Osaka & Kyoto, Japan Thread 2

[darna88]

how long is the travel time from tokyo to osaka..and tokyo to kyoto?....how much in peso ang expenses per pax pag sakay sa train nila?..

[paulavalerie]

hi mga sis who's in kyoto now. ano weather jan? mainit na ba? i dont wanna rely solely sa accuweather. thank you

[katniss]

So... has anyone tried luggage storage sa Osaka? Meron sa train station? I am thinking alis na lang kami ng maaga sa Day 6 and go around Osaka.

yes sis may luggage storage sa Osaka. Osaka station ata yung pinag-storean ko nun.

[shegie_285]

thanks mga sis sa reply.

^ good to know na meron sa Osaka. we have the option to go back there early on Friday.

fittotravel nice blog. Php10k for food, mga restaurants ka kumain? I only budgeted 1000JPY per meal, is that small for a normal meal.

[luvko23]

^ Yes meron lockers for big and small luggages sa Osaka station. We were able to store our luggage after checking out early from our airbnb apartment then we went to USJ. If I remember correctly we paid 700 yen for the big storage.

[huit]

i don't know if this apply sa lahat ng lockers sa japan pero sa Kyoto Station, once na sinara mo na yung locker at naghulog ka n ang coin, wag mo na buksan ulit to get something kung may nakalimutan ka, unless you want to pay again para i-lock ulit. Once sinara mo kasi yung locker, the only time na pwede mo siya buksan is pag final na kukunin mo na siya. hehe

[fittotravel]

^Yup, this is how the lockers at the train stations and at the airports work in Japan!

[byutijunkie]

Hi guys, I just came back from Kyoto.  Hope these will help: 
 
Weather, mainit na during the day but still cold at night and early morning.  Layering is key. 
Kyoto to Osaka via Jr Train is around 30mins depending on what station in Osaka you plan to go to. 
Food budget, 1000yen is doable but not in restos na bento yung serving.  Maybe in the takeout counters around puwede yan.  Family Mart is also a good choice.  Super sarap their breads by the way.

That's it.  Have fun girls! Can't wait to go back to Japan next year again.

[shegie_285]

^ Thanks sis. Good to know na mainit na sa Japan.    I need to increase pala our food budget, we normally eat sa restaurant , is JPY2k okay for bento places for lunch?

[binggay]

Hi sisses, question esp for those who avail mga seat sales like in cebu pac. How do you do it? Do you grab the tickets first before applying sa Japan visa? May nade-deny ba sa naga-apply ng japan visa?

[fittotravel]

@binggay: Hi! Here's what I usually do when I'm faced with a dilemma such as yours:

1. Assign a "FAIR VALUE" to a certain destination
     - PhP 7,000 for Japan
     - PhP 7,000 for Korea
     - PhP 5,000 for Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia
     - PhP 4,000 for Vietnam, Hongkong, Macau, Thailand
  *a fair value is the amount you're willing to let go of/ lose just in case your trip won't push thru (visa denial, schedule conflicts, etc.)

2. If a seat sale is less than or equal to YOUR fair value, BOOK it! Don't even think about it. Just do it! 

Luckily, the only flights I haven't flown were the one-way tickets I booked for Caticlan (mga 3 na rin yun. My fair value for Caticlan is PhP 1,000). As for all international flights, nailipad ko naman lahat. Ang main reason ko for booking right away is to maximize potential savings.

At oo naman, may nadedeny pa rin ng Japan visa... pero parang bihira na these days. My family were first time applicants and they were all granted multiple-entry visas last month.

[binggay]

Thanks sis fittotravel. Easy lang sana if it were me only, kaya lang kasi 5 kami sa family (I have 3 kids) so medyo masakit din sa bangs kung bibilhin ko tickets tapos biglang di kami makaalis.

Ano normally ang profile ng mga nade-deny? Pag family application ba mas mataas chance of approval? Employed naman kami ng husband ko at maayos naman ang mga trabaho namin.

[marose17]

^ You should be okay considering your family background and circumstances.   We applied as a family and got our tourist visa application approved within a few days.  So far, wala pa kong kilala na na-deny in the past and current year.

[pret_ty68]

I'm planning to go to Japan in April or May of 2016. Saan ba pinakamaganda ang cherry blossom? Cherry blossom kasi ang pina ka main reason ko sa pagpunta sa japan. 

[binggay]

^^ Thanks, sis Marose.

We have a family trip in a few weeks (SG/Malaysia) pero pangarap ko talaga makapunta ng Japan. Even my kids want to visit Japan. Limited ang travel budget (so we mostly go local, bihira international) pero pag may seat sale, naku, baka patusin ko na.

I recently decided na mag-iipon at mag-set aside talaga ako for travel ng family kasi iba talaga nabi-build na memories pag bumabiyahe ka sa ibang lugar kasama ang family, especially for the kids.

Sana may seat sale na for next year!

[fittotravel]

@binggay: I'm a bro.  Don't worry too much about the visa application. As long as you satisfy all the requirements, you'll be granted a visa for sure. My advice? Apply for a Japanese visa NOW and submit a letter requesting for a multiple entry visa.

Scenario 1: Your application for a multiple-entry visa will be granted. You just have to wait for a seat sale to book your flight. 

Scenario 2: You will ge given a single-entry visa. If there's no seat sale within the validity of your visa (or if you can't leave the country [work, school ng kids]), you've just lost PhP 6,000 pesos (visa processing for 5 people). Tingin ko, mas ok na ito kaysa mawalan ka ng say 25,000 (5,000/person) for seats booked on a sale (if madeny yung visa application n'yo).  Saka may confidence na kayo on your subsequent Japan visa application kasi nabigyan naman na kayo. 

Scenario 3: You will be denied a visa application. Meron ka pa ulit 6 months na hihintayin to reapply.

Hope this helps.

[meimei]

help! kung ano-ano nang binasa ko about different transpo passes for Osaka-Kyoto and i'm still utterly confused. so magtatanong na lang ako, sorry.

i'll be going on a DIY trip to Osaka-Kyoto in Apr 2016 (3 nights in Osaka, 3 nights in Kyoto) so i just need to know which is the most cost-efficient pass to buy? kasi there are passes that can be used in selected lines only, right? hay.

[marose17]

^ It depends on where you are planning to go.

This might help you decide: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357_kansai.html

You can check the train, subway and bus schedules and fares via hyperdia.com.  That will give you an idea as to whether getting a pass is cost-efficient for your trip.

[fittotravel]

@meimei: I have been to Osaka and Kyoto twice on 2 separate trips. I wasn't able to maximize the worth of my Kansai Thru Pass on my first visit. From experience, my personal best combo for transpo tickets within these two cities are:

1. Haruka + ICOCA cards (JPY 4,060). This combo gives you a 2-way Haruka Ltd. Express train ride (to and from Kansai International Airport) AND an ICOCA card with a JPY 2,000-credit. Meaning your 2 train rides to and from Kansai International would only amount to JPY 2,060. To give you an idea, a ticket from Kansai Internaional Airport to Kyoto costs JPY 2,850, ONE-WAY! And JPY 1,950 for downtown Osaka. Whichever your first destination will be, this combo would give you huge savings! Your ICOCA card with a 2,000 credit can be used in ALL trains in Osaka and Kyoto. It can even be used for the sightseeing bus in Kyoto!

2. 2-day Osaka Amazing Pass (JPY 3,000). This pass gives you unlimited train rides within most of the touristy places in Osaka. It also provides you with free entry to some interesting attractions in the city (Tombori River Cruise in Dotonbori, entrance to the Osaka Castle, a ride to the Hep 5 Ferriz Wheel, Tsutenkaku Tower in Shinsekai, etc.). Some attractions offer discount for Osaka Amazing pass holders. There are several toku coupons (discount coupons) within the pass' leaflets. With this pass, you don't have to worry about navigating (and getting lost) in Osaka! If you plan your itinerary well, the JPY3,000 you spent for a 2-day pass can pay off just after 1 day of using it!

Skip the bus pass in Kyoto and just use your ICOCA card for transfers once you go temple hopping.

Hope this helps.

 

Chris

[meimei]

^now, THAT was PERFECT. all the passes that you mentioned i've already read about, but it was just too taxing trying to figure out which one can be used at what line and i lost patience so i just asked it here. hahahaha! thanks, Chris!

can't wait for spring next year!