Japan Thread 4

[binggay]

Hi Sisses,

Thread 3 has already been locked so I started this new thread.

My family is planning to go to Japan this Oct or Nov and we don't know where to start. Can I get some help here?

We're gonna be a total of 7 -- my 2 Senior Citizen parents, my husband, me and my 3 kids (aged 14, 11 and 3).

We plan to stay for 7 days. I initially planned 2 days Tokyo then 5 days to explore Osaka/Nara/Kyoto. is this doable and feasible? I've been reading up a bit and baka masyado tight ang sked? What would you sisses recommend? Osaka area lang? My parents have been to Japan before, but my mom want to ride the Shinkansen and see Mt. Fuji if possible. The rest of us first-timers.

Maganda kasi sana to be able to visit Tokyo and Osaka, but then ayoko din naman mahirapan parents ko. Does anybody have a sample 7-day itinerary that I can follow?

I also noticed most MNL-Osaka flights are the in the afternoon tapos gabi na ang dating sa Japan so sayang sa time.

[binggay]

Oh, and in addition, nalilito ako sa JR Pass na yan. Akala ko isang klase lang yung JR Pass na 29,110 yen tapos across Japan na lines na siya. Tapos pagtingin ko sa baba ng website page nila, biglang may JR Central, JR West, JR East tapos iba na naman ang fares.

Can someone please enlighten me on this?

[MedChic]

Hi sis Binggay! Good timing for your Japan visit. Its autumn season.. :-)

mejo tight nga ang 7 days if you wanna explore much, lalo first timer the rest of you.

I am guessing MNL-KIX-MNL kayo?

Since hapon nga ang dating nio from manila, i think it would be better if you explore Osaka area muna before Tokyo.

The JR pass 29k yen is a nationwide pass. Regional passes yung mga nakita kong iba. Since you want to cover the big prefectures, the national pass will do.

Suggesting itinerary for you..

Day 01 - Osaka (Namba area na lang maiikot ninyo since you are arriving afternoon na)
Day 02 - Osaka
Day 03 - Nara /Kyoto
Day 04 - Kyoto
Day 05 - Kyoto then to Tokyo na kayo
Day 06 - Mt. Fuji (Hakone ba kayo or Kawaguchiko?)
Day 07 - Tokyo then back to Osaka for your night flight. (Or.. Kung ano mang oras ang flight ninyo)

Super maximized ang JR pass ninyo nian since you'll be using it balikan Kyoto (Or osaka) to Tokyo then back.

Sa Osaka and Kyoto (other private line you have to your Pasmo or Icoca card) sa Nara ganun din.
Tokyo mejo magagamit mo ang JR pass mo since Yamanote line is also accepting JR pass.

Super bitin and super parang amazing race kayo nian. Good luck sis.

Remember, USJ and Disneysea and Disneyland requires mga one whole day. So if you wanna insert that sa itinerary mo, hindi mo na mapupuntahan yung iba.
Btw, Mt. fuji (kawaguchiko) and Nara mas maganda one whole day, pero doable naman sya ng half day.

[sweetie28]

hi mga sisses, anyone here na may alam na discounted ticket for USJ , salamat po

[IamMarieLove]

Hi mga sis, just wanna ask. Is it easy to find a teaching position in Japan?

[binggay]

Hi Sis MedChic!

Thanks for your reply! I've asked around some friends who've been to Japan, though, and they recommended to just focus on Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Kobe for the trip coz we only have 7 days. As I mentioned kasi, I have 2 senior citizens with me, and my mom already told me na she wants the trip to be relaxed so we can enjoy, hindi yung sobrang tight and rush tapos maya't maya baka nag-aaway away na kami. Hehe!

If we just do 7 days tapos focusing on Osaka and nearby areas lang, better yun noh? Pano pala yung Mt. Fuji? Hindi ko alam yung 2 places na binanggit mo about Mt. Fuji. We don't have plans to trek or anything, basta makita lang namin yung mountain and explore the area a bit lang. I have a 3 year old pa with me. Plus I think that would be the only opportunity for us to ride the bullet train? My mom really wants to experience it eh.

I told my kids we will just go to Tokyo some other time tapos ang focus non is Tokyo lang. We do not have plans of going to USJ or Tokyo Disneyland. We've been to USS and HKD already, and we are going to the US next year so for sure mag Disney and Universal din doon, so yung sa Japan hindi na. We really just want to explore the country. Ang dami ko kilala na pabalik-balik talaga sa Japan kasi sobra daw ganda.

Do you have a sample itinerary for a 7 day Osaka trip?

[binggay]

Thanks sis poisonIV!

Yup, decided na nga ako to scrap tokyo for now. I'm just looking for an itinerary I can follow for the 7 days. Considering I have kids with me, I also want to spend time on places that the kids would enjoy as well. I was told they would love Nara, especially the deer park.

My kids are also into anime. I know they have areas for these in Tokyo, but meron din kaya sa Osaka and nearby areas?

[prettymom]

Medchic how did you get the Kyoto day tour? will be in osaka-kyoto-osaka for 10 days this month.
thank you

[poisonIV]

I've been to Nara park and i think kids will love it there. Fun mag feed ng deers haha. For anime spots,i couldnt actually think of any kasi di ako mahilig personally (sorry!). Eto lang masusuggest ko na spots

Osaka
-Dotonbori (better to stay in this area para you can do something every night)
-Umeda Sky Building (if you're into sky views)
-Universal Studios
-Osaka Castle
-Nissin noodles place

Kyoto
-Gion
-Arashiyama

Nara
-Deer Park
-check out the temples (hindi ko to nagawa though)


Hope this helps!

[forumera]

I have minimal knowledge about Japan, pero baka ito next destination namin, sana matuloy, in God's will

What month best to go to Nagoya and Tokyo?
Baka we will stay sa relative sa Nagoya, how many hours from here to Tokyo?
Yung 29k Yen (around 12k php) na train, unli ba yan hehe or consumable ang mahal kasi e huhu
E from Nagoya to Fuji?
ahhh dami ko tanong next time na lang hehe

[m_lim]

mga sis, kamusta ang Nara Park pag december 31?

super lamig ba? lumalabas ba mga deers?

[divamom]

Hi, has anyone here spent Christmas in Tokyo? I'm planning a 2-week Osaka and Tokyo trip for the family. Not sure lang about the crowd then, baka sobra dami ng tao. Also, is the weather freezing cold? Thanks in advance! 😊

[MedChic]

Thanks sis poisonIV!

Yup, decided na nga ako to scrap tokyo for now. I'm just looking for an itinerary I can follow for the 7 days. Considering I have kids with me, I also want to spend time on places that the kids would enjoy as well. I was told they would love Nara, especially the deer park.

My kids are also into anime. I know they have areas for these in Tokyo, but meron din kaya sa Osaka and nearby areas?

Hi sis binggay, meron din sa Osaka, Den Den town.. Near Namba area. Or I think nasa Namba area din sya. Nilakad lang namin ito eh. The Nara area, please spend more time here. Its a very nice area. Yung mga deer, careful lang. Once finish na feeding they'll snob you na. If they know you still have deer food, tapos ayaw mo pa ibigay sa kanila, nanunulak sila. Sarap din pektusan niyang mga yan eh. Hahaha.

Medchic how did you get the Kyoto day tour? will be in osaka-kyoto-osaka for 10 days this month.
thank you

Hi sis, just go to Kyoto Tower, second floor, kiosk will open around 1030am. They'll arrange the whole day tour for you. Super convenient. Nakakatuwa nga kasi I found them by accident, i need to pee kaya before heading to the top of the tower, naghanap muna ako ng toilet, tapos sakto nag open sila dun. Ang galing.

For those asking about weather.. Check ninyo yung accuweather. Madali na lang ngayon mag research. Some keywords lang, google and then thousands of info to pop. Talagang tyagaan lang.

About distances, how many hours travel time.. Pwede kayong mag google earth. Libre naman yang mga yan mga sis. Go explore. Its fun to do the basic research din.

[MedChic]

Hi Sis MedChic!

Thanks for your reply! I've asked around some friends who've been to Japan, though, and they recommended to just focus on Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Kobe for the trip coz we only have 7 days. As I mentioned kasi, I have 2 senior citizens with me, and my mom already told me na she wants the trip to be relaxed so we can enjoy, hindi yung sobrang tight and rush tapos maya't maya baka nag-aaway away na kami. Hehe!

If we just do 7 days tapos focusing on Osaka and nearby areas lang, better yun noh? Pano pala yung Mt. Fuji? Hindi ko alam yung 2 places na binanggit mo about Mt. Fuji. We don't have plans to trek or anything, basta makita lang namin yung mountain and explore the area a bit lang. I have a 3 year old pa with me. Plus I think that would be the only opportunity for us to ride the bullet train? My mom really wants to experience it eh.

I told my kids we will just go to Tokyo some other time tapos ang focus non is Tokyo lang. We do not have plans of going to USJ or Tokyo Disneyland. We've been to USS and HKD already, and we are going to the US next year so for sure mag Disney and Universal din doon, so yung sa Japan hindi na. We really just want to explore the country. Ang dami ko kilala na pabalik-balik talaga sa Japan kasi sobra daw ganda.

Do you have a sample itinerary for a 7 day Osaka trip?

Ay. Me nauna ka palang question.. hehe..

If you are doing the Osaka-Kyoto-Nara leg na lang for 7 days, this is more feasible.
Dont get the nationwide JR pass, kasi isang region na lang naman ito, get the JR kansai pass na lang. And get the Osaka 2 days Amazing pass.

Suggesting Itinerary for you..

Day 01 - if your accomodation is around Namba area, explore muna this without using the Osaka pass
Day 02 - activate Osaka Amazing pass.. It goes with a map. Plan your roite for the day, unli subway train rides and entrance fee with the Amazing pass, tapos andaming parang stubs for resto. Super sulit!
Day 03 - roam around Osaka pa din.
Day 04 - this will be your Nara day (please get the Nara one day bus pass naman sa JR Nara station. 500 yen lang yun - nasa 250 pesos)
Day 05 - roam around Kyoto, Kyoto Tower, Kyoto station (yes, prime spot din ang Kyoto station..) and then book your Kyoto day tour, if kaya pa, go to ARASHIYAMA area, andito yung Bamboo, yung snow monkey..
Btw, yung Kyoto tour, meron silang pickup from Osaka and then back to Osaka din. This  is very convenient lalo na sa mga senior citizen. Kasi sasakay na lang sila sa bus. Hehe.
Day 06 - whole day Kyoto
Day 07 - last day Osaka - buy your pasalubong at Don Quijote. Then head to airport na.

Good luck.

[MedChic]

Aaaay! Nakalimutan ko yung Mt. Fuji, kasama kasi sa Tokyo leg namin ito. Mas malapit kasi sya sa Tokyo eh.

Pero probinsya pa din sya. Im not quite sure if kaya pa mag Mt. Fuji.

From Tokyo nga, 4 hours ang travel time.

Teka, ask pala yung sa Kyoto Tower baka they can arrange Mt. Fuji tour along with your Kyoto tour.

Its been a month. Pero, the feeling is still there. I miss you Japan. Hahaha.

[ataypool]

Hi, has anyone here spent Christmas in Tokyo? I'm planning a 2-week Osaka and Tokyo trip for the family. Not sure lang about the crowd then, baka sobra dami ng tao. Also, is the weather freezing cold? Thanks in advance! 😊

I went to Tokyo a week before Christmas in 2014. Hirap maglakad, temp was between 0 to 10 degrees C that time, kaka-stress.

[chelsee]

Travelling alone lang sana papuntang japan... If ever hindi ako matuloy then expired na yung visa ko, pwede ba ipaextend yun?

[binggay]

Ay. Me nauna ka palang question.. hehe..

If you are doing the Osaka-Kyoto-Nara leg na lang for 7 days, this is more feasible.
Dont get the nationwide JR pass, kasi isang region na lang naman ito, get the JR kansai pass na lang. And get the Osaka 2 days Amazing pass.

Suggesting Itinerary for you..

Day 01 - if your accomodation is around Namba area, explore muna this without using the Osaka pass
Day 02 - activate Osaka Amazing pass.. It goes with a map. Plan your roite for the day, unli subway train rides and entrance fee with the Amazing pass, tapos andaming parang stubs for resto. Super sulit!
Day 03 - roam around Osaka pa din.
Day 04 - this will be your Nara day (please get the Nara one day bus pass naman sa JR Nara station. 500 yen lang yun - nasa 250 pesos)
Day 05 - roam around Kyoto, Kyoto Tower, Kyoto station (yes, prime spot din ang Kyoto station..) and then book your Kyoto day tour, if kaya pa, go to ARASHIYAMA area, andito yung Bamboo, yung snow monkey..
Btw, yung Kyoto tour, meron silang pickup from Osaka and then back to Osaka din. This  is very convenient lalo na sa mga senior citizen. Kasi sasakay na lang sila sa bus. Hehe.
Day 06 - whole day Kyoto
Day 07 - last day Osaka - buy your pasalubong at Don Quijote. Then head to airport na.

Good luck.

Thanks so much, sis! Eto na magiging basis ko. At least may pagsisimulan na ako. Salamat ulit!

[travelling_daisy]

Hi sis MedChic!

Did you get your JR pass online or from a travel agency here in the Philippines?

Thanks.

[ember_sky]

Hi po. Sino na po nakagamit ng Seishun 18 na pass? Worth it ba siya?
Plan kasi namin mag Osaka-Kyoto-Nara sa August Summer Break. Galing kami sa Tokyo.
Ano po kayang mas maganda? Seishun 18 or yun Kansai Thru Pass?