FIELD & COMPASS
TRIP FC-JP-2611
A private journey through Japan

Kyoto & Osaka

Six days in Japan's cultural heart

Dates
November 8–13, 2026
Travelers
The Alvarez Family · 2 travelers
Route
Kyoto → Nara → Osaka
Season
Autumn · 6 days / 5 nights
Kyoto → Nara → Osaka
Prepared by Sofia Reyes
Field & Compass Travel Co.
sofia@fieldandcompass.example
Your journey

Trip at a glance

November 8–13, 2026
The Alvarez Family · FC-JP-2611
Page 2 / 5
KYOTO NARA OSAKA N 0 10 km

Kyoto, Nara & Osaka

Three cities, one unhurried route. Temples at first light, market lunches, a private riverboat, and a Nara day trip built around the deer park and the Great Buddha.

6
Days
5
Nights
3
Cities
1
Private guide
In this itinerary
1 · Arrival & Gion 2
2 · Shrines & tea 2
3 · Arashiyama 3
4 · Nara day trip 4
5 · Osaka 5
6 · Departure 5
1
DAY 1 · Sun, Nov 8

Arrival & Gion at dusk

Kyoto
  • 13:20 Land at Kansai International, private transfer to Kyoto
  • 15:30 Check in at Hotel Kanra, tea and unpack
  • 17:30 Walk through Gion’s lantern-lit lanes
  • 19:00 Welcome dinner at Gion Karyo
Stay: Hotel Kanra Kyoto Meals: Dinner
2
DAY 2 · Mon, Nov 9

Shrines, markets & tea

Kyoto
  • 07:30 Fushimi Inari before the crowds
  • 10:30 Nishiki Market tasting walk
  • 12:30 Lunch at a machiya townhouse
  • 14:30 Private tea ceremony in Higashiyama
  • 17:00 Free evening; advisor dinner suggestions
Stay: Hotel Kanra Kyoto Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Days 3–4

Arashiyama & Nara

Kyoto · Nara
Private guide on Day 4
Page 3 / 5
3
DAY 3 · Tue, Nov 10

Arashiyama & the river

Kyoto
  • 07:00 Bamboo grove walk at first light
  • 09:00 Tenryu-ji temple and garden
  • 11:00 Monkey park ridge walk
  • 12:30 Lunch beside the Katsura River
  • 14:00 Private riverboat through the gorge
Stay: Hotel Kanra Kyoto Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Private riverboat through the gorge with a local guide, including the bamboo forest walk, a stop at the Okochi Sanso garden, a private tea stop at the garden’s upper pavilion, and a traditional kaiseki lunch beside the river
4
DAY 4 · Wed, Nov 11

Temples, deer & mochi

Nara
  • 08:10 JR Miyakoji Rapid to Nara
  • 09:15 Todai-ji Temple and the Great Buddha
  • 11:00 Nara Park deer walk
  • 12:30 Lunch at Kasuga Hoshino
  • 14:00 Kasuga Taisha shrine and lanterns
  • 15:30 Nakatanidou mochi pounding
  • 17:00 Return to Kyoto; evening at leisure
Stay: Hotel Kanra Kyoto Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Nara day trip Private guide, Todai-ji, the deer park, and a mochi pounding stop — all on foot or by local train.
DAY 4 · NARA DAY TRIP Kyoto → Nara → Kyoto · 50 min by train
KYOTO NARA OSAKA N 0 10 km
Days 5–6

Osaka & departure

Osaka
FC-JP-2611
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5
DAY 5 · Thu, Nov 12

Dotonbori after dark

Osaka
  • 09:00 Private transfer to Osaka
  • 10:30 Osaka Castle and park walk
  • 12:30 Lunch in Kuromon Market
  • 15:00 Check in and rest
  • 18:00 Dotonbori street-food crawl
Stay: The Osaka Station Hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
6
DAY 6 · Fri, Nov 13

Departure

Osaka
  • 08:00 Breakfast at the hotel
  • 09:30 Private transfer to Kansai International
  • 12:40 Flight home
Stay: — Meals: Breakfast
Before you go
Weather
November is crisp and dry: 8–17°C in Kyoto, a little warmer in Osaka. A light jacket and a compact umbrella cover most days.
Packing
Comfortable walking shoes are essential. Bring a small day bag, a refillable bottle, and socks you can slip off for temple visits.
Getting around
Your 7-day Kansai rail pass covers the airport train, Kyoto buses, and the Nara and Osaka trains. IC cards are fine for everything else.
Money
Japan is still cash-friendly. Carry ¥20,000–30,000 for small shops and temples; most hotels and larger restaurants take cards.
Etiquette
Quiet voices on trains, no eating while walking, and no tipping. At shrines, follow the temizuya hand-washing steps and keep phone calls brief.
Emergency
Your advisor is reachable on WhatsApp for the whole trip. In an emergency, dial 119 for ambulance or fire, 110 for police.
Good to know Reserve Kyoto restaurants two to three weeks ahead. Many small counters do not take walk-ins, and the best ones fill up before the weekend. For Osaka, book the teamLab slot for the evening of Day 5 if you want a quieter Dotonbori.
Booking summary
Trip total$8,560
Deposit paid$2,140
Balance due$6,420
Balance due by September 25, 2026. Final payment is due 45 days before departure.
Included
  • 5 nights, centrally located hotels
  • Daily breakfast + 4 lunches
  • 7-day Kansai rail pass
  • Private guides in Kyoto and Nara
  • Airport transfers both ways
Not included
  • International flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Dinners not listed
Questions? Sofia Reyes · sofia@fieldandcompass.example · +1 (503) 555-0184