Osaka & Kyoto, Japan Thread 3

[sophiasoon]

Hi everyone.
Next travel namen ay Nov pa 2019 - we are thinking kung SoKor or Jap.

Magkano kaya goal budget sa Jap. Kasi HK at Taiwan kasya na ang 30-40k samen ni hubby. I know mas malake ang gastos dun e. Kahit sana 7 days lang - kasama na sa bilang ang araw ng ingress at egress LOL!

Kung no shopping at foodie trip lang?

HM kaya ang pinaka mababang budget for Jap and Korea.

Salamat po!

[huit]

Hello, It will be our 3rd time in Japan, but only second time in Osaka and Kyoto.  But just want to make sure that I am doing or planning to purchase the right cards. Hahaha.

Anyway, we will be staying in Namba area. Beside Namba (Nankai) Station. That's like 8-10 minute walk yata from Dotonbori. We only plan to stay for 4D and 3N. Parang weekend lang halos talaga. February 8-11.

Sharing my itinerary so you can comment if we need to just by the Kansai One Pass (the reloadable card), Kansai Thru Pass or the JR West Kansai Rail Pass.

Note that from Kansia Airport, we can ride na the Nankai Limited Express Train to Namba (Nankai) Station. So basically, that's the nearest station where we plan to stay.

DAY 1 (Friday)

11:35AM- Arrival in Kansai Airport Osaka
1:00PM- ETA Nerarel Hostel in Namba
*Leave our luggage because we can't check in early
1:30PM- Quick lunch
2:00PM- Leave for Nara Park
3:00-3:30PM - ETA Nara Park
* Just wander in Nara Park and within the area lang
6:00PM - Leave for Osaka (Namba)
7:00-7:30PM - ETA Osaka (Namba)


DAY  2 (Saturday)

8:00AM - Leave for USJ (It'll be our 2nd time already. Our first one was spent  queuing for Spiderman and Harry Potter so we did not see other attractions in USJ. Huhuhu)

* Is there a sort of night parade in USJ that's worth seeing that we can stay a little late? If not, we can head home in the afternoon then go to Dotonbori/Shinsaibashi


DAY 3 (Sunday)

8:00AM- Leave for Fushimi Inari Shrine (2nd time but it was raining when we went there the last time. )
9:30AM - ETA in Fushimi Inari
11:00AM- Leave for Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
1:00PM - Leave for Osaka (Dotonbori)

DAY 4 (Monday)

9:30- Check out from Nerarel Hostel (We will be riding again the  Nankai Limited Express Train to Kansai Airport


Ayun, sorry for my long post. But taking into consideration our itinerary. Ano ang okay na card/pass for us? Suggestions please.

[keilu]

hmm..if you're only going to be in osaka for 4 days, i think it will be better if you do the reloadable one.

for nara kasi - once you're there, youre going to use their bus system (they have the cutest bus pass - if still available - get the wooden bus pass para may souvenir ka na) - but if halfday ka lang sa nara .. no need for bus pass

for kyoto - same. once you're there, you're better off using their bus. they have a day pass for the bus as well.

unless you plan on going to and from these areas - the pass will not pay off for you. ako kasi last November, i got the 4day Kansai Area pass - pero i was going back and forth between osaka-kyoto-nara-kobe-himeji.

but check na rin yun itinerary nyo again at baka pwede nyo rin masulit yun ibang pass (they have a 2 or 3 day pass in kansai - not sure if its the pass through or the day passes)

oh .. and if you're doing USJ - there's a package at Klook that combines the Nankai Rapit pass (roundtrip ticket) and USJ (i got a minion design ticket) - i claimed it at the airport when i arrived in Osaka.

[minnie99]

DAY 3 (Sunday)

8:00AM- Leave for Fushimi Inari Shrine (2nd time but it was raining when we went there the last time. )
9:30AM - ETA in Fushimi Inari
11:00AM- Leave for Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
1:00PM - Leave for Osaka (Dotonbori)

Hi! Everything else seems pretty doable, medyo di lang ako sure dito sa Day 3. Depends on how you will get to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove; bus takes longer, train di ako sure. Plus the bamboo grove,  leisurely walk siya and marami pang pwedeng makita sa Arashiyama, so consider adjusting your ETD for Osaka. I would suggest going to Arashiyama na lang instead of Fushimi Inari, or stay more in the central Kyoto - aside from Fushimi Inari, you can visit Kiyomizudera, Gion and Yasaka maybe. Suggestion lang, if you haven't been to those other places.

I Agree that you should get the reloadable one. Have fun!!

[keilu]

@huit - i agree with sis minnie99 - aside from Fushimi Inari, there are quite a number of shrines in central Kyoto. Also, adjust your sked if you really want to go Fushimi Inari Shrine - your ETA of 930am at the shrine will definitely be packed with tourists on a bus tour. last november, i got there at 730am (left Osaka at 630am) and the crowd is not so bad.

for Arashiyama - the walk from the train station to the grove is rather lengthy. there are other sites in Arashiyama you can visit (love the garden here) - or if you like train rides - you can also do the Sagano Scenic Railway Train ride. (the train for this one is just beside the JR station when you get off at Arashiyama). you can do a one way trip, and take the jr train back to kyoto or osaka na lang. i was there november so the gorge is in fall foliage - it really is a pretty ride. book early so you can get seats. if not, you'll still be able to get tickets pero standing na (which i did). there's also a river tour back but that takes time (about 2 hours i think) - its picturesque but time consuming. i opted for a one way train ride via Sagano train (took about 30mins) and a JR train back to Osaka
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3965.html

i suggest you dont go on a Saturday to USJ though - unless you have a fast pass - as the place will definitely be jampacked. i went there on a thursday and the crowd is manageable (no lines). there are night shows that are worth it (at least for me) you can check the website of USJ for their night show line up for Feb.

[7galleons]

The first time I visited Osaka and Kyoto was winter. We're planning to visit Osaka and Kyoto this November in time for Autumn.  May I know when is the peak autumn foliage? Last year, forecast was Nov 21 peak in Kansai.

[keilu]

^ you can check this site: https://www.japan-guide.com/ they post autumn reports. i usually travel to japan in november - back in 2017 we traveled 3rd to 4th week of November and some trees in tokyo are in fall foliage .

last year, was only in Osaka and traveled in Kansai region only, got in 2nd week of November and there are a number of fall foliage.not full blast, but Kyoto temples have night illumination skeds already (this is however towards the 3rd week of Nov).

[avitot]

if planning to go to osaka this cherry blossom season, how much ang usual na budget?

Thanks!

[IronLady]

Hi may kumuha na ba sa inyo ng travel package tours for osaka? Yung sa mga travel Agency dito sa pinas? How was it?

[crzysxycl]

Hi sisses. Was able to book MNL-KIX-MNL for 4 pax for less than 24k. Ask ko lang kung ano pang maganda puntahan sa osaka na mag eenjoy ang 2-year old aside from USJ and yung aquarium?

Also since sa June na travel namin, ano kaya weather that time? I know summer na pero super init na kaya?

[sima]

After three long years, will go back to Osaka in July and stay there for a week.  Thank you Lord!

[sima]

Ask ko lang kung ano pang maganda puntahan sa osaka na mag eenjoy ang 2-year old aside from USJ and yung aquarium?

Ito mga suggestions ko sis:

Arashiyama Monkey Park sa Kyoto -- aakyat lang kayo ng maliit na hill.  Pwedeng magpakain ng mga Japanese macaque monkeys sa isang enclosed house tapos kung maswertehan ninyo, pinapakain din sila sa labas ng kanilang mga handlers.

Nara Park para sa mga deer

Hirakata park -- theme park din siya at mas konti ang tao compared sa USJ

[crzysxycl]

^hi sis! thanks sa suggestions. nakabalik na kami last june 8. will try harakata park next time..

naku grabe nga tao sa USJ, thursday pa kami pumunta ha.. wala ako nasakyan maski isa haha. pero happy pa rin kasi nakita ko WWOHP. super ganda sa osaka and kyoto. sarap ng food! wala ako masabi sa mga japanese. though per my officemate, mababait mga hapon sa probinsya, iba raw sa tokyo.

[ataypool]

^true. Sa Tokyo lalo na if you stay in the Ginza area or places where the salarymen/women or upper classes live and work, there is subtle snobbery. Mas gusto ko sa Osaka and Kobe, more down to earth maski nasa sort of upper classes in their area. A lot of them though sa Osaka and Kobe may resting b**** face but show them a kid or smile at them, biglang ngiti ng bongga.

[easycomeeasygo]

Hi mga sis!

What's the weather like po sa Japan during September. Alis namin at Sept 1 and Im not sure what outfits do I wear. Ginawin akong tao. Hihi TIA!

[crzysxycl]

^^No wonder dami ko rin nababasa na mas type nila sa Osaka than Tokyo. Pero gusto ko rin maexperience kahit one time lang, haha. Totoo, daming Japanese na natuwa sa baby ko nung nasa Osaka and Kyoto kami, lagi sila napapangiti.

[kachich]

September weather most likel6 still hot with chances of rain. Mid November pa lumalamig

[bellahikari]

Is it realistic and still enjoyable to have a one day tour from Osaka to Kyoto and Nara - DIY? Also planning to go in November.

Fushimi Inari Shrine, Golden Pavillion, Nara Park for the deers and Todaiji Temple. Ano pa kaya ang realistic idagdag dito especially in Kyoto (the absolute must see)?

[keilu]

^^ you have to take into account the train travel times if you want a day tour Osaka-Kyoto-Nara.

I did a sort of temple run last year on my solo tour in Kansai region. The problem lang with Kyoto and Nara is that the sites you want to see are mostly served by buses so mas matagal ang travel time mo.

if you really wanted to go to Fushimi Inara - go very early in the morning - this way hindi pa ganun karami ang people. madami kasing tour groups who do Fushimi Inari Shrine. then you can go to the golden pavilion. morning mo sya gawin. then you can go to Nara in the afternoon for the Nara Park and Todaiji Temple (magkatabi lang naman itong dalawa so ok lang) - bus nga lang to get here from the jr nara station.

if you're going Mid November - start na mag turn yun ibang leaves nyan. Tofukuji Temple in Kyoto is spectacular in Autumn.

[heavensent]

How's the weather around mid-October? Hindi na ba ganun kainit that time? Planning a solo trip this year.