you can buy ICOCA in any station vending machine, but it's a normal design

if you want special design, pre-order from the website with ICOCA + Haruka
print out the confirmation, collect in the kansai airport JR station

Again I stress, it would be the app issue when you want to find location in Tokyo accurately. Already suggested you to use google map, as it is English app for you to understand. Japanese aren't good with English. You can't expect them to understand what you say and reply you in a proper manner. It's usually straight-toh, left, right when you ask for direction.

However you may stumble the tourist guide that are usually in their retirement age that speaks better English than most of the people around the cities. They are the key person you can look for when you lost your way. I stumble them around Ginza area, so I am not sure the areas their team are covering.

Flying this friday night!!!




If got any comments on the itinerary / if you can spot any impossible planning let me know ah ... still got time to change

You've got everything down~ Tokyo Station is nearby Imperial Palace - within walking distance. If you're done early, can always consider dropping by. Optionally,

In Asakusa, the must-eat for me is 天丼 (tendon) in Daikokuya 大黒屋. Just a recommendation.

Boleh tahan

Can try 治郎丸
This is one of my fav restaurant during my stay at Tokyo. I everyday have to take Seibu Train from Seibu Shinjuku Station.
Delicious grill meat plus restraurant dont have seat...standing grill meat. very fun & full of memory


For me, Asakusa must eat food are メンチカツ (Menchi Katsu)

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Feb 7 2018, 10:26 AM

Oooh thanks. Bookmark first and see how it goes next week.
Jiromaru you got visit their Akihabara outlet before? That one seems more convenient for me to late night jiak after maricar.

This post has been edited by deodorant: Feb 7 2018, 11:01 AM

Hi,

I plan to stay in Osaka and do day-trip to Kyoto for 2 days - is it advisable? I already purchased JR pass - I checked there is a bullet train from Shin-Osaka station to Kyoto station - takes about 15 minutes one way. So should be okay right? If normal train will take quite long. Anyone got experience on this and where is the best place to stay in Osaka?

Thanks.

kyoto many places to visit actually. if it doesn't favor your liking then 2 days definitely enough. stay a night there.

i booked airbnb room near shin-osaka station

Ah,　メンチカツ、think I came across the stall/ kiosk. I don't take beef, so probably that's why I skip it.
Daikokuya works as my comfort food, especially the 海老天丼。

Yeah might go kyoto for 3 days, just that lazy move around with luggages. So plan to just stay in Osaka and do day trip to kyoto daily using bullet train. Not sure if anyone does that ? or better to stay in kyoto>

Easy solution, put your luggage in Osaka station's locker for 2-3 days while you stay in Kyoto. Carry a small backpack or hand luggage with essentials for 2-3 days for Kyoto.

You don't need bullet train to get to Kyoto, just the normal train will do. It's only 30-40min away.

Didn't try Akihabara outlet before. Quality should be very similar.
Seibu Shinjuku Station branch are all my memory. Uni + Working at Japan period time.
After dinner then take Seibu Shinjuku Line balik.


Asakusa famous Menchi Katsu shop called 浅草メンチ
Cheap + delicious. This snack are my Asakusa No.1 food list.

wow, so detail itinerary

Hi, I already purchase 7 days JR Pass. Tokyo - Osaka- Kyoto -Tokyo. So thought of maximizing the usage by staying in Osaka (more nightlife) and do day trip for Kyoto visit via bullet train (shin-osaka - kyoto) about 15 mins. This plan okay?

as long as you have time to spare, definitely ok

Sure can, but Kyoto for day trip sounds really short. And 7 days to cover all these area is really... tiring.

Suggest you come up with itinerary then get forumers to take a look.

Its gonna be very rush for a day trip. Most attraction need use bus plus waiting time and walking in, the crowd.
Unless you plan to touch and go. For eg, Fushimi Inari Shrine will take hours to walk up and come down. Arashimaya attractions like Scenic train ride or the boat ride will also take 2 hours.

my preference is make kyoto as base and do day trips to places like nara / kobe, osaka can stay a night as well

but 7 days to 3 main cities...good luck

Maybe he has a longer trip, X days in tokyo, and then 7d dedicated for kansai leh.

It's okay but you might feel 'sien' commuting back and forth on trains everyday. plus, I assume you are staying around Namba? So you need to take another train to go to Shin-Osaka