Traveling to Osaka with Mother|6 Days, 5 Nights|2024.08.26-09.01
Traveling without a car and with a mother who has foot pain.
If this is your first time visiting Osaka or you plan to travel alone, I believe this post will be very useful for you.
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I recommend buying the 'New Osaka Amazing Pass' online in advance, as it allows unlimited rides on the subway within Osaka for 2 days and access to 40 attractions, including several free boat rides. (Note: This is different from the Osaka Enjoy Eco Card). Also, consider getting an ICOCA card for convenient payments. [Available at subway vending machines]
Day 1 (Arriving in Osaka at 10 AM due to an overnight flight) [Using the Amazing Pass, all attractions below are free]
Arrive at Kansai Airport in the morning, take a train to the hotel to store luggage, and then have breakfast.
In the afternoon, visit Osaka Castle (the Nishinomaru Garden offers great photo opportunities of the castle, free entry with the Amazing Pass), explore the KAIYODO Figure Museum, have lunch at the nearby mall, then visit the Osaka Castle Museum. Before 4:30 PM, take the last Nakanoshima sightseeing boat.
In the evening, take the subway to Osaka Port Station to ride the Tempozan Ferris Wheel and visit the Osaka Aquarium (you can also visit the Sakishima Cosmo Tower Observatory on the way). Have dinner and then return to the hotel to check in and rest.
Day 2 [Using the New Osaka Amazing Pass, all attractions below are free]
At noon, visit the HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel and the Umeda Harukas 300 Observatory, have lunch, then visit the Sky Museum, and then take a train to the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living.
In the evening, visit Tsutenkaku, Shinsekai Main Street, Jan Jan Yokocho (Nanyo Main Street), have dinner, and then enjoy a night stroll in Dotonbori.
Day 3 [Using the ICOCA card for JR/Toei Subway, round trip costs around 1400 yen per person]
After breakfast, take a train to Himeji Station.
After lunch, visit Himeji Castle, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History, and Koko-en Garden (the museum behind the castle is highly recommended, visit in this order: Koko-en Garden—Himeji Castle—Museum to avoid backtracking).
In the evening, stroll along Miyuki-dori Shopping Street, return to Osaka, and visit the Nagai Botanical Garden teamLab. Finally, have dinner.
Day 4 [Using the ICOCA card for JR/Toei Subway, round trip costs around 1400 yen per person]
After breakfast, take a train to Kyoto.
At noon, visit Yasaka Shrine, Kiyomizu Temple and its surrounding streets, have lunch, then visit Nijo Castle (advance online reservation required for Nijo Castle Main Hall and Kyoto Imperial Palace).
In the evening, visit the Kyoto National Museum (open until 8 PM on Fridays, but one of the halls is currently closed), explore Kyoto Tower, and have dinner.
Day 5
At noon, visit Kuromon Market for lunch. If it rains, visit the Osaka Museum of History, then rest at the hotel.
In the evening, walk from the hotel to the Shinsaibashi shopping area, have dinner, and then shop at Don Quijote in Dotonbori.
Day 6
After breakfast, check out and store luggage.
At noon, visit Tennoji Zoo (some areas are currently under renovation, the polar bears and penguins are worth seeing) and the Tsutenkaku shopping street, then take the subway to the airport.
I hope the above content helps you plan your trip.