Will be going in late Nov with wifey for anniversary celebrations and a friend's wedding along the way. Searched PBase to find a photogs who know what they're shooting and have been there, but selection seems limited. Have free and easy itinerary otherwise - appreciate suggestions and ideas. Thanks in advance
Japan, Osaka - Kyoto
- Thread starter HougangMan
- Start date
Osaka and Kyoto are relatively easy places and already well publicized. Kyoto is the ancient city with many temples. Himeji castle is also a top attraction. If you can go earlier around mid Nov, you can catch the renowned autumn scenery.
From my research, it seems like Himeji is under major renovation now, at least for june july, seems like it might stretch till 2014 or something, do check before making a trip down
My lastest info (accurate till Jan 2010) says the silver pavilion in Ginkakuji (银阁寺
in Kyoto is still under renovation. IMHO, it is not worth a visit to Ginkakuji if the silver pavilion is under renovation.
Kinkakuji in Kyoto is definitely worth a visit, but do go there early.
in Kyoto is still under renovation. IMHO, it is not worth a visit to Ginkakuji if the silver pavilion is under renovation. Kinkakuji in Kyoto is definitely worth a visit, but do go there early.
Pity I have no control when to go, the dates must coincide with my friend's wedding in late Nov. I get differing opinion on when the fall colors are out, some say early to mid nov, others say mid nov to early dec.
I will be navigating via handheld GPS, so anyone wants to share co-ords - feel free!
I will be navigating via handheld GPS, so anyone wants to share co-ords - feel free!
Check these websites nearer to date. They report on the likely autumn color change in various parts of Japan:
www.japan-guide.com
www.jnto.go.jp
www.japan-guide.com
www.jnto.go.jp
Let me know the dates and I can help you work something out. Kyoto is best if you take it nice and slow. Since you are there, you can always do Osaka-Kyoto-Nara depending on the length of your trip.
Hitching onto your thread.
I'm heading to Osaka and Kyoto on SATURDAY! Really an impulse decision. Also finally got down to reading up the attractions.
Just have some uncertainty about my Kyoto plan:
Day 1
Heading to Kyoto from Osaka in the morning. Will reach close to noon.
1. Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion)
2. Arashiyama and Sagano
3. Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
Day 2
1. Ginkaku-ji Temple (Silver Pavilion)
2. Walk southwards. Path of Philosophy
3. Heian-Jingu Shrine
4. Kiyomizu-dera Temple
5. Higashiyama District
6. Gion Corner
Is this plan workable? Those are essentially the places I'm quite keen on going. I'm going for more of a photo-shoot relaxation trip. Am I squeezing too many places into each day?
Any tips of the best hours to go certain places?
e.g. Gion (Early evening to see Geishas)
Thanks!
P.s I'm quite stuck with my Osaka portion. Seems like nothing much to sight-see, except the Osaka Castle and Aquarium. And food of course. I have 2 days in Osaka too. Any idea where else I should head? Thanks!
I'm heading to Osaka and Kyoto on SATURDAY! Really an impulse decision. Also finally got down to reading up the attractions.
Just have some uncertainty about my Kyoto plan:
Day 1
Heading to Kyoto from Osaka in the morning. Will reach close to noon.
1. Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion)
2. Arashiyama and Sagano
3. Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
Day 2
1. Ginkaku-ji Temple (Silver Pavilion)
2. Walk southwards. Path of Philosophy
3. Heian-Jingu Shrine
4. Kiyomizu-dera Temple
5. Higashiyama District
6. Gion Corner
Is this plan workable? Those are essentially the places I'm quite keen on going. I'm going for more of a photo-shoot relaxation trip. Am I squeezing too many places into each day?
Any tips of the best hours to go certain places?
e.g. Gion (Early evening to see Geishas)
Thanks!
P.s I'm quite stuck with my Osaka portion. Seems like nothing much to sight-see, except the Osaka Castle and Aquarium. And food of course. I have 2 days in Osaka too. Any idea where else I should head? Thanks!
Hitching onto your thread.
I'm heading to Osaka and Kyoto on SATURDAY! Really an impulse decision. Also finally got down to reading up the attractions.
Just have some uncertainty about my Kyoto plan:
Day 1
Heading to Kyoto from Osaka in the morning. Will reach close to noon.
1. Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion)
2. Arashiyama and Sagano
3. Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
Day 2
1. Ginkaku-ji Temple (Silver Pavilion)
2. Walk southwards. Path of Philosophy
3. Heian-Jingu Shrine
4. Kiyomizu-dera Temple
5. Higashiyama District
6. Gion Corner
Is this plan workable? Those are essentially the places I'm quite keen on going. I'm going for more of a photo-shoot relaxation trip. Am I squeezing too many places into each day?
Any tips of the best hours to go certain places?
e.g. Gion (Early evening to see Geishas)
Thanks!
P.s I'm quite stuck with my Osaka portion. Seems like nothing much to sight-see, except the Osaka Castle and Aquarium. And food of course. I have 2 days in Osaka too. Any idea where else I should head? Thanks!
Just came back from Kyoto and Osaka last week. Have visited most of the places you want to go.
Day 1: A bit tight to do in one day depending on how long you intend to spend at each place. I didn't do Kinkaku-ji Temple (not really keen on temples) but spent more time on the other two places. Both are unique. Fushimi-Inari's uniqueness is the thousands of lacquered orange and red torii gates surrounding the temple and the whole circuit takes about 4 hours to complete. In my opinion, if you are a nature person, it is best to spend more time in Arashiyama to visit the Bamboo Grove and the Hozu-gawa river.
Day 2: All the places are within walking distance of each other. Again you should not miss the Path of Philosophy and Kiyomizu-dera. At the latter, be sure to explore the small lanes downhill, in particular, Sannen-zaka, where you can see traditional Kyoto dwellings lovingly restored.
The others are so-so.
I agree Osaka has nothing much to offer compared with Kyoto. If you have a JR pass do try to go to Hiroshima by shinkansen to see the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Peace Memorial Museum. While there, take a side trip to Miyajima Island. All this can be done in a day if you leave your hotel by 9.00am. In Osaka, you should visit the Osaka Castle, Dotonburi (night entertainment district) and Den -Den Town (electronics shopping)
I'm still sorting out my photos but you can see some of them in Picasa at this link:
https://picasaweb.google.com/hope107fm/JAPANMAY2011HIROSHIMAANDMIYAJIMA?feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/hope107fm/JAPANMAY2011KYOTO?feat=directlink
Thanks for your inputs, Hope107fm!
Quite interested in Kinkakuji Temple due to the famous mirror pond. Just wanted a quick shot of that iconic gold pavilion and head off to the next destination. I read that the Fushimi-Inari is a 4km tunnel. :bigeyes: Will definitely not be hiking all the way through the tunnel. Again probably take a couple of shots of the iconic red torii gates. As for Arashiyama, yes! i'm going there because of the bamboo grove.
Probably wont be heading to Hiroshima. Will take the time to slowly walk and shop around Osaka. Noted about the Dotonburi and Den den town!
Very nice shots of your trip! Your photos are making me excited to go!
Quite interested in Kinkakuji Temple due to the famous mirror pond. Just wanted a quick shot of that iconic gold pavilion and head off to the next destination. I read that the Fushimi-Inari is a 4km tunnel. :bigeyes: Will definitely not be hiking all the way through the tunnel. Again probably take a couple of shots of the iconic red torii gates. As for Arashiyama, yes! i'm going there because of the bamboo grove.
Probably wont be heading to Hiroshima. Will take the time to slowly walk and shop around Osaka. Noted about the Dotonburi and Den den town!
Very nice shots of your trip! Your photos are making me excited to go!
i went in 17 nov last yr and the colors had set in.
1. forget about himeiji castle. e main palace is under reno and nothing much else to shoot.
2. there is an unbelieveable crowd in kyoto on a sat. especially Arashiyama! prepare to spend 1/2 day.
3. Kinkakuji, Kiyomizudera (beautiful place) and Fushimi Inari are worth to visit.
4. Spend more time at Kiyomizudera. Try to go in the early evening as there is a beautiful sunset there.
you can walk along the philosopher's path after the visit. lots of small shops to visit along the path. i saw Geishas here.
5. don;t need to walk the whole fushimi. i got bored after a while and trekked back.
6. Gion nightwalk is quite boring. nothing much for me. go if you have extra time.
you can consider my itinerary for Kyoto:
Day 1: Kinkakuji (Morning), Kiyomizudera (afternoon), P. Path (Evening)
Day 2: Arayashima (Morning), Fushimi (Afternoon)
my shots:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wormsss/sets/72157625326646389/
1. forget about himeiji castle. e main palace is under reno and nothing much else to shoot.
2. there is an unbelieveable crowd in kyoto on a sat. especially Arashiyama! prepare to spend 1/2 day.
3. Kinkakuji, Kiyomizudera (beautiful place) and Fushimi Inari are worth to visit.
4. Spend more time at Kiyomizudera. Try to go in the early evening as there is a beautiful sunset there.
you can walk along the philosopher's path after the visit. lots of small shops to visit along the path. i saw Geishas here.
5. don;t need to walk the whole fushimi. i got bored after a while and trekked back.
6. Gion nightwalk is quite boring. nothing much for me. go if you have extra time.
you can consider my itinerary for Kyoto:
Day 1: Kinkakuji (Morning), Kiyomizudera (afternoon), P. Path (Evening)
Day 2: Arayashima (Morning), Fushimi (Afternoon)
my shots:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wormsss/sets/72157625326646389/
Last edited:
Thanks Wormsss for your tips!
Your proposed itinerary looks good to me!
I wanted to head out to Himeji too. But checked the website and discovered it's under reno, so I'll be skipping that. Thankfully my 2 days in Kyoto are on weekdays. Really hoping not to get huge crowds.
Would Kiyomizudera be crowded at late afternoon period?
Also do you think a tripod is needed in the walkabout of Kyoto?
Your shots looks awesome as well. I can feel that whimsical sense in your photos.
Your proposed itinerary looks good to me!
I wanted to head out to Himeji too. But checked the website and discovered it's under reno, so I'll be skipping that. Thankfully my 2 days in Kyoto are on weekdays. Really hoping not to get huge crowds.
Would Kiyomizudera be crowded at late afternoon period?
Also do you think a tripod is needed in the walkabout of Kyoto?
Your shots looks awesome as well. I can feel that whimsical sense in your photos.
Hi happylee,
there is one good thing for Kyoto on a weekend. There will be more bus services and official guides at the train/bus stations to provide you assistance.
Kiyomizudera is always crowded. but you are still able to walk around and take some nice photos.
i didn't carry tripod during my trip. a lot of places do not allow tripod.
there is one good thing for Kyoto on a weekend. There will be more bus services and official guides at the train/bus stations to provide you assistance.
Kiyomizudera is always crowded. but you are still able to walk around and take some nice photos.
i didn't carry tripod during my trip. a lot of places do not allow tripod.
Kiyomizudera is beautiful at sunset
from the temple you can see kyoto city and kyoto tower
you can probably go there late afternoon and hang around for sunset
from the temple you can see kyoto city and kyoto tower
you can probably go there late afternoon and hang around for sunset
Similar threads
