9d or 10d Nara visits

[junny1]

9d or 10d additional Nara day

Hi everyone

with my previous post about the tickets, I think I have firm up the dates and time. I would like to share with you all my current plan as I have a problem to decide on the Nara trip and also due to the last day is departing to KIX in morning. So I would appreciate of you all can offer me some help here, thank you so much.

here is my rough plan:

Day 1- arrive at kix in morning. purchase lcoca and haruka package. explore Kyoto
Day 2-4 in Kyoto
Day 5- nara day trip
Day 6- take train to Osaka and purchase koyasan world heritage ticket. travel to mount koya 3 hours. spend the night in temple lodging
Day 7- return from mount koya to Osaka 2 hours and spend the remaining day and night in Osaka
Day 8- in the morning use a 1 day JR west kansai rail pass to take the special rapid train to Himeji and spend half day visiting Himeji castle. rest of day in Osaka.
Day 9-return in the morning from kix 11am flight back

above is rough plan for 9 days. but for 10 days, on day 5 there is nara visit. Kyoto to nara, stop along the way at Uji to visit byodiin, rest of day and night in Nara and on day 6 full day in nara and horyuji temple, overnight again in Nara. so for 10d there is 2 full day in nara instead of a day trip for 9d.

 

[purpleberry]

Depending on your interests, Kyoto deserves 2-3 days at least. So much to explore. Nara can be completed in around half a day so no need to spend a night there.

Day 8 can also include Kobe and maybe Hiroshima?

 

[junny1]

Depending on your interests, Kyoto deserves 2-3 days at least. So much to explore. Nara can be completed in around half a day so no need to spend a night there.

Day 8 can also include Kobe and maybe Hiroshima?

I think I have 4 full days in Kyoto in my plan. It is just that i need help if i should make Nara 1 or 2 days. Tell me more about Day 8 after Himeji castle? Is kobe and Hiroshima near Osaka? Nara is the factor between 9 or 10 days actually. And also have to note that the last day i have 11am return flight so i need to go to kix from Osaka.

 

[purpleberry]

I think I have 4 full days in Kyoto in my plan. It is just that i need help if i should make Nara 1 or 2 days. Tell me more about Day 8 after Himeji castle? Is kobe and Hiroshima near Osaka? Nara is the factor between 9 or 10 days actually. And also have to note that the last day i have 11am return flight so i need to go to kix from Osaka.

I read too fast. With the additional day, you can think of staying a night at Arashiyama (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3912.html) but that's just me. Nara is nice and historical but I wouldn't spend a night there.

You can also consider travelling further like Hikone and Miyazu if time allows.

Kobe is like 30 mins from Osaka. Hiroshima is further but still reachable.

 

[junny1]

I read too fast. With the additional day, you can think of staying a night at Arashiyama (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3912.html) but that's just me. Nara is nice and historical but I wouldn't spend a night there.

You can also consider travelling further like Hikone and Miyazu if time allows.

Kobe is like 30 mins from Osaka. Hiroshima is further but still reachable.

So a day trip for Nara is enough? I am already finding accocomodation in Kyoto and Osaka. this is for 9 days, but if its 10d with the additional day in nara, then i have to find accommodation for nara also.

So after Himeji castle i can still go to kobe and Hiroshima? as my flight back to sg on the last day in 11am, i have to be at kix by 9am. can you advise me given this such early departure, how do i get quickly from Osaka to kix so that i am not late? its kind of rush for me but there is only 2 timings for the return flight 11am or 9pm which stretch till the next day morning.

 

[James Tang]

My opinion only:

1. Day trip to Nara is sufficient. IN fact if you go early you would probably be back by 5pm. A lot of walking though...

2. Kobe is around second-half of the day to night. Very near to Osaka. If you like KOBE BEEF... can go there and enjoy.. then again, you can also get Kobe beef in Osaka. The China Town is quite interesting To me Nothing much in Hiroshima.

3. Check if it is worth purchasing the one day pass by comparing the various fare stages (SGD26 per day should be quite OK, still need to check) or just use the normal card.

Your planning is like mine, relax and F&E with a lot of time in between.

 

[junny1]

My opinion only:

1. Day trip to Nara is sufficient. IN fact if you go early you would probably be back by 5pm. A lot of walking though...

2. Kobe is around second-half of the day to night. Very near to Osaka. If you like KOBE BEEF... can go there and enjoy.. then again, you can also get Kobe beef in Osaka. The China Town is quite interesting To me Nothing much in Hiroshima.

3. Check if it is worth purchasing the one day pass by comparing the various fare stages (SGD26 per day should be quite OK, still need to check) or just use the normal card.

Your planning is like mine, relax and F&E with a lot of time in between.

Noted, in this case i will just have day 5 as a nara day trip. Looking at my plan it seems i have 2-3 days in osaka, do you have any recommendation where to go from there? Or other cities. If you are not working the next day, will you consider to return flight at night instead of the morning one? I think our 9 day plan is similar though

 

[James Tang]

Noted, in this case i will just have day 5 as a nara day trip. Looking at my plan it seems i have 2-3 days in osaka, do you have any recommendation where to go from there? Or other cities. If you are not working the next day, will you consider to return flight at night instead of the morning one? I think our 9 day plan is similar though

Sending you my draft plan in reply to your PM.

For our previous trip (autumn Kansai 2013):

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/j...sai-japan-2013-autumn-james-tang-4482110.html

Edit to add: Yes, if I am not working the next day then I will take night flight to have extra day in Osaka. Then again, you will have to check out early and lug your luggage around or put it somewhere (hotel/ryokan) and go back to get

 

[junny1]

Sending you my draft plan in reply to your PM.

For our previous trip (autumn Kansai 2013):

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/j...sai-japan-2013-autumn-james-tang-4482110.html

Edit to add: Yes, if I am not working the next day then I will take night flight to have extra day in Osaka. Then again, you will have to check out early and lug your luggage around or put it somewhere (hotel/ryokan) and go back to get

thanks but err dec is winter time right

 

[junny1]

Hi everyone...

This is it, its confirmed...booking made with SQ!!!

Decided on a 9d8n trip in dec, red eye flight 1.30am to 8.45am and return flight 11am to 5.10pm back. Its expensive but well what to do? Its a direct flight to KIX. Cancellation/refund is allowed before the flight but there is a fee of USD 150 if you do so. that's why i consider very long and serious

As with most recommend that first time to Japan is better to go kansai region so here is my rough plan:

Day 1- arrive at kix in morning. purchase lcoca and haruka package. explore Kyoto want to experience ryokan stay in Kyoto. any recommendation since I am staying in Kyoto for 4 days?
Day 2-4 in Kyoto - total I have 4 full days in kyoto
Day 5- nara day trip
need some recommendation on where to go for 1 day nara day trip
Day 6- take train to Osaka and purchase koyasan world heritage ticket. travel to mount koya 3 hours. spend the night in temple lodging
by what time need to go to koya from Osaka? what is at mount koya to see since I am taking the temple lodging
Day 7- return from mount koya to Osaka 2 hours and spend the remaining day and night in Osaka
Day 8- in the morning use a 1 day JR west kansai rail pass to take the special rapid train to Himeji and spend half day visiting Himeji castle. rest of day in Osaka.
I have about 2-3 days in Osaka. any recommendation to what to see in Osaka or other cities I can explore from Osaka??
Day 9-return in the morning from kix 11am flight back
as it is 11am flight means I need to be back at KIX at 9am. how long it takes to go kix from Osaka? in this case to avoid late, is airport hotel recommended?

thanks everyone for helping me, although its not my first trip overseas alone, I went to hk alone last year dec for 8 days. but then again its my first time to japan so I am abit nervous.

 

[thwysg]

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2157.html
http://www.hyperdia.com

 

[James Tang]

thanks but err dec is winter time right

haha should still be the same as our coming trip also winter and in Jan (coldest of all months)

 

[junny1]

haha should still be the same as our coming trip also winter and in Jan (coldest of all months)

can you help me with my questions in red below?

 

[junny1]

hi everyone

since i have paid a premium price for the air ticket, i am fine with budget hotels/ryokans/capsule hotels. however as i tower at 1.83m i am not sure if the capsules can fit me? according to my plan for 8 nights, i have 5 nights in kyoto, 1 night in temple lodging and 2 nights in osaka. need help here on accomodation as i have no choice but to make it budget. also only i myself 1 so appreciate if you guys can help me out here thanks

 

[purpleberry]

If you are into photography, Koyasan would be very nice to explore. I've not been there but it's one of my must do list for the future.

Osaka is mainly shopping and food along Dotonbori and Namba. If you're travelling alone, you can easily explore within a day. Other than this, maybe Universal Studios? Osaka Aquarium?

Himeji and Kobe can take 1 full day if you travel in a relaxed pace. If Hiroshima is out of the way, you can leave that out.

 

[junny1]

If you are into photography, Koyasan would be very nice to explore. I've not been there but it's one of my must do list for the future.

koyasan is mount koya right? i do have it in my plan. In day 6 i will be going to koyasan from osaka and spending the night there at a temple lodging

Osaka is mainly shopping and food along Dotonbori and Namba. If you're travelling alone, you can easily explore within a day. Other than this, maybe Universal Studios? Osaka Aquarium?
i have 2-3 days in osaka

Himeji and Kobe can take 1 full day if you travel in a relaxed pace. If Hiroshima is out of the way, you can leave that out.

castle himeji is in my plan but kobe not yet. see if i can put in with osaka. but right now i am more concern of accomodation. i have 5 nights in kyoto, 1 night koyasan temple lodging and 2 nights osaka

 

[Illusionist_85]

U muz go Himeji at very early morning. By the time reach 9+. It's already a long q into the castle.

Sent from 穷挫矮胖永独 using GAGT

 

[James Tang]

can you help me with my questions in red below?

Sure (Purely my personal opinion, experience may differ depending on people):

1. Nara:
- YOu can walk from the train station, down the main street, you will find shopping streets on your left just before reaching the huge pond (cant remember the name): Shopping perhaps after you are coming down from items below
- Walk up the slope and there are some nice temples around (see my trip report lah)
- Then the deer park
- walk up again.. a few more temples and very nice.......
- Go search for Nara map and it will help you to walk around. There are some hidden gems around (eg. pawn shops selling cheap branded watches including Rolex, second hand yukatas and kimono etc; small eateries, traditional shops etc, and hack there is even a store selling mochi and they make it in front as a demonstration and performance).

2. Ryokan in Kyoto:
- 2 types: with or without onsen; with or without in room kaiseki
- Search for it as Kyoto has tons of them. Be prepared to pay around SGD160 to SGD500 for one night, depending on the types you choose, the location, and the posh-ness.
- Remember: you are going during peak (winter + onsen = heaven thus $$$$$).

3. No comment for Koyasan. Have not been there but if I am going Kyoto alone, I will take my photo gear and go into the mountain for one day, not a fan of vegetarian stay though.

3. Osaka:

- Go and see various blogs and trip reports already posted here (sticky thread with links)
- Generally: Arashiyama, Shinsekai, Tennoji, Dotonburi/Namba, American Village (nothing much but it is a good walk), Shinsaibashi, day trip to other places such as Himeji, Kobe... if you want to go further, Miyajima (more deers but very nice scenaries) etc etc....

4. back to KIX: usually train around 65 min (give or take); Taxi should be slightly longer but under 1.5 hours (provided no jam).

Hope it helps!