Marvellous Japan

Day 1: Arrive in Osaka

Arrival: Kansai International Airport (KIX)

Stay: Namba, Umeda, or Shinsaibashi

Activities:

Visit Dotonbori, Glico Sign, and Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade

Try Osaka’s street food: takoyaki, okonomiyaki, kushikatsu

Day 2: Explore Osaka

Morning:

Osaka Castle + park

Afternoon:

Umeda Sky Building or Osaka Aquarium

Evening:

Visit Kuromon Ichiba Market

Optional: Spa World (onsen) or river cruise

Day 3: Day Trip to Nara or Kobe (Optional)

Option 1: Nara (45 mins):

Todaiji Temple, Nara Deer Park, Kasuga Shrine

Option 2: Kobe (30 mins):

Harborland, Kobe beef lunch, ropeway to Mt. Rokko

Or just enjoy a leisure day in Osaka.

Day 4: Travel to Kyoto

Train: 30–60 min from Osaka (JR or Hankyu lines)

Stay: Gion, Kawaramachi, or Kyoto Station area

Activities:

Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha (thousands of red torii gates)

Stroll Gion district — traditional Kyoto streets and teahouses

Dinner along Pontocho Alley

Day 5: Explore Kyoto

Morning:

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Togetsukyo Bridge

Afternoon:

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), Ryoanji Temple

Evening:

Optional: Tea ceremony or geisha performance (book in advance)

Day 6: Travel to Hiroshima (Stay 1 or 2 Nights)

Train: Shinkansen Kyoto → Hiroshima (~2 hours)

Stay: Near Hiroshima Station or Hondori shopping street

Activities:

Visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, A-Bomb Dome

Peace Memorial Museum — moving and educational

Day 7: Miyajima Island Day Trip

Morning: JR train + ferry (~1 hour)

See the floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine

Hike or cable car up Mt. Misen

Afternoon: Try momiji manju (maple-leaf shaped sweet)

Return to Hiroshima for the night or onward to Osaka (2.5 hrs)

Day 8: Departure

Options:

Fly out of Hiroshima Airport or return to Osaka (KIX) by Shinkansen

Final shopping at Shinsaibashi if back in Osaka.