[Japan 2016] 7D6N Osaka - Kyoto - Nara - Kobe Trip Itinerary + Overview
By Elin Chow - Wednesday, December 07, 2016
Japan has always been on the top of our travel bucket list for years. But my husband and I have been postponing our travel plans to Japan due to the high cost of traveling. For years, we have been pushing back our plans to visit Japan just because people told us that it is crazily expensive.
We visited Japan for the first time this autumn and fell in love with the country the moment our plane landed. Japan has become my favorite country to visit and I could not find a reason not to love the country. We have high expectations before our trip, which is not a good thing because usually, it can lead to greater disappointments. But Japan did not disappoint. In fact, it went way beyond our expectations!
1. [Japan 2019] 9D8N Tokyo - Kyoto - Osaka Trip Itinerary + Overview
While most foreign visitors head straight for Tokyo, we decided to focus our trip on the Kansai region instead. The Kansai region (also known as the Kinki region) consists of seven prefectures - Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Shiga. For this trip, we will be visiting the cities of Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe.
Transportation
Malaysia Airlines + Japan Airlines
I booked our flight from Kuala Lumpur to Osaka 8 months before our. trip. After searching and comparing flights with Skyscanner, we decide to fly with Japan Airlines this time.
We intended to book our flight with Air Asia initially because we assumed that it was always the cheapest. But surprisingly, it was not. After adding in the charges for extra baggage, seat selection and in-flight meals and beverages, the cheapest flight on Air Asia actually end up costing more than the cheapest flight on Japan Airlines.
From Kuala Lumpur to Osaka, we travelled on Japan Airlines code share flight operated by Malaysia Airlines. But unfortunately, that was a very disappointing experience. Seats were cramped and uncomfortable with limited leg room. Service was lacklustre and food was awful. They ran out of one of the meal choices and I was "forced" to accept the only choice that was left.
But the windows will never go completely dark. It was great to be able to still see out the window even when the window is at its darkest setting. This is probably the only flight that I can fly without having the sun shining directly in my eyes during take-off and landing. Other than that, we are surprised that the toilet is equipped with a Washlet!
From Tokyo to Kuala Lumpur, it was a 7 hours flight. Immediately after take off, warm towel, light snacks, bread and drinks were offered. About an hour after take off, we were served lunch. Food was acceptable and are served hot and nice. We get to choose between two options - beef rice or chicken spaghetti. Between the two, I chose beef rice, which comes with a piece of fish, potato salad, fruits and a bottled water. After our meal, we were served Haagen-Dazs ice cream for dessert.
Generally, we found the flight attendants very friendly, attentive and professional. In-flight entertainment was also adequate with a great selection of latest movies. Overall, we have a very wonderful and pleasant experience flying with Japan Airlines. I really look forward to my next flight with Japan Airlines!
Below shows the breakdown of the expenses for our week-long trip to Japan. I have recorded and tracked every of our expenses in a little notebook, so putting together a detailed cost breakdown of our trip was not too difficult. Hopefully this will give you a rough idea how much money you will need for your trip to Japan.
For our week-long trip to Japan, we have spent a total of RM 9,701.30. If you exclude shopping, that will be RM 8,275.50, which works out an average of RM 4,100 per pax. Well, obviously, Japan is not a budget travel destination, but it is also not really that expensive to travel around, especially considering the fact that we actually made very little attempt to travel on a budget. Although slightly over our initial budget, we both agreed that it was well-worth every penny spent.
Of course, it is possible to travel to Japan on a much lower budget than ours. But again, it depends greatly on your travel styles and your preference. Please keep in mind that no two travel budgets are the same. Depending on your personal preferences, you might end up spending more or less for your trip. Fluctuating exchange rates could have a huge impact on your travel budget because it can either help you get great bargains or make your trip surprisingly expensive.
Accommodation
Accommodation are very expensive in Japan, especially when you are visiting the peak season. Price of typical 3-star business hotels generally range from RM 500 to RM 700 per night. Thus, finding the right accommodation to stay in Japan can be a daunting challenge, especially when you are on a limited budget.
During our 7 days stay in Japan, we stayed mainly in Airbnb apartments in both Kyoto and Osaka. Both the apartments were very clean and conveniently located within 10 minutes walk from major train stations. Our stay in Airbnb apartment has not only helped us to save about RM 1,000 on accommodation, but also gave us a chance to live like a local.
For our last night in Japan, we have no choice but to stay at Osaka Air Terminal Hotel located with Osaka Itami Airport as we have an early flight to catch. This was also the only hotel we have stayed in Japan.
Airbnb has become my top choice of accommodation in Japan because it is a cheaper option to hotels. This is definitely a great way to save money if you are traveling on a budget.
Transportation
Transportation is one of the most expensive aspect when it comes to traveling in Japan. You can travel to almost anywhere easily and quickly by trains, bus or taxi. However, the most efficient and convenient way to travel around Japan is by train. Just like any other foreign tourists visiting Japan, we relied heavily on trains to get around.
Trains in Japan are clean, comfortable, reliable and always on time. We did not purchase the Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) as recommended because it is not worth buying. As of October 2016, an ordinary 7-day JR Pass will cost 29,110 Yen (about RM 1,173.13) per adult. However, we only spent a total of RM 742.33 on transportation, which works out to be RM 371.17 per person.
Typically, the JR Pass will only pay itself off if we are planning to make multiple journeys (for example, Kyoto-Tokyo-Osaka) on the Shinkansen (Bullet train). But unfortunately, this is not the case for us. Since we are limiting our Japan trip to just four cities ( Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe) of the Kansai region, the cost of the JR Pass and regional passes will not pay off.
Food
We never scrimp on food when we are traveling and we love everything we ate in Japan. Depending on your choices, eating in Japan can be an expensive affair. We ate so much on our trip and splurge on an expensive Kobe beef lunch and fresh seafood dinner - not cheap, but worth every penny we spent.
While eating is not cheap in Japan, it is probably not as expensive as what you have imagined. We try to eat inexpensively like a local most of the time when we were traveling in Japan. This is also how we managed to keep our travel cost down. However, eating cheaply in Japan does not mean you have to scrimp on meals, starve or survive on convenience stores onigiri rice balls. There are plenty of delicious and cheap eats available in Japan if you know where to find them.
There are lots of noodle bars selling huge hot bowls of Ramen, Udon and Soba all around Japan. It is one of the cheapest place to find cheap food in Japan. A bowl of noodle would cost between 500 Yen to 1,000 Yen, which usually includes a cup of hot tea or ice water.
Other than noodle bars, you will be amazed by the variety of cheap food options that you will find in all convenience stores too. There are a great selection of hot and cold bento boxes (a mix of rice, meat and vegetables), onigiri rice balls, snacks, sandwiches and even trays of sushi - all available at a fairly cheap price!
In total, we spent almost RM 2,000 on food and beverages, averaging RM 285.71 per day for two persons. Of course, it is possible to spent lesser on food, but with some many delicacies to try, we prefer to have a decent budget for that.
Pocket Wifi
In Japan, we rely heavily on Hyperdia and Google Map for directions. In order to access to Hyperdia and Google Map while on the go, we will need a stable and reliable internet connection. This is also why we decided to rent a Pocket Wifi for our Japan trip.
We rented our Pocket Wifi from Travel Recommends for RM 13/day, which totaled up RM 104 for 8 days. The Pocket Wifi comes with a red pouch with charging cable and universal travel adapter, and was usable the moment I landed in Kansai International Airport in Osaka.
Having a Pocket Wifi allowed us to stay connected with our friends and family and access to Hyperdia and Google Map at all times. Connection is fast and reliable with an impressive battery life of 10 - 12 hours (depending on usage).
Entrance Fee
While some attractions in Japan are completely free to enter, others charge an entrance fee, usually ranging from 300 Yen to 1,000 Yen. Although it was not outrageously expensive, entrance fees can add up quickly to a considerable amount.
For our trip, we have limited our sightseeing to free attractions such as temples, shrines, gardens and wet markets instead of towers and theme park that often charge hefty admission fees. This has helped us to save a lot of money on entrance fees. The only attraction we paid to enter is Kiyomizu Dera Temple in Kyoto. It costs us 400 Yen per pax.
Misc
We usually leave our luggage with the concierge after we checked out of a hotel so that we do not have to carry them around. But unfortunately, this is often not an option if we stay in an Airbnb apartment. Most of the Airbnb hosts are not able to hold our luggage after we checked out. As a result, we have to temporary store our luggage at the baggage storage room in the train station Most of the baggage services in Japan charge somewhere between 500 Yen to 1,000 Yen for each item per day.
- Baggage Storage Service at Kyoto Station
- Baggage Storage Service at OCAT, Osaka
8D6N Osaka - Kyoto - Nara - Kobe Trip Itinerary
The below shows the itinerary we have planned and covered during the 7 days we spent in Japan. Hopefully, this will be useful to anyone planning your first trip to Japan.
As usual, all the places on the itinerary below will be slowly linked to individual blog posts that will follow by in the next months. So be sure follow me on Facebook or Twitter to get the latest updates on my 7 days adventures in Japan!
Our itinerary includes the following:
Osaka > Kyoto > Osaka > Nara > Osaka > Kobe > Osaka > Tokyo
As mentioned earlier, we will focus our trip on the Kansai region, where we visited the main cities of Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe. The four cities are all located with close proximity to each other and are well-connected by the rail network in Japan. Basically, we spent 2 nights in Kyoto, and 4 nights in Osaka, which we used as a base to explore the nearby cities of Nara and Kobe.
Day 1: Osaka / Kyoto
Osaka > Kyoto > Osaka > Nara > Osaka > Kobe > Osaka > Tokyo
As mentioned earlier, we will focus our trip on the Kansai region, where we visited the main cities of Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe. The four cities are all located with close proximity to each other and are well-connected by the rail network in Japan. Basically, we spent 2 nights in Kyoto, and 4 nights in Osaka, which we used as a base to explore the nearby cities of Nara and Kobe.
Day 1: Osaka / Kyoto
Kuala Lumpur International Airport > Kansai International Airport > Kyoto Station (By JR Haruka Train) > Check In Kyoto Airbnb > Fushimi Inari Taisha > Nishiki Market
Day 2: Kyoto
Kyoto Airbnb > Kyoto Station > Arashiyama (Tenryuji Temple + Togetsukyo Bridge + Bamboo Groves) > Uji > Nishiki Market
Day 3: Kyoto / Osaka
Check Out Kyoto Airbnb > Baggage Storage at Kyoto Station + Kiyomizudera Temple > Yasaka Shrine > Maruyama Park > Osaka-Namba Station > Check In Osaka Airbnb > Dotonbori + Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcades
Day 4: Osaka / Nara
Day 2: Kyoto
Kyoto Airbnb > Kyoto Station > Arashiyama (Tenryuji Temple + Togetsukyo Bridge + Bamboo Groves) > Uji > Nishiki Market
Check Out Kyoto Airbnb > Baggage Storage at Kyoto Station + Kiyomizudera Temple > Yasaka Shrine > Maruyama Park > Osaka-Namba Station > Check In Osaka Airbnb > Dotonbori + Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcades
Day 4: Osaka / Nara
Osaka Airbnb > Osaka-Namba Station > Nara Park + Higashimuki Shotengai Shopping Street > Osaka-Namba Station > Dotonbori + Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcades
Day 5: Osaka / Kobe
Osaka Airbnb > Osaka-Namba Station > Nankinmachi / Kobe Chinatown + Motomachi Shopping Street > Meriken Park + Kobe Harborland > Kobe Beef Lunch at Steakland > Osaka-Namba Station > Dotonbori + Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcades
Day 6: Osaka
Day 5: Osaka / Kobe
Osaka Airbnb > Osaka-Namba Station > Nankinmachi / Kobe Chinatown + Motomachi Shopping Street > Meriken Park + Kobe Harborland > Kobe Beef Lunch at Steakland > Osaka-Namba Station > Dotonbori + Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcades
Check Out Osaka Airbnb > Osaka-Namba Station > Baggage Storage at OCAT > Minoo Park > Kuromon Ichiba Market > Osaka-Namba Station > Itami Airport > Check In Osaka AirTerminal Hotel
Day 7: Osaka / Tokyo / Kuala Lumpur
Day 7: Osaka / Tokyo / Kuala Lumpur
Check Out Osaka Air Terminal Hotel > Narita International Airport > Kuala Lumpur International Airport
So, basically, this is my itinerary for my 7 days trip to Japan. I will be posting individual posts about the places we visited in Japan soon. So, be sure to follow me on my Facebook or Twitter to get the latest updates on my 7 days Japan adventures! Also, do not forget to share my blog posts with your family and friends if you find them helpful. In the meantime, you might also want to check My Wanderlust page for some of my other travel adventures.
So, basically, this is my itinerary for my 7 days trip to Japan. I will be posting individual posts about the places we visited in Japan soon. So, be sure to follow me on my Facebook or Twitter to get the latest updates on my 7 days Japan adventures! Also, do not forget to share my blog posts with your family and friends if you find them helpful. In the meantime, you might also want to check My Wanderlust page for some of my other travel adventures.
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92 comments
hi elin, as i am planning my japan trip at the moment, i found your blog is extremely helpful because this is clear and easy to understand. thanks so much. by the way, i m thinking of visiting the central fish market in osaka. understand that the fish bidding activities there start around 4am. hence, i m just wondering what will be the best transfer option to travel there. let me know if you have a thought on it
ReplyDeleteregards
jane
Hi Jane,
DeleteThanks for reading and great to hear that you find my blog extremely helpful. The central fish market is located about 10 minutes walk away from Tamagawa station on subway Sennichimae line. But the earliest train will be at 5 am. I believe the best option will be to take a taxi. Or if possible, try to stay at a hotel or airbnb apartment that is located near the market.
Hi Lin. for the cost RM9,701.30, is it only you or with your partner? Will be Japan on this December. Good review btw. Really appreciate your guide.
ReplyDeleteHi Faizull,
DeleteThe cost is for two persons. Hope this will help you to plan for your trip.
Well-written review, will be using it as a guide on places to visit in these 4 cities soon, thank you!
ReplyDeleteRgds,
Ana
Hi Ana,
DeleteHope you will have an enjoyable trip.
Hi there. I was just wondering, is there any particular reason why you flew back to KL from Tokyo instead of just straight from Osaka?
ReplyDeleteHi, I flew back from Tokyo because there was no direct flight from Osaka to KL. Japan Airlines require a transfer at Narita International Airport.
DeleteHi,there
ReplyDeleteWould like to know did you buying any card for transportation? Or you just travel place by place by purchase ticket everytime?
I will traveling on osaka, kyoto , nara and kobe too
Hi,
DeleteI only purchased the Haruka + ICOCA card for my trip. Used the Haruka ticket to travel from Kansai International Airport to Kyoto. The ICOCA card I used to travel from place to place. You just need to top up the ICOCA when the balance is low.
Hi Elin,
ReplyDeleteTq for the information. I will traveling to these 4 places too. Which Airbnb that you stayed in? Can I have the information as well? How to do the booking? Tq
Hi Joyce,
DeleteI stayed in two different Airbnb apartments for my trip. One in Kyoto and the other in Osaka. I have already included the reviews in this post. Look for Kyoto Airbnb and Osaka Airbnb. In both reviews, I have included the links for the apartments. You will need to book the apartments via Airbnb website.
Hi Elin,
ReplyDeleteWould like to check with you on Nishiki Market. As you mentioned that some of the shops close on Wednesday & Sunday. Just wondering if there a lot of shops was close on Sunday? If there are a lot of shops that close on Sunday, then i might need to change my schedule and try to squeeze this in on Saturday =(
look forward to your reply!
Thank yuo so much!!
Hi,
DeleteI believe there are not a lot of shops that close on Sunday. When I visited on Sunday, most of the shops were open, except some.
Hi Elin,
ReplyDeleteAWESOME!! Thank you so so much for your reply! Now i can plan better for my visit while im in KYOTO =）
Hi Elin
ReplyDeleteYour "sharing" is very clear and informative. Good write-up! I am thinking of visiting Kyoto & Nara this autumn. Will definitely read again your blog .
Hi Erin
ReplyDeleteLove your blog. Have added it to my favorite . Need advise on this, I. Planning to go to Kyoto from Kansai, then stay at kyoto for maybe 2 days. From Kyoto, will head to Osaka , stay for ard 3 days at This Osaka. Then from Osaka, back to Kansai . I have a suica card with me from my previous trip in Tokyo. May I know in my case, am I suppose to buy the icocca card+haruka card or do I just buy the haruka card alone? Advisable to get a round trip ?
Please assist and have a nice day.
Hi,
DeleteThanks for adding my blog to your favorite. I heard that Suica card can only be used on JR line in the Kansai region, but I am not sure about this. It is safer to purchase the ICOCA card and you can bring it home to keep as a souvenir. If you want to save some money, you can buy the one way Haruka ticket to Kyoto and take the Airport Limousine bus from Osaka back to Kansai. If not, you can buy the ICOCA card + Haruka card round trip.
Thanks a lot Elin.
ReplyDeleteHi Elin,
ReplyDeleteI'm planning a 9 days trip trip to Kyoto, Osaka and Nara....don't know should I include Kobe as well....your blog is really awesome, very informative and useful for us who have never been to Japan...thank you so much...
Hi May Ching,
DeleteGreat to hear that my post is useful in helping you plan your trip. If you have no particular place that you want to visit or food that you want to eat in Kobe, you can consider skipping it. I visited Kobe mainly for Kobe beef. Enjoy Japan. You will love it!
Hi Elin
ReplyDeleteA very detailed write up that certainly, aid any tourist for travel to these places of interest. Thumbs up for the great and informative post. Your effort is very much appreciated. Ko
Hi elin....I was just wondering should I buy d haruka card round trip...I will be traveling to Kyoto from kansai airport and stay for 4 days and then to Osaka for 4 days with a day trip to Nara.
ReplyDeleteHi, it depends on your budget. You can choose to buy the Haruka card round trip if your budget permits. If you want to save some money, I suggest that you buy the Haruka card from Kansai to Kyoto and take the JR train from Kyoto back to Osaka.
DeleteHi elin, i plan to travel on December. May i know where you buy the air ticket? skyscanner? can trust it?
ReplyDeleteHi, I only use Skyscanner to search for the cheapest flight. I bought my flight ticket from Japan Airline offical website.
DeleteHi Elin. So much relief to finally see someone who find JR passes overpriced. Was it troublesome to get around without one though? Some websites mentioned you need to go through some hassles to get around due to the complicated train system in Japan. Please advise.
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon,
DeleteIt is not troublesome at all to get around without the JR Pass. There is really no point buying one, especially when you are traveling around in Osaka and Kyoto. The JR trains are not very convenient in both cities. So, if you do not intend to use the Shinkansen, the JR pass would not pay itself off.
I would suggest that you buy an Icoca card instead. You can top it up and use it to travel on different trains. If this is your first time visiting Japan, the train system will seem complicated to you. But once you understand how it works, it is not as complicated as it looks.
Hi Elin,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, thank you for your well-detailed information. I gained so many knowledges about your osaka-kyoto-nara-kobe trip!
I will be going to Kyoto from Kansai Airport for 4 days and Osaka+Nara for the next 4 days,I just want to ask, does this ICOCA card work just like Touch n Go, means that covers all public transportations including JR and Limited Express too for my osaka-kyoto-nara tip? (except for bullet train)
Also,I am confused whether I should buy the ICOCA & Haruka card to travel from Kansai Airport to Kyoto+Osaka+Nara OR buy the Kansai Thru Pass ( 3 or 2 days) or buy both?
Hi Amira.
DeleteYes, the ICOCA card works just like the Touch n Go. You can top it up at the machines at the train station and use it on all major trains - JR, Kintetsu, Hanshin and etc. It can be used on all normal and Limited Express trains in the Kansai region.
I recommend buying ICOCA & Haruka card to travel from Kansai to Kyoto and take the JR Limited Express from Kyoto to Osaka. You might want to check out all my individual posts for my Japan trip for more details. It is not necessary to buy the Kansai Thru Pass. I find it expensive and waste of money too.
Dear Elin, your blog post is amazing! Love the details that you shared. I'm planning for a 5D4N trip to Kyoto-Osaka and was totally overwhelmed and worried that I might not be able to cover the places which I wanted to visit. After reading your itinerary, I felt more relived. May I know for the Haruks card, did you manage to get the foreigner discount at Kansai airport? I read that you had to show proof in order to obtain the tourist discount. Also, for the nishiki market, what time did u reach? I read that most shops are closed by 5:30pm. I'm planning to visit Uji -> Inari-> Nishiki and am worried that I might not be able to reach Nishiki before the shops closed.
ReplyDeleteHi, I booked my Haruka card online about 3 weeks before my trip. I believe I paid the foreigner price for it because I am required to show my passport when I collect the Haruka card at Kansai Airport. You might want to check out my "Kansai to Kyoto" blog post for more details.
ReplyDeleteI reached Nishiki market at around 4 pm. But I visited the market on the next day again. If u don't plan to climb to the top at Inari, I think you should have enough time, provided that you start early that day.
Hi
ReplyDeleteThanks for your infor and i personally like your blogs very much. Since 4 of us plan to visit Osaka next month for 8days 7 night, appreaciate that you can give yr advise on few matters. We are depart n arrive both at Kansai airport and we plan to stay as your itinery first 2 night at Kyoto and 5 nights at Osaka
1. Shall we buy 2 way Haruda n ICoCa card
2. Besides cover kobe n nara from Osaka as based, is it possible to cover beyond 4 cities such as Nagoya?
3. Do we need to buy something like Osaka 1/ 2 day amasing cards for 24 dollar through Klooks?
4. Some friends want to visit USJ for about Rm300, but i am not interested at all, what is your view for USJ?...thanks a lot
Hi,
DeleteThanks for liking my blog, and to answer your questions:
1. You can buy 2 way Haruka ticket. It depends greatly on your budget. If you wish to save some money, you can buy 1 way Haruka ticket from Kansai to Kyoto and take the airport limousine bus from Osaka to Kansai. Otherwise, you can buy 2 way Haruka ticket from Kansai to Kyoto and Osaka to Kansai.
2. Since you only have 8 days (or in fact, I believe 7 days since you will spent probably a day flying), I would not recommend squeezing in too much cities. Nagoya is quite far from Osaka. You might want to save it for your next trip.
3. I would not recommend buying Osaka 1/2 day amazing card. You can travel around Osaka with ICOCA card. I believe it will be cheaper than buying the 1/2 day amazing card. But then, it also depends on your itinerary.
4. I wanted to visited USJ initially. But time is really limited, plus I rather spend the RM 300 on food than on theme park. As you can see, I spent a huge part of my budget on food.
hello elin, do you think 8days 7nights is enough to cover Osaka-Kyoto-nara-kobe-nagoya?
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't think it's enough. Even 7 days 6 nights is not enough for me to fully explore Osaka-Kyoto-Nara-Kobe.
DeleteThis is really a wonderful blog. Photos you shared in this blog is really looking amazing and nicely clicked. Thanks for sharing your experience and photos with us. keep posting like this.
ReplyDeletehi Elin,
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading thru your blog. Do you walk a lot during your trips ? Ps: I have legs problem
Hi,
DeleteYes, I walked a lot during this trip. About 25k steps everyday. I probably walked about 10 hours for each day.
Hi Elin,
ReplyDeleteI would like to know how is the pocket wifi by Travel Recommends. Is the coverage good and do you know which telco Travel Recommend is using like Docomo or Softbank?This is wonderful info for my upcoming Japan trip by the way. Thanks in advance!
Hi,
DeleteThe Pocket wifi by Travel Recommend work great for me. I have no problem connecting to the internet even when I was traveling in the rural areas. But I could not remember which telco Travel Recommend is using.
Hi Elin :) I enjoyed reading all your japan posts! I will be spending my first 4 days at tokyo then another 3 days at kyoto and two days at osaka then back to tokyo on the last day. Is it worth the money to get the 7 days JR pass in my case?
ReplyDeleteHi Charmaine,
DeleteI am happy to hear that you enjoyed my Japan posts. I think the JR Pass will be worth the money in the case if you use the Shinkansen to travel from Tokyo to Kyoto to Osaka to Tokyo.
HI, Elin , your blogs is really great. Just wondering alot of people is travelling from Kansai to Kyoto first, than only from Kyoto to Osaka than back to Kansai. Is it because there is much convenience way or time saving from Kansai directly heading to Kyoto ? Thanks in advance for the info.
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteYes, it is more cost saving and time saving to travel from Kansai to Kyoto then to Osaka. This is because you will flying back home from Kansai. So it will better if you make Osaka as your last stop
Hi Elin, Thanks for your update. Very informative indeed. Will be travelling with my 2 kids to Osaka- Nara - Kyoto this August. Appreciate some advise on this:-
ReplyDelete1) Where should I get the ICOCA and Haruka Pass ? Can I purchase it online or can get it at the counter at Kansai airport?
2) Any idea if my 4 years old kid need to purchase any ticket for the transportation?
Please advise. Thanks
Hi Pooi Wan,
Delete1. You can reserve the ICOCA and Haruka online and collect it at JR office in Kansai airport. It is more convenient to reserve online, but if you do not want to, it is okay also. Reserving them online help to save you some trouble and time when you collect them at Kansai
2. From what I know, children under 5 years old can ride for free, as long as they are sharing the same seat with the adult.
Dear Elin,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your reply.. Hopefully the weather is not as HOT as Malaysia since I will be travelling there next week. Slightly worry because we do so much outdoor sight seeing like Nara Park, Osaka Castle, and Kyoto area.. Wish us luck!! Thanks and keep up the good work of your blog :)
Hi Pooi Wan,
DeleteI heard that summer in Japan is hotter than in Malaysia. Hopefully you will lucky. Enjoy your trip to Japan :)
What flight do you take to Kansai?Direct flight or need transit?
ReplyDeleteWhat's d best way to travel to/from airport.
Tks.
Hayley
I have listed all the details of my flight in this post. I took Japan Airlines. It was a dirext flight from KL to Kansai. But for my journey home, I need to transit at Tokyo from Itami airport. The best way to travel to and from airport is by the Haruka train. But it depends on your itinerary too.
DeleteHi Elin,
ReplyDeleteI find your blog really interesting and easy to go. But may I know is it worth it to buy a Kansai Thru Pass to go to all of these places? Or I should just get the Osaka/Kyoto Sightseeing pass? Because I will only be staying in Osaka, and I plan to go Kyoto and nara for a day trip from Osaka.. help ><""
Thanks,
Jing
Hi Jing,
DeleteYou might want to work out the cost and decide whether it is worth to get the pass or pay the fare as you go. Personally, I feel that the passes are not worth it because they are usually not going to pay off. You can travel around Kansai with just an ICOCA card which you can easily top up at the machines at any train stations.
HI Elin,
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this blog on you travel to Kansai region. My wife & I will be going to Kyoto-Osama in late Oct for 8D7N, well actually more like 7D7N since we will arrive KIX at night. What is your average fare per person per trip from one tourist location to the next station (example, Kyoto station to Nishiki or Kyoto Station to Gion-Shijo? Thanks
BD.
Hi BD,
DeleteIts really hard to say. I believe the fare is calculated based on distance. I suggest that you check it out on Hyperdia.com. The website will help you to calculate the actual fare from one station to another. You can choose the best route for your travel from the website as well.
4 days Kansai west Jr paas is worth for trip to nara,kyoto,osaka and kobe.
ReplyDeleteFor me, it is not worth. If you book this, make sure you use the pass in 4 days.
ReplyDeleteHi Elin,
ReplyDeleteI happen to saw your blog on Osaka/Kyoto/Nara/Kobe blog while planning my trip to Japan. It provides a lot of information in helping me plan my trip. Thanks!
May I know which date did you travel in order to see the autumn leaves. Can we still see autumn leaves on the 1st week of Dec?
Hi,
DeleteI visited on the 19th Nov to 26th Nov 2016. Some of the autumn leaves have already start to become brown. I believe part of them will start to fall off in the beginning of Dec. If you are lucky, you might still be able to see them on the 1st week of Dec.
Hi Elin,
ReplyDeleteVery impressed with your Japan blog and had provide me with alot of helpful tips when coming to planning. Hope my trip will turn out as planned. TQVM.
Dear Elin,
ReplyDeleteMe & my partner going to Osaka next year in May. I found your blog after booking with Air Asia. I'm from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah by the way.
We are planning to cover Tokyo as well with our 7D6N trip. I'm not sure a day trip Osaka-Tokyo-Osaka is worth. We are planning to travel to Tokyo by bullet train. Do you have an idea how long is the travel period by bullet train from Osaka to Tokyo?
And another thing is, the pocket wifi booking online. Once you booked the pocket wifi, they will deliver it to you or you claim it once you touch down Kansai airport?
I really glad that I manage to read your blog in my searching what to do or visit in Osaka.
Tracey.
Dear Elin,
ReplyDeleteI found your article was nice and easy to understand. Thanks for it so that I can have an idea with my next year trip to Osaka.
My name is Tracy by the way. Me & my partner going to travel to Osaka next year May. We have booked our air ticket with Air Asia from Kota Kinabalu-KL-Kansai.
We plan to include Tokyo in our 7D6N trip to Osaka. I'm not sure whether 1 day trip (Osaka-Tokyo-Osaka) is okay. We were planning to travel with bullet train. Do you have any idea how long does it take to travel from Osaka to Tokyo by bullet train?
Another thing is about the pocket wifi, once you booked online they will send it to you or you claim once you touch down Kansai airport?
Thanks,
Tracy.
Hi Tracy,
DeleteSo sorry for the late reply. I think I have missed out your comment! From Osaka to Tokyo, it will take about 2 and a half hours by bullet train. As pocket wifi, you can either opt to have it send it to you (for a fee) or collect at KLIA or KLIA2. But since you are flying from Kota Kinabalu, you can only opt to have it send it to you.
Elin
I would like to give you a thumb up for sharing for whatever you posted on your blog. Is like a sincere conversation to a friend and feel good.
ReplyDeleteKeep it up, not all people like to share sincerely of what they thoughts.
Again, thank you!
Hi Elin, Noticed you mentioned you did not get the JR pass. But did you get any of the regional pass? My itinerary is about the same as yours. Is Nara worth a visit? I am thinking of replacing Nara with another destination, but have not decided where. If you were given a choice, where would you suggest? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Peter,
DeleteNope, I did not get any regional pass because I feel that it is not worth the price I pay. Personally, I love Nara very much. It is a very relaxing place to spend a day at. If I could, I would like to visit Nara again. I would drop Kobe rather than Nara. Kobe is a boring city. Nothing really much to see. There are a lot of places I would like to visit in Kansai. But I have not done much research on them yet
I don't fancy big cities as well. Maybe I should just drop Kobe too. Is Nara just about the deer? I have those feelings that the passes may not worth the price too. Thanks for info.
DeleteNara is like a super huge garden with thousands of free roaming deers and temples. If you like to stroll aimlessly around and being surrounded by greens, this will be a very nice place.
DeleteHi Elin,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the extremely useful information! It is super helpful for me to prepare my itinerary for my trip end of this year :)
Regards,
Mashi
Hi Elin,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is very helpful.We will be visiting Osaka on February 13-21, 2018. Since it is still winter, is it ok to visit nara, kyoto and kobe? Can you give a piece of advise on what to wear during those days? Thank you.
Regards
ETR
Hi ETR,
DeleteNara,Kyoto and Kobe can be visit at any time of the year. It is quite cold in Japan during winter time. I will advice that you have a thick scarf with you. Do wear a few layers of clothes to keep yourself warm instead of wearing just a thick coat.
Hi Elin,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is so detail. I would like to check for the ICOCA card can be purchased in osaka when we arrive? And it can be used to travel to kobe,kyoto and nara?
Thanks and regards
Alice
Hi Alice,
DeleteYes, you can purchase ICOCA card at Kansai Airport. It can be used anywhere in Japan
Ola Elin,
ReplyDeleteI´m Daniel. Your blog is very useful and detailed.
We are going to visit Kyoto, Osaka, Nara & Kobe for 11D10N. Could you please recommend where should we spend more time at?
Thank you & regards.
Ola Elin,
ReplyDeleteI´m Daniel. Your blog is amazing and detailed. Good Job!
We are going to visit Kyoto, Osaka, Nara & Kobe, for 11D10N, by following your itineary. Could you please advise where is worth spending for the extra days?
Thank you.
Hi,
DeleteIf I have more time, I would love to spend more days in Kyoto and Osaka and probably, visit other prefectures in kansai. Some of the prefectures I would love to visit would be Mie and Wakayama.
Thank you Elin. I´m sorry for late reply.
DeleteI will look into spending more time in the places you mentioned. If you have any particulars places, please let me know.
Hi Elin,
ReplyDeletelove your blog! I will be going to Osaka for 10 days. Do you think 3D2N in Kyoto is enough? How about Nara & Kobe? Does it worth to spend a night there or day trip is more than enough? please advise thanks!
Hi,
DeleteYou can consider staying longer in Kyoto if you would like to explore off the beaten track. I love Nara, but I feel that day trip is more than enough. I do not really like Kobe because it was a little boring. I would rather spend more time in Osaka and Kyoto, or probably visit other prefectures in Kansai.
Thanks for your info Elin, it's really helpful. I am planning to head directly from Kansai to Kyoto first, than only from Kyoto to Osaka, however, I will only be arriving at Kansai Airport at night ard 9.30pm. Do you think it is still a good idea to head straight to Kyoto at such a late hours? what transport would you recommend then?
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteYou can take the Haruka train from Kansai to Kyoto or a bus. The train is definitely faster than the bus.
Hi Elin,
ReplyDeleteWhat do you recommend for food wise during your trip?
Thank you for the detailed information on your blog.
Hi George,
DeleteJapanese food are generally good. We ate a lot of ramen and Udon during our trip. These are must eat for me.
Hi Elin,
ReplyDeleteFantastic and very useful blog. I will be doing 12d11n KIX-Kyoto-Osaka-Nara-Kobe. Should I do Himeji as well? Should I buy the 5d kansai wide area pass or just go with the ICOCA?
Thank you.
Hi,
DeleteIf you time, I will recommend going to Himeji as well. I have to give it up because we have limited time. For us, ICOCA is good enough. The pass does not pay off.
Hi from Hyogo, Japan.
ReplyDeleteI live in Amagasaki, Hyogo. Amagasaki is close to Osaka and Kobe as well.
It was my great pleasure you had a good time in Kansai and introduced your memories here.
I am going to relocate from Kansai to KL for work.
Hi,
DeleteYes, I have a great time in Kansai and hope to visit it again. I love Japan very much. Very clean and orderly country and well-mannered people. Hope you will enjoy your time in KL too.
Hi Elin, I'm going to Osaka , kyoto and nara next month. I'm planning to add shirahama and wakayama into the list. If I'm going to shirahama do I need to purchase kansai wide area pass or using icoca it's enough?
ReplyDeleteThanks . :)
Hi,
DeleteI am not sure because I have not been there. You might want to work out the cost of travelling by using Hyperdia.com and decide whether it is worth getting a kansai wide area pass. I believe it will be cheaper to travel with an ICOCA card than purchasing a pass.
Hi Elin
ReplyDeleteGreat blog
May i know how to reserve the ICOCA card and Haruka thru online ?
And im wondering, u did said ICOCA card can be use for any type of train but not Haruka ?
As wat i could see, reservation thru online will cost me higher comparing to the price if i but on-the-spot. Pls correct me if am wrong.
Tqvm first 😊
Hi,
DeleteYou may want to read my post on "Kansai International Airport". For Haruka train, you will need to buy a Haruka ticket. Reservation is done through JR West website, which I also share in my post as well.
Hi Elin! I have a question, was it hard to transfer your luggage when you were transferring from kyoto to osaka? :)
ReplyDelete