Hey guys! Today I'm going to blog about my Kyoto, Osaka and Nara trip, which I just went recently (2nd October - 10th October) with my family. We spent 2D1N in Kyoto and the rest in Osaka (one day in Nara).
I'll be sharing with you the places to go, what to eat, where I stay, info on transportation in the Kansai region, and other travelling tips that might be useful for you. So let's begin!
✧✧✧✧✧
Before I share my itinerary, I just want to tell you guys that it's really EASY to get around in the Kansai region. Many friends who went to Kyoto and Osaka told me that the transportation system is confusing, and to be honest, when I was doing my research at home, I was just as frustrated and confused as you probably are. I read so many blogs about it but I still couldn't really figure out which subway line I'm supposed to go for when I go to Osaka from Kyoto and vice versa.
Many of you DM-ed and asked me for more info regarding the transportation. So here, let me tell you one small (but super useful) tip:
- USE GOOGLE MAPS
Yes, I use Google Maps pretty much every day when I was in Kyoto and Osaka. If you don't have the app in your smartphone now, DOWNLOAD IT. With this app (and, of course internet connection), you can just go any destination you want easily. Forget about reading all those blog posts telling you which subway line to take (I truly appreciate their explanation and details in analysing the subway lines, but too much details sometimes may lead to confusion).
Why I do recommend using Google Maps in Japan?
1) It provides real-time information, which tells you what time the train is reaching, and how long your journey would be.
2) It provides costing information, which allows you to prepare your $$ first before purchasing the tickets.
3) It suggests the best route to you based on your location, which saves your time and cost.
I LOVE YOU, GOOGLE MAPS (and no, this is not sponsored lol).
✧✧✧✧✧
HOW TO GET INTERNET ACCESS IN JAPAN?
Well, I would recommend you guys to get a pocket wifi in Japan. For this trip, I got myself one from TravelRecommends. It offers unlimited data, and the data can be shared among 5 people. With this device, I don't have to "borrow wifi" from restaurants hahahaha and I was always able to get access to the internet whenever and wherever I want. Internet is just so important to me because I always rely on it to use Google Maps or search for information.
✧✧✧✧✧
✧✧✧✧✧
Before I share my itinerary, I just want to tell you guys that it's really EASY to get around in the Kansai region. Many friends who went to Kyoto and Osaka told me that the transportation system is confusing, and to be honest, when I was doing my research at home, I was just as frustrated and confused as you probably are. I read so many blogs about it but I still couldn't really figure out which subway line I'm supposed to go for when I go to Osaka from Kyoto and vice versa.
Many of you DM-ed and asked me for more info regarding the transportation. So here, let me tell you one small (but super useful) tip:
- USE GOOGLE MAPS
Yes, I use Google Maps pretty much every day when I was in Kyoto and Osaka. If you don't have the app in your smartphone now, DOWNLOAD IT. With this app (and, of course internet connection), you can just go any destination you want easily. Forget about reading all those blog posts telling you which subway line to take (I truly appreciate their explanation and details in analysing the subway lines, but too much details sometimes may lead to confusion).
 |
| For example, I use Google Maps to search how to go to NARA from Osaka. |
Why I do recommend using Google Maps in Japan?
1) It provides real-time information, which tells you what time the train is reaching, and how long your journey would be.
2) It provides costing information, which allows you to prepare your $$ first before purchasing the tickets.
3) It suggests the best route to you based on your location, which saves your time and cost.
I LOVE YOU, GOOGLE MAPS (and no, this is not sponsored lol).
✧✧✧✧✧
HOW TO GET INTERNET ACCESS IN JAPAN?
Well, I would recommend you guys to get a pocket wifi in Japan. For this trip, I got myself one from TravelRecommends. It offers unlimited data, and the data can be shared among 5 people. With this device, I don't have to "borrow wifi" from restaurants hahahaha and I was always able to get access to the internet whenever and wherever I want. Internet is just so important to me because I always rely on it to use Google Maps or search for information.
✧✧✧✧✧
FROM KANSAI AIRPORT TO KYOTO (INFO FOR LATE/NIGHT FLIGHTS)
We arrived Kansai airport at 10pm on the 2nd of October. Right after collecting our baggage, we headed to the MK Shuttle Servicecounter in the arrival hall to meet our chauffeur, who would drive us straight to our KyotoAirbnb. As recommended by my friend, I made an online reservation with MK Shuttle Service before my trip. They will require you to fill in some details like your arrival time, your accommodation full address, etc. It's completely reliable but a bit too pricey (in my opinion). A one-way fare to Kyoto from the airport costed us 4300YEN (which is around RM160) PER person (you don't have to pay anything until you get on the ride though). Our arrival time in Kansai airport was too late for us to catch the train, so we decided to book this shuttle service, which sent us to our Kyoto Airbnb safely.
So technically speaking, 2nd of October wasn't really counted as our official day as we already spent the day on the plane, in the airport and transferring to Kyoto.
We decided to visit Kyoto for one and a half day, which means we checked-out our Airbnb on the 4th of October. So on the 3rd of October, we travelled to all the major attractions in Kyoto, which will be listed down below.
✧✧✧✧✧
WHERE TO STAY IN KYOTO
![]()
The Airbnb that we stayed in Kyoto was really, really small. You can't even imagine how small the toilet is hahaha. Do take note that there's NO elevator, so you will have to carry your luggages up to the 4th floor. But given the fact that houses in Japan are pretty small in general, we were okay with it. Plus, we only stayed there for 2 nights, so it wasn't a big deal for us. Though the room was pretty crammed, the location of this Airbnb was great. You can easily find convenience stores, Starbucks, restaurants and cafes nearby the apartment. Also, the subway station is just 5-6 mins walk away.
[Get RM55 credit if you are a first-time user of Airbnb by clicking THIS link]
Link to this Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/10618193?s=51
Price: RM239 per person, per night, including taxes and other fees.
✧✧✧✧✧
✧✧✧✧✧
WHERE TO STAY IN KYOTO
The Airbnb that we stayed in Kyoto was really, really small. You can't even imagine how small the toilet is hahaha. Do take note that there's NO elevator, so you will have to carry your luggages up to the 4th floor. But given the fact that houses in Japan are pretty small in general, we were okay with it. Plus, we only stayed there for 2 nights, so it wasn't a big deal for us. Though the room was pretty crammed, the location of this Airbnb was great. You can easily find convenience stores, Starbucks, restaurants and cafes nearby the apartment. Also, the subway station is just 5-6 mins walk away.
[Get RM55 credit if you are a first-time user of Airbnb by clicking THIS link]
Link to this Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/10618193?s=51
Price: RM239 per person, per night, including taxes and other fees.
✧✧✧✧✧
WHERE TO GO IN KYOTO
1) Kinkaku-ji Temple (金閣寺, Golden Pavilion)
in Northern Kyoto
in Northern Kyoto
The Kinkaku-ji Temple is one of the most iconic landmarks in Kyoto. You will have to pay 400YEN (around RM16) as the admission fee. Covered in glittering gold leafs, the temple is really awe-inspiring. And I find the adjoining "mirror pond" reflection really beautiful and magical.
Tip: Try to get there as early as possible (opening hour is 9am) before the crowds start coming in, otherwise it will be super hard for you to take nice pictures here.
 |
| Breathtaking view of the Kinkaku-ji Temple. |
 |
| So, so, so lucky that I managed to capture this picture without anyone beside me lolol. 过后接下来拍的照片全部都不能接受因为太多人了！！ |
 |
| Get an ice-cream from the ice-cream vending machine! We randomly picked one, and it surprisingly tasted good! ＊在日本什么都好吃就对了 |
 |
| Also, don't forget to try out the Matcha soft-serve ice-cream in Kyoto! You can find this almost everywhere around Kinkaku-ji Temple hahaha. |
 | ||
| Don't rush to other places yet after visiting Kinkaku-ji Temple. Instead, take some time and walk leisurely to explore the streets around the temple. You will find yourself getting attracted by the quaint little shops that sell all these adorable and intricate handmade dolls that you can bring back as souvenirs. 2) Fushimi Inari Shrine in Southern Kyoto We took the cab (yea, bad choice because it costed us a bomb lol) to Fushimi Inari Shrine from Kinkaku-ji Temple. The JR Inari subway station is actually right in front of the entrance of Fushimi Inari, so you can take the subway instead of taking the cab. What's so famous about the Fushimi Inari Shrine? It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which form a network of trails behind. The trails eventually lead you to the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233 meters and belongs to the shrine grounds. Articles say that the hike to the summit of the mountain and back takes about 2-3 hours, but you can actually choose to just explore the miniature torii gates at the front. Admission fee is free! 
WHERE TO GO IN OSAKA |
1) Kuromon Market (黑门市场)
After we checked in our Airbnb, we walked to Kuromon Market for lunch!! As we were starving like shit, everything in Kuromon Market just looked so appetising to us hahaha. Little did you know, Kuromon Market has more than 190 years of history, so it's considered a must-visit in Osaka! In this food market, you will be exposed to seafood, seafood and seafood. Get your cash ready, and sapu all the fresh salmon sashimi, toro, sea urchin, etc!
![]()
![]()
2) Dotonburi
As one of the most principal tourist destinations, Dotonburi is a very lively street that is full of restaurants, snacks shops, and clothing stores. ＊不怕没东西吃 只怕你没钱吃！
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
10) Universal Studios Japan (USJ)
If you're a theme park person like me, of course you have to visit Universal Studios Japan. Visiting USJ has been on my bucket list for years, and I'm just beyond ecstatic that I made my wish came true this year. I will blog about USJ in a separate blog post as I have too many pictures to share!
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
After we checked in our Airbnb, we walked to Kuromon Market for lunch!! As we were starving like shit, everything in Kuromon Market just looked so appetising to us hahaha. Little did you know, Kuromon Market has more than 190 years of history, so it's considered a must-visit in Osaka! In this food market, you will be exposed to seafood, seafood and seafood. Get your cash ready, and sapu all the fresh salmon sashimi, toro, sea urchin, etc!
2) Dotonburi
As one of the most principal tourist destinations, Dotonburi is a very lively street that is full of restaurants, snacks shops, and clothing stores. ＊不怕没东西吃 只怕你没钱吃！
 |
| Gyoza from 大板王将 |
 |
| Grilled crab leg (990YEN for these two small crab legs...personally I don't think it was worth the price) |
 |
| Takoyaki |
At night, the bright neon signs and flashing billboards set the Dotonburi street ablaze, making it more lively than ever.
The famous Glico man sign can be found on the Ebusu-bashi bridge, which connects Dotonburi and Shinsaibashi.
3) Don Quijote (tax-free shop)
If you want to shop for tax-free items, remember to go to Don Quijote, which is a very popular tax-free shop in Osaka. They have a few branches in Osaka and the one in Dotonburi is the most crowded one. There are 6-7 floors of products, ranging from Japanese snacks to medicines, makeup, skin care, hair care, daily necessities, electronic products, household products and even watches and second-hand branded goods. They have E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. Note that you will have to queue up to pay, and also queue up again for tax-refund lolol.
4) Ichiran Ramen
来到日本怎可以错过一蘭拉麵?! There are a few Ichiran branches in Osaka and there's one nearby Don Quijote in Dotobunri. Do expect a long queue in front of this shop because it's too popular. While we were queuing up, a staff actually approached and brought us to their 2nd branch with lesser queue, which is just a 3-min walk away hahahaha.
5) WEGO clothing store
If you adore Japanese fashion, you must visit WEGO in Japan. It's one of my favourite clothing stores to shop at!
6) Shinsaibashi
Being one of the most popular shopping districts in Osaka, Shinsaibashi is just right across Dotonburi. Yes, you can just walk to Shinsaibashi from Dotonburi. There are countless of fashion stores, ranging from local Japanese urban street brands (like WEGO, GU) to high-end brands (such as Zara, Samantha Thavasa, Uniqlo, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, etc) in Shinsaibashi. The Daimaru department store, which is also located at the Shinsaibashisuji street, carries international cosmetic brands (such as Jill Stuart, YSL, NARS, La Mer, Paul & Joe, etc) and fashion brands (like Gucci, Celine, etc).
Jill Stuart's products always stole my heart away!!
7) Luke's Lobsters
Luke's Lobsters - A must-eat in Japan!! I had this lobster roll last year in Tokyo and fell in love with it. So I was really excited to have it again in Shinsaibashi!
8) SPINNS (clothing store)
Apart from WEGO, I also like to shop in SPINNS, a clothing store that sells both trendy and vintage garments at prices ranging from RM80 - RM300. You can find this store in the Shinsaibashisuji shopping street as well!
9) Eggs' n Things (pancake & waffle cafe)
Eggs' n Things actually hailed from Hawaii, but apparently it's a very popular breakfast & pancake house in Japan. We visited their branch in Shinsaibashi and were actually impressed by the quality of the food. Not only did they look appealing (and Instagram-worthy), but they actually tasted awesome as well. And I guess that's why they have been so popular!
 |
| Price wise, it definitely gravitated to the higher end. But personally, I think it's worth the money. |
 |
| Here's what we ordered: Halloween Special Burger and Strawberry Mille-feuille Pancake. Accompanied with roasted potatoes and bacon, the burger was grilled to perfection. The pancake was really fluffy, soft and it went so well with the whipped cream that felt like snow. |
If you're a theme park person like me, of course you have to visit Universal Studios Japan. Visiting USJ has been on my bucket list for years, and I'm just beyond ecstatic that I made my wish came true this year. I will blog about USJ in a separate blog post as I have too many pictures to share!
11) Osaka Castle
Having more than 400 years of history, the Osaka Castle is one of the most popular landmarks in Osaka. It's open to public every day from 9am to 5pm, and the admission fee is 600YEN (which is approx. RM24). There are 8 floors in this castle, and each floor consists of historical and interesting artifacts and even mini movie theatres about the Japanese history. So if you are interested in learning more about Japanese history, the Osaka Castle is definitely worth a visit.
 |
The view from the observatory deck on the 8th floor. Also, you can wear these headgears and take photos for a certain fee.  Miniature figures |
12) Osaka Kaiyukan (Aquarium)
I don't know about you, but I always find the idea of visiting an aquarium fascinating!!! The Osaka Kaiyukan is one of the world's largest aquariums. With over 15 large tanks, each recreating a specific region of the Pacific Rim, the Osaka Kaiyukan wil take you on a virtual tour of the Pacific Ocean.
There are more than 30,000 creatures encompassing 620 species—including otters, sea lions, penguins, dolphins, whale sharks, rays, and jellyfish, just to name a few, in this aquarium. Also, there's an exhibition level that offers you sensory experience which you can TOUCH the stingrays and baby sharks!!
The admission fee for visitors above 16 years old is 2300YEN (about RM87) (kindly check out their website for more pricing info!). We bought an Osaka Kaiyu Ticket for 2550YEN at the train station, and this ticket is a special one-day ticket that includes the entrance to the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan and unlimited travel on trains and buses. So if you plan to travel to other places within the designated area after visiting the aquarium, definitely get yourself this pass! *The Osaka Kaiyu Tickets are not sold online or at the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan ticket office.
It's just so exciting discovering and seeing the underwater sea creatures gracefully swimming around in their naturalistic habitats.
Sea otters and penguins - such adorable creatures!
I called this the Kylie Jenner fish (I mean, look at the lips yo)
 |
| Hammerhead shark |
 |
| Don't forget to take a selfie with those friendly stingrays! |
Dive into the wonderful coast of chile - for a moment I felt as if I was a mermaid.
Oh hi, whale shark, it was nice meeting you. (The whale sharks are the reason why I wanted to visit this aquarium as they are known as the largest fish in the sea)
13) Tempozan Ferris Wheel
The enormous Tempozan Ferris Wheel is located just beside the Osaka Kaiyukan. It offers an amazing aerial view of the Osaka area; a romantic place to catch the sunsets!
14) Pokémon Centre
If you're a fan of Pokemon, you will surely go crazy in the Pokémon Centre in Osaka! Located in Daimaru Umeda (a department store), Pokémon Center is the official site for Pokémon shopping, featuring original items such as plush toys, clothing, figures, Pokémon TCG trading cards, and more.
15) Umeda Sky Building
From the Daimaru Umeda department store (where we visited the Pokemon Centre), we walked to the Umeda Sky Building, a spectacular high rise building that offers a stunning panoramic of the city in an open-air observatory deck. The 173 meter tall building consists of two towers that are connected by the "Floating Garden Observatory" on the 39th floor.
 | ||
Admission fee to the observatory deck is 1000YEN (around RM38). The "mid-air escalator" that leads to the Floating Garden Observatory. I called this the "staircase to heaven".
 16) Matsuzakagyu Yakiniku M (Matsusaka beef) On our last night in Osaka, we splurged a little bit more on food and had Matsusaka beef in Matsuzakagyu Yakiniku M. It's recommended by my friend, @jessytheklchic, she told me that this beef is even better than Kobe beef. Having heard that, of course we had to give it a try! The branch we went to is located in Namba (nearby Dotonburi). Do make a reservation first to avoid disappointment. We ordered a Matsusaka beef course that costs us 3800YEN/person (about RM143). The course comes with an appetiser, salad, Matsusaka beef and rice. |
Forgot what this beef is called but it tasted so good with the garlic.
Um, yeah, this is the serving portion for 2 pax yo. So, one person gets to eat about 5 slices of meat. Though the portion is pretty small, the texture and taste of the beef was really impressive, I mean, look at those marbling! Besides, it's SUPER TENDER!! Well, this meal is slightly expensive but definitely worth the price that you are going to pay for.
17) Orange Street (for streetwear brands)
Orange Street is just nearby Shinsaibashi, it's a street with a lot of streetwear brands, hipster cafes and interior designer's stores. This street is also known as the "vogue street" in Osaka. We stumbled upon a retailer store called Rinkan, and it carries a lot of premium streetwear brands like Supreme, Balenciaga, LV, etc. So, do drop by this street if you are a hypebeast kind of person yo.
18) Other food
Well, here are some other food pictures that I had during my trip!
 |
| Maison de Gigi waffles at Shinsaibashisuji Street |
 |
| Fresh sushi from 大起水产 |
 |
| Tempura bowl from 大起水产 as well |
This is how the shop looks like. It's located at Namba!
 |
| Beef bowl from Yoshinoya. Cheap and satisfying! *this bowl is only 360YEN omg |
FROM OSAKA TO NARA
Okay, so as mentioned above, I went to Nara for a one-day trip from Osaka. Nara is just one hour away from Osaka by train, and it's very easy to go! If you have time, I do recommend you to spend half a day / a day in Nara to see the deers and visit some temples.
A one way ticket from Osaka to Nara only costed us 560YEN (about RM21).
✧✧✧✧✧
WHAT TO DO IN NARA?
Go to Nara Park and feed the deers, of course! It's an extraordinary experience that one should try once in a lifetime, I would say. The deers are allowed to roam freely in Nara, and they are super adorable (and voracious) hahaha. There are people selling deer cookies for 500YEN per pack, so just buy one pack and start interacting with the deers!
Gentle reminder: Remember to wear comfortable shoes as you will have to walk a lot in Nara.
 |
| Aww, look at those doe eyes! |
 |
| If you have time, feel free to visit the Todaijitemple in Nara, which is a historical Buddhist temple with the world's largest wooden structure. Admission fee to the museum and Daibutsuden Hall is 800YEN and it closes at 5pm! |
WHERE TO EAT AND SHOP IN NARA?
There are actually a lot of restaurants in Nara. This street, which is just beside the train station, has a lot of restaurants and shops selling souvenirs!
 |
| All these packaging, ugh. |
 |
| Highly recommend you guys to try out this 鸡白汤 ramen in 元喜神! The broth is rich and thick, but not to the point that you feel repulsed by it. |
HOW MUCH YOU SHOULD BRING TO THIS TRIP???
Personally, I spent about RM3500 on food, transportation and some shopping on souvenirs, drugstore products and clothes from WEGO and SPINNS. RM3000 (excluding flight and airbnb) should be enough if you're not a shopaholic. And if you stay in Namba/Dotonburi/Shinsaibashi area in Osaka, you save a lot of money on transportation too!
✧✧✧✧✧
HOW MANY DAYS IS ENOUGH?
OK. Personally, I think you should spend 1 day (or 2 days if you love exploring more about Kyoto's heritage and historical places) in Kyoto, then maybe 4 or 5 days in Osaka, and 1 day in Nara.
✧✧✧✧✧
Extra shoutout for this Houjicha Latte from Starbucks. IT WAS REALLY GOOD. T_T
✧✧✧✧✧
OK, after spending 2 days writing this post, I'm finally done!!!! I hope y'all find this post useful, and feel free to ask me any questions about travelling to Osaka / Kyoto / Nara in the comment section down below and I will try my best to answer y'all. Thanks for reading and love y'all!!
Ok now I'm going to edit my Japan vlog, so stay tuned! ;)