Trip to Japan and Osaka in Nov 08
 

I am planning for a trip to Japan from 15 Nov to 22 Nov 08 for 2 adults and 2 kids (below 12) to Tokyo and Osaka.

My itinerary as follows :
Day 1 - Singapore to Tokyo
Day 2 to 4 - Tokyo disneyland and disneysea
Day 5 Hakone National Park and Mt Fuji
Day 6 Osaka Nara Deer Park and Todaji Temple
Day 7 Universal Studio
Day 8 Osaka Castle -> Singapore

I have a few questions :
1. Should I purchase the Japan Railway pass - 1 week ? Is it cheaper ? I was told told that it is not. Is the Japan Railway pass includes ShiKanshi to Osaka ?

2. Should I join a local tour to Hakone National Park and to Osaka ?

3. Is 1 day sufficient for universal studio ?

I will stay at friend's house in Tokyo, pse advise good place to stay in Osaka and other suggestion.

Thanks & Regards Desmond

Why go all the way to an exotic country with a rich historical tradition and visit Universal Studios?

I would not jion a group tour of the national park. Some people like that, but I prefer to do my own thing. they'll lead you around and request you stay with the group. I think it's nicer to buy a 100 yen guide, read about the place and wander at my leisure.

Welcome to Japan
 

Hi Desmond,

Personally I think the Japan Rail Pass is worth buying for you as you are going to be hopping on and off trains as you go across from Tokyo to Osaka on your route. Paying for all those journeys as individual journeys is soon going to rack up. Remember if you are going to buy the Japan Rail Pass then you need to buy it in advance -before you land in Japan. Check with your travel agent re the pricing comparison but I'm pretty sure I'm right. The only time I would say not to bother is if you are landing in Tokyo and staying in Tokyo. Traveling beyond makes the purchase worthwhile as far as I'm concerned.

Disneyland and Disneysea - not cheap but essential when you have little ones hey :) Lots to do - and if you do need a break from Disney for a bit there's a great aquarium just one train station away.

Hakone is great - make sure you get on the pirate boat across the lake and take the cable car to a place called Owakudani (it's one of the stations) - and you can eat some black boiled eggs - black because they are boiled in volcanic water. It's great fun and the kids will love it. There's also an outdoor art museum there - lots of sculptures and activities for the kids too. A nice place to relax a little. I wouldn't bother with a tour if I were you - but again that's just me. It's easy enough to get around - just get a good guide book.

Sorry I can't comment on accommodation in Osaka - I live in Tokyo:cool: hence my site name TokyoTopia . Hopefully someone else will jump in there to help.

You'll have a great time I'm sure. I lived in Singapore for a year up at Woodlands.

All the best - Honor

They are travelling with 2 kids, so they do need to bring them to some theme park.

Give at least Kiyomizu or Kinkaku Ji a visit and have a brief drop by in Kyoto too....

Tokyo Disney isn't really too big, so you probably don't need a full day there. Do visit other parts of Tokyo like the Daiba and Akiba, kids may like Akiba depending on their age

You are really only traveling 1 way, from Tokyo to Osaka. I'm pretty sure it would be cheaper just to buy the shinkansen ticket than a week-long rail pass.

Hello, UKtokyoite, :ywave:

I am Desmond. Thank you so much for your reply. For your information, I will be stayed at friend's house at千叶县八千代市. I was told is quite a distance to Hakone Park. I am really not sure how to go there and I am told that I need to stay 1 night there. Could you please advise what is the best way to Hakone Park ? Also, is it possible to travel from Hakone to Osaka directly ?

Sorry, this is my first time to Japan and is finding way to explore Japan with my wife and 2 kids aged 10 and 11.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Day 6 Osaka Nara Deer Park and Todaji Temple

Nara Park and Todaiji Temple are in Nara, not Osaka. Both are excellent.

Hi Desmond :vsign:

Yes your friends house is a fair way from Hakone - it looks like you're staying in Chiba which is actually the next prefecture to Tokyo. Hakone is South of Tokyo so your first job is to get to Tokyo station - I think this will be your easiest route from Chiba. If anyone knows better then please jump in here.

Depending where you are in Chiba it will probably take about 40 - 60 minutes to get to Tokyo station - your friend should be able to help you with that bit :)

From Tokyo station you need to get to a station called Hakone-Yumoto (this is the most central station for Hakone) via a place called Odawara. There are 2 choices that spring to mind:

Stage 1: Tokyo Station to Odawara Station

1. Either catch the shinkansen at Tokyo station to Odawara - takes about 40 minutes and cost is around 3,500 yen each one way. One thing to be careful of - not all shinkansens stop at Odawara so make sure you ask when booking so that you don't go flying straight past!

2. Or take the local and slightly slower JR Tokaido main line from Tokyo station to Odawara - time is approx 70 - 90 minutes and the cost is around 1,500 yen per head one way.

Stage 2: Odawara Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station

Take the Hakone Tozan Railway to Hakone-Yumoto - takes about 15 minutes and cost is 300 yen each.

As I said that's the easiest way I can think of if you're coming in from Chiba.

Here's a link to Hakone that has hotels on it if you need it. Also some good info about the area for you Hakone

Hope this helps :)

Hi Desmond,

I forgot to say - to get to Osaka when you have finished you need to head back to Odawara and from there you can the shinkansen to Osaka.

All the best,

Honor

If you have kids, all the more reason not to join a group. It's easier to not have the kids keep to the schedule of the rest of the group. And at 10 and 11, I think they can handle a trip to Japan without a theme park.:)

Hi UKtokyoite and all. Thanks for all your advice. It is really valuable and helpful. I have now decided to change the 3 days trip to Tokyo Disneyland/Disneysea to 2 days Tokyo Disneyland/Disneysea and 1 days Tokyo city tours. May I know what are the places I must go for the 1 day City Tours ? I know Tokyo Towers and what else ? Would appreciate some instruction on how to go there with your proposal.

Also, I have decided not to stay a night at Hakone and will proceed straight from Odawara to Osaka using Shikansen as advice by uktokyoite. I have few concerns here ?

1. If I left Chiba at 7:30am, I believe I will reach Odawara around 9:30am, I am planning to leave from Odawara at 8 pm to Osaka. Do I have sufficient time to enjoy Hakone ?

2. Will the training at around 7:30am to 8:00am too pack to travel ? If yes, what will be best timing for me to leave (Note : I need to bring my luggage with me).

3. As I will be travelling directly from Hakone to Osaka ? What is the best way for me to handle our luggages ?

Please advise and Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi again,

Hmmm - honestly you're going to have to pack a lot in in the few hours you're in Hakone to get it all done. If it was me I would stay overnight - find a good hotel that has an onsen and relax for a night. That way you can make sure you get everything done that you want without feeling frazzled! For me personally I don't like to feel like I have a timetable to keep to - but I know you are on a timeframe so..... ultimately it's up to you. Which is more important? Getting to Osaka or spending a bit of chill time in the countryside? That might be the easiest way to make that decision :)

As to luggage on the shinkansen - be warned that there is very little space and you're not allowed to put your luggage in the aisles. The best advice I can give with Japan is to travel with as little luggage as possible. It's seriously not fun dragging heavy bags round with you when you're lugging them up and down stairs/train platforms etc - especially when you have little ones with you.

im almost 19 and i HAVE to go to theme parks in QLD everytime we go. (2 - 3 times a year.)

I can understand that. But, let's say the family doesn't do a ton in international travel and are from, say, the U.S. they have an opportunity to visit a far away exotic land and learn so much about humanity, culture and history. Then go to an amusement park that's pretty much the same as any other. That's cool it that's your thing, and I like amusement parks, but I wouldn't go to one if I had a once in a lifetime trip to Australia.

Hi Paul, I totally agree with you, but that is only because I am not a themepark guy and I have no kids, it will be really difficult to tell the kid that they are not allow to go to theme parks. Trust me, I've tried.

I went to universal studios in one day and I think thats enough
Its a bit smaller than disneyland & disneysea so theres not all that much to do

A lot of these theme parks are the same. How different could disneyland be? there are probably regional themeparks that could provide an interesting experience, because it would be done the local way. Himeji safari park is cool because you drive around animals roaming about andt here is a small section close by with roller coasters and such.

In Ueno in Mie-ken, there is a park that contains a really cool little (and real) castle), a park dedicated to Basho ans a ninja house with hidden compartments ands pink ninjas. In kyoto there is Eiga-Mura (movie village) where they film old samurai drama and stuff.

There are others, but I have to go ona call.

Maybe these would be cool.

Ooh I've been there :) It was pretty fun but I was too scared to go in the haunted house lol

Hi Uktokyoite, Thanks for your advice. I have taken your advice and have decided to extend 2 more days for my trip in Japan. Therefore, I can now stay a night in Hakone. Do you have some good recommendation for the Hotel in Hakone ? Hopefully, it is not too expensive and still convenient for us. My kids aged 10 and 11 are not so keen on the onsen. By the way, I saw a ShinKensen tour package including a night stay in Hokone Prince Hotel costs JPY10,990, do you think is a good package ? Also, is it convenient to travel to Hokone Price Hotel and how is the facilities like ? Thanks in advance for your advice. Regards

Hey,

I am not sure if others would agree, but I don't think the tower is worth the visit. I mean, do drop by and take a few shots from below and drop by the souvenir store, however, I don't think the visit to the observatory is worth it.

Go to the Daiba instead, and visit the Fuji TV observatory

Would you advise one to stay overnight for all that Nara has to offer or would a day trip, say real early in the morning, from Osaka suffice?