πŸ‡―πŸ‡΅ Kansai Couple Trip

Osaka β†’ Nara β†’ Kumano β†’ Shirahama β†’ KIX | January 10–15, 2025

✨ Trip Highlights

🏎️
Go-Kart through Osaka Mario Kart-style street racing in Namba
🦌
Nara's Friendly Deer Golden hour stroll with bowing deer
πŸ”οΈ
Sacred Mountain Drive Scenic forest roads through Yoshino
⛩️
Nachi Falls & Shrine Japan's tallest waterfall, misty morning magic
♨️
Private Onsen Night Yanagiya Ryokan β€” ocean-view rotenburo
🍱
Kaiseki Dinner Traditional multi-course Japanese cuisine
6 Days
5 Nights
470 km Driving
4 Days with Car

πŸ“ Route Overview

Mountain
Coastal
Return
Day 1 β€” Fri 10 Jan
Arrival + Go-Kart + Festival
LOCKED
Today's highlight: 🏎️ Street go-kart through Osaka's neon streets + 🎎 Tōka Ebisu Festival (lucky bamboo & lanterns)
09:40
✈️ Land at KIX
~12:00
🏨 Arrive Osaka (Namba)
Luggage drop, freshen up, light lunch
16:00–18:00
🏎️ Street Go-Kart (90 mins)
Namba/Minami branch β€’ Bring passport + IDP
19:00
🎎 Tōka Ebisu Festival
Imamiya Ebisu Shrine β€’ Lucky bamboo, food stalls, lanterns (LAST DAY)
~21:00
🍜 Dinner in Dotonbori
~22:00
🐧 Mega Don Quijote Dotonbori
Giant store with Ferris wheel β€’ Open til 1am β€’ Snacks, souvenirs, chaos
Day 2 β€” Sat 11 Jan
Osaka Amazing Pass Day
OAP
Today's highlight: 🎸 Amerika-mura vintage guitar hunting + πŸŒ… Umeda Sky Building sunset views
Morning
🏯 Osaka Castle
Interior museum + observation floor
Early PM
🚒 Tombori River Cruise
~2-3pm
🎸 Amerika-mura Guitar Shops
10 min walk from Dotonbori β€’ Ishibashi Music, vintage shops
~4pm
β˜• Coffee break
Umeda area (15 min subway)
~4:30pm
πŸŒ… Umeda Sky Building
Floating Garden Observatory β€’ Sunset ~5pm
~19:00
πŸ•―οΈ Hozenji Yokocho
Lantern-lit alley, mossy Buddha β€’ Old Osaka atmosphere
~19:30
🍢 Ura-Namba Izakaya Crawl
Backstreet bars, kushikatsu, tachinomi (standing bars)
~21:30
πŸŒƒ Late Night Dotonbori
Full neon glory, Glico sign, canal reflections
Day 3 β€” Sun 12 Jan
Fun Morning β†’ Start Road Trip
πŸš— CAR
Today's highlight: 🍣 Hands-on sushi making class + 🦌 Golden hour deer encounter at Nara Park
10:00
🍣 Sushi Making Class
Sushi Master Namba (90 mins) β€’ Nigiri, maki, gunkan β€’ Β₯4,000-7,000 β€’ BOOK AHEAD
12:00
🚢 Chill / light walk
You'll be full from sushi class!
15:00
πŸš— Pick up rental car
Namba Terminal Shop β€’ Corolla Touring Hybrid + studless tyres
πŸš— Drive: Osaka β†’ Nara (40km, ~1 hr) β€’ Easy highway warm-up
~17:00
🦌 Nara Park sunset
Golden hour deer stroll
Evening
🍽️ Dinner in Naramachi
Day 4 β€” Mon 13 Jan
Nara β†’ Sacred Mountains
SCENIC
Today's highlight: πŸ›• Tōdai-ji's Great Buddha + πŸ”οΈ Epic Route 168 mountain drive (180km through gorges & rivers)
08:00
πŸ›• Tōdai-ji Temple
Great Buddha Hall β€’ Arrive early!
~09:30
🦌 Short deer park walk
πŸš— Segment 1: Nara β†’ Yoshino (50km, ~1 hr) β€’ Coffee/restroom stop
Optional
⛩️ Kinpusen-ji Temple
Quick visit if time permits
Optional
⛩️ Yoshimizu Shrine
Historic shrine, 5 min from Kinpusen-ji β€’ Great valley views
⚠️ Segment 2: Yoshino β†’ Kii-Katsuura via Route 168 (130km, ~2.5-3 hrs) β€’ Winding mountain roads, gorges, rivers β€” MOST SCENIC!
Evening
🏨 Stay in Kii-Katsuura
Rest night before ryokan β€’ Early dinner, arrive before 5:15 PM sunset
Day 5 β€” Tue 14 Jan
Nachi Falls β†’ Onsen Night
HIGHLIGHT
Today's highlight: πŸ’§ Mystical Nachi Falls at dawn + ♨️ Private ocean-view onsen & kaiseki dinner β€” your romantic peak night! πŸ’‘
Early AM
⛩️ Nachi Falls & Shrine
Go early for misty, atmospheric views
πŸš— Coastal Route 42 to Shirahama (100km, 2-2.5 hrs) β€’ Ocean views
Midday
πŸͺ¨ Hashigui-iwa Rocks
15–20 min photo stop
Afternoon
♨️ Check-in Yanagiya Ryokan
Shirahama Onsen β€’ Private rotenburo room
Evening
🍱 Kaiseki dinner at ryokan
πŸ’‘ Romantic peak night!
Day 6 β€” Wed 15 Jan
Wakayama Castle β†’ KIX
✈️ DEPART
Today's highlight: 🍳 Leisurely ryokan breakfast + 🍜 Wakayama ramen (rich tonkotsu-shoyu!) before flying home
Morning
🍳 Breakfast at ryokan
Relaxed checkout
Late AM
🏯 Wakayama Castle
1–1.5 hrs including garden
Lunch
🍜 Wakayama Ramen
Local specialty!
πŸš— Drive: Wakayama β†’ KIX (100km, ~1.5 hrs) β€’ Highway return
15:00–15:30
πŸš— Return rental car
~18:30
✈️ Flight departure

πŸ’‘ Tips & Reminders

⚠️ Day 4 Driving Advisory β€” Nara to Kii-Katsuura

Total: 180km, 3.5-4 hours driving (not including stops). Route 168 through Totsukawa is winding with narrow sections β€” beautiful but slow. Sunset is ~5:15 PM in January, so leave Nara by 10:00 AM to arrive before dark. Keep Tōdai-ji to 1 hour max, and Yoshimizu/Kinpusen-ji to a quick 15-20 min stop.

🏨 Yanagiya Booking β€” Act Now

Mid-range ryokans with private onsen fill 2-3 months ahead. Book ocean-facing room with private rotenburo + kaiseki dinner/breakfast included. Check cancellation policy.

πŸ“„ IDP Required for Both Activities

International Driving Permit needed for go-kart (Day 1) AND rental car (Day 3-6). Don't forget!

πŸŒ… January Sunset: ~5:00-5:15 PM

Plan golden hour activities accordingly: Nara Park deer (Day 3) and Umeda Sky Building (Day 2) should target 4:00–4:30 PM arrival for best light.

πŸ—ΊοΈ Google Maps Quick Links

πŸ“ Full 6-Day Route ⛰️ Day 4 Mountain Route (Route 168) πŸ’§ Nachi Falls ♨️ Shirahama Onsen Area

βœ… Pre-Trip Checklist

URGENT
Book Now
Book Now
Book Now
1 Week Before
CRITICAL
Essential for GPS
Rural areas need cash
Before Trip
Before Trip

πŸ“ Discussion Notes