[samokan]

The others have already posted their own experience with travelling from Tokyo -Osaka and here's mine.

The shinkansen is the fastest way to travel, it will only take about 2-2.5 hours from Tokyo - ShinOsaka but its only the most expensive . Right now i think it is around 13,000yen (one-way)

Bus: The cheapest I've known so far is the Seishun Mega Dream Bus by JR which cost around 4000yen ( one-way) but note that the bus does not have a CR but it will stop at a service area for 15minutes every 2 hours. I should warn you though the seats is so narrow, and you can't reclined it much. The 8000yen one is the one that is comfortable.

Seishun 18-kippu is actually fun to use ( although have not use it personally since I don't have much vacation ). If you are on an adventure, stopping at every place along the way, this is really cheap way to go. My friends started from tokyo around 4am and stops by at Nagoya for about 1-2 hours before finally proceeding to Osaka. They arrived around 8pm cause they keep missing their train. So if you are going to use this ticket, be prepared to with your map and train schedules.

If you want to travel chep around Kansai and without Seishun Kippu:

Himeji- get the one-day ticket from Hanshin. it cost 2000yen and you can stop anywhere from Osaka to Himeji using Hanshin Line.

Kyoto - going to Kyoto take Hankyu, its the cheapest 390yen one way. Then get one-day ticket for bus for only 500yen and use it to all city bus within Kyoto.

Osaka - try to your osaka on a friday cause the one-day ticket is cheaper its only 650yen from 850en. and you can use it to all subway, city bus and new tram all over osaka.

There are still lots of cheap ticket, especially since you are a tourist. The suretto kansai has a 3000yen ticket for 3days ( i think ) which you can use to travel in Nara, Himeji, Osaka and Kyoto.

How to eat cheap? Do not rely on mcdonalds. They are expensive. Try eating in Yoshinoya or matsuya. A bowl of Gyudon, botadon and other food range from 300-500yen and you get really full. Rather than convenience store, look for a dept store on where you are staying. Sometimes after 7pm they will start putting discount on their food, so you can buy them 10% -50% less.