museum as we have visited something similar while we travelled to yokohama few years back. Also did not include osaka castle as i read online that it isn't as splendid as nijo castle which we will be visiting in kyoto. Will heed your advice and include a visit to shinsekai while visiting tennoji area
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.zeit\" post_id=\"1914451\" time=\"1560490850\" user_id=\"171271:
That's a very detailed walking trail that you have! Will definitely walk around higashiyama area too. Thank you for your advice!
(6) - I'd axed the entire North-eastern district, from Ginkakuji to Nanzenji via the Philo Path.mummyxoxo\" post_id=\"1914354\" time=\"1560424156\" user_id=\"131057:
Kyoto
1. Nijo castle
2. Fushimi inari shrine
3. Arashiyama
4. Kinkakuji temple
5. Nishiki market
6. Ginkakuji temple
I didn't expect myself to spend that MANY hours in the Kiyomizudera, eastern Higashiyama district! I covered nearly every nook & cranny in that enclave, from Gojo dori to Shijo dori, including rustic lanes running perpendicular to the main street. There are some hidden cafes and ceramic/pottery stalls behind the machiyas. See my walking trail i.
https://postimg.cc/XpZgFyrB
Although technically you can continue walking to Maruyama Park, Yasaka Shrine, as well as cross the road to Shijo dori to cut thru Gion/Hanamikoji/Shirakawa, we had no more energy after covering the Kiyomizu district. So we had to do this area on another day, late afternoon just so to spot the maikos and geikos. See walking trail ii.
https://postimg.cc/6yRYgvBJ
If you are still very fit, you can cross over the river to visit Pontocho (like a mini Boat Quay with kyo-kaiseki restaurants and cafes). I went to Pontocho area for dinner after visiting Nishiki, Nijo castle. The famous Kabuki theatre is opposite Pontocho. There are some modern shopping malls on that side of the river, e.g. Takashimaya. See walking trail iii.
https://postimg.cc/q6rz7S6G
As for the other districts like Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari, do buffer some time for the shopping and food streets located immediately outside the temples/shrines/groves. -
.zeit\" post_id=\"1914560\" time=\"1560567054\" user_id=\"171271:
Thanks for sharing.
Bebebub
About 5-6 hrs. I took a taxi from my hotel to Kiyomizu mid-hills at around 9+am. Had lunch and 2 tea breaks. By the time I reached Kodaiji & Nene street (end of my trail 1) it was mid-afternoon. Frankly, the Kiyomizudera/Higashiyama South-eastern district can be covered in 2-3 hours if you drop some alleys and breaks. We are shopaholics so we took quite long to browse in each shop.
Yes, Tofukuji is pretty close to Fushimi. But I didn't include Tofukuji in my itinerary as I was in Kyoto in mid-Dec. 50% of the maple leaves had fallen in Week 3-4 of Dec. Maybe you'll have better luck in Week 1 Dec.
https://postimg.cc/QVDmbfkv
Surprisingly, we enjoyed the minimalist Nijo Castle as we are fans of samurais and interested to learn about the last shogunate. Nijo was the residence of Tokugawa Ieayasu, as well as the historical site where the young emperor Meiji issued the edict / charter oath to end the Tokugawa shogunate and to return power to the emperor. Nijo's main palace could be done in an hour (by listening to audio guide in full). Unlike Osaka Castle which has a lot of exhibits, a moat cruise and an attic, Nijo Castle is rather empty. But it has something quite intriguing - the nightingale timber floors, and lacquered screens
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