City Guides, Japan, Osaka

Things to do in Osaka: An Osaka Travel Guide including Easy Day Trips!

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I visited Osaka for the first time in the spring of 2017, to meet up with Kat, my best friend from college. We hadn’t seen each other in person for almost eight years since I moved away from LA but we kept in touch every day via chat apps. That spring, we finally decided to meet up in Japan.

Since we had such an amazing time catching up in Osaka last year, Kat and I decided to do an encore and meet up again this year. Long story short I’ve found myself visiting Osaka five times since then. So yeah, this post is long overdue – it’s about time I impart some knowledge and my favorite things to do in Osaka.

Getting to Osaka

There are two best ways to get to Osaka:

By Shinkansen train – Most people get to Osaka by train from Tokyo via Shinkansen, Japan’s famous ultra-fast bullet train. If you are coming here from Tokyo and you don’t have a JR Pass, you can book the Tokyo – Osaka Shinkansen here. You’ll most likely get off at Osaka Station or Shin-Osaka Station, where you will have plenty of convenient options for local trains to switch to. If you have the Unlimited JR Pass, then the Tokyo – Osaka train is already included so you don’t need to buy separately!

By Airplane via KIX – If you are flying and landing at Kansai Airport (KIX) and will be staying in the city, I recommend taking Haruka line by Japan Rail (JR). This line takes you straight from KIX to the city, stopping at major stations Tennoji and Shin-Osaka before going on to Kyoto. If you have the unlimited JR Pass, this is already included. Make sure to check ahead if your accommodation is closer to Tennoji or Shin-Osaka as there is a slight fare difference for the bundles – Tennoji is closer to the airport so it’s cheaper. From there, you can resume with local trains using your IC card.

If you are staying at a hotel in Osaka, you might be interested in the luggage delivery services from Kansai International Airport. Luggage delivery is common in Japan and reliable. It lets you travel without having to carry your heavy luggage.

Haruka ticket

Getting around Osaka

Osaka is one of the largest metropolitan cities in Japan, second only to Tokyo. As with other big cities, you’ll find it very accessible and well-connected. Getting in and around Osaka is super easy.

Local trains in Japan run on IC (Integrated Circuit) Cards. This IC card will be your lifeline during your stay. It allows you to tap in and out of each train station without having to buy a ticket every single time you take a train. And because everyone has an IC card in Japan, you can even use your card balance to buy things from convenience stores and vending machines. Whenever the balance is running low, you can easily refill the card using cash or credit card at any train station.

Learn more about IC Card and how to use your mobile phone as an IC Card in Japan!

The IC card used in Kansai is called ICOCA. Different areas in Japan have different brands of IC cards, but they all work exactly the same way across the country. For example, in the Kanto (Tokyo) area, the popular brand is Suica or Pasmo. In the Kansai (Osaka) area, they are called ICOCA – a play on the Japanese word “Ikouka”, which means – “Let’s go!”.

Regardless of the brand, IC Cards can be used across Japan. You can use Suica and Pasmo in Kansai, and you can use ICOCA in Tokyo.

Using the virtual IC Card

Good news for iPhone users – the IC cards have gone virtual and you can use your phone as an IC card! This makes everything even more convenient, as you can refill the balance via your phone without having to go to the station.

Learn more about IC Card and how to use your mobile phone as an IC Card in Japan!

Note that you do not need to buy a physical IC card to do this, just start the process straight from your phone! However, if you DO have an existing IC card you can still transfer the balance to your phone. Your existing card will then stop working and you can only use your phone as an IC card from that point onwards.

If you prefer to have a physical IC card, you can buy the ICOCA Card online and pick it up from the Kansai airport. But if you already own an IC card from Tokyo or other areas of Japan, then you can just continue to use that – you don’t need to buy another one.

Do I need a JR Pass?

JR pass is a form of rail pass that gives you unlimited access to all JR trains in Japan for 7, 14, or 21 days. I bolded the JR train part for emphasis since this gets confusing for some people – in Japan, there are many train companies and Japan Rail (JR) is one of them, and this pass is only valid for JR trains! Getting a JR Pass makes sense if you are planning to visit multiple cities in Japan. The trains between cities aren’t cheap and you’ll be saving a lot more this way.

You HAVE to have already bought the JR Pass before your trip. You cannot buy it once you’re in Japan. You can buy the Unlimited JR Pass here and have it shipped to your house, so ensure you get it ahead of time!

The price of Unlimited JR Pass has increased by 70% since 1 Oct 2023. Even though you’ll see many recommendations for buying a JR Pass to save some costs, it could be outdated. Since the price hike, it has become harder to justify the cost of the JR Pass, however regional passes like the JR West Kansai Pass might still be worth it. I am working on updating my blog post to reflect this change.

If you are in Osaka just to visit the Kansai area though, you might not need the unlimited JR Pass. The following JR Kansai pass covers Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe, and can be picked up at the Kansai Airport (KIX). All you need to decide is how many days you want to use the pass for!

Coin Lockers in the train stations

Flying out late but have to check out early from your accommodation? You don’t have to carry your luggage around all day. You can leave your luggage in a coin locker.

Coin lockers are available everywhere in major stations and they are quite spacious and cheap to rent. I was able to fit my 45L backpack into that tiny 300 yen one at the bottom. There is an English instruction on the machine to rent them – super easy.

Coin lockers at JR station

Be sure to come early if you are going from a popular station – I once tried to do this in Kyoto station around noon but I was not able to find any available locker. In the end, I gave up and had to lug my backpack around all day.

Where to stay in Osaka

In Osaka, it’s best to stay close to a major train station – anywhere near Umeda, Shin-Osaka, Namba, Tennoji and Umeda / Osaka station is a great option.

Here are some recommendations:

  • Zentis Osaka in Umeda ($$) – Located within a few minutes walk to Osaka Station. They have studio apartments as well as family rooms for those who want bigger accommodations.
  • InterContinental Osaka ($$$) – Also located within a few minutes walk from Osaka station, this hotel is very convenient with many amenities nearby
  • Hotel Noum Osaka ($$) – A cute modern hotel located one station away from Osaka-Umeda station.
  • Umedaholic ($$) – Small hotel near Osaka-Umeda station and close to the city center.
  • Guesthouse Ten-roku ($) – Female-only dorm, perfect for solo travelers who are looking to save on accommodations.

Things to do in Osaka

Alright, now that you know all about traveling to Osaka, here are the things I enjoyed doing in Osaka:

1. Visit the Osaka Castle

This is a must-visit when you’re in Osaka. Personally, I was way more impressed by the area around the castle rather than the castle itself. It’s surrounded by this amazing park and makes for a picturesque stroll especially if you happen to be here during Hanami (Sakura) or Momijigari (Autumn) season.

The Osaka Castle and I
The park at Osaka Castle

I would recommend entering the park from the southwest corner – the closest station is Morinomiya on the Chuo line – and walking through the park before finally getting to the castle.

The walk from this point would take about 20-30 minutes, so be sure to plan your time accordingly if you want to enter the castle.

You can pre-purchase the entrance ticket to the Osaka Castle here

2. Eat all the street food in Dotonbori

Dotonbori
Dotonbori – full of people and takoyaki stalls

Dotonbori is the center of everything “Japan” in Osaka. You can find a 24-hour Donki (Japanese variety shop), Restaurants, Arcades with Gashapon machines, drug stores, vertical neon-light billboards, and most importantly for me: Takoyaki! You can read more about Takoyaki in the “What to eat” section below.

3. Visit the anime town at Den-Den Town in Namba

If you enjoyed Akihabara in Tokyo, you’ll love Den-den town. It’s basically Osaka’s hub of everything geeky – electronics, Anime goodies, Gashapon machines, comic book stores, and video games. You can also find decent shopping here at Japanese variety stores like Loft and Donki.

Gashapon Galore

If you don’t know what Gashapon is, you must try them while you are in Japan! They are these capsule toy machines that you can find all over Japan. The machine dispenses small toys or figurines in a capsule. Each machine has different themes with 4-5 possible options of toys that you can get, but you won’t know exactly which one you get until you put in your yen coins and turn that knob. It’s the literal definition of cheap thrill – each capsule toy costs only 200-400 yen.

4. Visit the Osaka Aquarium

The Osaka Aquarium is one of the most impressive aquariums I’ve ever visited so far. They have an intensive collection of marine life sourced from different parts of the world, including a pair of whale sharks in a massive tank along with other species like Manta Rays, Nurse Sharks, and Eagle rays.

Whaleshark at the Osaka Aquarium

However, as an avid diver, I have to admit this made me uncomfortable… especially seeing highly intelligent animals like dolphins in captivity. On the other hand, I can see how this is a great educational opportunity for kids and adults alike.

You can buy the tickets to the Osaka Aquarium online here so that you don’t have to wait in line.

5. See Osaka city from above

If you would like to see the city from high up, there are plenty of options around Osaka!

1. Highest Point of View at Harukas 300 (300m)

For the highest point of view, I suggest visiting the Umeda Sky Building Observatory at Umeda / Osaka station or Harukas 300 at Abeno Harukas in Tennoji station. The true highest one in Osaka is Abeno Harukas at 300m, while the Umeda Sky Observatory is only 170m above the ground.

You can pre-purchase the ticket to Umeda Sky Building (1500 yen) and Harukas 300 (1800 yen).

2. Retro Tsutenkaku Tower at Shin-sekai (91m)

My favorite is Tsutenkaku at Shin Sekai. Although not very tall at 103m (and the observatory is at 91m), I thought it was the most interesting tower because it has more history and character.

Tsutenkaku Tower at Shin-sekai
Tsutenkaku Tower at Shin-sekai

It was originally built in 1912 but refurbished multiple times over the years. As you are going up the tower and coming back down, you’ll be able to enjoy the retro Japan exhibition they have in the tower – stuff like Atom Boy and the retro history of Pocky and Glico snacks can be seen for free!

Purchase the Tsutenkaku ticket here and exchange it for a physical ticket when you get there

I would also highly recommend topping up an additional 300 yen to be able to reach the top deck. You can do this when you’re at the observatory.

Top Deck at Tsutenkaku Tower
Top Deck at Tsutenkaku Tower

Normally, I would not recommend topping up to get to the higher point of an observatory because it’s usually not worth it. But in the case of Tsutenkaku, it was TOTALLY worth it! The normal observation deck was indoors, but the top deck was completely outdoors. There is also a section with a glass floor so you can test your bravery by standing there and looking down. I did not pass that test because my legs were shaking as soon as I looked down 😛

Glass floor area at Tsutenkaku Tower
Glass floor area at Tsutenkaku Tower

3. Ferris Wheel at HEP FIVE

For a cheaper option, you can take the Ferris Wheel at HEP FIVE near Osaka station – It’s small but it’s only 600 yen per ride, you get a private car to yourself and the wait isn’t very long.

You can speed up the process too by buying the ticket ahead of time here: HEP Five Ferris Wheel, then all you have to do is scan the QR code when you get there.

My friend Kat at the Ferris wheel in HEP FIVE

6. Cup Noodles Instant Ramen Museum

Also known as Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum, the gentleman who founded Nissin Food Products – the company that makes Cup Noodles. I didn’t get to do this on my visits (yet!), but if you’re like me and lived off cheap instant ramen in college, I reckon this museum warrants a visit. You can even decorate your instant ramen cup!

7. Go back in time to Kyoto (Day Trip from Osaka)

Fushimi Inari in Kyoto

Kyoto needs no introduction – it is a must-visit when you’re in Osaka. The city is an easy 30 minutes on the rapid local train or 15 minutes on the Shinkansen.

Further Reading: I’ve written a dedicated blog post for Kyoto here: Kyoto Travel Guide, so please check that post on all my recommendations for Kyoto.

Although I filed this under day trips outside Osaka, you need 2-3 days to properly visit Kyoto – there is so much to see and do here that it warrants a separate post by itself. Set aside one day to visit the Arashiyama side of Kyoto (west), and 2 days to visit the temples (east side of Kyoto).

But I would still recommend staying at a hotel in Osaka because accommodations are cheaper here.

8. Get friendly with Sika deer in Nara (Day Trip from Osaka)

Nara is another popular trip to take from Osaka due to its proximity – only 30-45 minutes by local train. The city is quite small, but they have many temples and shrines to visit. They also have a huge park where you can walk and interact with the free-roaming wild Sika deer population in Nara.

Further Reading: I’ve written a dedicated blog post for Nara here: Nara Travel Guide, so please read that post for everything I know about Nara

Nara Itinerary
With Sika Deer in Nara, Japan

9. Take a walk at Akame 48 Waterfalls (Day Trip from Osaka)

One of the waterfalls at Akame 48

Akame 48 Waterfall is about an hour out of Osaka by train. It’s a short, easy trail following the main river which forms many small waterfalls. There are less than 48 waterfalls, but they used 48 in the name to signify endless waterfalls.

Further Reading: You can read my post about visiting Akame 48!

10. Visit Kobe (Day Trip from Osaka)

IKobe is also 30 minutes away from Osaka by train. Kobe is well-known for… well, the delicious Kobe beef, which you’ll find plenty of in Kobe. Aside from the beef, Kobe is known as the port city and a place where immigrants thrived when Japan began trading with the outside world. So make sure to check out Kobe’s Chinatown area, the Kobe ropeway, and the Nunobiki waterfall.

11. Suntory Yamazaki Whiskey Distillery

If you are a whiskey lover, a trip to this distillery is a must. They are located about 30 minutes from Osaka / Umeda station. You can visit the Yamazaki Whiskey Museum for free and do some whiskey tasting (not free). If you’re interested to learn about the whiskey-making process then they have tours that cost 1000-2000 yen.

Make sure you book your slot for the tour ahead of time here

12. Bonus: See Mount Fuji from above if you’re coming to Osaka on a domestic flight from Tokyo

Mount Fuji from the plane, hiding underneath clouds

If you are flying to Osaka from Tokyo, try to get a window seat on the right side of the plane. You might just get lucky and see Mount Fuji about 30 minutes into the flight. I knew about this before so I picked a window seat on the right side of the plane on my way there, but I wasn’t lucky with the weather. Mount Fuji was hiding underneath all those clouds… :/

What and Where to Eat in Osaka

Just like other big cities in Japan, there is plenty of good food in Osaka. Here are some of my favorites!

1. Takoyaki (Octopus Ball)

Takoyaki in the making

When visiting Osaka, eating Takoyaki is a must. Takoyaki is one of the most well-known street snacks in Japan. It’s a ball-shaped snack made from a wheat-flour-based batter with chopped-up juicy octopus tentacles and other ingredients such as ginger and green onion, grilled in a pan with hemispherical holes to help shape it into a ball. Once done, it’s served with takoyaki sauce and Japanese mayo, then topped with crispy bonito flakes. Although you can find this all over Japan, it was popularized in Osaka.

I tried Takocha near Umeda station. It’s a very small stall manned by one guy, and you might have to wait for your takoyaki. However, the takoyaki is stunningly delicious.

Takocha
Closest Station: Osaka-Umeda Station or Osaka Station
Direction: Google Maps

Messy delicious takoyaki from Takocha
Messy delicious takoyaki from Takocha

One of the most popular places to get Takoyaki is Dotonbori. The one I tried is from the Konamon Takoyaki Museum in the middle of Dotonbori and it was delicious! The batter is crispy on the outside yet juicy on the inside. The bits of octopus are also quite generous. Best of all, they’re always made fresh on the spot! If you see a queue forming, fret not. They’re just waiting for the next batch and once that’s done, the queue moves fast. I ended up eating a dozen of these by myself…

Konamon Takoyaki Museum 
Nearest Station: Namba (Midosuji Line)
Direction: Google Maps

2. Japanese Cheesecake from Rikuro Ojisan no Mise

Rikuro Ojisan no mise means “Grandpa Rikuro’s store”. You might have seen this store making its rounds on social media.

Popular for the fluffy cheesecake that “jiggles” as it comes out fresh out of the oven, Rikuro Ojisan cheesecake originated from Osaka and for a while could only be found in Osaka and Kobe, though I heard there are now branches in Shanghai and Beijing.

Their cheesecake is different from the ones you get in, say, New York, which tends to be very rich. Rikuro’s cheesecake is very fluffy in texture and light in taste – much like other Japanese desserts, it’s not too overly sweet. I only got a slice but I feel like I could have eaten an entire cake on my own.

3. Yakitori at an Izakaya in Namba

Yakitori dishes with draft beer

Visiting an Izakaya for some yakitori is a must when you’re in Japan. There are tons of them near Namba station, on the south-west side.

Izakaya is popular among corporate men and women as an after-work watering hole because they serve cheap small plates of various grilled skewers that go well with alcohol. My favorite is called Yakitori Nambatei, a small hole-in-wall restaurant where each plate costs 300-400 yen and comes with 3 skewers. I recommend having their draft beer as well!

Yakitori Nambatei
Nearest Station: Namba (Midosuji Line)
Direction: Google Maps

4. Naniwa Omurice

Standard Omurice with Demi-glace sauce

Trivia: “Naniwa” is the old name of Osaka from the 6th century. The earliest record of the city being referred to in Osaka dates back to 14th century.

In Japanese cuisine, there are plenty of occurrences of “japanized western food” aka yoshoku, where the Japanese have adopted western dishes and made it into their own. Omurice is a popular example of this and has become a staple comfort food for many Japanese households. It’s usually made by a mother for their small children as it’s fun to eat and tastes good.

Omurice can be served in tomato-based sauce, or demi-glace sauce (savory beef sauce). I prefer the latter. Naniwa Omurice serves both styles and you can add more toppings such as Kaarage (Japanese fried chicken), fried prawn, pork cutlet or cheese.

Naniwa Omurice
Nearest Station: Shinsaibashi (Midosuji)
Direction: Google Maps

5. Fishing Boat Restaurant Zauo

Me failing at fishing for our dinner

If you want a bit more drama with your dinner, try visiting Zauo at Namba. At this restaurant, you can catch your own fish and they will prepare them for you in any style you want.

It’s not for the faint of heart though – I for one couldn’t bear to fish because I felt so bad for them… while fishing, you can feel the hooks dragging against their scales and I just couldn’t do it. So, I let my friends do the hard work and enjoyed the catch later 😡 But it’s still fun!

Zauo Fishing Boat Restaurant
Nearest Station: Namba (Midosuji Line)
Direction: Google Maps

6. Zundouya Ramen

Zundouya Ramen with Straight Noodle
Buying the ramen from the vending machine at the entrance

Zundouya Ramen specializes in Tonkotsu ramen, a type of ramen where the broth is made from boiling pork bone for hours until it turns white. It’s originated from Fukuoka but you can enjoy it all over Japan these days.

Zundouya is one of those ramen shops where you order outside the shop at a vending machine, then bring the voucher in and they’ll make your order for you. You can customize the noodles (curly or straight), the done-ness of the noodles (al dente, regular or soft), and the intensity of the broth (light, regular, or strong/fatty).

There are a few locations in Osaka but the one I went to is near Umeda / Osaka Station.

Zundouya Ramen
Nearest Station: Umeda
Direction: Google Maps

Alright, folks! That’s all from me about traveling in Osaka. Let me know in the comment below what you think and if there is anything else you want to know. I’ll be happy to answer your question as best as I can.

Til next time 👋

Are you planning a trip to Japan? I’ve written loads about the beautiful country. Check out the ‘Japan’ category of this blog for some travel inspiration.

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Filed under: City Guides, Japan, Osaka

Written by Melissa

Hi there! 👋🏻 I'm the "Girl" in Girl Eat World. I love eating, traveling and sharing my travel experiences in this blog. During the day, I work as a designer in tech. More about me →

19 Comments

  1. Billy Jack says

    Please don’t eat octopus, they are the most intelligent creatures on the planet behind humans (way above dolphins and chimps). I dare you to watch “My octopus teacher” and then eat octopus, squid or calamari. I’m also a diver and this documentary is very powerful. Great blog, well done! I’m going in May and look forward to all the things to see, eat and do.

  2. Irene says

    My friend n I (ladies age 60-72) would like to see Sakura from April 6-20 2024. Appreciate your recommendation which place should we go in order not to miss Sakura.

  3. marvs_travel says

    Hi Melissa,
    I am just glad to find your posts. I’ll be traveling with my family to Osaka in December for 4 days. Can you share some of your recommendation on my first day in Osaka as I want to explore the city before we get to the AirBNB which is near Nishikujo station (close to USJ). will be coming from tokyo by bullet train but have not bought tickets yet. i am planning to get the 6:30 AM bullet from tokyo but will be too early to check in the air BNB. any recommended places close to shin-osaka station that we can look around to pass time?
    thanks

  4. Rosalind says

    Hi Melissa

    Nice reading info for Osaka. Is our first trip to Japan.. hope get more info from you.

    We will reach Kansai Airport then to Tokyo for 5 days then back to Osaka for 5 days before back to Singapore. From Kansai airport to Tokyo hotel, near Shin-Okubo. Would you suggest to buy JR Pass? Our trips rather straight forward, as NEW to Japan.

    Mainly all the famous spot in Tokyo and Osaka such as Gotokuji Temple, Tokyo Tower, Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo, Ikebukuro, Asakusabashi, Shibuya and Harajuku for Tokyo. As for Osaka will be Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi-Suj, Kuromon Market and Nipponbashi Denden Town..

    looking forward to your suggestion..

    thanks sooooo much

    • Melissa says

      Hey Rosalind, the one way cost to get from Tokyo is already $140 one way on the bullet train (shinkansen), so it’s definitely worth it to get the 5 days Unlimited JR even if just for the Osaka-Tokyo and then back. Just make sure the JR pass is still active for your shinkansen journey. You can buy the Unlimited JR Pass here

  5. Tan Eng Keong says

    Hi Mel,
    Planning to self drive in kansai & gifu prefectures and will be staying 2 nights in osaka.
    It is difficult to drive around and for car parking in osaka?
    Hope to hear from you soon.
    Thank you.
    Keong ( singapore )

    • Melissa says

      Hey Keong, driving in Osaka is pretty similar to Singapore – it’s a big city so if you’re used to Singapore you should be fine. Parking is a little expensive in Japan but it depends where you are. If you are in the town area then it will get pretty expensive but if you’re in the outskirts then it might be free.

  6. Lee says

    Hi
    Can share the day itinerary for Osaka and Kyoto ?
    Can’t figure out where to start from day trip in Kyoto
    Also can’t plan the Osaka day trip
    Thanks for sharing

  7. Sahana Kulur says

    Dear Melissa.
    I love what you have written. Mostly travel writers focus on putting up good pictures. I found your photos honest, true and look a lot of fun. Of course, the writing is also witty. Kudos 🙂

  8. john says

    hi Melissa,
    From Singapore to Osaka, if my flight land at 9:35pm. it is ok? will there be train to city? what the train operation timing?
    i plan to stay 10 days in Osaka/stay in Osaka and move around. i need the wide area(5 days ) or jr-west kansai pass(4days)? what the different?

    thanks.

    • Melissa says

      Hey John, the trains generally stop around midnight in Japan.

  9. Dear Melissa,
    I came across your blog by accident. You are very informative and insightful. My husband and I (in our 50s) are planning to visit Osaka in October 2023. Would greatly appreciate if you could help with planning our itinerary. We will fly into and out from Osaka. We have about 8-10 days of holiday. Osaka and Kyoto are the main places of interest at the moment for us. Please advise and revert. Thank you.

  10. Dear Melissa
    My friend and i are planning a 1 week trip from 12 Dec- 19Dec.to Western Japan with Osaka and Kyoto in mind as the places to go among others. This is our 1st time traveling to Japan. We will be flying in at about 3pm and out Kansai Airport at around 6pm flights.
    Any suggested itinerary?
    12 Dec Kansai Airport to Kyoto via train JR pass

    12 Dec – 15 Dec * Kyoto (book stay)

    13 Dec Take the train from Kyoto to Hiroshima for a day trip. 1 day stay (Miyajima Island/Hiroshima Peace Memorial
    Park) ** or any other suggestions for places or city instead of Hiroshima

    14 Dec Take train back to Kyoto (Day trip to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest)

    16 Dec Leave Kyoto via train to Osaka

    16 Dec – 19 Dec Osaka (book stay)
    (Osaka Castle, Dotonbori/Shinsaibashi (Shisaibushi-Suji), Tempozan (Ferris wheel, Osaka
    Aquarium), Universal Studios Japan), Shinsekai, Food Art Gallery(JTRRD Cafe), Pokemon Cafe

    19 Dec Checkout/to Kansai Airport for evening flight

    How about trains/transportation..should we just get the JR pass. Can we use the JR pass to take the Shinkansen)? Would love to experience the bullet train. 🙂
    Any recommendation for accommodation which is cost saving? My colleague said that despite the places to stay is cheaper away from central Osaka, it is far from the train station and the train fares are expensive.

    Do you think the suggested itinerary is ok or ambitious. Do you have any suggestion. We are unsure. Would really appreciate your help and advice.

    Looking forward to hear from you the soonest possible so that we can plan and make the necessary bookings/reservations.

  11. Ricky says

    Hi Melissa!

    I’ll be visiting and staying in Osaka during early Oct 2020 for 5 days and want to do day trips to Kyoto, Nara and Kobe! Should I get both the JR Kansai wide pass as well as the Haruka + ICOCA card? Or will the Haruka + ICOCA card be enough for me to do day trips to Kyoto, Nara and Kobe?

    Thank you,
    Ricky

    • Melissa Hie says

      Hey Ricky, if you are ok with taking local trains (usually slightly slower and no booked seats) then you’re fine with just the Haruka + ICOCA card. You can use ICOCA card to do the local travels. Whether it would be cheaper or not depends on how often you’ll be taking JR trains during the day, since the JR pass can also be used on local JR trains.

  12. Tham says

    Dear Melissa,

    I am thinking to doing Tokyo and Osaka (2 of us). In terms of time and costs, what will be your recommendation: fly into Tokyo and fly out from Osaka or the other way round? of should I just fly in/out from Tokyo?

    thank you,
    Tham

    • Melissa Hie says

      i think depends on whether you are getting a JR pass and whether the Osaka – Tokyo train portion is covered or not. Also depends on the price difference between flying out of Tokyo vs Osaka. I personally would just fly out of Osaka to be more efficient!

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