Osaka & Kyoto, Japan Thread 2

[calin22]

Mga sis, kaya ba ang Himeji Castle ng half-day and babalik to Osaka or Kyoto, if I will depart in time for its opening? Hehe. Wala akong magawa today so I read up on what places to see. Medyo nag-iisip ako if out of 8 days (3 days Kyoto, 1 day Nara, 3 days Osaka), saan ko i-allot ang extra day, Osaka or Kyoto? Then dun ko na isingit yung Himeji. Iniisip ko kasi, ito lang talaga target ko sa Osaka:

1. Osaka Castle
2. USJ (1 day)
3. Tenmagu Shrine/Osaka Museum of Housing & Living (worth it ba? Hehe)

^RE: himeji.. kaya naman ng half day. wag ka nalang pumanik ng castle or pumasok.. kasi sayang 1000yen, IMHO. there was nothing in it.  You can do, Himeji & Kobe in 1 day. For Nara, kaya din ihalf day ito.. masyado marami makikita sa Kyoto and Osaka. Osaka Castle naman, its too modern.. di ko din siya masyado na-aappreciate if papasok ka, mas nagustuhan ko pa yung Nijo Castle sa Kyoto.

[minnie99]

^Thanks sis! May makikita ba sa Kobe? I'm not really a big eater kasi hehe, baka masayang lang pagpunta ko sa Kobe and solo pa ako.

What I was thinking pa nga is 5.5 days Kyoto (2 day-trips to Nara and Himeji in between) and 2.5 days in Osaka. Ang habol ko lang sa Osaka is USJ really and a bit of shopping since late night ang flight pauwi. Actually baka di ko na puntahan Osaka Castle if I can do Himeji Castle.

[blackgreen]

For those travelling from Tokyo to Osaka/Kyoto, meron pala discounted ticket sa shinkansen. Sayang ngayun ko lang to nalaman. http://www.jrtours.co.jp/kodama/en/

[calin22]

^Thanks sis! May makikita ba sa Kobe? I'm not really a big eater kasi hehe, baka masayang lang pagpunta ko sa Kobe and solo pa ako.

What I was thinking pa nga is 5.5 days Kyoto (2 day-trips to Nara and Himeji in between) and 2.5 days in Osaka. Ang habol ko lang sa Osaka is USJ really and a bit of shopping since late night ang flight pauwi. Actually baka di ko na puntahan Osaka Castle if I can do Himeji Castle.

hmm, Kobe Port? Just go dun sa Mosaic mall, you can take photos na ng buong port with the hotel na mukhang ship. (better sa gabi ito) Dikit dikit ang malls sa Kobe, just drop off sa Kobe Station.. go to harbourland mall may exit na siya from station, then ang dulo nun Mosaic na. many shops, you can also buy souvenirs din. Kobe beef naman, di kami ngtry kasi too expensive talaga siya for us.. haha!!

For Foodies na Kyoto, meron good beef restaurant sa Kyoto, marami pila at night even sa lunch its near kyoto yodobashi,, accross lawson and besides Sukiya

For Ramen naman, sa 10th floor ng Isetan Kyoto Station, panay ramen restaurant.. personally like ko yung restaurant na beef ramen ang offer.

Then best pork ramen na natikman ko is yung Ramen House across Nijo Castle.. Superb!

[aranses]

Natry namin KOBE beef sa kuromon ichiba, ang mahal! Pero grabe lambot at sarap! Akala ko matsusaka na pinakamasarap (nag dinner kami sa Yakiniku M dotonbori), mas masarap pa ang kobe! May kinalokohan kami crepe sa shinsaibashi area masarap at pinipilihan. Hindi ko masyado nagustuhan rikuro at pablo cheesecake, mas masarap cheesecake dito.

Wagyu beef may mura set meal sa arashiyama area ng kyoto. Kapag souvenirs at shopping sa gion area mura nakabili kami handpainted at embossed shirt ng japan nasa 2000-3000yen compare sa binebentA sa iba na 2000yen pero hindi maganda design. Sa nishiki market ako nakabili mura zipperless luggage.

Sobra lamig dito. Medyo boring sa gabi sa kyoto sobra tahimik, madaldal at magulo pa naman kami ng friend ko kaya pigil na pigil kami sa kyoto. Pero maganda ang kyoto, Osaka ok lang naman.

Ok din may express pass sa universal studio mabilis lang kami sa pila, marami tao last saturday. Nasakyan namin backdrop na roller coaster kakatuwa! Harry potter 11am sked namin, 15mins before 11am nakapasok na kami wala pa 12pm nakalabas na kami ng harry potter. Nanghinayang kami sa slot namin sa jaws hindi masyado maganda. 10.30am kami nakarating usj, 5pm bumalik na kami sa namba.

[fibia]

^ sis san ka sa kyoto  nakabili ng zipperless luggage? How much?

[aranses]

@fibia medium size cheapest nakita namin 15000yen, large size 19000yen malapit sa nishiki market at sa shijo dori. Sa bic camera saka sa iba mall nasa 25000 pataas  zipperless luggage.

[divamom]

If we're doing Osaka-Kyoto-Nara-Kobe, is it feasible to just stay in Kyoto for the whole duration of a 7-day trip? Thanks! 

[bagaholic_chewy]

Nag-lunch kami sa Ishida sa Kobe. Since lunch, mas mura yung sets nila. Nasa ¥8800 yung A5 Kobe Beef set nila. Pwede na, pero since 150g lang yung beef at beef-eater kami, medyo bitin sa amin. Haha. Pero ansarap, malambot talaga. Kahit Mom ko na di mahilig sa beef e naubos yung food nya kahit medium ang pagkakaluto.

And since medyo nabitin kami, bumili kami ng Kobe beef sa isang butcher shop na nadaanan namin. Kumusta naman, yung pinakamahal na Kobe beef e nasa ¥3500+ per 100g. So ang binili namin yung nasa ¥1600/100g na lang na cut haha. Kobe beef pa din naman, lower grade lang. We got 750g total (kasi 3 adults kami), ang ganda ng pagkaka-pack/wrap talaga pag sa Japan. Sinamahan din nila ng dry ice since binanggit namin na by dinner time pa namin maluluto.  

When we got back to Osaka, nakapaglibot pa kami sa Shinsaibashi then late dinner na lang sa airbnb apartment. Walang available salt&pepper, so walang kahit anong timpla. Wala din kahit anong sauce/dip, haha. Then pan-grill lang, medium-medium well. Pero ang sarap pa din. Di namin naubos yung meat kasi nag-snacks pa kami nung hapon + me Pablo cheesecake pa kami. Yung sobra kinain namin ng breakfast, ininit lang namin sa microwave, sarap pa din. Hehe..

Sa Kobe din pala, sumakay kami ng Shin-Kobe ropeway (cable car). Ok din. Maganda yung view sa top, overlooking Kobe. Tsaka nice din yung herb garden, lalo at autumn.

[aranses]

^mas mura kobe nabili nyo. Sa kuromon ichiba 5800yen per 100gr bili namin.

[calin22]

If we're doing Osaka-Kyoto-Nara-Kobe, is it feasible to just stay in Kyoto for the whole duration of a 7-day trip? Thanks! 

Yes this is possible. Wag nalang kayo masyado paggabi, kasi you need to go back to Kyoto pa.. 1 hour ride din yun.

[kisses1417]

Possible po ba tong itinerary ko. Please tell me ano pwede wag na isama kung jampacked na.

Day 1:
Departure  February 20, 2016  Saturday 1505H (3:05 PM) NAIA 3
Arrival February  20,2016  Saturday 19:55H (7:55PM)

Rent Pocket Wifi device
2000 Look up for Japan Wireless

Train To Hotel
Dinner Outside :

Day 2: Universal Studios Japan
Go To Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Day 3: Sightseeing and Shopping
Pokemon Center
Umeda Sky Building
Panasonic Center
Dotonburi
Try Pablo’s Cheesecake
Kuromon Ichiba – Food Market
Osaka Castle and Aquarium

Day 4: Kyoto
Whole Day in Kyoto (Sightseeing)
Arashiyama Bamboo Groves
Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavillion
Gion Geisha District
Kiyomizudera Temple
Fushimi Inari
Zenriji Eikando

Day 5: Osaka to Tokyo via Shinkansen
Sightseeing Tokyo
Walk around Shibuya
Ginza
Yoyogi
Harajuku
Do Cat Café
Asakusa
Senso-ji

Day 6:Tokyo Skytree
Omotesando
Meiji Shrine
Tokyo Tower
How to Get there:
1.) Take the subway to Akabanebashi Station Exit 6
2.) Cross the street as you exit, You will be at the gas station
3.) Walk straight (usually just follow the crowd)
4.) Continue walking straight and walk up the hill to reach the base of the tower

Day 7: Mt. Fuji Tour
Fuji 5 Lakes
Hakone
Subashiri 5th Station

Fujiten Snow Resort
How To Get There:
1.) Take train to Shinjuku Station
2.) From Shinjuku Station, take train to Kawaguchiko (3hours)
3.) There will be 1-2 transfers along the way
4.) At Kawaguchiko Station, take taxi to Fujiten Snow Resort (4500 Yen for about 20 minutes) 1700php

Day 8: Free
Eat Out
Relax
Walk at our own pace
Sightseeing Tokyo and try Ramen and Steak

Day 9
Tokyo (Narita) Monday  11:45 AM to Narita International Airport 2
Arrival at NAIA 3 1550H (3:50 PM) Monday

[divamom]

Yes this is possible. Wag nalang kayo masyado paggabi, kasi you need to go back to Kyoto pa.. 1 hour ride din yun.

Thanks sis! I checked the hotels and relatively cheaper talaga in Kyoto than Osaka. 😊

[blackgreen]

Sis magcomment lang ako dun sa familiar ako na mga places.

Masyado jampacked day 4 mo, kami kinkakuji, arashiyama, tofukuji, fushimi inari lang napuntahan namin, tapos gabi na kami niyan nakarating. Maybe you should just pick 3 places from your list. Sobrang haba ng mga lakaran diyan, unless taxi ka palagi.

Yoyogi and meiji shrine magkatabi lang to, pwede mo tong pagdikitin.

Kelan ka magfujiten? Day 7 din ba? Mt.fuji tour alone plus lake whole day na yan.

Post modified. Please refrain from quoting long posts.

[kisses1417]

Or wag na ako mag mt fuji and Lake and go to Fujiten na lang since nakikita din naman sa Fujiten yung Mt. fuji? What do u think sis? [textspeak!] i will narrow kyoto to 3 places na lang. Ayoko din ng super haggard, actually pinaglalagay ko lang yan pero i dont have any idea pa sa mga temples on which should not be missed.

I saw in a travel agency na meron sila cherry blosso. Early spring package?? How come pag nag google ako, ang start ng cherry blosson is march and april pa. Yung inooffer ng travel agency is feb 20-onwards? Im thinking of diy kasi so kung totoo ba, isisingit ko for day one ang cherry blossoms.
Help mga sis!

Thank you 😃

[shygirlme]

^sis end March pa cherry blossoms.

[blackgreen]

Dipa ako nakapunta ng fujiten, pero based sa pictures nakikita nga naman ang mt.fuji dun. Yep, pick ka na lang 3 places. Yun mga pinuntahan namin yun din yun feel namin na must-see. Kelan travel niyo? Kami kasi november so autumn kaya siningit namin tofukuji para sa autumn leaves.

Im not familiar sis sa cherry blossom, baka mas makasagot ibang sis natin dito

[stormy]

@kisses, pwede mo sis na isingit ang osaka aquarium sa day ng USJ nyo icheck mo na lang ang schedule. Mayroon ferry from universal port hotel (nasa gilid lang yan ng USJ) papunta ng kaiyukan.

[bagaholic_chewy]

^mas mura kobe nabili nyo. Sa kuromon ichiba 5800yen per 100gr bili namin.

Yup. local butcher shop kasi yun sa Kobe mismo. Nadaanan lang namin while naglalakad-lakad kami after lunch papuntang subway station. 

[luvko23]

@kisses, we have a similar itinerary for day 7. We will be doing this on Dec 26. Inalis namin Hakone dahil kulang sa oras. Tour Lake Kawaguchiko in the morning. By lunchtime travel to Fujiten snow resort until 4 or 5pm. Halfday  kami dun. Regarding cherry blossom we were in Kyoto rin Feb this year. Wala pang ngbloom na trees, although meron yung naguumpisa pa lang. It is not fully visible. I read last time sa Japan Guide meron ata certain area sa Japan first cherry blossom in early March I forgot lang the place but definitely not in Osaka, Kyoto or Tokyo. I'll let you know how our trip goes when we return.