When I first started to plan for Japan, I was so lost & that was before I even booked a ticket. Japan is soooo big! I'm someone who wants to maximize the trip by traveling to as many places as I can (Last Dec, we traveled around the whole Taiwan in 12 days & it was our 1st time there!)
1-2 weeks into the itinerary researching, FlyScoot had good deals from Singapore to Osaka, so we immediately booked it ($225/pax + 25kg to share). After painstakingly calculating the train cost etc, we decided to do a round trip and end our trip at Tokyo. Hence our flight back to Singapore was from Narita Airport by FlyScoot too ($247.07/pax + $25kg to share). Then that's where the detailed planning starts. We did not buy any SIM/data card because going overseas means disconnecting from social medias (at least till we're back to hotel haha). We had to rely on the Metro/Mall WiFi most of the time.
We flew in from Osaka (1 night) -> Kyoto (3 nights) -> Kanazawa (1 night) -> Shirakawa-go & Takayama -> Kawaguchiko (3 nights) -> Tokyo (2 nights)
Hyperdia is a very good website to determine which trains to take. It shows the duration & price as well!
Day 1 & 2 (OSAKA)
We touched down at Kansai Airport at 6pm. We are staying around Namba area (near Dotonbori).
According to Hyperdia, we need to take Nankai Airport Express to Namba (Nankai). When I started planning, it was so confusing because, in just 1 place, there are many stations with the same name, then I realize it's for different lines. Made this map for easier reference.
We got this ¥920 (S$11) ticket from the ticket machine and asked a staff which platform to take the train from. There was a train at the platform where we're supposed to board so we hurried rushed in, secure the luggage at the luggage area & found a seat. We were pretty impressed cause the seats were super good and comfortable. After a few minutes, we realized that we were probably on the wrong train (like we're actually on the more expensive train) cause everyone's giving us weird stares.
After a stop, the train conductor came & collected ¥500/each (S$6) from us for the seat price (no wonder... We boarded the Nankai Ltd. Exp. instead of Nankai Airport Express...). Tbh, till now we still have a hard time figuring out which train can we take or not, since 1 platform has a few different trains that arrives at different time. For the rest of the trip we took all the trains with cautious.. 😓
Important note: When purchasing train tickets, usually it goes by the fare amount (not the station names). So when planning the itinerary, do remember to take down the fare amount & double confirm it before buying against the fare map on top of the ticket machine!!
* & we did not purchase any IC card or such as if I am not wrong, Kyoto or Tokyo doesn't use it. So for us, we just keep buying tickets at the station. Easier :)
* & we did not purchase any IC card or such as if I am not wrong, Kyoto or Tokyo doesn't use it. So for us, we just keep buying tickets at the station. Easier :)
(pic from Agoda)
Hotels are surprisingly cheaper than Airbnbs in Japan. In Osaka, we stayed in Hotel Le Botejour Nanba Annex for 1 night ($98.32/night). It was a 10mins walk from Namba (Nankai) Station but it felt short because there are so many things to see while walking there (Namba is the prime location!)
We already expected that the Japan hotels will be small, but I must say, all their beds are very comfortable! & most of them despite the small room space, their toilets have a mini bathtub & comes with good shampoo & conditioner (my hair never felt so smooth from hotel's amenities before).
After settling down, we walked towards Dotonbori for dinner. Wanted to go to Tsurugyu for Kobe Beef but somehow our map brought us to another place and the locals can't really speak much English hence we just went into the restaurant and ordered randomly.
Despite the language barrier, we managed to order Kobe Beef (神戸牛) & Saga Beef (recommended by the chef) & omgwtfbbq the beef literally melts!!! 😍😍😍
I was telling my boyf that I might not be able to eat normal beef anymore. It's really good. Even though it's pricey, it's worth the try!! Initially we tried telling the staff we want "Kobe Beef", they don't seem to understand. We had to show them 神戸牛, then they understood. 😓
Turns out this restaurant is called Tsurugyu (TripAdvisor link) too, the initial one I had noted down in my itinerary was Tsurugyu (TripAdvisor link)! (About 600m away). The bill turned out to be ¥5900 (S$72) (for 2 kinds of beef) which was okay as I've initially budgeted it to be ¥6000/pax! We're saving our stomach for Dotonburi!! Super recommend this restaurant 💟
Address of Charcoal Grilled Wagyu Japanese Beef Tsurugyu Shinsaibashi: 2-1-5 Higashishinsaibashi Chuo-ku | Golden 1st Plaza Bldg. 1F, 542-0083, Osaka Prefecture
Turns out this restaurant is called Tsurugyu (TripAdvisor link) too, the initial one I had noted down in my itinerary was Tsurugyu (TripAdvisor link)! (About 600m away). The bill turned out to be ¥5900 (S$72) (for 2 kinds of beef) which was okay as I've initially budgeted it to be ¥6000/pax! We're saving our stomach for Dotonburi!! Super recommend this restaurant 💟
Address of Charcoal Grilled Wagyu Japanese Beef Tsurugyu Shinsaibashi: 2-1-5 Higashishinsaibashi Chuo-ku | Golden 1st Plaza Bldg. 1F, 542-0083, Osaka Prefecture
We were super spoilt after that since the 1st meal we landed was Kobe Beef 😂
Wanted to try okonomiyaki at either Fukuaro/Ajinoya/Mizuno/Chibo (googled & the reviews are pretty good), but 2 of them was closed on Mondays, Chibo had super long queue so we end up trying okonomiyaki at some random shop & it was meh...
The picture on the right is a super affordable buffet bbq restaurant which my cousin brought us there on the 2nd night! Only ¥1100/pax (S$13.50). The standard free-flow is just chicken, beef & pork but the seasoning for all these is good enough to fill your tummy & it's very delicious!
Address of Premium 298: Japan, 〒542-0074 Ōsaka-fu, Ōsaka-shi, Chūō-ku, Sennichimae, 1 Chome−7−9 (Level 7 of some building if I'm not wrong)
In Dotonburi, almost every street you go, there'll be one or two shops that have long queues. Actually, I think Japan generally have long queues for most restaurants 😅 (And you shouldn't plan your itinerary too tight if you want to queue for good food)
KUROMON MARKET
Checked out, left our luggage at the hotel lobby & walked to Kuromon Market in the morning.
Ate some crabmeat which cost ¥500 ($6)
Walked the whole market & everything is quite expensive.
Chanced upon this takoyaki store towards the end of the market and it was so gooood. The takoyaki literally melts in your mouth!! (At this point, we're thinking does every food in Japan melts? Hahaha). We saw people eating yakitori & we decided to buy 1 plate and share, and omg it's so good again!
Address of takoyaki + yakitori store (Takoyaki Doraku Wanaka Kuromon Ichiba): 1-21-2 Nippombashi, Chuo-ku, 542-0073, Osaka Prefecture
AMEMURA
Next up: Amemura is also known as "Amerikamura". It's like a little America in Osaka.
SHINSEKAI
Took the subway (2 stops) to Dobutsuen-Mae Station to visit Shinsekai!!
Kushikatsu! We ordered prawn and meats!
Read online that when you're at Shinsekai, eat kushikatsu, but it was meh 😅
Read online that when you're at Shinsekai, eat kushikatsu, but it was meh 😅
Shitenno-ji Temple (which was under renovation at the time I was there - May 2018)
A helpful local saw me standing there trying to figure out how this works and she taught me step-by-step 😃
Random shrine we passed by while walking towards Abeno-Q mall to meet my cousin!
After dinner, we took the train to Kyoto!
From Nippombashi Station to Namba (Subway) Station (take the Sennichimae Line towards Nodahanshin)
From Nippombashi Station to Namba (Subway) Station (take the Sennichimae Line towards Nodahanshin)
At Namba (Subway) Station change to Midosuji Line towards Senrichuo to Shin-Osaka Station.
From Nippombashi to Shin-Osaka is roughly 19mins and cost ¥280.
At Shin-Osaka Station, take the JR Kyoto towards Nagahama from track 13 to Kyoto Station. This takes roughly 24mins and costs ¥560.
Can check-out this link for more information on Osaka to Kyoto (link)
That's all for Osaka! 💕
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