Osaka Japan

We are a family with 2 kids below 10.  We had our first trip to Osaka during September this year.  We would like to share our experience here, and hoping that it would help family with young kids who wish to visit the same.  Japan is a nice country to visit, as far as we have observed places are clean, there are many attractions both in terms of artistic and cultural, historical as well, etc.

Osaka and Kyoto Sightseeing Tour – 12 to 19 September 2016

All these tickets can be purchased from KIX Airport, and Credit Card is not accepted (All Cash Term).

• ICOCA and Haruka (Adult @ 3600yen) (One way Haruka from KIX to Kyoto Station)
• Kansai Area Pass (Child @ 1230yen) (Day Pass)
• ICOCA (Child @ 2000yen)
• Kansai Thru Pass (3 days version @ 5200yen (Adult); 2600yen(Child)

ICOCA Card

ICOCA card can be applied with deposit of 500yen plus 1500yen prepaid spending money.  It is similar to touch N go card, but with more diverse functions.  It can be used for train, buses, and for purchase in convenient outlets like 7-eleven, family mart, etc.  It is advisable to use up the 1500yen as any request for refund of unused money is subjected to a processing fees of 220yen per card.  The deposit of 500yen, however is fully refundable without any processing fees.

Haruka Train Ticket (Adult) and Kansai Area Pass (Child)

Haruka Train Ticket (Adult) and Kansai Area Pass (Child) allows you to board Haruka Train.  As a word of cautions, please ensure you get into the right cabin to avoid additional charges.

• Haruka Reserved Seat is in the Cabin 1 to 3;
• Haruka Non-reserved seat is in the Cabin 4 to 6

Kansai Thru Pass (3 days Version)

We used Kansai Thru Pass (3 days Version) for Himeji Castle; Koyasan; and Nara.

1. Day Trip to Himeji Castle from Namba Station took about 2 hrs++ trains.  Depart from Namba Station.  One needs to stop at Agamasaki and change train to continue to Himeji.  Then you need to take bus to Himeji Castle, the bus fare cost 100yen per adult, you can use the ICOCA card for the bus.

Himeji castle closes at 4:00p.m.  We were late, and not being able to enter the castle.  The entrance fees is 1000yen per adult.

There is a small zoo next to the Castle, entrance fees is at 200yen/adult and 30yen/child.

Penguin in Himeji Zoo

Small Panda in Himeji Zoo

2. Day Trip to Koyasan from Namba Station took about 2 hrs.

Take the Nankai Railway to Hashimoto, change train to Koguraku-bashi, and then a cable car up to the hills.  Places up there are connected by bus.

Kansai Thru Pass is good to cover the fares for Cable car and busses in Koyasan.

Note: The Nankai Mt. Koya Line – this is reserved seat, and direct train to Koyasan, if you want to ride on this train, you need to buy a separate ticket cost about yen780/person)

Trains to Koyasan

Cable Car in Koyasan

3. Day Trip to Nara Park depart from Kyoto Station by Kintetsu Line, needs to stop at Yamato-Saidaiji Station and change train to continue to Nara Station.

Bus – day pass in Kyoto 

500yen/Adult, 260yen/Child.  These pass can be purchased at Kyoto Station.

It is however only worthy if you take more than 3 rides on busses within a day.  The single fare is at 230yen/Adult, 120yen/Child.

Keihan Line – Fushimi-Inari Station (the exact fare we can’t remember, we used ICOCA to settle the fares).

Day trip to Kiyomizu-dera Area and Fushimi-Inari

We used day pass on bus number 100/206 to Kiyomizu-dera Temple Area (Get off at Gojo_zaka), then we proceeded to Fushimi-Inari by Keihan Line – fushimi-Inari Station, and took bus from Fushimi-Inari back to Kyoto Station.

Kiyomizu-dera 

Fushimi-Inari

Day trip to Arashiyama Area

Sub-way to Tenryu-Ji Temple (Arashiyama), Bamboo Forest – We took subway train to Arashiyama (we used ICOCA to pay the fare)

The picture above is taken from Monkey-Park at Saga-Arashiyama.

Namba to KIX Airport (Nankai Railway)

We purchased the ticket from the machine (920yen/adult, 460yen/child).  It tooks us about 45min to reach the KIX Airport.

We also like share that in most of the Station, coin locker for luggage are provided, charges are range from 500 to 700 yen (depending Size Luggage).  We have no luck for the coin locker, but managed to get the hosts permission to leave our luggage at the villa / apartment at both Kyoto and Nipponbashi.  (Our check-in time for accommodation in both Kyoto and Osaka is after 4p.m., therefore, if you are arrive early, please do check with your host for luggage facilities).

Also, for your information, majority of Japanese Store, Shops, Restaurant, etc. do not accept the credit card (except for those bigger Supermarket like Yodabashi, Aeon and some of the 7-eleven, family mart of course some of the restaurant in the Mall).

Hope you are enjoy reading this and have a nice and safe trip.