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Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto simplest routes

Penny
Penny
over 11 years ago
2 responses

I've got lots of questions!

My husband and I, we are both OAPs are arriving at Hareda airport in September and we are staying close to Shinjuku station. Is it better to get a taxi to our hotel - century Southern Tower or train to Shinjuku station and walk to the hotel.
We leave for Osaka five days later and would like to go by bullet train.Can we go from Shinjuku railway station and arrive at Nimba railway station which is close to our hotel in Osaka?

  • We would like to spend a day in Kyoto - can we go from and return to Nimba railway station on a bullet train?
  • We leave Osaka to fly home from Kansai airport. Is it better to go by taxi or is there a train from Nimba railway station?
  • Is it better value to get a rail pass or separate tickets for each trip?
  • Do we have to pre-book tickets or can you always get seats on the trains?

Thank you

avatar
mari
1950 posts
over 11 years ago
Expert

Dear Penny,

For your the Century Southern Tower from Haneda I recommend you use the Limousine bus, which will take you directly to the door for ¥1200 per person. Here's a [link to the timetable] for you.

To get to Osaka from Shinjuku you'll need to get the train (or taxi) to Tokyo bullet train terminal where you'll be able to get the bullet to the Shin-Osaka bullet terminal. From here you can transfer to Osaka station which is near Osaka Namba. Here's a sample itinerary for you (route 2 is best). You can also go to Osaka-Namba, but there are many more transfers involved so I recommend you get to Osaka station and then use a taxi to your hotel.

For Kyoto from Osaka, you should aim to get to JR-Namba Osaka (10 mins walk from Namba Nankai Osaka if that's where you're staying). Here's a sample itinerary for you.

For Kansai airport from JR-Namba I think it will be easier to get a taxi (as always!), but the train is not so hard if you wanted to save some money. Here's a sample itinerary for you from JR-Namba.

For your trip I recommend separate tickets as you won't spend over enough to warrant a pass.

In general you can always get seats on trains as long as you avoid rush hour times (7-9am, 5-8pm). If you are travelling during these times you can reserve seats very easily from any JR station. Here's a good blog post on how to make seat reservations that will still apply even if you don't have a JR Pass.

Hope this helps!

Penny
Penny
2 posts
over 11 years ago

Thank you so much the answers are very helpful. We really want to have a trip on a bullet train but we do not want to have to change trains too often with all our luggage, we would prefer to use a taxi if at all possible,
As we are staying at the Cross Hotel Shinsaibashie-suji Chuo-ku would we be able to get a taxi from the Shin-Osaka bullet train terminal to the hotel rather than have to change to the Osaka station?

Thank you again for your excellent and speedy response.

avatar
mari
1950 posts
over 11 years ago
Expert

Hi Penny,

As Shin-Osaka is around 4miles away from Cross hotel in Osaka I think a taxi would be a good choice. Here is a map of the route you'll need to take.

Hope this helps!


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