With limited time you have in Japan, not much place you can go. Last time when I went to Japan, I made a big mistake, didnt considering the travel time between places and slow walking speed that we also have in Malaysia.

For shopping, there are few places i think quite famous,
1. Umeda Station - Hankyu Department Store (Luxury shopping)
2. Dotonbori / Shinsaibashi - Shinsaibashi has one of the longest underground shopping street I have ever seen and some of the largest fashion brand above the ground, like nike and the nice Apple store.
3. And Namba

From my last journey exp, one day in umeda hankyu department store, after that go for the observatory at night. （Of course for now, the best observatory will be the abeno harukas in Tennoji there）

Another day in Shinsaibashi underground street, (that street links all the way up to midosuji station, so you can plan either go to somewhere else then only go for shopping in the underground through that station on the way back to your stay)

My wife and I will be making a brief trip to Osaka (22nd Oct. to 26th Oct. 2016).

I have made a booking at Hotel Mystay in Shin Osaka.

This will be our first trip to Japan so will really appreciate feed back from you guys who have visited Osaka/Kyoto.

My prime concern is the accessibility of this hotel in term of travelling to Kyoto and down town Osaka.

We plan to have a day trip to Kyoto and another day around Osaka and reserve third day for shopping.

We know time is no at our disposal so please recommend or propose what are the places we shall visit.

osaka has usj...kaiyukan...cup noodles museum...osaka castle...one day to visit all isn't possible...
same goes to kyoto

suggest to just stay within osaka and maybe a day trip to nara

Thanks.

It will be nice if we can set foot at Kyoto.

Any option for us. We do not mind skip places in Osaka.

not recommended as it will be a rush... shin osaka is not like our KL sentral, it is huge and crowded on mornings + you are expected to be blur for a while to get familiarized - by then you wasted some time.

If you truly want kyoto only, please sleep at Kyoto - it will save you alot of time.

P/S : once you reach Kyoto remember that you still need to take bus/subway to your destinations !


Edit : I have a question too, anyone experienced visiting Tokyo Disneyland a day before or after publc holiday at Japan? Or is that place 365 days same crowded like USJ?

This post has been edited by stinger: Sep 2 2016, 03:46 PM

Really appreciate your comments.

Tentatively my itinerary is as follow;

1st day Arrived Shin Osaka in the late afternoon
Have dinner and just wlak around the vicinity of the hotel

2nd day Go to Kyoto - Kiyomizu -Dera n surrounding
if time permits then Kinkakuji.

3rd Day First Half day In Nara - Todaiji Temple
- Deer Park
2nd half day Osaka/Fuhsimi Inari

4th Day Osaka - Shitennoji Temple
- Osaka Castle
- Shopping around Dotonbori or Shinsaibashi

5th Day Osaka - Morning walk around Shin Osaka
- Mid -day depart for Airport
- My flight departs at 4.30pm

Sifu please comment n recommend changes.

Tokyo Disneyland got low season. You can refer to my Tips of the months Excel Helicopter ride. Around July are less people. So less people until like ghost town. Really depends luck.


Day 1 can visit Umeda Area for Dinner + Umeda Sky Building after dinner leisure time. Not far away from Shin-Osaka Station. [[Take Midosuji Line Metro]]

Day 2 Go very early morning. Must reach Fushimi Inari before 8am. Then Visit Kiyomizu -Dera. Last Kinkakuji. Dinner at Nishiki Market.
After Dinner, have a peaceful walk near Sanjo Station. Walk along river. Supper at Famous Pontocho Alley.

Day 3 From Osaka Namba Station take Kintetsu Nara Line to Nara. Make it Full Day. Dinner at Namba area.

Day 4 No problem. Follow your plan as you wish.

Day 5.....Please Reach Kansai Airport 3 Hours before your flight. 2 - 5pm are Kansai Airport most busiest time. Custom Q are extremely long.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Sep 2 2016, 04:38 PM

Anyone knows what will make you have to pay tax or ur items kena tahan by customs when buying stuffs from japan? I plan to buy some watches but the problem is, i have more than 10 watches in my to-buy-list.

Our group is planning to do some shopping spree in yodobashi on the last day

I'll be arriving at Haneda airport at night around 10:30pm. After imigresen and all those etc etc, which may take around an hour, do i still have train/bus transport access to shibuya tokyo?

Hi all sifu,

I have study the JR Yamatoji line (Kansai line) for 2 days.
I still dont understand this line.
My question is

1. JR Yamatoji line start at Kamo station,when reach shin-imamiya, then train go to Namba or tennoji?


TQ.

Yor chances to catch last train are minimum.
But still have Limosine Bus to Tokyo City.
You have to buy limosine bus ticket at counter first then only go line up at Bus stop.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Sep 2 2016, 06:27 PM

Thank you very much for the valuable advise.
Justwish to enquire further as regards to the 2nd day's itinerary. Is it possible for us to cover so much and
have supper in Kyoto because we are putting up in Osaka.

Really look forward to your comments and adviice.

This is a good question. This JR Yamatoji Line start from Kamo Station all the way down to Tennoji Station. Then It will share using the JR Loop Line to Shin Imamiya Station.
Most of JR Yamatoji Line Train stop at Shin Imamiya Station.
Only ''Yamatoji Rapid Service'' JR Yamatoji Line Train continue from Shin Imamiya to Imamiya Station. This mean ''Yamatoji Rapid Service'' train will be start from Kamo Station to Imamiya Station.
Only ''Rapid Service'' will reach Namba Station from Kamo Station.


It can be done. I done this way more than 200 times.
Last train leaving Kyoto Station to Shin Osaka Station are 00:15 [[JR Kyoto Line]]
Please Used Google Map. All Places start from Dinner to supper are very closed each other. All walking distant

Thank you very much. Your advice is of tremendous help to us. We faced a lot of hassle trying to draw up the itinerary.

Yes one last thing if you can oblige is the wifi connection in Osaka n Kyoto. We are considering whether to buy a sim card or rent a oocket Wi fi.
Actually we just need the bare minimum data to surf for locatons n direction.
Sifu your suggestion will be most appreciated.

Thank RegentCid for provide useful information...

I just have a qusetion in Kiyomizu dera, as i know, Kiyomizu dera cannot be reach by JR (unless stop at kyoto sation then walk 40 min).
I was found that theu are bus go to Kiyomizu Dera at kyoto sation.

The bus number are 100,202,206 & 207..
My question: Is that all these bus are cover by JR rail pass? I am not sure those bus are whether under JR?

THANK A LOT.

[quote=RegentCid,Sep 2 2016, 10:56 PM]
This is a good question. This JR Yamatoji Line start from Kamo Station all the way down to Tennoji Station. Then It will share using the JR Loop Line to Shin Imamiya Station.
Most of JR Yamatoji Line Train stop at Shin Imamiya Station.
Only ''Yamatoji Rapid Service'' JR Yamatoji Line Train continue from Shin Imamiya to Imamiya Station. This mean ''Yamatoji Rapid Service'' train will be start from Kamo Station to Imamiya Station.
Only ''Rapid Service'' will reach Namba Station from Kamo Station.


Thank for your reply.
Now I understand more on the Yamatoji line.

As I know, there are 4 train running at Yamatoji line (Yamatoji Rapid Service, Rapid Service, Direct Rapid Service and Local train).
I am probably stay in Namba for 3 night.

So, in order to departure and back to Namba, I only can use Rapid Service and Local train to Namba station??
By the way, is that really good idea to stay in Namba? ( I know Namba is famous with shopping and a lot shop).

Thank a lot for yours reply.....

can i confirm bout transit/mrt tat the earliest they operate is around 5am?

i check earliest shinkansen (hikari) is around 6.30am (nozomi at 6am). so gotta get there at that time.

First Please Quote all the post you want to reply and done under one post.
JR Rail Pass are useless in Tokyo , Kyoto , Osaka , Hakone , Kawaguchiko. So you cannot used JR Rail Pass at Kyoto Buses & Metro & train except JR one.
Yes, Namba are good choice. Happening places = noise.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Sep 3 2016, 09:25 PM

For kyoto, just use the icoca card / one-day bus pass is good enough, unless you are going to somewhere far enough or you are taking train for more than 6 times per day, then you just get Kansai Thru Pass.

I only find Kansai Thru Pass is worth it if I travel to Himeji and Kyoto area, but then I realize most of my time is spent on riding the train itself, not enjoying scenary.

First time going Japan this December for 8 days. How many days do you guys think is appropriate for Tokyo n Osaka? And where do you guys mainly recommend in Osaka (like recommended route from destination to another)? Thanks a tonne!