Osaka & Kyoto, Japan Thread 3

[minnie99]

^You can use it but you cannot return/refund in that region if I'm not mistaken.

[princess lorraine]

^thank you sis 

[ellyrem]

mga sis.. pacheck naman po if doable or cramped yung ginawa ko na itinerary.. salamat po in advance..

DAY 0 - ARRIVAL TO KANSAI AIRPORT
** Check-in to hotel
** Roam around (buy foods/snacks)

DAY 1 - KYOTO
** Tofukuji
** Fushimi Inari Shrine
** Kiyomizu-Dera
** Gion District (Higashiyama District)
** Sanjusangendo Temple


DAY 2 - KYOTO
** Arashiyama (Bamboo Groves)/ Togetsukyo Bridge
** Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion)
** Nanjen-zi Temple
** Otagi Nenbutsuji


DAY 3 - OSAKA
** Osaka Castle
** Lunch at Endo Sushi
** Umeda Sky building
** Tempozan Ferris Wheel
** Dotonbori


DAY 4 - OSAKA
** Universal Studios Japan
** Dotonbori
** Don Quixote Ferris Wheel(pasalubong)


DAY 5 - NARA/KOBE
** Nara Park (nara station-nara park = R BUS color red)
** Kofukuji Temple
** Todaiji Temple
** Train to KOBE
** Dinner at Steakland Kobe


DAY 6 - OSAKA
** roam around the city
** Shinsaibashi shopping - Dotonbori


DAY 7 - GOING HOME

[ilovetigger]

Hello! We will be going to Osaka, Japan on Nov 20 to 29! I am sooooo excited! It has been my lifelong dream to go there. As in naiyak ako hahaha when I was able to book our airfare via Jet Star (22k for 3 pax roundtrip with 20kgs baggage). Anyway, as early as now I am already scouting for accommodation.  Nagulat ako na ang laki din ng difference ng rates during the autumn/fall season. I guess peak season din kasi siya like the spring/cherry blossom season. Anyway, it will be just be me, hubby and toddler. Pero from Nov 22 to 27, we will be joined by my two friends. Okay na ba ang 9 days? Parang gusto ko pa iextend! We will just be in the Kansai area and planning to go to Kyoto, Kobe and Narra but our base will be in Osaka.

Now my question is, do you have a recommended AIRBNB? So far yun ata ang cheapest na accommodation that we can avail based on our budget. Kahit for the first 6 days lang tapos the last 3 days mag hotel na kami so we can relax, unwind, shop and eat at the must visit restos within Osaka. Waaah excited na talaga ako. 

[minnie99]

^9 days is okay! We spent 8 days last year naman. Bitin pa, pero you can cover a lot already.

I suggest you also consider staying in Kyoto for half of your trip. So much to do and see in Kyoto! And it's a bit far din from Osaka ha, kaya nakakapagod balik-balikan.

For Osaka, we stayed in Nishinari Ward. It's not a very popular place, malapit siya sa slums, but the apartment was really nice (i don't know how to share a place on AirBnB! Huhu). If all adults naman kayo, okay dito, just find an apartment near Shin-Imamiya station. Otherwise try Namba area, or anywhere close to a station. For Kyoto, Maraming entire apartment diyan, but definitely expensive na nga. I remember booking in Feb. yung 3 nights ko, more than 2k per night per person na ang isang apartment.

Excited for you! I know the feeling kasi, I was super excited last year. November din. But yours is later in the month, so mas malamig na yan.

[shygirlme]

^^Ok naman airbnb sis nung nasa Osaka kami last November airbnb kami. Pero I cant recommend yung pinagstayan namin 5 mins.walk kasi sa train station pero ang convinient nya samin since puro adults kami

[princess lorraine]

Just came back from osaka! I love the place! We went to usj, shinsaibashi, dotonburi and rinkutown premium outlets.  will definitely go back 

[khaleesiCersei]

Hi mga sis, kamusta shopping sa osaka? Mura ba mga shoes, clothes and bags compared dito? Tia!

[ataypool]

^ halos pareho lang when converted kung sa Uniqlo, Zara etc but it helps to look for some items on sale. You can try GU, the sister brand of Uniqlo, where the prices are lower but some of the shirts and pants have the same quality as Uniqlo. Sneaker brands like Nike are cheap sa outlets pero meron din naman sa ABC Mart. If you are after second hand designer bags, in Shinsaibashi nagkalat sila and most of them are half the price than in Manila; I'm just basing it on the price of the same bag I've seen in this small stall in Century Mall which is double the price. Dalhin mo rin lagi ang passport to get the tax refund if you purchase anything more than 5000 yen on one transaction. Madaming magandang Japanese brands but ang presyo mas mahal pa than Zara.

[khaleesiCersei]

Tnx so much sis! Balak ko kasi di na ko masyado magdala ng damit. Dun na lang ako bibili and parang gusto ko din na dun na lang bumili ng skechers go walk, baka mas mura compared dito.. salamat ulit sis! 😊

[ataypool]

^forgot to mention earlier, if you can, cash mas maganda. Nag-card kasi ako for most of my transactions last April because I'm a sucker for points, then nakikita ko ang conversion rate and charges nakakahinayang din, lugi pa rin ako maski isama ko ang points earned.

[khaleesiCersei]

Noted 😊 hehe. Tnx so much sis ataypool!

[khaleesiCersei]

question mga sis, for 1k USD, saan bank advisable papalit ito sa yen?  TIA

[anniegurl]

Sis what card did u use? I use my bpi card ok naman. I can recommend an airbnb super lapit lang sa dontounbori pero its good for 3 pax lang

[khaleesiCersei]

I super love osaka and kyoto! Shopping haven ang osaka talaga lalo na sa rinku town pero pagdating sa chocolates parang mas mura sa tokyo. Nagsisi lang ako nung pina tax free ko pa yung pinamili ko sa donki kasi binalot nila and bawal daw buksan, ayun nahirapan ako ilagay sa luggage kasi ang bulky ng pagkakabalot. Tapos yung discount naman pala eh hindi din ganon kalaki. Ang sarap mag foodtrip sa dotombori hehe. Babalik talaga ako, ang ganda sa japan at ang linis. Ang dami namin kasabay na chinese tourists, grabe sila mag shopping parang walang bukas hehe. Pansin ko mas fluent mag chinese and korean ang mga staff sa mga shops kesa mag english. Pero helpful naman sila lahat and very accomodating.

[curli_topz]

question mga sis, for 1k USD, saan bank advisable papalit ito sa yen?  TIA

Try BDO. If money changer, try Czarina.

[curli_topz]

Hello! We will be going to Osaka, Japan on Nov 20 to 29! I am sooooo excited! It has been my lifelong dream to go there. As in naiyak ako hahaha when I was able to book our airfare via Jet Star (22k for 3 pax roundtrip with 20kgs baggage). Anyway, as early as now I am already scouting for accommodation.  Nagulat ako na ang laki din ng difference ng rates during the autumn/fall season. I guess peak season din kasi siya like the spring/cherry blossom season. Anyway, it will be just be me, hubby and toddler. Pero from Nov 22 to 27, we will be joined by my two friends. Okay na ba ang 9 days? Parang gusto ko pa iextend! We will just be in the Kansai area and planning to go to Kyoto, Kobe and Narra but our base will be in Osaka.

Now my question is, do you have a recommended AIRBNB? So far yun ata ang cheapest na accommodation that we can avail based on our budget. Kahit for the first 6 days lang tapos the last 3 days mag hotel na kami so we can relax, unwind, shop and eat at the must visit restos within Osaka. Waaah excited na talaga ako. 

That's a great time to be in Osaka and Kyoto.  Peak autumn season yung last 2 weeks of November. Halos double talaga mga accommodation prices pero very worth it naman!

9 days is ok to explore Kansai area.

I suggest that you book your accommodation as early as possible, kasi literally magkakaubusan ng rooms considering that you will be there during super peak season. It's best to book at least 4 months in advance for autumn travel.

I have tried staying in an Airbnb before although I can't exactly recommend the 2 br unit where I stayed since it was surprisingly unclean. It was very cheap though and strategically located near Nippombashi station just a few minutes walk from Kuromon Ichiba Market. There's a supermarket at the north end of Kuromon Ichiba market and they sell high quality bento, fresh sashimi and food trays (think P100 for 2 pieces small tonktasu) towards 6pm.

If you'll be staying in an Airbnb, ang suggestion ko is to find a place that's near a supermarket so you can easily buy food and cheap bento meals.

In any case, I recommend the Namba area - anywhere in Namba Station, Dotonbori, Nippombashi or Shinsaibashi.

To visualize the difference in these areas, please feel free to check out this post: Where to Stay in Osaka

[anniegurl]

Hi we stayed in an airbnb apartment few steps away from dotounbori. How many persons kayo? Kasi the room is good for 4 pax but I suggest 3 lang para comfortable.

[7galleons]

question mga sis, for 1k USD, saan bank advisable papalit ito sa yen?  TIA

Okay din sa Sanry's in Greenbelt

[khaleesiCersei]

Thanks mga sis. Ok na nakabalik na ako from japan hehe. Super loved it in osaka. Sarap mag shopping. Sale ang h&m sa dotonbori and shinsaibashi, grabe ang mura. Nakapag hoard ako hehe. Mga 200 yen to 600 yen ang sale price. Imagine, wala pang 500 pesos dami mo ng mabibili sa h&m. Sa uniqlo naman pinakamura na ang 700 yen. So sa GU na lang ako namili total halos pareho lang naman sila ng tinda. Dumayo din ako sa rinku town, ang mura din dun sa outlet tsaka sa sports depo and dun sa may ferris wheel na area. Pagdating mo kasi ng tokyo triple na ang price. So kung may makita kayo sa osaka, i suggest bilhin nyo na kasi nagsisi ako nung pagdating ko sa tokyo hehe.


 If mag donki kayo, wag nyo na lang ipa tax free kasi 500 yen lang ata binawas sakin, ang bulky pa ng pagkakabalot. Pero i suggest sa mga daiso or pharmacy stores na lang kayo mamili, nagkalat sila  sa dotombori at shinsaibashi, pati na sa nishiki market sa kyoto, mas mura mga tinda kesa donki sa dotombori.