Japan, and we're not doubling back once.
Nine days of deep winter Kansai. Every neighbourhood hit exactly once, outlets folded into the ride to the airport, and one glorious do-nothing day before the flight home.
One clean loop, no repeat trips
An ICOCA is Kansai's rechargeable travel card, the local version of Tokyo's Suica or Pasmo. Buy one at Kansai Airport, load it with cash, and tap on and off every train, subway and bus in this plan. Top it up at any station machine and never queue for a ticket again.
Late January in Kansai sits around 9°C by day and 2°C at night, dry and bright with a mean wind off the bay. The sun is gone by about 5:20 PM, so sunset spots like the Sky Building and Kiyomizu happen earlier than you think. Nara and Arashiyama run a couple of degrees colder. Thermals, a proper coat, and shoes you can walk 15,000 steps in.
Wheels down, straight to the neon
Land at KIX 6:20 PM, allow 40 to 60 minutes for immigration and bags, grab your ICOCA at the station counter, then take the Nankai Rapi:t (45 min, ¥1,490) or the cheaper Airport Express (55 min, ¥970) to Namba. Dotonbori is a 5 to 10 minute walk from there.
Photos, food and every shop in one pass
All four sit within a 15 to 20 minute walk of each other, so today is a walking day. If your hotel is further out, ride the Midosuji Line to Namba or Shinsaibashi.
Photos in Shinsaibashi while the morning light is soft, graze your way through Kuromon for lunch, Don Quijote for snacks and souvenirs, then Dotonbori for dinner and neon shots.
Castle by day, Umeda until sunset
Subway to Tanimachi 4-chome, then five minutes on foot into the castle park. Castle to Umeda is 15 to 20 minutes with one transfer. Sky Building is seven minutes from Umeda Station; the two game shops are another five, both on level 13 of Daimaru.
Castle and museum in the morning, subway to Umeda after lunch, Pokémon and Nintendo before their 8 PM close, then the Sky Building right on sunset. That is all of Umeda done in one go.
Big day out: theme park or sea life
One decision, roughly ¥8,000 each between the two. Pick before you go, because Sunday queues punish the undecided.
JR Loop Line to Nishikujo, change to the Yumesaki Line for Universal City. About 20 minutes from Osaka Station.
Chuo Line subway to Osakako, five minutes on foot. Whale sharks, then the giant Ferris wheel next door.
Deer, a giant Buddha, then Kyoto
Namba to Kintetsu-Nara on the Kintetsu Limited Express, 35 to 45 minutes, ¥690 to ¥1,150 with the express surcharge. Nara Park and Todai-ji are a 15 to 20 minute walk from the station. Onward to Kyoto: JR Miyakoji Rapid straight through in 45 minutes for ¥720, or Kintetsu express in 35 for ¥1,150. Bags with you, so travel light today.
Ten thousand gates, then all downhill
Kyoto Station to Inari on the JR Nara Line, five minutes and ¥150, and the gates start at the exit. Go early, the tunnel empties out before nine. Back to Kyoto Station, then bus 100 or 206 to Gojo-zaka or Kiyomizu-michi, ¥230, plus a ten minute climb. After Kiyomizu it is all walkable and downhill: Ninenzaka, Yasaka, Gion, about 25 to 30 minutes with stops.
Bamboo, monkeys, then home to Osaka
Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama on the JR Sagano Line, 15 minutes, ¥240. Grove, temple, bridge and the monkey trailhead are all within a 10 to 15 minute walk. Heading back: Sagano Line to Kyoto, then the Special Rapid to Osaka, 30 minutes and ¥580.
Nothing. On purpose.
A free day for everyone. Stay in at the accommodation, or wander the nearby streets and see what turns up. No group plan, no trains to catch, no tickets to hold. Sleep in, eat when you feel like it, and pack properly instead of at midnight.
Outlets on the way to the plane
Take the Nankai Airport Express from Namba toward Kansai Airport, ¥930, and hop off one stop early at Rinku-machi. The mall is two minutes away over a covered bridge. When you are done it is a single five minute hop on the same line to the terminal. A whole shopping day, for free, on the way out.
What it costs, per person
Entries, transport and food only. The high column assumes USJ on day 4 and generous eating throughout.
Flights, hotels, discretionary shopping at Don Quijote, Pokémon Center, Nintendo and the outlets, USJ express passes, and the pre-nup photographer if you hire one. Exchange rates are rough, check them again closer to the date.