Japan Honeymoon: Day 5 (Quick Transfer: Kyoto to Osaka)

As our incredible time in Kyoto drew to a close, we embraced every moment with open hearts and a truly carefree spirit. This particular day was dedicated to simply basking in the last few precious hours we had in this enchanting city, allowing ourselves to wander and soak in its unique beauty one final time before our quick transfer to Osaka. We are beyond grateful for every memory made here, from the vibrant streets to the serene temples, all of which made our honeymoon truly unforgettable.

Join us as we recount this special day, filled with effortless transitions and cherished moments, as we bid a fond farewell to Kyoto and eagerly anticipate new adventures in Osaka.

Here’s the day’s itinerary:

• 8:30 AM: We checked out of our Kyoto Hotel
• 9:00 AM: Then, we stored our luggage at Takashimaya Station, freeing us for exploration.
• 9:30 AM: Afterwards, we visited the serene and picturesque Yasaka Pagoda and explored the area.
• 10:15 AM: We grabbed brunch at Ninenzaka Starbucks.
• 12:00 PM: Got our lunch at Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu which is in Pontocho area.
• 2:00 PM: We rode at the Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station for our transfer from Kyoto to Osaka via the Hankyu Railway.
• 5:00 PM: Hotel Check-in at Hotel Forza Osaka Kitahama.
• 7:00 PM: Ended the day with a dinner at Yayoiken Osaka-kitahama.

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Smooth Checkout and Luggage Transfers from Hotel M’s Plus

Checking out from Hotel M’s Plus Shijo Omiya was super easy and smooth. We only had a few small bags with us because, cleverly, we used the hotel’s luggage transfer service the day before. This meant our main luggage was already on its way to our next hotel in Osaka! Doing this let us explore Kyoto one last time in the morning without heavy bags, and it made our train ride from Kyoto to Osaka much simpler since we had less to carry. It was a great way to make our travel day much more relaxed and enjoyable.

All in all, our stay at Hotel M’s Plus was quite good. We really liked how convenient it was, with train and bus stations very close by. Plus, there were two convenience stores, 7-Eleven and Family Mart, right near us, and lots of restaurants, even a McDonald’s! Even though our room was a bit small, the bed was comfortable, and everything was clean. We didn’t lose anything either, which is always a good sign! To share, our 5-day stay at this hotel amounted to ₱44,031.74.

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Hands-Free Kyoto: Easy Luggage Storage at Kyoto Kawaramachi Station

Our first stop was at Kawaramachi Station, specifically to use their luggage storage. This was a smart move! It meant we had free hands to go around and enjoy all the famous landmarks we planned to visit in the morning. We really liked how easy these coin lockers were to use. They come in many different sizes, so you can pick the perfect one for your bags, big or small. Prices usually start around ¥300 for small lockers and go up to ¥700 or more for larger ones, typically for a day. This made our morning in Kyoto so much more relaxed and fun, without having to carry our things everywhere!

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Stepping Back in Time at Kyoto’s Yasaka Pagoda

After our visit to Takashimaya Station, we made our way to the beautiful Yasaka Pagoda, also known as Hokan-ji Temple. This striking five-story pagoda is one of Kyoto’s most famous landmarks and has a long history, with its current structure dating back to 1440, though a temple has stood here since the 6th century. Walking around it felt like we had stepped right back into old Japan; the whole area had such an inviting and wonderful feeling. There were also a lot of stores around, selling souvenirs, tasty snacks, and offering many restaurant choices. Even with a light rain falling, we really enjoyed our time, soaking in the peaceful and historic atmosphere.

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A Lovely Coffee Break at Starbucks Ninenzaka

We wanted to take a seat and rest, so we made a delightful stop at Starbucks Ninenzaka. This isn’t just any Starbucks; it’s famous for being the only Starbucks in the world with a traditional Japanese machiya (townhouse) design, fitting perfectly into the historic Ninenzaka street. We absolutely loved the inside! It felt so homey and cozy with its old-style Japanese vibe. The warm lighting added to the comforting feeling, and the large windows were amazing. They let us look out and truly appreciate the historic Ninenzaka streets, with all their beautiful old Kyoto buildings.

We ordered White Mocha (with no whipping cream; for ¥532), Matcha Tea latte (¥473), Blueberry and Cream Cheese Sandwich (¥346), and Strawberry and Cranberry Bliss Bar (¥319). Everything were so good!

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Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu: A Delicious Lunch in Kyoto’s Charming Alleys

For lunch, after our coffee break at Starbucks Ninenzaka, we walked to Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu. Our path took us through a charming alley leading towards Pontocho park, which had a lovely old Kyoto feel, much like Ninenzaka with its ancient buildings. Gyukatsu is a special Japanese dish of deep-fried beef cutlets, and this restaurant is famous for it. The idea of gyukatsu became popular in Japan relatively recently, offering a unique way to enjoy beef. The restaurant was one among many in the alley, but thankfully, it was easy to spot. Inside, it was very cozy, and we really appreciated that the staff were cheerful and spoke English well. Our food also arrived super fast! It was a truly delicious and satisfying meal in a beautiful part of Kyoto.

For our meal, we ordered the Beef Sirloin Cutlet Set (¥2,079) and the Beef Loin Cutlet Set (¥2,519). We loved both of our beef dishes! We also tried a Matcha Beer (¥880) – it was an interesting try, but I’m not sure if I liked it, haha! It was a bit strange, but the matcha flavor itself was really good. On the other hand, the Matcha Ice Cream (¥805) was absolutely delicious! Both the matcha in the beer and the ice cream came from Uji, and we really enjoyed their earthy, rich, and umami-filled taste.

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Seamless Journeys: Our Kyoto to Osaka Transfer with the JR Kansai Area Pass

Our journey from Kyoto to Osaka was incredibly smooth! We had planned ahead and booked our Japan JR Kansai Area Pass through Agoda just three days before our trip. To make things even easier, we picked up our tickets at the info center of Kyoto Kawaramachi Station the day before our scheduled transfer, which cost us Php4,954.53. This pass is valid for 4 days, and we also used it for our transfers from Nara to Kyoto. The whole process, from booking to redeeming, was very easy. The train ride itself took us about an hour, offering comfortable and quick travel between the two cities.

We are so thankful for our experience in Kyoto. We were so happy that it’s one of our chosen places to spend our honeymoon in. The food, the vibe, the colors of the trees, the kind people, and the efficient travels – we’re going to miss it all!

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Hotel Check-in at Hotel Forza Osaka Kitahama

Checking into Hotel Forza Osaka Kitahama was incredibly smooth, which was a huge relief after our journey! The hotel entrance was sparkling clean, and our room felt so much more spacious than our previous hotel in Kyoto, which was a lovely surprise. We even had a funny moment: we accidentally went to the wrong Hotel Forza in Namba first! We were both super tired from walking around all day, and I was definitely getting a bit grumpy from exhaustion, so it gave us a good laugh later on. Despite the brief detour, we were so happy to finally settle into our comfortable and clean room in Kitahama.

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A Warm Welcome to Osaka: Dinner at Yayoiken After Check-in

After a smooth check-in at Hotel Forza Osaka Kitahama, we headed straight for dinner at Yayoiken Osaka-Kitahama, which was just a few meters nearby. We loved that Yayoiken has such a wide variety of meal choices, from Japanese classics to other Asian dishes. I was really craving something different, so I picked a Korean dish because I had missed it so much! My husband, on the other hand, went for a comforting soba noodle dish. It was the perfect way to end our busy day of travel and settling into our new Osaka hotel.

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For a visual journey of our experience, check out the vlog below!

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Thank you for reading this blog post! Here are other lifestyle blog posts you might like.

• Japan Honeymoon: Day 4 (Gion to Nara via Aoniyoshi Sightseeing Train)
• Japan Honeymoon: Day 3 (Fushimi Inari, Ramen and Shopping)
• Japan Honeymoon: Day 2 (Amazing Arashiyama)
• Japan Honeymoon: Day 1 (The Charm of Central Kyoto)
• Japan Honeymoon: Day 0 (Flight to KIX and First Impressions)