10D9N Itinerary in Japan (🌳 Part One: Kyoto 5D4N Trip)
Hello! I’m back from a recent trip to Japan with my family + the husb (group of 5 🥰) It was our 3rd time in Japan but my parents’ first so we wanted to hit all the popular spots 🫣 I’ll be splitting our trip into 2 posts for the Kyoto and Tokyo legs :D
Context: we went in end-April 2026 and it was raining almost every other day 🥲 the temp was colder than I expected because of that (15-23 deg!!)
DAY 0, WED (🇯🇵 Flight there)
✈️ Flight to Kansai Airport (KIX) - landed at 2pm then headed straight to Kyoto using the JR Haruka Kansai Airport Express (1h 15m)
🏠 Reached our Kyoto Airbnb to check in (near Toji Station)
🍜 Had dinner at AEON MALL KYOTO (10mins walking distance)
DAY 1, THU (🇯🇵 Ninenzaka, Gion)
🦪 Nishiki Market - ate some street food and pastries at The City Bakery!
🌳 Ninenzaka, Sanenzaka - Gokago Matcha, Peter Rabbit, Sumikko Gurashi, Ghibli Stores 🤩
⛩️ Kiyomizudera Temple (but we didn’t go up)
🛍️ Gion for shopping - went to check out Beams
🍜 Had ramen for dinner, and also bought pudding from Gion Gozu as supper 😋
DAY 2, FRI (🇯🇵 Osaka Day Trip)
☕️ Breakfast at Cizool - near our airbnb :)
🚄 Train to Dotonbori, Osaka (~1h)
🛍️ Shinsaibashi Parco - Muji, Kiddyland, Mofusand etc
🥞 Okonomiyaki for lunch - at Dorajyu 👍🏻
🛍️ Shinsaibashi - Uniqlo, GU, Excelsior Cafe for Cremia ice cream~
🍣 Kura Sushi for dinner!
🦀 Walked the streets of Dotonbori at night before heading back to Kyoto
DAY 3, SAT (🇯🇵 Arashiyama)
🍛 Early lunch at Arashiyama Curry Rice
🎋 Arashiyama Bamboo Forest - we walked down the street from Saga-Arashiyama JR station (follow the crowd) and you will see a narrow alleyway beside Snoopy Chaya :>
⛩️ Nonomiya Shrine
🌳 Tenryu-ji Temple - their gardens are hugeee and features seasonal flora & fauna 😍 admission fee was 500yen!
🛍️ Explored the streets leading to Katsura River & the Togetsukyo Bridge
☕️ Arabica Kyoto
🌳 Arashiyama Park - chilled here while eating street snacks & coffee
⛩️ Heian Jingu Shrine - headed back to central Kyoto by bus
🌳 Okazaki Park - found a Tsutaya bookstore nearby
🍳 Omurice dinner - at Grill Kodakara 👍🏻
DAY 4, SUN (🇯🇵 Amanohashidate Day Trip)
🚗 Car rental - le husband went to pick up the car at 8:30am while we settled our luggage forwarding to the Tokyo Airbnb!
🛍️ Kyotamba Rest Area - our only pit stop! bought some souvenir and grilled food for our car ride :> (~2h)
🌊 Amanohashidate Viewland - took the chairlift up & the views were amazing!! there’s a small amusement park at the top
🍜 Lunch at a local seafood restaurant
⛩️ Chionji Temple
⛴️ Kaisen Bridge - a rotating bridge for small boats to pass thru the channel
🌊 Ine Fishing Village - had to go to Ine Cafe to enjoy coffee with the sea view 🥹
🚗 Drove back to Kyoto to return the car
🍚 Had a simple kaiseki dinner at AEON again (but so yummy 😋)
And that was the end of our 5D4N Kyoto trip 😭 we took the Shinkansen to Tokyo the next morning > 2nd post coming up :D
Traveling to Kyoto in late April, especially with family, offers a unique blend of cultural immersion and scenic beauty, even when weather surprises with rain and cooler temperatures. From personal experience, dressing in layers is essential during spring to adjust comfortably between the chillier mornings and warmer afternoons. Kyoto’s charm lies not only in famous UNESCO sites like Kiyomizudera Temple and Heian Jingu Shrine but also in wandering through neighborhoods such as Ninenzaka and Gion, where traditional streetscapes and local shops provide an authentic atmosphere. The Nishiki Market’s street food is a must-try, offering everything from fresh oysters to matcha pastries, thrilling both the taste buds and the heart. A day trip to Osaka adds a dynamic contrast, where bustling shopping streets like Shinsaibashi and night strolls through Dotonbori illuminate the vibrant city life. Sampling okonomiyaki at Dorajyu and sushi at Kura Sushi creates memorable foodie experiences. Arashiyama’s Bamboo Forest is best visited early to avoid the crowds, and taking the path beside Snoopy Chaya adds a whimsical touch. Exploring Tenryu-ji Temple’s expansive gardens reveals seasonal flora that’s captivating year-round. Nearby streets along the Katsura River lead to picturesque views of the Togetsukyo Bridge, offering perfect photo opportunities. Renting a car for the Amanohashidate day trip proved invaluable for accessing less-touristy spots like Ine Fishing Village and enjoying the serene seaside vistas from the chairlift at Viewland. The rotating Kaisen Bridge is a novel experience rarely found elsewhere. Finishing days with simple but delicious dinners at local spots like AEON Mall Kyoto or Grill Kodakara allows for rest and reflection while savoring authentic Japanese home-style meals. Incorporating a visit to local bookstores like Tsutaya near Okazaki Park can also highlight Kyoto's rich cultural side beyond landmarks. Overall, maintaining flexibility in plans to accommodate weather changes and including a mix of iconic sites and lesser-known gems enriches the travel experience. Sharing moments with family members, especially those visiting Japan for the first time, adds heartwarming layers to the journey, making this itinerary both practical and deeply personal.