depends where are u going?...osaka or kyoto
there are limousine bus option BTW

Yes I get what you mean but it's not really that far.
Osaka to Kyoto on a JR train takes around 29 minutes and costs ¥560 one way so still doable.

It's only a half hour trip... so it's not too much of a hassle. If you can find a cheap accommodation in Osaka, it'll be well worth the half hour transport effort.

do your route research 1st
be aware there is no direct route from dotobori(namba) to kyoto station
u need to transfer once to shin-osaka station before going to kyoto station(based on google maps)

going japan with ANA this autumn. 12 days.

1. landing at Narita. what cheap transportation to go to Tokyo area?

2. is it worthy to skip kansai area and explore Tokyo only for 12 days? which area you recommend to explore Tokyo area?

3. is it worthy to skip USJ, Disneyland and DISNEYSEA??my son only 1 year old.

4. any free entrance area you recommend? I rike sightseeing like to watch leaves fall in the park etc.

sorry I am noob never go Japan before. dunno where to start. their transportation system look like very complicated.

The location on the Airbnb map is actually an approximate so imagine all the Airbnb located right at prime areas like dotonburi is not actually there. I had PM each owner for their location which are like 1-2 stations away.



In Osaka, I booked Ibis Hotel  for around RM330/night for 5 nights. Right opposite Dotonburi.



In kyoto, the hotel is right in the centre of Gion for around RM370/night for 7 nights.

depends where are u going?...osaka or kyoto
there are limousine bus option BTW

just take the Nankai Rapid β from KIX all the way till Namba, it's walking distance from Dotonbori, can get cheaper ticket if you purchase the ticket online (do remember to print the receipt for ticket exchange). Rapid β last train is at 11pm, the normal airport trains runs until 11:55pm (reach Namba at 12:39am).

1 day ah? Kansai area pass
Or use IC + bus pass

I also plan on doing the same as Chester stay at Osaka travel to Kyoto daily.

I thought doing so can save hassle & time packing and repacking. Furthermore checkout is morning in one hotel and 3 pm in the other hotel. 1/2 day pass already.

Some of the routes cannot be reached with bus pass 600 yen and need to top up money at the end of the trip. No issue with subway+bus pass.
Hahaha. How far can you go since you are bringing the entire family?
For us, we walked on average 15000 steps per day and some days over 20000 steps. These walks also included public transports in between, food we only ate normal meals - brunch and dinner. Sometimes tea breaks after long walks and skies turn dark earlier so not many places can be visited after 5 p.m., you see nothing basically. Shops close at 8.00 p.m. Also freezing cold now, Osaka was still OK but not other cities, very cold.

Food wise, yes we had better food. Even if we save for food, not like it can be compensated for other activities, because in a day you can only do that much.

If not spend on food, where else? Activities already planned and we still visited and paid for entrance fees. Shopping is on our own expenses, so that won't be counted.

I must admit we got sick of Japanese food after few days and had Chinese food, hotpot instead.
I bought jacket in Adidas Shinsaibashi and the staff taped nicely but can't say the same for Adidas in Rinku.

Yes, my previous passport (expired already) also has staples from my previous Japan trip.

Honestly, I don't see a point for them to do it. We are not doing refund anymore because it has been deducted when we purchase our stuff. It's really a waste of resources and creates more issues (like the sharing I posted earlier).

Heheh, Akihabara is a heaven for otakus ... especially shopping for hobby stuffs. But not necessary the cheapest, Nakano Broadway mall in Nakano is well-known also, plus Ikebokuro got some interesting hobbyist shops also, and my fren said Osaka prices are cheaper than Tokyo.  So, we've to spend many hours comparing prices among almost all the shops in Aki, plus window shopping, 1 or 2 days not enuf for us.  Chuo Dori is one of my favourite streets in Tokyo, so far. 

I concur with your fren ... among the cities/towns visited in Hokkaido, Biei is my fav.  Can describe the town as cute and quaint.  Maybe not for city lovers, Biei is just a small quiet town/village, but if I wouldn't mind living there.  Maybe don't expect it's as historical or unique as Kyoto; for me, it's an eye-pleasing place, streets are very organized, can see the town planning is very good, etc.

Biei is a member of The most beautiful villages in Japan Union.
https://utsukushii-mura.jp/
https://www.tsunagujapan.com/15-must-visit-...anese-villages/
[attachmentid=10373729]

Those who said must visit Japan every year, are really fans of Japan; not just tourist places but the food, culture, etc. ... can't cover all in one short trip.  Japanese cities skyline aren't that pretty, coz they can't build too fancy high rise buildings.  Japan country-side might not be the prettiest also, China got more prettier natures (bigger mah).  It's the combination of Japanese people (polite, even if forced to), safety, convenience, food, nature, cities, culture, etc. that made most wanna go back to Japan.

Overall, Tokyo trips still more memorable for me compared to Hokkaido, coz maybe I went during summer to Hokkaido (cheaper flights mah).  Hokkaido is more relaxing, less crowded.  Tokyo got much more things to see, and places to go.  But for food, I feel Hokkaido's sashimi/seafood is nicer (of course lah).
Still wiser to carry some yen, maybe few thousand yen, just in case need it before got chance to withdraw from ATM.  Activate your BigPay overseas usage first, else will fail.  And compare the local money changer rate if possible with estimated exchange rate + withdrawal fee.

I withdrew 80,000yen in July from airport 7-11 ATM, BigPay exchange rate was JPY100=RM3.8093, I got RM3,047.45 ... but if factor in RM10 fee, then the exchange rate was RM3.8218. 
Still got leftover yen notes from previous Japan trips, so I didn't change any locally, plus I didn't wanna bring too much yen notes in my wallet/bag from Malaysia.
If I were to go again, I'll still withdraw most of my budget thru ATM there, if difference between local money changer rate and BigPay is negligible. (not changing million yens  )

Hi guys, I just bought tickets for my kansai trip

I will be arriving late 9.10pm at KIX airport... is it possible to get to osaka that day itself or i will have to stay overnight in the airport. If i am able to go osaka that night which area is easier to access as i am trying to look for accomodation now.. planning to stay at namba or umeda

thanks bro.. i am still finding cheap accommodation in namba area