Hello Travellers! We are heading to Osaka/Kyoto for 13 days this November and looking for some hidden gems you can recommend. Not our first time to Japan, and we have the 'must see' list prepared (Fushimi, Gion, Nara, Hiroshima). Anything you can add (including hotels) would be appreciated!

Hey us too! We booked through Agodo, they were much cheap that Travago or Booking.. I've been told to visit the aquarium in Osaka as it's pretty big.

I would recommend ear plugs at the aquarium - not even kidding. There were hundreds of elementary school children haha (it’s still a really cool place, but we all got headaches from the screaming)

Have lunch here, before or after seeing the bamboo forest and temple gardens: http://www.tenryuji.com/en/shigetsu/index.html

And https://www.facebook.com/kyoto.kamikura/ for a Kyoto kaiseki - is in Gion, will take online reservations, and they had an English-speaker on had to explain the dishes to me.

F

For Kyoto we rented bicycles and discovered the place in it. It was super cute and easy to get around. It was right outside the train station to the left. I'm sorry it's been a few years I cant remember exactly. But there's this cute bento box thing that you can get while you ride on the train, do not get it, it is disgusting but it looks super cute for pictures.

I thought Nara was overrated.

Sima I enjoyed everything else in the area more than feeding the deers. I didn't even feed them myself, I watched my friend get swarmed when she bought the cookie and that was enough for me

Commenting because I'm going at the same time for the same amount of time

Arashiyama in Kyoto for sure. I was underwhelmed by the bamboo forest, but spent hours in the multiple gardens, in the cemetery at Adashino Nenbutsu, and just rambling around the backstreets. I loved the kimono forest at Randen Station too. You can easily make Arashiyama a whole day and not be bored.
Fushimi Inari was amazing. Get there super early - like 5 or 6am, it's totally worth it to beat the heat and the crowds. I hiked up the back through the forest rather than following the path through the torii gates, and had the place to myself. It's freaking cool back there. Temples and tombstones and a waterfall, and it's about 10 deg cooler in the shade.

Allison Oooooh the kimono forest, that's what it's called!!!!! I was so confused when we saw these plastic colourful pillars everywhere!!
It was beautiful, though!

Takashima

We loved our stay at the Kanra Hotel Kyoto!

https://www.kasaoka-kankou.jp/en/spot/2873/
It's alittle out of the way, but really pretty and fun. Shiraishi jima island.

Victoria Hui

Noku hotel in kyoto was the best!!!

We did the Initia Japanese Cooking Class (home cooking!) in Kyoto - it was fun and delicious, not too far from Kyoto station.
https://www.initiakyoto.com

Julie
Golden Pavilion & Bamboo forest in Kyoto! We took a day trip from Osaka to Nara!
We just got back at the beginning of June! Have a fabulous trip! ((Wish I could come, I can't WAIT to go back!!
))

My daughter lives in Fukuoka. Gorgeous city!

Take a mini trip from Kyoto to the Suntory Yamazaki Whiskey Distillery. I don’t even like Whiskey, but it’s really interesting tour and their tasting room is gorgeous and they give a shout out to Alberta Premium whiskey in their whiskey museum!

My son Jordan is one of the brewers at this cool place in Kyoto. They serve tea from 7am...and beer and food!

Knife making with Taro http://asanokajiya.com/

There is also a great soba noodle shop in Arashiyama where the bamboo forest is. https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g14111816...

If you are going to Hiroshima, Miyajima Island is a fun light day trip. http://visit-miyajima-japan.com/en/ Might be a nice recovery trip after the dome and the museum (assuming you are going there).

Morgan just went there a few days ago! I loved it. We went around 5pm and most of the shops were closed but it was so peaceful.

I was there decades ago when I was an exchange student at Hiroshima university.
Not sure if it's gotten more crazy touristy (but in my experience depending on your timing that can describe anywhere in Japan).
It's neat if you can get there at low tide because you can walk out to the Torii (the big red gate).

Kobe

We reserved a volunteer guide from Good Samaritan Club for Kyoto, just for one day. It was one of the most memorable day for our family with a teen and a 9 y.o. He explained a lot of the history at all the sites. My daughter wanted to get a yukata, and he took us to a second hand shop that sold kimonos and yukatas. A lady helped my daughter pick one, then dressed her properly. She was thrilled, and we paid a fraction of the cost. Our guide took us through interesting streets that we didn’t know about, then to a restaurant that he and his friends go to for an awesome and inexpensive yakatori meal. At Arashiyama, he took us to a noodle house away from where all the other tourists lined up, and it was fabulous. So if you’re looking for some off the beaten track activities, maybe look into getting one of these guides. They don’t charge a rate, but we are responsible for their transportation, meals, entrance fees.

go to the arashiyama monkey mountain too, it was really fun! check out osaka castle and eat lots of food in osaka! i did the hep5 ferris wheel and it was pretty cool too. definitely don't buy snacks for the deer in nara, take a walk before you decide to - the deer are so mean lol.

Thanks to everyone for the recco's! Arashiyama and Miyajima Island are on the list! Can't wait!

Visit Uji and the beautiful serene Byodin temple that is on the ten yen coin