(2017) 8-day tour of Japan Osaka/Kyoto region 8日大阪/京都自由行. Day 1&2 --- Osaka & Arima Onsen 大阪、有馬温泉

The Kansai 關西 region of Japan is one of those places that easily attract returning visitors. We ourselves visited the region for the second time last summer, the first time being in the winter of the previous year. We planned our itinerary such that there was minimal overlap with our first visit. This was actually not difficult at all for a 8-day trip, as there is so much to see in the region.

Here is an overview of our itinerary:

Day 1. Afternoon arrival at Kansai International Airport, Osaka. 

Day 2. Arima Onsen 有馬温泉.

Day 3. Morning: Mount Rokko 六甲山 . Late afternoon: Travel to Kyoto.

Day 4. Kyoto.

Day 5. Day trip: Uji 宇治.

Day 6. Day trip: Arashiyama 嵐山.

Day 7. Morning: travel to Osaka.

Day 8. Morning in Osaka. Evening departure.

We arrived at Kansai International Airport in the afternoon of Day 1. There is a bus that goes from the airport to our hotel  next to the Umeda 梅田 Station of Osaka. In fact, we had chosen this hotel exactly for the convenience of the bus link. As it was late in the afternoon by the time we settled in the hotel, we just had a leisurely evening looking around in the underground shopping arcade at Umeda.

In the morning of Day 2 we travelled to Arima Onsen 有馬溫泉 by bus. The bus terminal was just across the street from our hotel. Before taking the bus, there was some time to look around the hotel.

Distinctive Ferris wheel at HEP FIVE, Umeda.

Grand Front, Umeda

Umeda Sky Building

Arima Onsen is famous for its Kinsen (Gold Spring) 金泉 and Ginsen (Silver Spring) 銀泉. For a uniquely Japanese experience, we stayed overnight at a onsen ryokan (or hot spring hotel) in Arima Onsen. The ryokan offered a convenient pick-up service from the bus terminal. 

After settling into our marvellous room with tatami flooring, we got direction from the ryokan staff for a walk to the main street of the town. We passed by the famed Ginsen 銀泉 on the way.

Ginsen (Silver Spring) 銀泉, rich in carbonate.

Wall facing the Ginsen

Craft shop

Making rice crackers

Shop selling Tansan Senbei (thin and round carbonic acid rice cracker) 炭酸煎餅 on Arima Onsen main street.

Kinsen (Gold Spring) 金泉, with yellow-brown spring water containing iron.

Kinsen (Gold Spring) 金泉

After a walk down the narrow old street, we ventured a walk up to the Myoken-ji temple 妙見寺 on the hill. 

Misty view of Arima Onsen

Myoken-ji 妙見寺

Hydrangea was in bloom in the region. This one was the first of many hydrangea flowers that we saw in the trip.

Park with cascades in Arima Onsen

At the Information Center, the staff helped us to phone the ryokan for a shuttle pick-up. A highlight of the evening was a super sumptuous meal at the ryokan. Of course we had a try at the in-house ginseng and kinsen hot springs.

Label: 2017 Japan --- Kansai