Lunar New Year vacation in Kansai District, Japan

Itinerary

12 Feb. Hong Kong to Osaka (transfer at Capital Airport, Beijing)
13 Feb. AM strolling underground shopping arcade in Umeda area
              PM short visit to Tenmangu Shrine; due to cold weather, strolling along 
                     Tenjibashisuji Shopping Streets.
14 Feb.Kobe: Ikutajinja Shrine, Old European Heritage in Kitano area
15 Feb. Kyoto: Nishiki Market, Kiano Tenmagu Shrine, Shimogamojinja Shrine
16 Feb. Kyoto: Visit Katsu Rikyu Imperial Villa  (Lunar New Year)
                          
17 Feb. Kyoto: Kurama-dera Temple, Kibunejinja Shrine
18 Feb. Kyoto: Daigoji Temple, Nanzenji Temple
19 Feb. Osaka: Crab Lunch at Kani Doraku Restaurant in Umeda, short strolling 
                           undergound shopping streets; 
                           Buffet BBQ Dinner at Shinkami area
20 Feb. Osaka: Takarazuka Theatre, Kobayashi Memorial Museum, Ikeda Park
21 Feb. Osaka: Tennoji Tsutenkaku Tower, Nansoji Temple at Moriguchi town
22 Feb. Osaka: Kizu Wholesale Market, Doguya Shopping Street & underground arcade at
                           Nanba area; Suminoe Park
23Feb. Osaka to Hong Kong (transfer at Capital Airport, Beijing)

Suminoe Park, Osaka on 22 Feb.

Kizu Wholesale Market, Osaka on 22 Feb.

Ikutajinja Shrine, Kobe, on 14 Feb.

Clock Tower, Kitano, Kobe on 14 Feb.

Tenmanjinja Shrine, Kobe

China Town, Kobe

Kurama & Kibune are a pair of tranquil rural villages and easily accessible by a scenic 30-minute train north of Kyoto on Eizan line. 

Kurama-dera Temple is a mountain temple with a long history and a unique atmosphere. It is near the train station. There is a path from the main hall which circles the mountain through groves of towering cedar trees which scent the fresh air. It forms part of the hiking trail leading to Kibune Shrine which is made upwith three locations, namely, the main shrine, Yui no Yashiro, and the Okunomiya. Some people choose to take a certain course to make this pilgrimage.

Kibune Shrine, 18 Feb.

Kurama Station, 18 Feb.

Kurama Village, 18 Feb.

Kurama Temple, 18 Feb.

  Daigoji is an important temple complex located in Fushimi-Ku, Kyoto. It includes an entire mountainside while the main entrance and affiliated temple buildings are located at the base of the mountain and are connected via a hiking trail to several more temples around the summit.

Daigoji Temple, 17 Feb.

Daigoji Temple, 17 Feb.

Daigoji Temple, 17 Feb.

Katsura Imperial Garden, 16 Feb.

 Katsura Detached Palace is a villa with associated GARDENS AND OUTBUILDINGS in Nishikyo-Ku, Kyoto. Its gardens are considered a masterpiece of Japanese gardening, and the buildings are regarded as the representative Japanese architecture. It includes a shoin,tea houses,and a strolling garden.
To visit the garden, application in advance is required.

Katsura Imperial Garden, 16 Feb.

Katsura Imperial Garden, 16 Feb.