Thursday, March 22, 2018

Asia - Japan - Osaka & Kyoto & Nara #Day 6

6th Day 28/10/2017, Saturday      
  Nara Destination Duration Cost/pax
MORNING Osaka-Namba Station
Walk 9mins to Nishi-Umeda Station - Yotsubashi Line - Namba Station (7mins)  16mins ¥230
From Namba Station: Walk to Osaka-Namba Station Osaka-Namba 4 mins
Nara
From Osaka-Namba Station: Kintetsu Nara Line Rapid Exp. for KINTETSUNARA Kintetsu-Nara 38 mins ¥560
Nara Park
5-min away from Kintetsu-Nara Station. Established in 1880, it is the location of many of Nara's main attractions including Todaiji, Kasuga Taisha, Kofukuji and the Nara National Museum. The park is home to hundreds of freely roaming deer.
Isui-en Garden & Yoshiki-en
Use the underground crossings to get to the northeast corner of the Nobori-oji/Route 169. Walk from there to Isui-en Garden. If you have time, pop into the free and excellent Yoshiki-en next door.
Todai-ji Temple
Walk from Isui-en along the backstreets to Todai-ji Temple. Before entering the Daibutsu-den Hall to see the Great Buddha (Daibutsu), walk a little south to check out the Nandai-mon Gate, that lies a few hundred meters east of the Daibutsu-den, and once inside the Daibutsu-den, be sure to circle around the back and check out the pillar with the hole in the middle. Children who can squeeze through it are said to be assured of enlightenment.
 
Nigatsu-do Hall
Walk along the east wall of the Daibutsu-den and then go up the path that turns up to the right just past the small pond to reach Nigatsu-do Hall.
AFTERNOON Walk in the direction of the base of Wakakusa-yama.
Kasuga-Taisha Shrine
Follow the narrow pathways through the forest to Kasuga-Taisha Shrine.
Follow the main path from Kasuga-Taisha all the way west until you reach Kofuku-ji Temple. If you haven’t eaten lunch yet, you’ll find lots of place in the shopping streets nearby (in Downtown Naraand Naramachi)
In the afternoon, make a loop south through Naramachi, checking out Sarusawa-no-ike Pond, Koshi-no-Ie and the shops and galleries of the area.
Return to your lodgings or one of the main train stations. ¥790
last day 29/10/2017, Sunday      
  Kansai International Airport Destination Duration Cost/pax
Oct 29 MH53 KIX 9:55 AM - KUL 4:10 PM
545 Take taxi from Air BnB to Osaka Station ¥2,000 RM80.00
0612 -0720 Osaka Station - Osaka Loop Line 関空快速Kansai-Airport Platform 1 -  68mins ¥1,190 RM47.60

Asia - Japan - Osaka & Kyoto & Nara #Day 5

KYOTO
RM:YEN ¥1 0.04
5th 27-Oct
Fushimi Inari Temple Sightseeing & Downtown Kyoto
AirBnB walk to Umeda Station Umeda Station 14mins ¥240 RM9.60
Hankyu-Kyoto LineLimited Express Kawaramachi 44mins HANKYU TOURIST PASS 
MORNING Fushimi Inari
From Kujo Kintetsu Mae Eastbound bus stop: City Bus 207 (Northeast bound) Tofukuji 12 mins City Bus Pass
From Tofukuji bus stop walk towards Tofukuji Station Tofukuji Station 6 mins City Bus Pass
From Tofukuji Station: Keihan Line (for Yodoyabashi) Sub-Express Fushimi Inari 7 mins ¥150
TEA Vermillion Café
 charming cafe when you make your way down from Fushimi Inari Taisha.
Japan, 〒612-0805 Kyōto-fu, Kyōto-shi, Fushimi-ku, Fukakusa Kaidoguchichō, 5−31
Monday - Friday : 10am - 515pm; Saturday - Sunday : 9am - 515pm
Option:
Teramachi Kyōgoku Shōtengai (shopping arcade)
From Fushimi Inari Station: Keihan Line (for Demachiyanagi) Sub-Express Sanjo 10 mins ¥210
From Sanjo Dori, walk towards Teramachi Kyōgoku Shōtengai (South Entrance) Teramachi Kyōgoku Shōtengai
LUNCH Can try all the food near Gion-Shijo station. From Gion-Shijo to Pontocho Alley just 3 mins walk
EVENING Pontocho Alley
One of four hanamachi in Kyoto other than Gion to spot geishas. It runs parallel to the west bank of the Kamo-gawa River between Sanjo and Shijo. It’s lined with traditional shops and restaurants, and no cars, modern buildings or gaudy signs are allowed.
From Teramachi dori: Walk to Kawarimachi Sanjo bus stop (Southbound) Kawaramachi Sanjo 4 mins
From Kawaramachi Sanjo bus stop: City Bus 37 (Northbound) Shijo Keihan Mae 5 mins City Bus Pass
From Shijo Keihan Mae: Walk to Pontocho Dori Pontocho Alley 3 mins
(consider walking from Teramachi dori to Pontocho Dori?)
AirBnB walk to Umeda Station Umeda Station 14mins ¥240 RM9.60
Hankyu-Kyoto LineLimited Express Kawaramachi 44mins HANKYU TOURIST PASS 
¥7,440

Asia - Japan - Osaka & Kyoto & Nara #Day 4

KYOTO
RM:YEN ¥1 0.04
4th Day 26-Oct
Arashiyama & Kinkakuji Temple Sightseeing Destination Duration Cost/pax
AirBnB walk to Umeda Station Umeda Station 14mins ¥240 RM9.60
Hankyu-Kyoto LineLimited Express Kawaramachi 44mins HANKYU TOURIST PASS 
MORNING Arashiyama
From Kujo Kintetsu Mae bus stop (Eastbound): City Bus 19, 71, 78 Kyoto Station
Purchase unlimited one-day Kyoto City bus pass 
Bus From Kyoto St. bus stop (Stand D3): City Bus 28 Arashiyama-Tenryuji-mae  44 mins
Train From Kyoto Station: Take the JR Sagano/San-in Line (Track no 31-33) Saga-Arashiyama Station 12 mins ¥240
Start this walk from Randen (Keifuku) Arashiyama Stn. The station is an attraction in itself. There are a number of shops selling traditional sweets and
Enter the main gate of the superb Tenryu-ji Temple and explore the temple Tenryu-ji Temple ¥600
Walk uphill and through the garden to reach the north exit of Tenryu-ji Temple. Take a left outside the exit and walk uphill Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Walk uphill through the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and when you reach the top of the hill and the road, look across the road and to the right a bit and you will see a small hut.  Okochi-Sanso Villa
Leave Okochi-Sanso Villa and take a left onto the main sightseeing road, heading north. Go downhill and pass a pond on your left. The route here goes past a string of temples: Jojakko-ji Temple, Nison-in Temple, Takiguchi-dera Temple and Gio-ji Temple. Soon after passing Jojakko-ji Temple, you’ll see the quaint thatched-roof Rakushisha Poet’s hut, which belonged to a disciple of the famed haiku poet Matsuo Basho.  Gio-ji Temple
After visiting the temple, return to the main route and continue northwest. You’ll pass several shops and a few restaurants. After about 250 meters, you’ll see the steps leading up to Adashino-Nembutsu-ji Temple on your left. Walk north from Adashino-Nembutsu-ji Temple and you’ll soon get to the bright orange Atago Torii, a lovely Shinto shrine gate. Atago Torii
Walk up the stone steps on the left, just before the highway overpass, to catch bus No 62 or 72 back to Arashiyama 
LUNCH Unagiya Hirokawa – a famous and perpetually packed unaju specialty house just across the road from Tenryuji. Be prepared to wait for at least 30 minutes on good days, and do note that the restaurant imposes a minimum order of one main course per diner. Unagi
AFTERNOON TO EVENING Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavillion)
Option 1: Taxi from Arashiyama ¥2,000 RM80.00
Option 2: Bus from Arashiyama
From Arashiyama-Tenryuji-mae bus stop: City Bus 11 (Northbound) Yamagoe Nakacho 11 min City Bus Pass
From Yamagoe Nakacho, walk for 5 mins to Yamagoe bus stop: City Bus 59 (Eastbound) Kinkakuji-mae 18 mins City Bus Pass
From Kinkakuji Temple, walk to Kinkakuji Michi bus stop Kinkakuji Michi 3 mins Walk
From Kinkakuji Michi Bus Stop: City Bus 205 (Southbound) Kyoto Station 41 mins City Bus Pass
LATE EVENING AirBnB walk to Umeda Station Umeda Station 14mins ¥240 RM9.60
Hankyu-Kyoto LineLimited Express Kawaramachi 44mins HANKYU TOURIST PASS 

Asia - Japan - Osaka & Kyoto & Nara #Day 3

OSAKA  Sun, 22 Oct 2017 -  Sun, 29 Oct 2017
RM:YEN ¥1 0.04
3rd Day Wed, 25 Oct 2017
Universal Studio Osaka Destination Duration Cost/pax
MORNING Universal Studio Osaka
From OSAKA Station:Osaka Loop Line-Sakurajima - Universal-City Station 30mins ¥180 RM7.20
¥180 RM7.20
Special discount 500 Yen during birthday mth
http://www.travelinboots.com/japan/osaka/guide-to-universal-studios-japan/
Buy in advance via Malaysia agent:
https://www.usj.co.jp/e/travel/ ¥7,600 RM304.00
1st thing to do: Go to Central Park for Timed Entry Tickets to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter 
Dinner La Shomon (焼肉バル Kobe, Japan)
get off the train at Tarumi station, and the restaurant is very close, at the base of the walking street.

Asia - Japan - Osaka & Kyoto & Nara #Day 2

KYOTO
RM:YEN ¥1 0.04
2nd Day 24-Oct YEN RM
Southern Higashiyama Sightseeing Destination Duration Cost/pax Cost/pax
Osaka to Kyoto
AirBnB walk to Umeda Station Umeda Station 14mins ¥240 RM9.60
Hankyu-Kyoto LineLimited Express Kawaramachi 44mins HANKYU TOURIST PASS 
Kawaramachi Station  walk 1 min to  四条河原町(バスto take Bus 市営207乙九条車庫前行 to 清水道(バス)then walk 10mins to Kiyomizu Dera Temple 20mins
Pass options:
HANKYU TOURIST PASS
- only covers Hankyu railway
 - 1-day Pass : ¥800  2-day Pass : ¥1,400
(buy from Hankyu Tourist Information Center Kyoto:Hankyu Kawaramachi Station)
Buy 2+1 day pass
¥2,200 RM88.00
Kyoto City Bus & Kyoto Bus One-Day Pass - ¥500 ( Buy:Hankyu Kawaramachi Station)
MORNING Walk to Kujo Kintetsu-mae bus stop (in front of KFC) Kujo Kintetsu-mae 5 mins
From Kujo Kintetsu-mae bus stop (Eastbound): City Bus 207 (Northbound) Gojozaka bus stop 20 mins City Bus Pass
Southern Higashiyama
Destination: Kiyomizu Dera Temple, Higashiyama
Walk up Gojozaka and Chawanzaka lanes to Kiyomizudera Temple
Admission Ticket ¥300
Walk down Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka, two preserved streets, to Maruyama-koen Park to enjoy some greenery Maruyama Koen Park
At the bottom of Ninnen-zaka, turn right and then left into Nene-no-Michi, one of Kyoto’s most scenic streets
Short detour into Ishibei-Koji lane. Also consider a visit to Kodai-ji Temple, located above Nene-no-Michi 
Enjoy Maruyama-koen Park and then exit the north side of the park and walk to Chion-in Temple Chion-in Temple
Admission Ticket ¥300 RM12.00
Leave Chion-in Temple the way you came and turn left (north). Short walk to Shoren-in Temple (look out for the giant camphor trees out front).  Shoren in
SNACK Kissho Karyo Roll Cake
Japan, 〒605-0066 Kyōto-fu, Kyōto-shi, Higashiyama-ku, Ishibashichō
Daily : 10am - 7pm
8 mins walk from Shoren In
LUNCH Can try all the food near Gion-Shijo station. From Shoren-in Temple to Gion -Shijo station: walk 4 mins to 神宮道(バス)to take Bus 46 賀茂神社前行 - 4 stops 四条京阪前(バス) 
AFTERNOON TO EVENING Explore Gion District
From Rinkacho, go to Shirakawa area which runs along the Shirakawa Canal parallel to Shijo Avenue
Also go to Hanami-koji Street which is the most popular area from Shijo Avenue to Kenninji Temple
Explore Yasaka-no-to Pagoda
Try the famous dessert at Gion Kinana Gion Kinana
Address: 570-119 Higashiyama-ku, Gion-machi Minami-gawa
Nearest Station: Gion Shijo (Keihan Line)
To find the ice cream shop, enter Hanamijoji-dori from Shijo-dori. Turn right at the second alley, and turn right again into the narrow lane.
Observe Kyoto-ites bell ringing ritual for good fortune in the coming New Year (in Gion, usually in Yasaka Shrine or Chion In Temple)
AirBnB walk to Umeda Station Umeda Station 14mins ¥240 RM9.60
Hankyu-Kyoto LineLimited Express Kawaramachi 44mins HANKYU TOURIST PASS 

Asia - Japan - Osaka & Kyoto & Nara - day 1









OSAKA

For 6D5N , covers Osaka, Kyoto and Nara, total cost spent per pax is RM5,200.


 Sun, 22 Oct 2017 -  Sun, 29 Oct 2017
RM:YEN ¥1 0.04
1st Day Mon, 23 Oct 2017 YEN RM
Osaka Destination Duration Cost/pax Cost/pax Savings from using Kansai Thru Pass
MORNING Osaka
540 Oct 22, MH 52 KUL - KIX 10:20 PM - 5:40 AM
*Purchase ICOCA & Haruka ¥3,600/pax with ¥1,500 in the ICOCA for Universal studio, airport and Nara use
Tourist Information Centre (Central 1F, Terminal 1 Building)
Inquire on Osaka's Visitor Pass ¥550/pax for 1-day unlimited Osaka subway/train/bus
¥550 RM22.00
Air BnB - Reservation code: HMJKFYTS8B, Pepper'S House - Plaza Umeshin, Kita Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 530-0047, Japan
0646-0755 Kansaikuko Line関空快速Kyobashi ¥1,190 RM47.60
Take taxi from Osaka Station to Air BnB ¥2,000 RM80.00
プラザ梅新
Japan, 〒530-0047 Osaka Prefecture, Osaka, Kita Ward, Nishitenma, 4 Chome−15−18
Lunch Option 1:
Food:Okonomiyaki
Yukari Sonezakihont/ゆかり 曽根崎本店

Address: 4-11-18, Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka
Location:3 minuites from JR Osaka Loop line Tenma station, 10 minuites from Subway Sakaisuji-line Tenjinbashisuji 6 choume station 2 exit
Open Hour: 11:30~21:00, Closed: Tuesdays, Price:1,000~2,000 yen

walk 4 mins from airbnb, otw to Umeda station to take train
Option 2:
Food:Soba
Tagoto Soba

Hankyu Sanbangai, 1-1-3 Shibata, Kita-ku, Osaka

walk 6 mins from Umeda station
AFTERNOON Osaka Castle  & Park
From Tennoji Station: Osaka City Subway Tanimachi Line  for MIYAKOJIMA
                                       Osaka City Subway Tanimachi Line  for DAINICHI
Tanimachi Yonchome (4-chome) 2 hrs
Recommended approach to enter through Otemon Gate @ the park’s southwestern corner. There is an entrance fee into Castle but the Osaka Castle park is free) ¥600 RM24.00
EVENING Option 1: Shinsekai
From Osaka Castle - train 6mins Osaka day pass ¥230
District that was developed before the war and then neglected in the decades afterwards. At the district's center stands Tsutenkaku Tower, the symbol of Shinsekai.
Experience kushikatsu, one of Osaka's best known specialties. It is a dish, composed of various skewered, battered and deep fried foods.
Option 2: Umeda District
From Dobutsuen-mae Station: Osaka City Subway Midosuji Line  for SHIN-OSAKA Umeda 13 mins Osaka day pass ¥240
Major commercial and business district in Kita-ku, Osaka and the city's main northern railway terminus “Osaka/Umeda Station. Four of the city's largest department stores “Hanshin, Hankyu, Daimaru, and Isetan” are located here.
- Umeda Sky Building (10-15 mins walk from Ōsaka and Umeda Stations) - FREE until 38th floor, ¥1,000 to Floating Garden Observatory (top viewing deck)
- Kitashinchi District - dining and entertainment district located south of and within walking distance of JR Osaka station, 
-Hankyu Entertainment Park - huge red Ferris wheel is the landmark for this commercial complex. 
Option 3: Dotonbori & Amerika Mura
Osaka's most famous entertainment district and offers abundant dining and shopping choices. 
From Shinsaibashi Station: Osaka City Subway Midosuji Line  for NAKAMOZU Namba 1 min Osaka day pass ¥240
A five-minute walk from Namba Station to the Dotonbori area. From Namba Station, walk along Midosuji Avenue towards Shinsaibasuji street, passing by Namba Hips on your right. Once you see the Dotonbori Canal, and Glico Man, then you can start roaming around the streets in the area.
Don't forget to take picture at the famous Glico Man billboard.
Option 4: Hozenji Yokocho
1-2-16 Nanba, Chuo Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 542-0076, Japa Namba
Near By Public Transport
Midosuji Line, Sen-Nichimae Line, Yotsubashi Line stop Namba Station.
Sakaisuji Line, Sen-Nichimae Line stop Nippombashi Station.
Osaka day pass ¥180
A charming stone paved pathway around 80 metres long is one of Ozaka's greatest hidden gems. The sixty small food and bar outlets here, known as izakaya, have served as the area's nightspot since the Edo period. Though they all look unassuming, some of them are famous, such as Katsudon and Yakizen. It's popular with local celebrities. The street gets its name from the Hozen-ji Temple here. Look out for the moss covered statue of Fudomyoo, the kami of fury, surrounded by paper lanterns. Splash some water on it if you feel like purifying yourself of sin. The alley is especially charming at night.
¥240