Osaka Kyoto Nara Itinerary
 

Hi, I will be visiting Japan this month and will be arriving and departing from Kansai International Airport (KIX). Our itinerary is as follows:

Day 1 (arrival at night):
Check in at hotel (Namba area).

Day 2: (day trip to Nara)
Nara Deer Park, Isuien Garden, Todai-ji

Day 3: (day trip to Kyoto)
Arashimaya, Tenryu-ji Temple, Kinkaku-ji Castle, Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine

Day 4: (Osaka)
Osaka Castle, Giant Ferris Wheel, Umeda Sky Bldg

Day 5: (Osaka)
Kuromon Ichiba Shopping Street, Shinsaibashisuji Shopping Area

I would like to ask for your inputs on which train should we take from Osaka-Nara and Kyoto? I have read online that there is a Kansai Thru Pass and a JR Line Pass. Which is more economical and convenient given our itinerary? Also, if you could suggest places where we can eat in each area since we want to do a lot of eating. We are not going to go around all the temples (explore inside) which is why our itinerary seems tight.

Looking forward to your inputs. Thanks!

If you spent two weeks in the area, you wouldn't get to see all of the temples!

Are you staying the whole time in Osaka? That would not be my choice. I'd go from the airport to a hotel in Kyoto and spend my whole time visiting places in Kyoto and Nara.

You can't use JR with the Kansai Thru Pass.

From Kansai Airport to Namba: Nankai Airport Exp. ¥920

JR Namba to Nara ¥560 on rapid service train, no transfer needed

Namba subway to Umeda then walk to JR Osaka for the special rapid service train to Kyoto. About ¥800

I think is a pay-as-you-go itinerary, no pass. Maybe an ICOCA card can make life easier: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357_kansai.html

That page describes the IC cards and gives pros/cons for the regional passes.

You definitely want to have okonomiyaki in Osaka. A concierge recommended a place that was excellent, but I forgot the name.

You can "find the best kind of happiness" at Spa World in Osaka. The Asian Zone was the onsen for men the month that I visited.

There is a National Bunraku Theater is in Osaka. You may or may not enjoy this. I had a tough time due to jet lag but may have enjoyed it more on another day. Buying a ticket for the short program was definitely the right thing to do - enough time to experience this Japanese art/entertainment form and to realize that I won't become an enthusiast.

And the Spa World onsen was excellent especially considering it is in the middle of a major city:

http://www.spaworld.co.jp/english/

You're going to have a hard time hitting all that in Kyoto.

Note that "ji" is a temple, "jo" is a castle. Kinkaku-ji is a temple, not a castle. It, Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari are in three completely separate parts of Kyoto - northwest, northeast and southeast.

I agree that day 3 in Kyoto is totally unrealistic, trying to hit too many places with some of them a little out of the way, not mentioning the transit time from Osaka.

You may want to re-look at this day based on what your priorities are. Your day in Nara sounds fine, though.