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Tokyo>Kyoto>Nara(Day trip)>Osaka

nkhai
nkhai
almost 9 years ago
2 responses

Hi,

This is our first time going to Japan and we are planning for a 12 days Japan trip on Oct'15.

We been doing research on the suitable passes but we still not sure which passes is best to
use either the JR Pass or the SUICA pass (or Kansai thru Pass for Osaka & Nara)

Please help us to review and advice. Below is our draft itinerary:

Day 01- Thur
We will be arriving at Narita Airport at 8am. Be planning to have breakfast at the Airport
afterword we will check in to Asakusa Hotel Hatago.
Sightseeing: Around Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree / Tokyo Tower

Day 02 - Fri
Attraction: DisneySea

Day 03 - Sat
Sightseeing:Yoyogi Park; Tokyo Camaii (Tokyo Mosque); Shibuya; Harajuku

Day 04 - Sun
Day Tour: 1 Day Mt. Fuji + Hakone (meeting place at Daiichi Hotel Tokyo)

Day 05 - Mon
Shopping / Sightseeing: Ikebukuro

Day 06 - Tue
Check out from Asakusa Hotel Hatago .

Travel from Asakusa (Tobu/Subway)station to Kyoto Staion using Shinkansen Hikari.
Put our luggage at Sakura Terrace Hotel (nearest is Kujo station)

Day Trip: Nara Park; Travel around Nara

Travel back to Sakura Terrace Hotel and check in.

Day 07 - Wed
Sightseeing: Bamboo Forest @ Arashiyama; Fushimi Inari Shine; Love Stone @ Jishu Shrine

Day 08 - Thur (Festival of Ages)
Rent Kimono. Watch the parade; Kyoto Imperial Palace (or just look around the garden)

Day 09 - Fri
Attraction: Toei Uzumasa Eigamura (Kyoto Studio Park); Gion

Day 10 - Sat
Check out from Sakura Terrace Hotel (Kyoto)

Travel from Kyoto to Osaka taking the JR Special Rapid Service
Check in to City Plaza Osaka Hotel (still not sure on the hotel)

Sightseeing: Dotonbori / Namba

Day 11 - Sun
Attraction: Universal Studio Japan

Day 12 - Mon
Check out from Hotel and depart from Kansai Airport

Best Regards,
nkhai

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
almost 9 years ago
Expert

Hello nkhai,

I see that you've done the research for your trip already in a very good way.

For this itinerary I would recommend going for normal tickets. A 7 day JR Pass would work well if you made a return Tokyo - Kyoto, however it's better to buy normal tickets as you go for a one way trip.

You could get an IC card (like Suica) for local travel in Tokyo and Kansai to make it a lot easier to get around. This way you will never have to find the right fare before boarding.

Also like the rest of your itinerary, it's all very detailed and I think that you've included man great visits.

Enjoy Japan!
Daniel

Toraneko
Toraneko
1303 posts
almost 9 years ago

Hi,
Just a few observations on your daily itinerary - for your first day if you are going to be in the Ueno/Asakusa area, then using the [Keisei/Metro] package would work well if you are not using the JR Pass. The big sight in the area is the Sensoji Temple but the Sky Tree while pricey has the best view over Tokyo by far if the weather is good. You might skip the Tokyo Tower if you are already going to the Sky Tree.
Also if you can, switching things around for Day 3 & 4 would work better - Harajuku on a Sunday afternoon is the best time to see the youth with the wild fashions, and the walk through Meiji Shrine and Yoyogi Park next to it is quite relaxing.

And while you are in the Ikebukuro area, be sure to go see the Rikugien Garden; it's one of Japan's best and only 3 stops away from Ikebukuro on the Yamanote Line.

In Nara, the Nara Park area is indeed the best place to see the most interesting the city has - don't miss the Todaiji Great Buddha, deer, Kofukuji and Kasuga Shrine. Also less known but really nice are the Isuien Gardens.

For Kyoto you might rearrange some things - Arashiyama and the Fushimi Inari Shrine are on opposite sides of the city. In Arashiyama don't miss the Tenryuji Temple (especially its nice garden) and also the Otagi Nenbutsuji is one of the most humorous and whimsical places you can visit - it's a must see place.

Enjoy your trip.

nkhai
nkhai
2 posts
over 8 years ago

Hi Daniel-san and Toraneko,

Thank you for your reply.

And, sorry that's this quite a last minute but we still have some question based on our revise itinerary below.

  1. For Day 6 can we purchase the Shinkansen ticket at the JR East Travel Service Center when we reach to Narita Airport?

  2. Toei Uzumaza Eigamura heard that there's a place to rent or try out the kimono but in their english website
    there no information. Able to advice if there is and how much is the cost?

  3. For Day 7 (Kyoto) to Day 12 (Osaka) is there a discount passes that we can use other than using Suica all the way?

Day 01- Thur (Suica Pass)
We will be arriving at Narita Airport at 8am. Be planning to have breakfast at the Airport afterword we will check in to Asakusa Hotel Hatago.

Sightseeing: Tokyo Skytree (Dep: ASAKUSA [Toei Subway Asakusa Line.] > Arr: OSHIAGE )
Sightseeing & Food: Walking down and travel around Asakusa

Day 02 - Fri (Tokyo Subway Ticket & Suica Pass)

Attraction: 7am reach to DisneySea (8am-5pm)
Atraction: 5pm to DisneyLand (6pm-10pm)

Day 03 - Sat (Tokyo Subway Ticket)
Day Tour: 1 Day Mt. Fuji + Hakone (meeting place at Daiichi Hotel Tokyo)
(Dep:Asakusa [Toei Subway Asakusa Line] > Arr: Shimbashi )

Day 04 - Sun (Tokyo Subway Ticket)
Sightseeing:Tokyo Camaii (Tokyo Mosque) > Harajuku > Shibuya

Day 05 - Mon (Suica Pass)
Shopping / Sightseeing: Rikugien Garden > Ikebukuro (Animate)

Day 06 - Tue
Check out from Asakusa Hotel Hatago. Travel to Kyoto.
Dep: ASAKUSA(TOBU/SUBWAY) [Toei Asakusa Line Airport Ltd. Exp.] -- SENGAKUJI [Keikyu Main/Airport Line Rapid Ltd. Exp.]>
Tra: SHINAGAWA [SHINKANSEN NOZOMI 29] > Tra:KYOTO [Kyoto City Subway Karasuma Line] > Arr: KUJO(KYOTO)

Put our luggage at Sakura Terrace Hotel

Day Trip: Nara Park; Travel around Nara

Day 07 - Wed
Attraction: Toei Uzumasa Eigamura (Kyoto Studio Park) (Dep:Kujo [Kyo City Subway karasuma Lime] > Tra: Kyoto [JR Sagano Line] > Arr: Hanazono )

Sightseeing: Bamboo Forest @ Arashiyama (Dep:HANAZONO [JR Sagano Line] > Arr:SAGA ARASHIYAMA)

Day 08 - Thur (Festival of Ages)
Kyoto Imperial Palace (Dep: KUJO [Kyoto City Subway Karasuma Line] > Arr: IMADEGAWA )

From Kyoto Palace to Fushimi Inari Shrine (Dep: IMADEGAWA [Kyoto City Subway Karasuma Line] > Tra: KYOTO [JR Nara Line Local] > Arr: INARI)

Day 09 - Fri
Attraction: Gion, Love Stones at Jishu Shrine
Dep: KYOTO [ JR Nara Line Local] > Tra: TOFUKUJI [Keihan Main Line Sub-Exp.] > Arr: GION-SHIJO

Day 10 - Sat
Check out from Sakura Terrace Hotel (Kyoto)

Dep:KYOTO [JR Special Rapid Service] > Tra: OSAKA [Osaka Loop Line(Inner loop)] > NISHIKUJO [JR Yumesaki Line ] > Arr @ 10.15am:UNIVERSALCITY

Check in to Hotel Universal Port

Sightseeing: Dotonbori / Namba

Day 11 - Sun
Attraction: Universal Studio Japan

Day 12 - Mon
Check out from Hotel at 8am and depart from Kansai Airport at 11am Dep: UNIVERSAL CITY [JR Yumesaki Line] > Tra: NISHIKUJO [JR Kansai Airport Rapid Service] > Arr: KANSAI AIRPORT STATION

Thank you in advance.

Best Regards,
nkhai


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