October 2014
Kyoto & Osaka, 5 Day / 4 Night
Day 1 : Hong Kong > Kyoto
We landed Kansai airport around 3pm local time and then we took JR train to Kyoto which took around 75mins. We booked APA Hotel Kyoto Ekimae which is just about 5mins walk from Kyoto station. The room was small but kind of as expected in Japan.
Since the kids were still recovering from stomach flu, we had an easy dinner with udon and called it a day. 
Day 2 : Kyoto
We started the day with breakfast at Lipton cafe at the underground mall at Kyoto station. Our bought the bus day pass at the station. First stop was Kiyomizu-dera, then Yasaka shrine, Gion, and finished with dinner at Shijo district.
Kiyomizu-dera 清水寺
Yasaka Shrine 八坂神社
Gion
Day 3 : Kyoto
Our breakfast was at Inoda Coffee at Porta underground street. 
Then we pretty much spent the whole day seeing temples and shrines.
Day 4 : Kyoto > Osaka
We went to Nishiki Market in the morning before leaving for Osaka. Then we took Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka (just a 13mins ride!) and then changed to subway line to Namba station. Hotel IL Cuore Namba is just 3 mins walk from the station. 
Nice view from our room.
Dinner was at the extremely crowded Dotonbori area.
Day 5 : Osaka > Hong Kong
Osaka Castle is probably the one must-see non-shopping non-theme park sight-seeing spot in Osaka. Too bad that it was a rainy and gloomy day. We ended our trip with a yummy crab lunch at the famous Kani Doraku.
