 |
| Bamboo Arashimaya |
 | ||
| Fushimi Inari |
 |
| Osaka River Cruise |
 |
| Butter Beer |
 |
| Osaka |
 |
| Osaka Airbnb |
Osaka Travel Tips
1. Book your tickets in advance to get the best deals. ( The average price for a promo fare going from Manila to Osaka is 7,500 Php. Which you can book via Cebu Pacific or JetStar Airways)
2. Rent an Airbnb. Hotels in Osaka are very small and expensive
3. Look for AIRBNB’s that have a free pocket wi-fi.
4. If you are planning to go to Tokyo, do it on a separate
time. The Shinkansen bullet train can be very expensive. I always advice my
friends that if you’re going to Osaka, just stay in Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara
Area. But if you want to go to all places at once, a cheaper option
is to take an airplane to Osaka from Tokyo rather than the
train. Travelling to Tokyo can be very energy consuming. It’s better
to enjoy the place and relax.
5. Enjoy the Japanese Street Food in Dotonbori.
6. The food in Osaka is the best and is also quite cheaper
compared to Tokyo.
7. Go to Osaka during the Cherry Blossoms, or Halloween Week.
8. If you’re purchasing the Hop on Hop Off Tour with River
Cruise, wait for the tourist to get off so you can have the yacht to
yourselves.
9. If you’re on a budget, try eating at Japanese fast food
restaurants, like Yoshinoya, Sukiya &Hottomotto You
can get a big bowl of rice with meat and other vegetables for only
500 yen.
10. The Universal Studios Japan Experience was a fun
experience. The only turn off was that the Harry Potter ride was speaking in
Japanese. You might enjoy this ride more if you go to the Universal Studios in
Los Angeles, or Florida.
Top 10 Things to do in Osaka and Kyoto
1. Walking along the Bamboo Forest
at Arashimaya
2. Meditating at Fushimi Inari-taisha Temple
3. Hiking Kinakuji Temple ( Golden Pavilion)
4. Drinking Butter Beer at the Harry Potter Ride in Universal
Studios
5. Food Tripping at Dotonbori
6. Taking a Selfie with the Gleico Man Billboard
7. Shopping at Don Quijote
8. Trying the Onsen Spa in Osaka
9. Osaka River Cruise
10. Eating Ramen at 2AM after Partying in Osaka
Get in Tokyo:
Airport
Rapid Express- Most convenient way to travel
Price:
1000 Yen
Getting Around Osaka
Osaka
is relatively smaller than Tokyo. Most of the tourist spots are walking distance
from each other. You can actually tour Osaka the whole day. Taking a cab can be
cheaper in Osaka especially if you divide it by 4 people. Taxis are better to take, especially when you are traveling with
senior citizens.
Shopping in Osaka
-You
should shop at Don Quijote, which is located all over Japan. This
is a discount chain store where you can buy from basic groceries to electronics
and clothing. You can buy so many random stuff here and the prices are very
affordable.
-If
you are on a budget, try looking for 100 Yen Shops which are
common all over Japan. You can find a lot of items from clothing, to housewares
and food. If you want to buy gifts for your loved ones then this is the perfect
place for you. You can buy lots of chocolates and Japanese products here which
also have good quality.
If
you are looking for cheap and original sneakers / rubber shoes,
go to ABC Mart, which is located all over Japan. Note that sizes of rubber shoes here are quite small. They only have Asian sizes. You might get
disappointed if your feet are big.
If
you are looking for suits, then go to Aoki. You
can get a suit and 2 pants for 10,000 yen which are on sale. This store is
recommended for businessmen.
H&M JAPAN is
also cheap in Tokyo, especially during sale season. Out of all the countries I
have ever been too, H&M Japan is the cheapest. I bought 3 dresses, 3
shorts, 4 tops for only 3,000 yen which is only 1,200 pesos. Sale Prices are
ranging from 100 yen, 200 yen, 300 yen, 500 yen, 1000 yen to 1,500 yen.
Bershka Japan is also cheaper compared to the ones in Manila. Look for items which are on sale. Groceries in Japan are cheaper compared to convenience stores. You can buy lots of “pasalubong” like green tea kitkat here. If you can cook inside your hotel/ apartment, you can buy lots of ready-to-eat frozen food and microwave it. If you want to buy quality thermal wear, buy heat tech at Uniqlo. The thermal wear at Uniqlo is very thin and effective.
Bershka Japan is also cheaper compared to the ones in Manila. Look for items which are on sale. Groceries in Japan are cheaper compared to convenience stores. You can buy lots of “pasalubong” like green tea kitkat here. If you can cook inside your hotel/ apartment, you can buy lots of ready-to-eat frozen food and microwave it. If you want to buy quality thermal wear, buy heat tech at Uniqlo. The thermal wear at Uniqlo is very thin and effective.
There are many things to buy at the airport.
Royce is
cheaper in the airport. The NAMA Chocolate will only cost you 700 Yen which is
250 Pesos. The cost of NAMA Chocolate in the Philippines is 700
pesos.
You
should buy the famous Shiroi Koibito. It’s the most famous Japanese
dessert which can be only bought at the airport.
Itinerary
and Costing
Day 1
|
Prices
PHP 44.85024
|
Prices
JPY
100
|
|
15:00
|
Depart Manila
|
||
19:55
|
Arrive Osaka Round trip Osaka (
Promo Fare Cebu Pacific)
|
7500
|
16,722.31
|
Travel Tax
|
1,620
|
3,612.02
|
|
Japan Visa Fee
|
500
|
1,114.8213
|
|
Pocket Wi-fi ( Free from
AIRBNB)
|
Free
|
||
21:00
|
Go to Hotel via Airport Rapid
Express
|
491
|
1094.75
|
Airbnb in Namba (P5,000 x 4 Nights / 6 Persons)
|
3,333.33
|
7,432.25
|
|
22:00
|
Late Dinner (Eat Ramen at
Ichiran)
|
448.5024
|
1000
|
Day 2
|
|||
08:00
|
Breakfast
|
134.55
|
300
|
09:00
|
Osaka Tour ( Hop on Hop off & Cruise )
|
1,342
|
2,992
|
12:00
|
Lunch at Dotonbori
|
897
|
2000
|
19:00
|
Dinner Kobe Beef
|
1,146.25
|
2500
|
Day 3
|
|||
8:00
|
Breakfast at Home
|
134.55
|
300
|
9:00
|
Universal Studios Japan
|
3,400
|
7,582
|
11:00
|
Butter Beer
|
269.10
|
600
|
12:00
|
Adult Meal in Universal Studios Japan
|
897
|
2000
|
19:00
|
Dinner at Dotonburi
|
897
|
2000
|
Day 4
|
Kyoto Day Trip via Viator
|
3276
|
7,306
|
07:00
|
Breakfast
|
134.55
|
300
|
Coach Tour Day trip by bus to Kyoto Arashimaya from Osaka
|
|||
08:40
|
Pickup from Namba Station
|
||
10:00
|
Fushimi Inari Temple Entrance
fee
|
||
12:00
|
Lunch
|
Free
|
|
12:30
|
Train from Fushimi Inari to Arashimaya
|
||
13:00
|
Bamboo Arashimaya
|
||
15:00
|
Temple of Golden Pavilion
|
||
19:00
|
Dinner
|
338.50
|
1000
|
Day 5
|
|||
08:00
|
Breakfast
|
224.25
|
500
|
10:00
|
Shopping
|
||
Lunch
|
224.25
|
500
|
|
14:00
|
Late Check out from Airbnb
|
||
15:00
|
Roam around Osaka
|
||
17:00
|
Depart Osaka ( Airport Rapid Train Express)
|
448.50
|
1000
|
19:00
|
Dinner at The Airport
|
448.50
|
1000
|
20:40
|
Depart Osaka
|
||
TOTAL EXPENSES
|
28,104.83
|
62,856.15
|
Additional Information
1. Hop on Hop off Tour with Cruise
Website:
Klook.com
Price:
1,342 Php
Includes
all stops at the major tourists spots around Osaka, a river cruise
Excludes
Entrance Fee at Tourist Spots and Meal
2. Day trip by bus to Kyoto Arashimaya from Osaka
Website:
Viator.com
Price:
70 USD Per Head
Includes:
Entrance Fee to kinakuji Temple, Local Taxes, Lunch, JR Rraub fare from Fushimi
Inari to Arashimaya, Tram from Arashimaya to GoldenPavillion, Round
trip Coach Bus from Osaka to Kyoto
Exclusion:
Drinks
3. Universal Studios Japan
Website:
https://www.usj.co.jp/e/
Price:
Pros:
Perfect for Kids
Cons:
The Ride were in Japanese. You might not feel the Harry Potter vibes, since the
characters speak in Japanese.
Feel Free to view my other blog: DIY Guide: 5D/ 4N Tokyo for less than P30,000
