Tokyo-Osaka

[unintended]

Hi guys,

Had originally planned to go to Tokyo only so booked tics from SIN-HND and HND-SIN.

Now decided to squeeze in 2-3 days max of Osaka/Kyoto/Nara.

Would like your advice if I should take domestic flight from HND to Osaka, or take Shinkansen? Also not sure if I should head to Osaka immediately after I land at HND or stay in Tokyo first then go Osaka and head to HND airport from Osaka?

Thing is, if I want to take Shinkansen, I have to consider whether to go on Day 1 or after Tokyo due to the 7 days validity. I will be in Japan for 8 days, so I have activate my pass date wisely.

Alternatively, I could try domestic flight from HND to Osaka airport - then take Shinkansen to HND airport for return. But that would mean I might not get a JR Pass (?) as I read that only round trip is worth to get the pass..

I have not booked my accommodation due to the unconfirmed itinerary plans.

SIN-Tokyo-Osaka-Kyoto-Nara-Osaka-Tokyo

SIN-HND, reach late afternoon 4pm

Day 1: (first day, take it easy, since need to settle down in accomodation)
Planning to stay in Shinjuku or Shibuya area
Shinjuku
Kabukicho walk walk
Golden Gai

Day 2:
Disneyland

Day 3:
Tsukiji Market
Meiji Shrine
Metropolian Tower
Harajuku
Shibuya

Day 4:
Asakusa - Sensoji
Ginza
Odaiba - Rainbow Bridge
Roponggi walk walk

Day 5:
free day in Tokyo (to plan more?) or set off to Osaka in afternoon.
If travelling to Osaka in afternoon:
Umeda area
Sky Building
Hep Five Ferris Wheel
Underground shopping

Day 6:
Shinkansen to Osaka
Osaka Castle/Osaka Park
Shisaibashi
Dontonbori

Day 7:
Osaka to Kyoto
Arashiyama
Fushimi-Inari

Kyoto to Nara
Nara Park
Back to Osaka accomodation

Day 8:
Osaka Shinkansen back to HND airport
my flight at 5pm

 

[saffronsatire]

i'd prefer to be in tokyo on last day and night, personal preference, though the odds of a hiccup should be quite low since your flight is at 5pm.

if you haven't, remember to check if tsukiji is opened on that day you plan to go.

 

[silencer000]

Imo day 7 is very rush, nara and arashiyama quite far from each other

Sent from Xiaomi REDMI NOTE 3 using GAGT

 

[deodorant]

Alternatively, I could try domestic flight from HND to Osaka airport - then take Shinkansen to HND airport for return. But that would mean I might not get a JR Pass (?) as I read that only round trip is worth to get the pass..

Generally most people will buy JR Pass and take the Shinkansen.

Flight time is shorter, of course, and can also be a bit cheaper, but then after you factor in getting to the airport, checking in early, waiting around, the time savings from flying is negligible.

For me, your Day3 could be too packed depending on what you plan to do in Tsukiji. If it's for the auction, you'll be awake basically almost the entire previous night, so unless you inject caffeine into your arm you'll likely not have enough energy for a full day of sightseeing after. If it's just to queue for the famous sushi shops, then you'll also still be awake by ~5+am.

Day4 personally I would skip roponggi and just spend more time in Odaiba (can finish off the day at the oedo onsen)

Day7 impossibly packed. I would be tempted to cut one day off from Osaka, and spend Day6 full day in Kyoto, Day7 half day Nara, other half Kyoto or Osaka.

 

[Jorjor]

I would suggest using the jr pass since u need to return to Tokyo for the flight back. U can get from Klook with $20 off. I had a 10 days trip similar to ur plans but I feel it's really insufficient to do so many places. U can't really enjoy, just keep rushing to the next destination, just my opinion . If u don't do much shopping maybe not too bad, I didn't have time to shop many places that I wanted! Gonna go back again this sep

 

[Gixxerfied]

2-3 days just concentrate on Kyoto good enough..
also reco u taking the earliest hikari(if u using jrp) available to maximize ur time there..

 

[Wood41]

Amazing race.
Stick to Tokyo.
Go back Kansai another time in autumn leaves.

 

[Quasar]

IMHO spending 7hrs on trains to and from Tokyo and Kansai is not a good use of time for 8 days (afternoon arrival somemore!)

You would be better off going to Hakone, Fuji 5 lakes or Nikko. It's cheaper too, and your time will be better spent and not as hectic as trying to squeeze so many places in 8 days.

 

[purpleberry]

Agree with the rest. Strongly recommend just stick to Tokyo and the surrounding regions only.

 

[anyhowsaysay]

Your 8 days is more like 6.5 days. The first day you arrival is too late to do anything.

Your last day u also can't do much.

I think you should take out the whole Kansai part and concentrate in Tokyo. I think 6.5 days itself is also barely enough to see the whole Tokyo.

 

[zack14]

your itinerary too packed. 8 days just go to tokyo can liao

 

[wlalala]

Jr pass sit shinkansen

Then all jr train can sit free also

So now we look around us and we see; A nation built with love by you and me; A land to treasure right down to the core; Our home, our heart, our Singapore~ HardwareZone Forums app

 

[Wood41]

First timer is too ambitious.
I did cover Tokyo- Fukuoka- Kanazawa- Hakodate - Tokyo in 8-9 days.

 

[AS1]

Willers bus is 5500yen to 8000yen from Osaka to Tokyo depending on time and type of bus.

 

[wlalala]

Willers bus is 5500yen to 8000yen from Osaka to Tokyo depending on time and type of bus.

Curry nahs the willer bus sit until pigu pain

Some more I sit the expensive seat

So now we look around us and we see; A nation built with love by you and me; A land to treasure right down to the core; Our home, our heart, our Singapore~ HardwareZone Forums app

 

[AS1]

Curry nahs the willer bus sit until pigu pain

Some more I sit the expensive seat

So now we look around us and we see; A nation built with love by you and me; A land to treasure right down to the core; Our home, our heart, our Singapore~ HardwareZone Forums app

unless got budget to pay for USD $110 shinkansen ride. I rather overnight in moving bus and have more spending money upon arrival.

 

[Quasar]

Actually main thing is shinkansen runs at timings when it is better spent eating or sightseeing unless you catch the early morning 530am trains or late night 930pm trains. Then you end up checking in late or checking out early at a place near the shinkansen station which may not be ideally placed for sightseeing.

 

[unintended]

Actually main thing is shinkansen runs at timings when it is better spent eating or sightseeing unless you catch the early morning 530am trains or late night 930pm trains. Then you end up checking in late or checking out early at a place near the shinkansen station which may not be ideally placed for sightseeing.

Is it by hourly timing? I'm more worried about the train seat reservation...

Yea I also wonder if it's worth spending 3hrs journey on the train, that's why I thought would it be 'faster' if I flew domestic.

 

[evilerniex]

Is it by hourly timing? I'm more worried about the train seat reservation...

Yea I also wonder if it's worth spending 3hrs journey on the train, that's why I thought would it be 'faster' if I flew domestic.

domestic flight is not going to be much faster.
coz u need to factor in the time taken to travel to and from the ariport, as well as the check-in time. whereas shinkansen takes u straight into the city, without the hassle of checking-in

 

[wlalala]

Is it by hourly timing? I'm more worried about the train seat reservation...

Yea I also wonder if it's worth spending 3hrs journey on the train, that's why I thought would it be 'faster' if I flew domestic.

you can check the timetable