OSAKA vs. KYOTO AS BASE
 

At the conclusion of a three-week trip in October, I wish to take four day trips from either Kyoto or Osaka to the following: Nara, Koya-san (if I can find an alternative to a temple for lodging) Himeji and Hiroshima. My plane departs from Osaka’s Kansai.

I’m already booked for 5 nights in Kyoto (3 with a tour, two on my own). It’s the remaining days of my trip that I need to decide: Either Kyoto (if I can obtain a room, it was difficult to obtain a room two days ago) or Osaka, where I assume rooms are easier to find. Yes, I could spend a night or two in Nara or wherever, but I'll have been staying in a lot of hotels the previous two weeks, and prefer a base as I end what should be a wonderful, and first, Japan trip.

If I decide to book more nights in Kyoto, I'd want to spend the final night in Osaka, to be closer to the airport. Or is that faulty logic? Any thoughts, all of which are appreciated.

<<If I decide to book more nights in Kyoto, I'd want to spend the final night in Osaka, to be closer to the airport. Or is that faulty logic?>>

Is it? When does your plane depart? Check out the Kansai Express timetable from Kyoto. Japanese trains are basically on-time to a degree that you can set your watch by them.

Nara is easier to access from Kyoto. Hiroshima and Himeji are easier from Osaka, especially if you have a pass that entitles you to ride the fastest shinkansen. If you don't (like a regular JR pass), and you want to stay in Kyoto, you need to cobble together train connections that get you from Kyoto to Himeji or Kyoto to Hiroshima. And that means knowing a Hikari and a Sakura from a Nozomi and Mizuho.

http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info.../westbound.pdf

Please interlink your threads -- it really makes a difference to some of us!

Personally, I wouldn't do all of these as separate day trips -- but then, I've already offered suggestions about that on one or more of your other threads.

I think you would do well to consult japan-guide for information on the "Getting there and around" tabs for each of these locations. Here's the one for KIX:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2033.html

I'm sure you'll see and experience some wonderful things no matter what you decide.

Osaka. JR Osaka to Nara is only 7 min longer than Kyoto-Nara

Re: your itin posted on another thread. I would not return to Kyoto from Nara but just go to Osaka.

This pass might do you some good;
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_k...hiroshima.html