Eight days
in Japan.

Depart Kuala Lumpur

AirAsia X D7 532 · KUL Terminal 2 → KIX Terminal 1 · scheduled arrival 09:50.

Arrive at Kansai International Airport

Clear arrivals first. Collect/activate the JR pass and pick up the seat reservations for five. Forward three large suitcases to KYOTO SHIMA; the hotel has confirmed it can receive them. Show the Booking.com reservation screen so the counter can copy the Japanese address. Carry small bags for Okayama and Kinosaki.

Travel to Okayama

JR Haruka to Shin-Osaka (~50 min), then Sanyo Shinkansen to Okayama (~45–55 min). Both are pass covered. Allow flexibility for airport clearance.

Train / stations
Kansai-airport (JR) → Shin-Osaka · Haruka Limited Express🎟JR Pass💺Seat reservedShin-Osaka → Okayama · Sanyo Shinkansen🎟JR Pass💺Seat reservedBoarding guide: KIX 4 ↗ · Shin-Osaka 20–22 ↗

Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter

Drop bags at Guest House MEETS Okayama. Take the JR local/rapid (~17 min each way), then explore the canal, warehouses, denim shops, cafés and souvenirs.

Train / stations
Okayama → Kurashiki → Okayama · JR Sanyo Line local train🎟JR PassBoarding guide: Okayama 1–2 ↗

Depart Okayama

Reserved Sanyo Shinkansen to Hiroshima (~35–45 min), five seats. Continue by JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi (~30 min), then JR ferry (~10 min).

Train / stations
Okayama → Hiroshima · Sanyo Shinkansen🎟JR Pass💺Seat reservedHiroshima → Miyajimaguchi · JR Sanyo Line🎟JR PassMiyajimaguchi pier → Miyajima · JR Miyajima Ferry🎟JR Pass🪙¥100 visitor taxBoarding guide: Okayama Shinkansen 21–22 ↗ · Hiroshima toward Miyajimaguchi 1–4 ↗

Explore Miyajima

Itsukushima Shrine, the floating torii, Omotesando and the waterfront. Add Momijidani if time permits.

Lunch near the pier: Yamaichi Bekkan (Muslim menu, shared kitchen; call ahead for five) or Yamadaya Miyajima Arinoura (halal/Muslim menu, daily 9:30–17:00, tel 080-4557-3452). Neither is halal-certified; confirm the dish.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial area

Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum. Allow 2–3 hours for the museum. Use the Meipuru-pu loop bus from the station to keep walking short; the Kansai–Hiroshima pass most likely does not cover it, so pay ¥220 per ride by ICOCA.

Train / stations
Miyajima → Miyajimaguchi · JR Miyajima Ferry🎟JR PassMiyajimaguchi → Hiroshima · JR Sanyo Line🎟JR PassHiroshima Station, Shinkansen (north) exit, bus stop ② → Atomic Bomb Dome / Peace Memorial Park · Meipuru-pu loop bus, Lemon route (3–4 per hour)🚌¥220 · ICOCA

Early dinner: JoGeSaYu, near Peace Park

About 5 minutes on foot from Peace Memorial Park, so no extra bus needed. Its own site says every dish and dessert is 100% plant-based with no animal products or alcohol; not halal-certified. Dinner from 15:00. Finish by ~18:15.

Backup only if needed: MeiMei, Okonomi Monogatari Ekimae Hiroba 6F by the station south exit. Its Muslim-friendly details come from a 2019 article, so ask staff first.

On foot
Peace Memorial Park → JoGeSaYu · about 5 minutes🚶Walk

Depart Hiroshima → Okayama

Reserved Sanyo Shinkansen, five seats. Be on the platform by ~18:55. Check the last loop bus at the Heiwa Kōen-mae stop when you arrive; if it has stopped, take Hiroden tram 2 or 6 from Genbaku Dome-mae to Hiroshima Station (~20 min, ICOCA) or two taxis (~10 min).

Train / stations
Peace Memorial Park → Hiroshima Station · Meipuru-pu loop bus (any route)🚌¥220 · ICOCAHiroshima → Okayama · Sanyo Shinkansen🎟JR Pass💺Seat reservedBoarding guide: Hiroshima Shinkansen 13–14 ↗

Travel via Himeji

Sanyo Shinkansen Okayama→Himeji (~20 min), then Limited Express Hamakaze to Kinosaki (~1h40–2h). Five seats reserved on both trains.

Train / stations
Okayama → Himeji · Sanyo Shinkansen🎟JR Pass💺Seat reservedHimeji → Kinosaki Onsen · Hamakaze Limited Express🎟JR Pass💺Seat reservedBoarding guide: Okayama Shinkansen 23–24 ↗ · Himeji Hamakaze 7 ↗

Check in at Koyado Enn

Settle in, wear yukata and stroll beside the canal. Try onsen hopping; add the ropeway if suitable.

Slow evening in Kinosaki

Check whether your Koyado Enn booking includes dinner. For any meal, confirm no pork, lard, alcohol, sake or mirin in cooking and sauces; seafood or vegetarian dishes still need ingredient and preparation checks.

Target departure from Kinosaki

Limited Express Kinosaki to Kyoto (~2h20), covered by JR pass. Five seats reserved; take the train on your ticket.

Train / stations
Kinosaki Onsen → Kyoto · Kinosaki Limited Express🎟JR Pass💺Seat reservedBoarding guide: Kinosaki Onsen 3 or 4 ↗

Check in / drop bags

Go to KYOTO SHIMA and reunite with forwarded large luggage. Consider Honolu Premier Kyoto Station South or another verified halal Kyoto Station option.

Aim to reach teamLab

Allow a comfortable arrival buffer for the 17:00 purchased entry.

On foot
Kyoto Station, Hachijo East Gate → teamLab Biovortex Kyoto · about 7 minutes; no train needed🚶Walk

Dinner and a gentle Kyoto walk

Kyoto Station, Gion or Pontocho depending on energy.

Kyoto → Nagoya

Five seats reserved via SmartEX. Take the exact train on the booking; Nozomi takes ~34–40 min and is not on the JR pass.

Train / stations
Kyoto → Nagoya · Tokaido Shinkansen; use the exact train on your SmartEX booking🎫SmartEX · seats reservedBoarding guide: Kyoto Shinkansen 11–12 ↗

Target arrival at Ghibli Park

From Nagoya, take the Higashiyama Subway to Fujigaoka (~28 min), then Linimo to Ai-Chikyuhaku-Kinen-Koen (~13 min).

Train / stations
Nagoya (subway) → Fujigaoka · Higashiyama Line💳Suica / ICOCAFujigaoka → Ai-Chikyuhaku-Kinen-Koen · Linimo💳Suica / ICOCA

Ghibli Park entry

Allow essentially the full day. Depending on ticket inclusions, prioritise Grand Warehouse, Valley of Witches, Mononoke Village, Hill of Youth and Dondoko Forest. Bring suitable food for religious dietary needs and eat it only in the surrounding public park, outside ticketed Ghibli areas.

Nagoya, then return to Kyoto

Optional Osu shopping or dinner near Nagoya Station. Return on the reserved SmartEX train (five seats); any change depends on fare rules and availability.

Train / stations
Ai-Chikyuhaku-Kinen-Koen → Fujigaoka · Linimo💳Suica / ICOCAFujigaoka → Nagoya (subway) · Higashiyama Line💳Suica / ICOCANagoya → Kyoto · Tokaido Shinkansen; use the booked SmartEX train🎫SmartEX · seats reservedBoarding guide: Nagoya Shinkansen 16–17 ↗

Check out and travel light

Forward three large suitcases KYOTO SHIMA→KOKO HOTEL Osaka Namba Sennichimae only after KOKO confirms acceptance and whether to address Main Tower reception or Residence Tower. Bring daypacks. JR Nara Line Kyoto→JR Ogura (~20–25 min), then walk to the museum.

Train / stations
Kyoto → JR Ogura · JR Nara Line local train; walk to Nintendo Museum💳Suica / ICOCABoarding guide: Kyoto Nara Line 8–10 ↗

Nintendo Museum entry

Allow 3–4 hours for exhibits, interactive experiences and the shop. The museum café is not identified as halal; use a verified meal before or after.

Optional Uji matcha stop

Uji is the city; the tea-shop area is around JR Uji Station, one local stop from JR Ogura. Try Nakamura Tokichi Honten beside the station, or browse Byodoin Omotesando. Café seating can close to new guests by 16:00 or earlier when busy; keep this stop short if you want more time in Osaka.

Train / stations
JR Ogura → Uji · JR Nara Line local train (one stop); Nakamura Tokichi Honten is beside JR Uji Station💳Suica / ICOCA

Travel to Osaka / Namba

Return from JR Uji (or JR Ogura if skipping matcha) to Kyoto, take JR Special Rapid to Osaka, then local transport to Namba/Nippombashi. Check in at KOKO HOTEL.

Train / stations
Uji (or JR Ogura) → Kyoto · JR Nara Line💳Suica / ICOCAKyoto → Osaka · JR Kyoto Line Special Rapid💳Suica / ICOCAWalk to Osaka Metro Umeda → Namba · Midosuji Line; walk to KOKO💳Suica / ICOCABoarding guide: Kyoto JR Kyoto Line 4–7 ↗

Walk Dotonbori

See the Glico Running Man sign, cross Ebisubashi Bridge and browse Ebisubashi-suji. Sushi Bar FUJIYAMA TOKYO Osaka Namba in Kita Horie is an optional dinner; reserve its specific Muslim-friendly course for five and confirm the current policy.

Walk the Namba shopping loop

KOKO → Kuromon Market → Sennichimae → Nipponbashi / Den Den Town → Dotonbori → Ebisubashi-suji → Shinsaibashi-suji. Stop at D.KELLY Ebisubashi for bags, wallets and gifts. BOOKOFF Namba Ebisubashi, the ONE PIECE official shop in Shinsaibashi PARCO and the Nipponbashi card specialists are optional trading-card stops on this loop. Keep the route flexible around lunch and USJ travel.

Priority lunch: Halal Tendon Matsuyama

Small counter near KOKO; aim early. Halal tendon/tempura and a reported Wagyu Sukiyaki Tendon (~¥3,780). Reconfirm current halal details and hours; Marhaba Sennichimae is a backup.

Optional shopping detours

Don Quijote Dotonbori for souvenirs, or CAPCOMIX Abeno Hoop for Capcom games and merchandise. CAPCOMIX is a separate Tennoji/Abeno detour; skip it if time is tight before USJ.

Optional train
For CAPCOMIX: Namba (Osaka Metro) → Tennoji · Midosuji Line; walk to Abeno Hoop. Don Quijote Dotonbori is within the walking loop.💳Suica / ICOCA

Drop purchases, travel light

Return shopping to KOKO, then head to USJ.

Train / stations
Osaka-Namba → Nishikujo · Hanshin Namba Line💳Suica / ICOCANishikujo → Universal City · JR Yumesaki Line💳Suica / ICOCABoarding guide: JR Nishikujo 2–4 ↗

USJ Halloween plan

Focus on Halloween / Horror Nights, seasonal merchandise and selected attractions. USJ does not list halal meals, so eat a verified meal before entering or check the current menu with crew.

Return to KOKO

Allow time for crowds when leaving the park.

Train / stations
Universal City → Nishikujo · JR Yumesaki Line💳Suica / ICOCANishikujo → Osaka-Namba · Hanshin Namba Line; walk to KOKO💳Suica / ICOCABoarding guide: JR Universal City 1 ↗

Target Nankai departure

Take all luggage from KOKO. Preferred train is Nankai Rapi:t from Namba to KIX (~35–40 min), on a separate reserved-seat ticket. Check the final timetable.

Train / stations
Nankai Namba → Kansai-airport · Nankai Limited Express Rapi:t; use the exact reserved train🎫Rapi:t to bookBoarding platform: check Nankai departure display ↗

Target KIX arrival

Allow time for baggage and airport procedures.

Fly home

AirAsia X D7 533 · KIX Terminal 1 → KUL Terminal 2 · scheduled arrival 17:05.