Winter 2015

[Petslave]

7th Jan (Monday)

2 Adults + 1 2yo child.

Singapore Afternoon flight > > > Osaka (Kansai)
Reached Kansai airport around 9.30pm.

Question 1: At such timing , advisable to stay at the airport at Kansai or just rush to get a train to stay in Osaka?

8th Jan ( Thur)

> Visit Osaka Castle early morning.
> There after visit Aquarium
> Take the ferry wheel after the aquarium
> Visit Dontoburi and settle dinner there.

9th Jan ( Fri)

> Go to Nara
> on the way to Todaiji Temple, visit Kofukuji for a brief while , then stay at nara park for some deer feeding.
> Todaiji Temple
> Hop over to kobe .

Question 2: Is there any train from nara to kobe or i have to go back to Osaka and then to kobe?

> walk to Sankita dori and have lunch at the famous steak land.
> Walk around Kobe area.
> around evening back to Osaka.
> Walk around dontonburi / Shinsaibashi .

10th Jan ( Sat)

Check out Osaka and head for Kyoto.
> visit Kinkakuji
> Then proceed to Nijo Castle
> Lunch at Honke Owariya.
> Visit Nikishi Market
> Dinner at kyoto station.

11th Jan (Sun)

> Visit Fushimi Inari
> Go over to Kiyomizu-dera
> head over to Gion to hopefully see some geisha
> Dinner kyoto station.

12th Jan (Mon)

Question 3: Which is the best way for departure during early morning from kyoto to Shibu onset located at Nagano?


Head over to Nagano

-Check in at Shibu Onsen,
> visit Snow Monkey,
> Relax at ryoken (soak in onsen etc)
>? ?
> ? ?

Question 4 : Couldn't find much information here. Any ryokan to recommend. Other than visiting the snow monkey is there anymore else thing to do if time permit?

13th Jan (Tuesday)

> Nagano to tokyo.
> Check in hotel at shinjuku
< visit harajuku
>go over to Meiji Shrine
> Walk along ometosando
> Back to shinjuku dinner/shopping

14th Jan ( Wednesday)

> Disneyland one whole day?


15th Jan ( Thursday)

> Visit Tsukiji market
> Breakfast Dai sushi
> Visit outer market
> Shopping again around harajuku/shibuya/shinjuku?

Question: Other than shopping any other interesting we should do at tokyo?

16th Jan ( Friday , also last day in Japan )

> Thinking of visiting Kichijoji Suburban market . Is there anything interesting or other thing i can do.

Flight is at 9pm at Narita.




Dear all experts, would deeply your kind advice/suggestion. First time in japan.
is the 7 days railway pass worth it ? or any other pass that would come in handy.

Appreicate all your experience and advice .


Gamxia bery bery much:

 

[samtcy]

7th Jan (Monday)

2 Adults + 1 2yo child.

Singapore Afternoon flight > > > Osaka (Kansai)
Reached Kansai airport around 9.30pm.

Question 1: At such timing , advisable to stay at the airport at Kansai or just rush to get a train to stay in Osaka?
Well, the last Haruka Express will depart Kansai Airport at 2216hr to Tennoji and Shin-Osaka station, whereas the last train for Nankai Airport Express train departs Kansai Airport at 2329hr to ShinImamiya and Namba (Nankai) stations. If your hotel is near Namba (Nankai) station, I think you should have enough time to catch Nankai train to Namba.

8th Jan ( Thur)
> Visit Osaka Castle early morning.
> There after visit Aquarium
> Take the ferry wheel after the aquarium
> Visit Dontoburi and settle dinner there.

9th Jan ( Fri)
> Go to Nara
> on the way to Todaiji Temple, visit Kofukuji for a brief while , then stay at nara park for some deer feeding.
> Todaiji Temple
> Hop over to kobe .

Question 2: Is there any train from nara to kobe or i have to go back to Osaka and then to kobe?

Osaka is located between Kobe and Nara, which is why you'd have to go through Osaka to reach Kobe from Nara.
The route I'd take is probably:
JR Nara to ShinImamiya via JR Yamatoji line (about 38mins)
ShinImamiya to Osaka via JR Osaka Loop line (17mins)
Osaka to Kobe's Sannomiya station via JR Kobe Rapid Service train (about 28mins)
Total fare: 1240yen.


> walk to Sankita dori and have lunch at the famous steak land.
> Walk around Kobe area.
> around evening back to Osaka.
> Walk around dontonburi / Shinsaibashi .


10th Jan ( Sat)
Check out Osaka and head for Kyoto.
> visit Kinkakuji
> Then proceed to Nijo Castle
> Lunch at Honke Owariya.
> Visit Nikishi Market
> Dinner at kyoto station.
If take out Nishiki market from this day (to add to the next day) then you can probably squeeze in 1 place after Lunch.

11th Jan (Sun)
> Visit Fushimi Inari
> Go over to Kiyomizu-dera
> head over to Gion to hopefully see some geisha
> Dinner kyoto station.
You can probably squeeze Nishiki market on this day, after Gion. Assuming you are taking JR Nara line from Kyoto station to Inari station, remember to take local train and not a rapid train because the rapid train just go past Inari station without stopping.

12th Jan (Mon)

Question 3: Which is the best way for departure during early morning from kyoto to Shibu onsen located at Nagano?
woah...long long journey sia.
Your journey from Kyoto to Shibu onsen would probably be like this:
0642-0733 Kyoto to Nagoya via Shinkansen (51mins)
0800-1058 Nagoya to Nagano via Ltd Exp Shinano train (178mins)
1208-1254 Nagano to Yudanaka via Nagano Electric Railway Ltd Exp train (46mins, 1260yen, even if you have JR Pass, it will not cover this journey)
Although the bus journey from Yudanaka station to Shibu onsen doesnt take too long (about 10mins bus journey) but the problem is that the bus departure is infrequent so you might have to wait up to about 1hr for the next bus departure timing at Yudanaka station.

Let's say you arrive at your ryokan at around 1330hr to deposit luggages, but then you'd still have to wait for the infrequent bus from Shibu onsen to Kanbayashi onsen for the entrance to Snow Monkey park. The walk from where the walking trail at Kanbayashi onsen all the way to Snow Monkey Park itself took me and my family around 45mins to walk (even though it is stated as 25mins on the signage/websites since Japanese tend to walk faster than us).

Also considering that in Jan, the sun will set early (around 4-5pm) so you don't have much time at the snow monkey park itself. Go check bus timings to see whether you have enough time to visit Snow monkey park on this day or not.


Head over to Nagano

-Check in at Shibu Onsen,
> visit Snow Monkey,
> Relax at ryoken (soak in onsen etc)
>? ?
> ? ?

Question 4 : Couldn't find much information here. Any ryokan to recommend. Other than visiting the snow monkey is there anymore else thing to do if time permit?
Nothing much to do at Yudanaka/Shibu onsen...just some little shops and public onsen. Or there's Shiga Kogen (ski area) that's about 30mins bus ride away using the infrequent buses.

13th Jan (Tuesday)

> Nagano to tokyo.
> Check in hotel at shinjuku
< visit harajuku
>go over to Meiji Shrine
> Walk along ometosando
> Back to shinjuku dinner/shopping
Assuming you take the 1011hr Ltd Exp train departing from Yudanaka station to Nagano, then catch the 1115hr Shinkansen from Nagano to Tokyo, you will arrive at Tokyo station at 1256hr, which is already in the afternoon. And then you will have to go look for your hotel to deposit luggage and find lunch. Don't think you will have enough time to visit Meiji Shrine + Harajuku + Omotesando + Shinjuku.
You'd most probably have to give up Meiji Shrine at the very least, and perhaps Omotesand.


14th Jan ( Wednesday)
> Disneyland one whole day?
Yup. Although I personally prefer Disneysea over Disneyland.

15th Jan ( Thursday)
> Visit Tsukiji market
> Breakfast Dai sushi
> Visit outer market
> Shopping again around harajuku/shibuya/shinjuku?

Question: Other than shopping any other interesting we should do at tokyo?
Well, there's Sensoji Shrine at Asakusa, there's Tokyo Sky tree and Tokyo Tower, there's a few shopping malls at Odaiba, there's Akihabara for those who likes electronics and anime stuffs, there's many cute shops at Tokyo station basement, there's shopping at Ikebukuro....etc.... Go japan-guide.com for more ideas.

16th Jan ( Friday , also last day in Japan )

> Thinking of visiting Kichijoji Suburban market . Is there anything interesting or other thing i can do.

Flight is at 9pm at Narita.




Dear all experts, would deeply your kind advice/suggestion. First time in japan.
is the 7 days railway pass worth it ? or any other pass that would come in handy.

Hmm...don't think the Railpass is worth getting for your itinerary.
If you use the railpass to cover 10-16 Jan, here are some of the major train costs which will be covered:
- Kyoto to Nagoya via Shinkansen + Nagoya to Nagano via Ltd Exp train (11230yen)
- Nagano to Tokyo via Shinkansen (8400yen)
- Tokyo to Narita Airport via Narita Express (3220yen)
- Various JR lines within Tokyo
Therefore, doesn't seem worthwhile getting 7days JR Pass for 29110yen.


Appreicate all your experience and advice .


Gamxia bery bery much:

My response in red.

 

[Petslave]

My response in red.

Gamxia man .

Now thinking whether to cut off snow monkey park leh. but the missus n i believe the kid like it

But looking at the journey time

 

[Petslave]

Understanding kyoto closes early at night, and there relatively isn't much to do after nightfall.

Is it feasible for me to actually based my stay through-out at Osaka, And thus the plan would be like


Osaka > Kyoto > Osaka
Osaka > kyoto > osaka
Osaka> Nara> Kobe > Osaka
Osaka ( Full day)


Hmm.

Was thinking osaka at least at night got dontonburi shinsaibashi to walk around or eat leh.

 

[cpuer]

Understanding kyoto closes early at night, and there relatively isn't much to do after nightfall.

Is it feasible for me to actually based my stay through-out at Osaka, And thus the plan would be like


Osaka > Kyoto > Osaka
Osaka > kyoto > osaka
Osaka> Nara> Kobe > Osaka
Osaka ( Full day)


Hmm.

Was thinking osaka at least at night got dontonburi shinsaibashi to walk around or eat leh.

For the same reason I make my base in Osaka too.

 

[snap99]

You can always look at the snow monkeys on Webcam

 

[samtcy]

Snow monkeys...well, for your itinerary, I feel that they are out of the way for you, and it's like you make this long journey all the way there, walk for so long, just for this hot tub with monkeys. Most people just spend around 30mins here before heading back. If you are into photography, then you'll spend much more time here. But hor, when I went in end Dec, it was so cold...that every 15mins-30mins I spend outside taking photos of the monkeys, I'll go hide inside the warm resting area with heater and toilet and shops for like 10mins to "defrost" myself before heading back out to take more photos again.

If you want interesting activities for the kids, here are some suggestions:
(Go Away, Sam...: Places to visit in Kyoto (other than shrines/temples))
- Small train museum at Kyoto
- Kyoto Studio Park
- Monkey park at Arashiyama
- Skiing at Hakodateyama or Biwako-valley ski parks (within 1hr train from Kyoto. See directions here.)
- Large train museum at Omiya (somewhat near Tokyo) (See directions here, and my blog post here)

 

[luci3l]

you probably wanna have a backup plan for breakfast at sushi dai. the queue is no joke. i was there at 5am and the q was so long it would take about 3 hours of waiting time. it might be difficult if u are bringing a 2yo kid.

 

[Petslave]

you probably wanna have a backup plan for breakfast at sushi dai. the queue is no joke. i was there at 5am and the q was so long it would take about 3 hours of waiting time. it might be difficult if u are bringing a 2yo kid.

Heard about the crazy Q. Worst to worst just head to one of the sushi outlet along the stretch i guess.

 

[Petslave]

You can always look at the snow monkeys on Webcam

I know. But it's like looking at the tasty sushi online but not able to eat it that kinda feeling you know .

 

[Petslave]

Snow monkeys...well, for your itinerary, I feel that they are out of the way for you, and it's like you make this long journey all the way there, walk for so long, just for this hot tub with monkeys. Most people just spend around 30mins here before heading back. If you are into photography, then you'll spend much more time here. But hor, when I went in end Dec, it was so cold...that every 15mins-30mins I spend outside taking photos of the monkeys, I'll go hide inside the warm resting area with heater and toilet and shops for like 10mins to "defrost" myself before heading back out to take more photos again.

If you want interesting activities for the kids, here are some suggestions:
(Go Away, Sam...: Places to visit in Kyoto (other than shrines/temples))
- Small train museum at Kyoto
- Kyoto Studio Park
- Monkey park at Arashiyama
- Skiing at Hakodateyama or Biwako-valley ski parks (within 1hr train from Kyoto. See directions here.)
- Large train museum at Omiya (somewhat near Tokyo) (See directions here, and my blog post here)

Because it's snowing and cold that why's we tot that it would be a good experience however the travelling time is deterring me in making the trip now.

Skiing cos the kid is just 2 years old don't think it's worth visiting yet.

maybe if i really drop the snow monkey park, shall add one more day at tokyo?

haiz so confusing.

 

[cpuer]

Because it's snowing and cold that why's we tot that it would be a good experience however the travelling time is deterring me in making the trip now.

Skiing cos the kid is just 2 years old don't think it's worth visiting yet.

maybe if i really drop the snow monkey park, shall add one more day at tokyo?

haiz so confusing.

There's another bro that have young kid like you. He planned lots of kid oriented itinerary. maybe you can search for it. But its mostly Tokyo based. You bought your air tickets and hotel booked?

 

[darkmatt]

actually, can a 2 year old kid remember anything from his trips? =/

 

[Petslave]

There's another bro that have young kid like you. He planned lots of kid oriented itinerary. maybe you can search for it. But its mostly Tokyo based. You bought your air tickets and hotel booked?

Yupp. Arrival at kansai and depart tokyo.

So far only hotel accommodation not done yet.

but your post kinda get me more set up in staying at osaka and doing daily day trips out.
at least i won't waste time at night sleeping or just sitting inside the hotel/ryokan.
Im pretty in love with dontonburi etc..

 

[Petslave]

actually, can a 2 year old kid remember anything from his trips? =/

I doubt so. i could only have very shattered memory of me maybe back in kindergarden school.

Aiya the future is now,with the pace we are living in now, just hope the kids could enjoy that moment and maybe ignite their memory with photos.

I think owning a HDB in future for them is also a very difficult task.

and the main purpose of this trip is also for ourself to experience winter , some sight seeing, away from singapore and sushi and sushi. ( big fan of sushi)

last we went during Jan was australia, cold but not really that cold.

Wonder how will the weather be like this time round at japan instead.

 

[cpuer]

Yupp. Arrival at kansai and depart tokyo.

So far only hotel accommodation not done yet.

but your post kinda get me more set up in staying at osaka and doing daily day trips out.
at least i won't waste time at night sleeping or just sitting inside the hotel/ryokan.
Im pretty in love with dontonburi etc..

But then you have your 2yo with you, wonder how much can you do at night when he/she is whining or sleepy. No way to ask MIL to babysit?

My personally experience is that young kids will have fond memories over activities rather than places. Like my 2 adult kids, they couldn't remember nor aware where was that fun time located but they do have memories of the bed jumping, water sliding fun time they had.

My personal fond memories of my younger days were at Cameron highlands, remembered vividly the fireflies, the cold water of the Cameron swimming pool and the nice dinner that my mom's friend made for us.

Will I remember these thing if its not Cameron? I think yes, it could be JB, batam, BKK etc.

Anyway, not to dissuade you or anything, every family have their priorities and ideas on family bonding.

 

[Petslave]

But then you have your 2yo with you, wonder how much can you do at night when he/she is whining or sleepy. No way to ask MIL to babysit?

My personally experience is that young kids will have fond memories over activities rather than places. Like my 2 adult kids, they couldn't remember nor aware where was that fun time located but they do have memories of the bed jumping, water sliding fun time they had.

My personal fond memories of my younger days were at Cameron highlands, remembered vividly the fireflies, the cold water of the Cameron swimming pool and the nice dinner that my mom's friend made for us.

Will I remember these thing if its not Cameron? I think yes, it could be JB, batam, BKK etc.

Anyway, not to dissuade you or anything, every family have their priorities and ideas on family bonding.

yeah. I feel you.
At first my mother did not say anything about leaving the kids with her, However she only did so when i have already purchase the air tickets....
Smart i would say...

I know it would be so much convenience to travel without the kid. Less the stroller and one entire luggage bag dedicated just for the young one lugging behind me. honestly, not cool.

Same, i remember i went to korea and went to the skiing resort. That's all. all the small little details. Nah couldn't recall at all.

Won't treat it as a family bonding lah. maybe just a retreat from the hectic life in Singapore. Just to unwind as well as enjoy as a family .

still if my mother had agree to look after the kid, i would have leave him here in singapore

 

[Petslave]

Dear all, was reading all the different passes. Very confusing.
Would be really kind if someone could advise what kind of passes will suit me to save on the transport please.

Also ,

If anyone has any recommendation for good hotel in osaka recently from their trip?

Thnks so much!

 

[mockngbrdy]

Hotel Vista grande. Best location. Nice hotel,reasonably priced.

 

[Petslave]

They don't have dates for me for the one you recommended . Vista Grande.


Anyone have suggestion for 2 year old kid. is disneyland or sea better?

Understanding only japan has disneysea.