I will be spending next Monday-Friday in Japan! We’re staying at a hotel in Osaka near Dontonbori.
I would love recommendations for:
– Any food that Osaka is known for / best places to try it
– Favorite restaurants
– Favorite bars (not interested in clubs)
– Best shrines and temples in Kyoto and Nara
– Things to do for one day in Nara
– Things to do for one day in Kyoto
– Any good waterfalls around?
– Best shopping streets for food, souvenirs, etc.
– Any good breweries in Osaka??
I also have a few questions about the train system:
Is it pretty easy to navigate?
What time does the schedule begin/end?
Should we get a day pass or just pay as we go?
Here is my itinerary so far! I appreciate any input and/or suggestions.
Monday
– Land in Osaka ~9am
– Taxi/train to Cross Hotel Osaka, which is right around Dontonbori
– Check in isn’t until 3pm, so drop off bags before exploring around the area
– Grab lunch
Our flight is pretty early so we’ll probably be tired / won’t want to leave the area of our hotel after we arrive, but I thought maybe we could visit Osaka Castle.
Any other suggestions on simple but interesting things to do/see around the area? Dinner and bar recs would be great!
Tuesday: Kyoto Day
– Train to Kyoto
– Senbon Torii – I heard it’s best to get there early so that’s the plan
I’m not sure what else to do here bc we don’t want to spend a TON of time in transit, but we definitely do want to explore and make the most of our day.
Some ideas are Kinkaku-ji, Pontoncho, and Nishiki Market
Wednesday: Nara Day
– Nara Park / I’m wondering when is the best time to get there and how much time can we expect to spend there?
– Todai-ji
Any other must-see recommendations for our day in Nara?
Thursday: Osaka Day
I don’t have any specific plans yet for this day, I just figured we would do whatever we’re feeling. Maybe Cup Noodles Museum?
Friday
– Get breakfast, check out and head to airport
Thank you in advance!
1 comment
Osaka:
Try takoyaki at any street vendor
Try okonomiyaki. Can’t go wrong with a chain restaurant called Yukari
Try kushikatsu if you visit shinsekai (also where mega don quijote, famous tower, and spa world is)
Try chinese bao buns and shumai at horai 551. (I know it’s chinese food but it is strangely extremely famous and local to osaka)
Try yakitori or any izakaya that looks good really. Avoid the ones that got dudes outside the place trying to pull you in to come though.
Not local to Osaka but you can try sweets paradise if you’re interested in a sweets all you can eat buffet. They also have curry, soup, and pasta.
If you like games and anime, karaoke etc then check out dendentown near where you’re staying. There’s an animate and arcades, tcg shops, secondhand merch shops, anything a nerd’s heart could desire.
I personally wouldn’t visit the cup noodle museum, it’s a bit out of the way and just to doodle on a cup noodle with the toppings you chose. (It’s cool if that’s your thing tho). Maybe combine with a trip to banpaku anniversary park (giant world expo park with a mall) for a day’s itinerary. Take note of park closing time though.
As for waterfalls, you’re in luck. There is a great leisurely hike to minoo waterfall accessible from osaka station. Lots of traditional street food and local beer being sold on the way. Also a bug museum if you’re into that kind of stuff. The maple leaf tempura tastes like cookies.
The train system takes some getting used to but there are signs everywhere if you take a look around you and always helpful staff near the gates or behind the ticket vending machines to ask questions. Namba station and Osaka station will probably be your baseline stations and they have several different companys’ lines running through them so you would have to make sure you’re going to the proper train station to catch the right train. (Example: taking JR train. Go to Osaka JR station. Taking Hankyu line, go to Osaka Hankyu station)
I guess trains run from around 4-5am to 12am-1am.
Get a metro (subway) day pass from the ticket vending machines ONLY IF you’re taking the METRO more than 3-4 times in one day or so. (You can calculate the fare to see if it’s worth it on google maps) It’s an especially good deal on weekends.
If you’re into theme parks then universal studios japan might be a fun day out. Love the rollercoasters there.
Good luck!