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[mikefriend]

I'm China and purchased a r/t from Shanghai to Osaka for 6 days.

I've been reading the travel tips for both cities and was wondering if my fellow DaveItes in Japan could give me some suggestions where to stay and what to see if Osaka and Tokyo.

My plan is to stay in Osaka for 2 days then go to Tokyo for 3 days then back to Osaka.

So first question, is 2 days in Osaka doing justice to what there is to see there?

And the best way to get to Tokyo? It appears that the Bullet train is wickedly expensive. Something like $140 usd plus for a one way. Is the bus a decent alternative? Any less expensive trains?

What about decent cheap accommodations? I was planning on reserving a room for the first two days in Osaka but after that unsure.

Mucho Gracias

[Khyron]

[stillnosheep]

Agreed. Unless you really must do Harajuku and Shibuya then, if I had 6 days in Japan and was already in Osaka, I'd stay in Kansai, especially Kyoto, especially if I didn't want to Shinkansen between the two.

Osaka has the hypermodernity and nightlife; Kyoto has the rest (Nara has a nice park).

Enjoy Kyoto. Utano YH is cheap and good. It does (or did) have a 10.00pm curfew but that can be worked around (leave the verandah door open or arrange an accomplice on the inside who'll open up for you on a phone call when you arrive), and hire a bike. Then you can get around quickly and cheaply and return whenever you feel like it.

[Apsara]

I also agree that you are best to stay in the Kansai area with only a week. The alternatives to the Shinkansen are much slower- 8 hours on the overnight bus or ordinary trains. There isn't a lot in Tokyo that you won't find some kind of equivalent of in Osaka, and unless you aren't interested in seeing golden temples, Zen gardens, the geisha district etc. at all then you will definitely be wanting to spend a couple of days in Kyoto at least.

[Khyron]

There's a cheap hostel at Toji, called Toji-an Guest House. It's cheap, has no curfew and has a good location. It's not very clean, you have to shower/bath at the sento down the street, and the manager seems quite shady, but it's a cheap place to stay with no curfew. If you aren't picky AT ALL and just want a place to sleep, stay there.

[mikefriend]

The purpose of my post was the EXACT reason why you all replied! Not knowing much about Japan I needed input, do I stay local or only there for a few days.

To answer one poster - "I KNOW NOTHING" (Sgt Schultz, Hogan's Heros)... about Japan really, except that I had a nice 9 day stint with no classes and decided to alleviate the boredom that I am feeling in China and go see the culture of another civilization.

Ok so what I've got so far is that I should base myself in Osaka and enjoy the sights of that fine city and the surrounding areas instead of wasting time and money going to Tokyo for no apparent reason. Got it! Scratch that plan.

SO, the best area to stay in Osaka is? I was looking at hotels that cost about $60 a night on www.hoteltravel.com but local recommendations are more then welcome.

And yes I want to go see the famous castle. I have read about it.

More local input is welcome please as what to do to make the best use of my time.

On past Japanese threads I read that some travelers brought their own bicycles. Is it worth it to bring a folding bike to Osaka? I ask because in China these things are basically inexpensive.

Thanks again!

[stillnosheep]

You're getting there, altghough I'd be tempted to do Osaka (and maybe Nara, if you must) on arrival and then base myself in Kyoto for the rest of my stay, including for the side trip to Himeji, if required.

Hostels are the way to save money. Recommendations have already been made for Kyoto (Utano is clean, but not central, it does hire bikes though (not folding)). Folding bikes are allowed on Japanese railways - you could consider getting a two or three day Kansai thru pass and doing your major train journeying (base in Osaka, day trip to Nara, move base to Kyoto, day trip to Himeji) in first three days - but you will be wanting to leave your luggage behind when visiting towns for a day trip. A bike would certainly be ideal once you are in Kyoto, perfect for scooting across town from the East to the NW and for getting about each area once you are there.

Nothing is inexpensive in Japan but, as said, bikes can be hired in Kyoto fairly easily.

[Apsara]

I agree with basing in Kyoto after a couple of days in Osaka- it is probably the place you will want to spend most time in.

[mikefriend]

My updated plans are to arrive Osaka Saturday (yes in 2 days!) and stay there till Monday or Tuesday then head to Kyoto and stay there for a few days. Addition: I may go straight to Kyoto then back to Osaka after 3-4 for days. Undecided. My hotel was canceled as it was full so I may just start in Kyoto. Not a big fan of hostels but looks like I may head that way.

I figure once I am in Osaka I can better plan what's next.

Still thinking about buying a cheap folding bike here in China to take with me. Considering I only have carry-on luggage there is no issue with putting a bike in a large bag that I have to stick on the plane. Have to decided that today. I enjoy bike riding and I think that's a good way to see a city - ride around it. The only problem I can foresee is that driving on the left thing. It always drove me crazy in Hong Kong.

[Khyron]

[Lyrajean]

When I went to Kansai we stayed for 2 nights in Osaka at the Yamatoya honten ryokan (large Japanese style hotel). It's a little old but we got shared accomodations for 2 with our own bath for 13000yen per night in the off-season of march. It's also just at the end of the Dotonbori (good location for eating sightseeing. You can walk to all the neighborhoods.

In Osaka, I recommend:

-the Dotonbori for eating, sightseeing (lots of vintage neon signs). try okonomiyaki and takoyaki while you are in Osaka. There was a fabulous nabe restaurant on the 2nd floor somehere on the dotonbori, but as you can eat your way up and down the street its not that important.
-there is a small ukiyoe print museum just off the street somewhere, I've forgotten the name but its good and can be cased in an hour easy.
-Umeda sky building walk. Glass skywalk over the city, requires a short taxi or subway ride from Namba Nankai station. Osaka is not a great skyline city but the glass escalator and feeling like you are suspended in midair are worth it. I'd go at sunset.
-America mura, for overpriced western shopping, eating.

Overrated:
-Den-den town, unless you have to see the Akihabara of Osaka

Like the others I would say if you are on a budget to skip Tokyo and head to Kyoto. It's about 1500yen by slowish train and 3000 the fast way.

In Kyoto there are so many things... I'd recommend:

-Kiyomizudera
-Fushimi Inari
-Arashiyama

Overrated:

(my own personal opinion) kinkakuji, but many consider this a must see. It is generally overrun by tourists and is actually a reconstruction, as the original was arsoned in 1950. Also they've destroyed the garden paths to accomodate the tourists, and the important thing about Asian gardens is how one moves through them.

Himeji is also wonderful and can be reached by train as a day trip from either Kyoto or Osaka.

[stillnosheep]

If you only have carry-on luggage I'd definitely bring a folding bike if you enjoy cycling. Kyoto, at least, is made for cycling

My ideas for a one or two day cycling trip to Kyoto from http://www.gaijinpot.com/bb/showthread.php?t=62387&highlight=kyoto

For a walk, Lonely planet's version of the Philospher's Path http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldgui...to/itineraries is hard to beat.

Cycling: There is so much you could do. I prefer the north west,, and Ryoanji should be visited, if only to have seen the rock garden in the flesh, so to speak, and perhaps Daitokuji, but you should try not to do too much, difficult though that may be with so much to choose from, especially with kids. On the upside most of Kyoto is fairly flat, until you reach the really intereting bits to the east or north west, so the getting from one to the other is not so hard.

The very north west http://paulstravelpics.blogspot.com/2008/09/northwest-kyotos-hidden-gems.html may be a bit far from the centre for you although imho it's worth it, so perhaps a combination of days 1 and 2 of http://travelblog.viator.com/top-things-to-do-in-kyoto-a-5-day-itinerary/

Personally I would eschew Gion and Higashiyama [if I only had one day] and stick to ryoanji, perhaps daitokuji, and the nort west outskirts but my tastes tend to quiet and nature. and having said that the very eastern edge of Higashiyama is also special.

Can you really not make two days of it?

AND

Arashiyama, what to see:

I'd aim at

1. The view of Arashiyama from the river!
2. Tenryuji
3. The bamboo groves north of Tenryuji
4. The woods and smaller temples under the mountains north east of those.

That way I could cut out 4, or 3&4, if I got distracted earlier around the river, shopping, or having lunch.

Back via Ryoanji sounds good. It is really only worth going out of one's way for for the stone garden, but that is worth doing so for, and best seen early morning or at the end of the day (check opening times!!!) when not needing to hurry on to somewhere else.

Cycling is easily the best way to get around Kyoto, especially to and in the NW or eastern edges. Avoids all the time wasted waiting for, or in, trains, and the busses can be slow as rush hour traffic heavy. Kyoto is made for cycling: flat(-ish) centre for ease of getting about; hilly outskirts for woods and rivers; surrounded by mountains supplying those backdrops. And isn't there a cycle path up the river from the SW of the city? But make sure to avoid the really main roads if you can. I used to cycle each morning from NW Kyoto to Kyoto Eki for 7.45 each morning. Wonderful on a crisp, not too cold, December morning; hell in the rain.

PS. Pray for a clear sunny day!

[kimo]

Just want you to know it's possible to do the Kansai region and Tokyo in six days. My brother once visited me in Osaka for seven days and we did Nara one day, Kyoto one day (unless you're really into Temples you can take the Keihan Line to Shijo in Kyoto and walk to the mountain from the station and go up through the gate and keep going up and find some cool temples and work your way to the right to Kiyomizu - that's enough for most people) , Himeji another day stopping in Kobe on the way back, and a lot of stuff at night in Osaka. Of course, I know the Kansai area extremely well and we wasted no time trying to find places. At his request, we got basically a 24 hour deal that included a hotel in Shinjuku (on the convenient Yamate Loop Line) in Tokyo and Shinkansen tickets departing Shin Osaka early in the morning. Bought that from a travel agent at Kyobashi Station. We returned from Tokyo late the next afternoon.

Whatever you decide, you'll like Japan. It's a great place for tourists. Just remember to smile a lot.

[mikefriend]

OK today is Monday and I got here Saturday.

I have been working in China for about 3 1\2 years off and on.

Japan has to be the greatest country I have ever visited...

I can not go back to China and be happy after this visit...

Right now my gut instinct tells me to quit my job in China and move to Japan...

I will post more about this in the future.

SO far in Osaka, went to Kobe and Himeji. Off to Kyoto tomorrow then who knows... Have to go back to China Friday.

[Charlemagne]

Having lived in the Osaka area for a year, I can say that there are tons of things to do and see in Kansai. Top things: Osaka Castle; Nara deer areas and Todaiji; Kyoto Kinkakuji; Kobe tower, port area, and old town. Take the overnight bus to the Eastern Capital if you have a night to spare or the 3 hour Shinkansen from Shin Osaka to Tokyo. Tokyo is my favorite place in the world and is worlds apart from Osaka and anywhere else. It will take you a lifetime to experience half of it. Spend as much time there as possible. You won't regret it.