Our Planned 7 Night Itinerary
Monday 27th June
Depart Australia
Arrive Osaka 7.10pm
Travel to Namba via Nankai Ltd Express Rapidt Y1390 (they also have a special for Y1500 for a ticket and a one day subway pass which I think we will buy).
By the way use this website for working out all your train times.
This time we are staying at Hotel Hilarys in the Namba district. I have booked direct through the hotel's website and pay when we arrive. I always do this when we visit Japan as the price is great and if you have to cancel at short notice you don't have to try and get refunds through tricky websites.
I am excited about staying in Namba as it is a lot more lively than where we stayed last time (near Osaka Castle).
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| Finding our hotel should be easy |
Tuesday 28th June
Our first day in Osaka is going to be a very busy one. We have been to Osaka before so we are trying to see some of the things that we didn't see last time. So if you are wondering why some of the obvious big sights have been overlooked, it is because we probably did them last time.
We've decided to buy the Osaka Unlimited 2 Day Pass Y2700 (buy from the Visitors Information Centre at the airport or in Namba). This pass gives you lots of entrances for free as well as unlimited travel on the subway. I'm a bargain hunter and want to get my money worth from the pass. Hence the probably overzealous plans. Hopefully our plans will go smoothly and without too much of a rushed feeling.
Our first day will be sightseeing using the pass
First Stop
- Tempozan Girant Ferris Wheel (10am-10pm)
- Santa Maria Boat cruise (11am-4pm)
We have already been to the aquarium and I really recommend a visit. If I hadn't been before I would have done it at this stop.
Directions:
Subway Yotsubashi line Y15 Namba to Y13 Hommachi swap to
Chuo line C16 to C11 Osakako [take exit 2]
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| Everything is really close |
Second Stop
- Osaka Maritime Museum (10am-5pm)
Directions:
Subway Chuo line C11 Osakako to C10 Cosmosquare
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| Not far of a walk from the subway |
Third Stop
- Osaka Science Museum (9.30am-4.30pm)
Directions:
Subway Chuo line C10 Cosmosquare to C16 Hommachi swap to
Yotsubashi line Y13 to Y12 Higobashi [take exit 3]
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| Love the way there are always so many exits to confuse you |
Fourth Stop
- Umeda Sky Building/Floating Garden Observatory
- Hep 5 Building and Ferris Wheel
Directions:
Subway Yotsubashi line Y13 Higobashi to Y13 Hommachi swap to
Midousuji line M18 Hommachi to M16 Umeda
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| The Umeda Area |
Wednesday 29th June
The unlimited pass is consecutive so we will be making the most of the pass today with another day of sightseeing. I am already hearing a sigh from my teenage son.
First Stop
Second Stop
Thursday 30th June
We are planning to head to Universal Studios. We spent a day there on our last visit to Osaka and had a great time. There is also a Hard Rock Cafe just outside the entrance that we will visit for dinner after a full day at the theme park. Not the cheapest, or most Japanese option, but we enjoyed our meal there last time.
The unlimited pass is consecutive so we will be making the most of the pass today with another day of sightseeing. I am already hearing a sigh from my teenage son.
First Stop
- Osaka Museum of Natural History
Directions:
Subway Midousuji line M20 Namba to M26 Nagai [take exit 3]
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| Museum of History |
Second Stop
- Tennoji Zoo (9.30am-5pm)
- Tsutenkaku Tower
Directions:
Subway Midousuji line M26 Nagai to M22 Dobutsuenamae [take exit 1]
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| Had some advice that this can be a bit of a seedy area |
Third Stop
- Tombori River Cruise (1pm-9pm)
- Dotonbori District
Directions:
Subway Midousuji line M22 Dobutsuenmae to M20 Namba [take exit 25 or 14]
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| Heading to Dotonbori |
Thursday 30th June
We are planning to head to Universal Studios. We spent a day there on our last visit to Osaka and had a great time. There is also a Hard Rock Cafe just outside the entrance that we will visit for dinner after a full day at the theme park. Not the cheapest, or most Japanese option, but we enjoyed our meal there last time.
Universal Studios Y6200
Directions:
Hanshin Namba line Osakananba to Nishikujo swap to
JR Yuesaki line Nishikujo to Universal City Station
All up this should cost Y360 each way
There are lots of different stations and exits in Namba so I think this just might help us if we become lost.
Friday 1st July
This just so happens to be my Dad's birthday so happy birthday dad. I have a funny feeling I was in Tokyo on last year's birthday too!
We plan to visit Kyoto. We loved Kyoto last time we visited and had wished that we were there longer. This time we are only spending a day but are seeing things we missed last time.
I plan to buy the Kansai 3 Day Thru Pass Y5000 as we will be heading out of Osaka over the next few days. I have calculated our trips and we will be slightly better off with the pass. I think the big benefit will actually be the ease of having the pass and not having to keep purchasing tickets. It is also great that each day doesn't need to be used consecutively. Time will tell if it works out that handily.
Directions:
Subway Midousuji line M20 Namba to M17 Yodoyabashi swap to
Keihan line ltd express Yodoyabashi to Gion Shijo
First Stop
Walk across river and up through Pontocho Alley
Apparently this would be better at night and we may even wander back here if we get time in the evening.
Second Stop
Nijo Castle (8.45am-4pm) Y600
Directions:
Subway T11 Sanjokeihan to T14 Nijojo-mae [take exit 1]
Third Stop
Imperial Palace
We have booked an English tour for 2pm and must remember our passports. This can be done over the internet in advance or by being at the office prior to tours. I have read mixed reviews so it will be interesting to see if it is worth it. I will get back to you on that one.
Directions:
Subway T14 Nijojo-mae to T13 Karasumaoike swap to
K08 Karasumaoike to K06 Imadegawa [take exit 6]
Directions:
Hanshin Namba line Osakananba to Nishikujo swap to
JR Yuesaki line Nishikujo to Universal City Station
All up this should cost Y360 each way
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| Google Maps is a huge help |
There are lots of different stations and exits in Namba so I think this just might help us if we become lost.
Friday 1st July
This just so happens to be my Dad's birthday so happy birthday dad. I have a funny feeling I was in Tokyo on last year's birthday too!
We plan to visit Kyoto. We loved Kyoto last time we visited and had wished that we were there longer. This time we are only spending a day but are seeing things we missed last time.
I plan to buy the Kansai 3 Day Thru Pass Y5000 as we will be heading out of Osaka over the next few days. I have calculated our trips and we will be slightly better off with the pass. I think the big benefit will actually be the ease of having the pass and not having to keep purchasing tickets. It is also great that each day doesn't need to be used consecutively. Time will tell if it works out that handily.
Directions:
Subway Midousuji line M20 Namba to M17 Yodoyabashi swap to
Keihan line ltd express Yodoyabashi to Gion Shijo
First Stop
Walk across river and up through Pontocho Alley
Apparently this would be better at night and we may even wander back here if we get time in the evening.
Second Stop
Nijo Castle (8.45am-4pm) Y600
Directions:
Subway T11 Sanjokeihan to T14 Nijojo-mae [take exit 1]
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| Red dot is the subway exit |
Third Stop
Imperial Palace
We have booked an English tour for 2pm and must remember our passports. This can be done over the internet in advance or by being at the office prior to tours. I have read mixed reviews so it will be interesting to see if it is worth it. I will get back to you on that one.
Directions:
Subway T14 Nijojo-mae to T13 Karasumaoike swap to
K08 Karasumaoike to K06 Imadegawa [take exit 6]
Fourth Stop
- Yasaka Shrine
- Gion District
Directions:
K07 Marutamachi to K08 Karasumaoike swap to
T13 Karasumaoike to T10 Higashiyam [take exit 2]
This should be quite a walk from one end of the district to the other but there are so many things to see and all the nook and crannies are just fabulous. Can't wait!
Eventually we will head back to Osaka in the opposite way we arrived.
Saturday 2nd July
We are planning on heading to Kobe on this day. We haven't visited Kobe before so it will be great to visit somewhere new. You can probably tell I like to be organised so I am always nervous about visiting somewhere new. I am pretty sure that I have the maps in tow thanks to the iPad and being able to keep a PDF copy of our itinerary and maps.
We are using the Kansai Thru Pass for this trip.
Directions:
Hanshin Namba line Rapid Exp Osakananba to Amagasaki swap to
Hanshin local line Amagasaki to Sumiyoshi
First Stop
Hakutsuru Sake Brewery (9am-4pm) Free
Directions:
Hanshin Namba line Rapid Exp Osakananba to Amagasaki swap to
Hanshin local line Amagasaki to Sumiyoshi
First Stop
Hakutsuru Sake Brewery (9am-4pm) Free
This visit is for the hubby as I really don't like Sake. I think he will be impressed as apparently there are free taste tests.
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| Not sure where the actual entrance is but we will work it out |
Second Stop
Earthquake Museum (9am-6pm) Y600
Directions:
Hanshin local line Sumiyoshi to Iwaya
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| Turn right where the map finishes |
Third Stop
- Nankinmachi (Chinatown)
- Kobe Motomachi Shopping Alley
Directions:
Hanshin local line Iwaya to Motomachi
Not sure how long this day will take or if our travels will take us further afield in Kobe. Again time will tell.
Plans on getting back to the hotel the same way as we arrived but catching the train back from Motomachi.
Sunday 3rd July
Haven't fully decided on this day yet but thought we could explore the Namba area. Here are some ideas:
- DenDen Town (Electronics district)
- Amerikamaura District
- Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade
- Kuromon Market
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| Looks like there is heaps to see and do in the Namba area |
Thought we might even visit SpaWorld as the son would really enjoy it.
3 hour pass Y2400
Apparently you are not allowed in with any tattoos. I have a couple of small ones so the full Japanese onsen experience is out for me but the family water slides and pools could be okay. I will need to remember to put bandaids on my tattoos so I don't get found out in the change rooms.
Directions:
Subway Midousuji line M20 Namba to M22 Dobutsuenmae
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| Huge building that you can't miss |
Monday 4th July
On our last day I plan to head out to Nara using the last day on our Kansai Thru Pass. Not only will we be able to use the pass for the Nara trip but it will also cover train back to the airport. My theory is to wear ourselves out today so that we sleep on that night flight home (with a little help from the friendly doctor).
Directions:
Kintetsu Nara Line Rapid Exp
Osakananba to Kintetsunara
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| Lots of things closed on Mondays but will still be a good day |
We need to be back at KIX for our 8.25pm flight.
And there are journeys will end.
So seven weeks and three sleep until our journey begins. I will update you on the success or problems we experience.
