hi,

first of all, i'm in japan currently. thanks for this forum, i got lots of useful tips from LYN.

for google map, the price, duration, and transit, i can say as far as i use these several days, mostly are accurate. things i learnt to make life easier (sorry if this is a repeat if somebody already mentioned):

- always observe what is the exit number of the train station. i.e. one train station may have several exits, and sometimes to go to the closest place is using that exit. take the wrong exit, you'll still find that place, but you'll go round and round abit.
- take note of the train lines, the train direction, and the train station to make the transfers
- use Street View, it's helpful to visualize what is the landmark to go to certain place
- sometimes, the google map shows the duration based on Express train, not Local train (google whats the difference of Local, Rapid, Express, Limited Express). try check later and earlier trips to see the duration patterns.

have fun. (and rest assure, no matter how much we prepare, we still have to ask locals for direction )

hi osaka sifu
i will have a day visit to osaka, wanna ask opinion
after finish visit the osaka castle around 3-4pm, i have some time slot unti night time
for that time, should i go to
Umeda Sky Building or
Shinsekai and Kuromon Market?

for night time i plan to visit shinsaibashi and dotomburi

Hi guys, due to limited time, I plan to only making a day trip to Hakone from Shinjuku in mid-November. What is the earliest time to go there from Shinjuku to enjoy the beauty scene the most, probably Mt. Fuji view? And from my reading, I find these two alternatives of going there:

1) take train to Odawara from Shinjuku @ 850 yen and buy Hakone free pass @ 3900 yen at Odawara Station to Hakone.
2) buy Hakone free pass @ 5,000 yen at Shinjuku Station straight to Hakone.

Which one is better, not only in terms of pricing but other factore as well? Tq.

hi osaka sifu
i will have a day visit to osaka, wanna ask opinion
after finish visit the osaka castle around 3-4pm, i have some time slot unti night time
for that time, should i go to
Umeda Sky Building or
Shinsekai and Kuromon Market?

for night time i plan to visit shinsaibashi and dotomburi

Day trip is ok, it would be better if overnight to enjoy onsen over there. Since you have limited time, no choice, but you wont regret it.

For your question, do you heading back to Tokyo after Hakone?
If so, Hakone freepass included your return trip as well.
If not, then you may just get ur pass at odawara.

Are you a JR holder?
If yes, get a JR train to Odawara & buy the cheaper pass.

Odakyu Line earliest is 5.30am. Before you heading to Hakone, you may check the weather at http://www.hakone.or.jp/english/

hi osaka sifu
i will have a day visit to osaka, wanna ask opinion
after finish visit the osaka castle around 3-4pm, i have some time slot unti night time
for that time, should i go to
Umeda Sky Building or
Shinsekai and Kuromon Market?

for night time i plan to visit shinsaibashi and dotomburi

Day trip is ok, it would be better if overnight to enjoy onsen over there. Since you have limited time, no choice, but you wont regret it.

For your question, do you heading back to Tokyo after Hakone?
If so, Hakone freepass included your return trip as well.
If not, then you may just get ur pass at odawara.

Are you a JR holder?
If yes, get a JR train to Odawara & buy the cheaper pass.

Odakyu Line earliest is 5.30am. Before you heading to Hakone, you may check the weather at http://www.hakone.or.jp/english/

Hi,

i am planning day trip to nikko and hakone as well. as I know, hakone pretty pack during weekends, so I will go during weekday.

how about nikko? any idea if pack during weekend?

Hi, no one can guarantee whether pack or not. But for tourist hot spot, usually there will be packed during weekend, esp Saturday.
Nikko, one of the World Heritage site, what do you think? 

hi osaka sifu
i will have a day visit to osaka, wanna ask opinion
after finish visit the osaka castle around 3-4pm, i have some time slot unti night time
for that time, should i go to
Umeda Sky Building or
Shinsekai and Kuromon Market?

for night time i plan to visit shinsaibashi and dotomburi

have fun. (and rest assure, no matter how much we prepare, we still have to ask locals for direction )

Thanks Sifu!.

ETA in KIX is 6 am as I'm flying with MAS. I plan to go to USJ either on thursday or friday because only that 2 days it will open till 9 pm, other days only until 6/7pm.

Where can i get Haruka & ICOCA package? OSAKA free pas also not worth?
In kyoto, I plan to take the 500 yen bus pass so that can cover whole Kyoto town. Unfortunatey, won't sleep in Kyoto 'coz I book all the nights in Osaka-Umeda. Lazy to check-in/check out.

Thanks again.

haha..understand. Guess will have to go these two place on consecutive days before weekend arrives.

anyway, i saw there is hakone freepass and fuji hakone pass? wonder what's the major difference? any idea which one can have better view of mt fuji?

http://www.odakyu.jp/english/freepass/index.html

correct me if i'm wrong, but is there an observatory deck at Umeda sky building? If yes, then i think you can enjoy the sunset there around 5pm - 6pm i guess?

But since you are already there at osaka castle, i doubt you would want to return to umeda sky building and then go to dotombori/shinsaibaishi since it is kind of a waste of transport fee.

You can go to tennoji park for a stroll(i forgotten if you need to pay an entrance fee or not), and then from there you can just walk to shinsekai cause it is quite near. You sure will pass by the tennoji zoo while heading to shinsekai.

I went to shinsekai before but it was way early in the morning, so there were not much to see cause all the shops haven't open. I'm sure u will find something interesting there in the evening.

**Just remembered, there's a small takoyaki store in shinsekai selling 6 balls for 300 yen. I had my breakfast there and it was the most delicious takoyaki i have ever ate. I saw a lot of photos of celebrities and tourist eating there at that store.

Do you like shopping street? If yes, do Shinsekai and you will have the view of Tsutenkaku Tower as well.
Kuromon market is near namba/Dotonbori, you may walk through it if you stop at Namba station.

If you like architecture & city view, Umeda Sky Building. Besides the building, you can shop in the osaka station city as well or Tenjinbashi-Suji Shopping Street which is near to Umeda. But i don think you have enuf time for both.
jz my 2 cents, other sifus may suggest otherwise.

i would really recommend Umeda Sky coz the view is quite good, but as the others pointed out, its easier n nearer to go Shinseikai from Osaka Castle... but then again, Shinseikai for me hav nothing much to see 


it would help a lot if u know how to read chinese, I been to Japan twice and i know shit about Japanese, yet never ever once i got lost and hav to seek help coz the signboards there are mostly in kanji. 

guys.. wanna ask as i am traveling to japan tomorrow night and in dilemma whether to purchase expensive winter wear or not..

now currently issit very cold at japan there? particular Osaka?

23-25 c for today
http://www.weather.com/weather/right-now/3...us&cm_ite=today
http://www.accuweather.com/en/jp/osaka/217...forecast/217519
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findwe...3738,135.502165

my manager is bringing alot sets of winter clothing.. but seeing the temperature thr.. i was not convince it is necessary.. how ah? should i bring 1 set or just buy the normal wool shirt..

yes, the purpose of going umeda is the sky building's hanging garden/bridge

thanks, i take note of ur takoyaki store as recommended food will try to eat that
i tot kuromon market is nearer to shinsekai? i checked google map last time

meanwhile, is 4-6pm a good time to visit kuromon market? what time they closed?

for shopping, i am staying near to shinsaibashi, there are alot things to see n shop there am i right?
i can read chinese words, hope tat helps me hehe

actually umeda sky building is requested by my frens
for me, i feel abit redundant cos i am going to tokyo few days after osaka visit and i plan to visit tokyo metropolitan government building in shinjuku and roppongi skydeck , will have a visit to skytree but not sure will go up or not (cos i read tripadvisor, to go up need to que 2 hours for ticket )

so if i going to visit other sky high building, should i skip umeda?

thanks all sifu

my manager is bringing alot sets of winter clothing.. but seeing the temperature thr.. i was not convince it is necessary.. how ah? should i bring 1 set or just buy the normal wool shirt..

personal preference
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/Osak...i+JAXX0329:1:JA

for the next 10 days lowest is 13c ( i guess 13c is at night)

my manager is bringing alot sets of winter clothing.. but seeing the temperature thr.. i was not convince it is necessary.. how ah? should i bring 1 set or just buy the normal wool shirt..

You can get the package at Kansai Airport Station. Pls do check the condition of the package here, http://www.jr-odekake.net/en/icoca-haruka/

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Added on October 15, 2012, 1:02 pm
Hakone free pass offer unlimited ride on 7 transportations in Hakone area while Fuji Hakone pass covered transportation from between Shinjuku, Lake Kawaguchiko and Hakone. Of course, Lake kawaguchiko would be the one offer better and more stunning mt fuji view due to proximity. Lake kawaguchiko is more commercialise. Hakone is more adventure & interesting. If you have spare time, or 1 and half / 2 days there, you would have enuf time to visit both. From kawaguchiko, you can get up to 5th station of mt fuji or even hiking at mt fuji, different experience of Mt Fuji.

how long u gonna be there?? till december?

now just mid autumn..for me 13-20 degrees just need a thick or normal jacket that can block wind.

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Added on October 15, 2012, 1:37 pmi believe 25 degree is just office temperature with air con