Hi everyone, doing first week of March in Kyoto + Osaka. Any recommendations?
Also, how are the crowds at this time? Since it's not quite Sakura season yet, would it be less busy hopefully?

Go to the bamboo forest in Kyoto nice and early. You’ll be able to enjoy it much more.

Shevaun thanks! Would around 7-8 am be early enough? Or earlier?

Arashiyama + monkey park

Arashiyama is nice. I recommend as soon as you get of at the train stop to rent a bicycle. Visit the forest and then ride up the hill to Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street. Another preserved area less known than Gion.

Many attractions close early (around 5pm) so start your day early

Following! Also how long do people recommend in both? I'm thinking of doing 3 Kyoto/4 Osaka. Any day trips outside of Nara that I should make sure to hit?

2 day is suffice for Kyoto. Take advantage of free tour guides, lots of great history through their story telling. The only item that you need to cover is the guide’s transportation and food. Be warned, there will be lots of walking

Mt Koya from Osaka is stunning!

nara is quite lovely. def worth a day trip (stay over)
also hiroshima is worthwhile day out.
if you can swing $$, do a proper kaiseki in kyoto. the vegetable cooking and fermenting in kyoto is something quite special. even better than tokyo, in my opinion.

This is greatly appreciated!!

Hye is Hiroshima something I can just visit from Kyoto or Osaka then? I had been considering doing a day there and staying overnight

yeah, since osaka and kyoto are fairly close (slowest option will take you still less than an hour, on shinkansen, 15 min), it's no real difference where you head from,
if you are staying over in hiroshima, defo worth it. osaka to hiroshima on shinkansen takes 1.5 hrs. kyoto to hirosima's longer by 10 min. or something, hahaha. dont bother with JR pass. just buy the shinkansen tickets. (JR does not cover shinkansen)
if you search hiroshima/miyajima island, you will get loads of info.

Ah! I understand what you mean, thanks again!
https://m.japan-rail-pass.com/.../why-cant-i-use-nozomi...
JAPAN-RAIL-PASS.COM
Why Can't I Use the Nozomi With My Rail Pass? - Your Japan Rail Pass

yeah, as you found out^ some shinkansen is covered, but not all. if you are going from sapporo, there's a few overnight ferry options as well. i took one from niigata to otaru (otaru to sapporo's like half hour train ride).
*my trip was: osaka-hiroshima-kyoto-nara-tokyo-niigata-sapporo/hakodate, and when i looked into getting a JR pass, it came as net-loss, especially with ferry option.

Thanks!! I'm doing Sapporo - Hakodate - Kyoto - Osaka - Nara/Hiroshima and figured I'll likely go with the pass for the convenience of it. I'll look into the ferry option some more before I make a final decision!

JR pass is worthwhile. You will break even if you travel a round trip of shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka plus a trip of Narita express to tokyo. The only thing to watch out for is that you take Hikari or kodama (local stop) Shinkansen vs. nozumi or mizuho (which is not covered as per Hye Won.

If you're looking for a quiet, spiritual place, then head to Koyasan, and stay overnight at a temple and participate in a morning prayer ceremony.

Denis Beenen

You guys should search Japan in this group, there are tons of recommendation on previous posts.

Following

In Osaka you should visit the Osaka Castle at minimum, and just wonder the city a bit, get the vibe. Busy town but not as insane as Tokyo. Kyoto is where I’d spend more time, Maruyama Park and the historical districts, they’re pretty cool. I’d do a day or 2 in Osaka and 3 says in Kyoto at minimum.

I agree with what’s said here. Definitely spend more time outside of Osaka. Kyoto is min 3 days and look up Nara (quick day trip) Osaka is a great hub and has amazing market and street food in dotonbori. Some great yakiniku and okonomiyaki spots are not hard to find. Check out Simon and Martinas, TokyoLens, and Japan-guide on YouTube.

Spend your time in sunlight exploring traditional stuff in the countrysides and at night in the city. Lots to do even at night time in the city. Especially with subways. Last trains usually around 12:30am.

Thanks everyone! One more thing, would 4000JPY per day be a doable budget for food? We're planning to do bakeries / convenience stores for breakfast and mix up street food/ fast food/ markets/ restaurants for lunch and dinner. If not, how much should we budget for food?
Our only "splurge" will probably be a Wagyu dinner which we'll separate from this daily budget