My initial choice was Singapore Airlines with direct flight around 6.5 hours to Kansai International Airport. It comes at a cost of course at SGD1,400 per pax inclusive of travel insurance. I was contemplating if I should just click on the proceed with payment button.
After much
In total for this trip, we visited four airports in Japan which was great as we could buy those lovely snacks from each of them. Flight to Tokyo Haneda Airport, then Kansai Airport. Flight back from Osaka Itami Airport to Tokyo Narita Airport and back to Singapore. Each transit was around two hours which gave us ample time to explore around the area.
Some points to note:
1) Japan is an hour ahead of Singapore. If now is 9am in Singapore, Japan is 10am.
2) No visa is required for Singaporean if you are staying in Japan for less than 3 months.
3) Get wifi rental from Changi Airport here. Pick up and collection counters are opened 24 hours. Note that unlimited wifi is not applicable to all countries, but Japan is one of them. Check out specs from Changi Recommends here.
4) If you forget to buy travel insurance, do get it from Changi Recommends here. You could purchase using either Singapore NRIC or passports for young children (without NRIC) and foreigners.
5) Check out Kansai International Airport's website here on the different types of passes (about forty-two of them) based on the places you intend to cover.
6) All the passes are just too confusing for me. So I get the most convenient one ever which is the IC card for Osaka - ICOCA from Klook here.
7) For those going to Universal Studios Japan, buy tickets from Klook here. Hassle free and just scan your tickets on the day of entry. No queuing up is required.
7) I came across this site when I was trying to compare on the items between Family Mart and Lawson. The writer actually included 7-11 as well which was pretty cool. Don't forget to check out their part 2 here.
8) Always travel either by train or on foot and never by bus. I had read reviews online that the traffic can be pretty bad in Japan. This was tested and proven by my friends as well, they literally walked all the way during their time in Osaka and Kyoto.
~ Day One : Singapore - Kobe ~
JAL's porridge breakfast was super yummylicious.
If you are travelling with a child, you would be given a lot of JAL's mini souveniers which is cool.
We were lucky to be able to spot Mount Fuji from afar!
Who could resist not playing Super Mario games??
We checked out the rest of the airport. Not to worry about the lack of SIM prepaid cards as they were everywhere.
Try to spot this Kagashishigashira.
We had onigiris, egg mayonnaise sandwich and green tea almost every day throughout our trip.
As our first stop was at Kobe, the fastest way to reach from Kansai International Airport was to board the Kobe-Kansai Airport Bay Shuttle. You may purchase the tickets at level 1 of the Northern exit.
The fares for ferry tickets are as follows:
One-way: JPY1,850 Adult, JPY930 Child (6 to under 12 years old)
Round-trip: JPY3,000 Adult, JPY1,500 Child (6 to under 12 years old)
Note that there is currently a special promotion for foreign tourists under the entry status of "temporary visitor" to Japan. A copy of passport as a proof is required and this sale ends on 31 March 2020.
Special price one-way: JPY500 Adult, JPY250 Child (6 to under 12 years old)
There was no mention about round-trip price, so you may wish to query on its website directly. The bus stop No. 12 is just right outside of the terminal. This is a shuttle service between ferry terminal and airport.
Boarded the ferry!
Once we reached Kobe Airport, we proceeded to take the portliner to Sannomiya. The last mode of transport of the day.
We checked in into b Kobe Hotel, our stay for the night. Nice and chic. I liked how they save space on the bathroom area.
Time to explore Sannomiya and we were just wandering around and walked into this restaurant. They were selling pork bowl and beef bowl. We seriously do not know what is the name because I just cannot locate it on Google.
We saved some space for dessert. Taiyaki was not too bad.
Glad that Family Mart and Starbucks were just a stone's throw away from our hotel.
Kansai International Airport
1 Senshukukokita, Izumisano-shi, Osaka 549-0001, Japan
+81-72-455-2500 | https://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en
Kobe-Kansai Airport Bay Shuttle
+81-78-304-0033 from 9am to 6pm
From 6 AM to 9 AM and from 6 PM to midnight, call +81 772-456-6458
http://www.kobe-access.jp/eng/Kobe New Transit Co., Ltd (Port Liner)
http://www.knt-liner.co.jp/en/p01.html
the b kobe
2-11-5 Shimoyamate St, Chuo-ku, Kobe-city, Hyogo 650-0011 Japan
+81-78-333-4880 | kobe@theb-hotels.com
https://www.ishinhotels.com/en/theb/kobe/
Naruto Taiyaki - Hankyu Sannomiya Store
1-chōme-9-6 Kitanagasadōri, Chūō-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0012, Japan
+81 78-321-5520 | http://www.taiyaki.co.jp/menu.html
Operating hours: 11am to 12am daily
~ Day Two : Ikuta Shrine | Nishiki Market ~
Our hotel's simple and traditional Japanese breakfast.
We visited Ikuta Shrine which was just around the corner from our hotel. Do remember to get your fortune told or bring home an amulet. I did some homework on Shrine's rules here.
The reason why we chose to drop by Kobe was due to Hubz simply had to try out Kobe beef. Kobe Plaisir was located at level 1 of b Kobe Hotel. Hotel's guests get 10% discount of the bill. The restaurant also served seafood tempura so for those who don't eat beef like Ethan and myself, could eat here.
Kobe beef was soft and tender. Totally melted in your mouth without having to chew them. Hubz said unlike other beef which he had eaten before with lots of veins.
Total damage for Kobe Beef Steak lunch set, warm noodles, garlic rice, tempura set, teppanyaki vegetables at around SGD 140.00.
Off to Kyoto for the next two nights via Hankyu Railway.
After about an hour, we finally reached Kyoto. Hotel M's EST Shijo-Karasuma was a 1 minute walk away from Karasuma station. It was also less than 10 minutes walk away from Nishiki Market.
We checked out Nishiki Market while on our way to try the famous Kyoto's burnt ramen. Nishiki Market has more local produce mainly preserved and freshly grown vegetables.
Dinner at Kyoto Gogyo Ramen. I think Ethan's Tonkotsu Ramen tasted better. Though our burnt ramen had this wok smell (since it is burnt right), there was nothing special about it in our opinion.
Ikuta Shrine
1-2-1, Shimoyamatedori, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo, 650-0011 Japan
+81-78-321-3851 | Operating hours: 7am to sunset daily
Kobe Plaisir
2-11-5, Shimoyamatedori, Chuo-ku, Kobe city 1st floor, the b kobe
+81-78-571-0141 | https://kobeplaisir-honten.jp/english
Operating hours: Lunch-11:30am to 3pm (LO: 2pm) / Dinner-5pm to 10:30pm (LO: 9pm) | Closed on Monday
Hankyu Railway
http://www.hankyu.co.jp/global/en/index.html
Hotel M's EST Shijo-Karasuma
41, Motoakuoji-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 600-8091, Japan
Nishiki Market
Japan, 〒604-8054 Kyoto, Nakagyō-ku, Higashiuoyachō,
+81 75-211-3882 | http://www.kyoto-nishiki.or.jp
Operating hours: 9:30am to 6pm daily
Kyoto Gogyo Ramen
Japan, 〒604-0000 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, 蛸薬師下る十文字町452番地 Yanagi Baba Dori
+81 75-254-5567 | https://www.ramendining-gogyo.com/kyoto-location
Operating hours: Mon to Fri, 11:30am to 2:30pm | 5pm to 10:30pm
Sat and Sun, 11:30am to 3:30pm | 5pm to 10:30pm
~ Day Three : Arashiyama ~
Breakfast at Sukiya and I can say that Japanese starts their day with a full course meal. There are rice, soup, meat, sides and fruits. Wow. In SG, we just get a slice of bread and a glass of milk or cup of coffee / tea. That's it.
Next, we boarded Randen tram to Arashiyama.
When in Kyoto, always go for its green tea soft serve. Not sweet or bitter, just a light tea after taste. I could have this all day without eating anything else. Plus the cooling weather at 15 degrees was truly shiok.
We tried the famous % Arabica coffee where its coffee was smooth and fragrant. Imagine yourself sipping the hot coffee on a cold day and facing the majestic Arashiyama. The mountain filled with autumn leaves trees was memerizing. I had not try out the one in Singapore, but I guess they should be great as well.
I was excited to visit Monkey Park Iwatayama but the 20 minutes up slope climb was challenging. Reminded me of the time when I went to Cheung Chau in Hong Kong. Lol..
Sushi lunch at Sushi Bar Naritaya was not disappointed. Hubz mentioned that he never knew salmon sashimi could be so sweet and melted in his mouth.
Further brisk walking to bamboo forest which was filled with tons of tourists.
One last cherry blossom flavoured soft serve before we leave Arashiyama.
It was raining quite heavily at night and we just settled for Shake Shack. There was totally no queue here at all. Love the soft burgers and cheese fries. Bought oden from Family Mart on our way back to hotel.
Sukiya Shijo
Japan, 〒600-8007 Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward, 四条通高倉西入ル立売西町67
+81 120-498-007 | https://www.sukiya.jp/en/
Operating hours: 24 hours
Randen
https://randen.keifuku.co.jp/en/
% Arabica Kyoto Arashiyama
3-47 Sagatenryuji Susukinobabacho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8385, Japan
+81 75-748-0057 | https://arabica.coffee/en/
Operating hours: 8am to 6pm daily
Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama
61 Arashiyama Nakaoshitacho, Nishikyō-ku, Kyōto, 616-0004, Japan
+81 75-872-0950 | http://monkeypark.jp/Englishpage.html
Sushi Bar Naritaya
Japan, 〒616-8385 Kyoto, Ukyo Ward, 嵯峨天龍寺芒ノ馬場25嵐山スクエアウエストパ―ク | +81 90-8579-8383
Operating hours: 11am to 4pm daily except for Wednesday
Shake Shack
Japan, 〒604-8145 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Mototakedacho, ６４３ 東洞院通り BINO東洞院 1F | +81 75-741-8681
https://www.shakeshack.jp/location/kyoto-shijokarasuma
Operating hours: 11am to 9:30pm daily
~ Day Four : Gion District ~
If Miyakoyasai Kamo is in your list for breakfast, I suggest that you reach there by 7:30am the latest. We reached at about 8am and were the second last group to be accepted though the shop operating hours stated till 9:30am.
There were numerous Kimono rental shops in Kyoto especially at Gion District. I wanted to try wearing it since it was like once in a lifetime thingy. My pictures were begging me to shed a lot of fats especially on the chin and neck area. Mum asked if I had thyroid and Cuzzie asked if I was preggie. Sigh pie.
Not a lot of people knew about Ryozen Kannon in Gion District. It is a Goddess of Mercy temple and I stumbled upon it from a blog post when I was planning my itinerary.
Soft serve at Gion District was just okay. Arashiyama's one was way better. We went to to the pretty crowded Starbucks.
Lunch at Yoshimura Kiyomizu-an and I was wondering if we had ordered the correct soba noodles. Soba noodles soup was barely okay and the cold one just cannot make it. Noodles were frozen and the only thing good about the restaurant was their hot tea and service staffs. Overall, meals were expensive and I guess this is more of a touristy food joint.
After having the terrible lunch, we strolled back to Nishiki Market to check out other delicacies. Do not miss Daiyasu Oysters. They were so fresh, and soft with no fishy smell. Thumbs up!
A ride on Hankyu Railway, followed by changing over to Osaka Loop brought us to Universal-City Station. You would not believe that Hotel Universal Port had the cheapest room rates among all of the hotels which we had stayed throughout our Japan's trip.
A room per night cost about SGD 260.00 and it comes with buffet breakfast as well. I loved the amenities which are certainly thoughtful for young children. Huge room, with good view and of course a bathtub.
Miyakoyasai Kamo
Japan, 〒600-8095 Kyōto-fu, Kyōto-shi, Shimogyō-ku, Ōgisakayachō, 東洞院東入る 扇酒屋町276 Ayanokoji-dori
+81 75-351-2732 | https://nasukamo.net/
Operating hours: Daily 7am - 9:30am, 11am - 2:30pm, 5:30pm - 9pm
301-1 Gioncho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0073
+81 75-532-0510 | yasakajinja@okamoto-kimono.com
https://www.okamoto-kimono-en.com/
Operating hours: 9am to 8pm daily (Rented costume to be returned by 6:30pm)
Ryozen Kannon
526-2 Shimokawarachō, Higashiyama-ku, Kyōto-shi, Kyōto-fu 605-0825, Japan
+81 75-561-2205| http://www.ryozen-kwannon.jp/indexE.html
Yoshimura Kiyomizu-an
Japan, 〒605-0862 Kyōto-fu, Kyōto-shi, Higashiyama-ku, Kiyomizu, 2-chōme, 清水 2-208-9
+81 75-533-1212 | http://yoshimura-gr.com/kiyomizu/menu.html
Operating hours: 11am to 5pm daily
Starbucks Coffee Kyoto Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya
高台寺南門通下河原東入桝屋町349番地, Masuyachō, Higashiyama-ku, Kyōto-shi, Kyōto-fu 605-0826, Japan
+81 75-532-0601 | https://www.starbucks.co.jp
Operating hours: 8am to 8pm daily
Hotel Universal Port
1-1-111 Sakurajima, Konohana-ku, Osaka city, Osaka 554-0031 Japan
+81-6-6463-5000 | https://www.hoteluniversalport.jp/en/
~ Day Five : Universal Studios Japan ~
We could never get tired of Hotel Universal Port's buffet breakfast. The mini side dishes trays kinda controlled your serving for each of the items. Lovely hotel and superb brekkie.
We reached half an hour before USJ opened and there were already huge overwhelming crowds. Our first stop of course was to The Wizarding World of Harry Porter. One good thing about USJ was that some of the rides had single rider and also child switch option. You could just queue up once and exchange after that with your partner.
Hubz and Ethan queued up for Flight of Hippogriff for about an hour. I nearly died waiting for them coz the whole day was freezing cold at an average of 10 degrees. Do try out the butter beer - not a beer but a buttery sweetened drink.
Snacking all the way and trying our luck to win some plush toys. Had an awesome lunch at Dragon's Pearl.
We continued having fun at Minion Park. Played so many times on Banana Cabana till we lost count. The minion cookie was so good that I'm even craving for one right now.
We saved a lot of time in USJ as some of the attractions were repeated whereby we had it in USS. So after skipping those, we also chose to give the shows in Japanese language a miss. While everyone was watching the night parade, we covered whole of Universal Wonderland. All rides' waiting time about 15 minutes which was worth it.
Bought a Tim's cup and mini sling bag for myself before we left USJ.
Dinner at Universal Walk and we never missed playing at Japan's arcades.
Universal Studios Japan
2-chōme-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana-ku, Ōsaka-shi, Ōsaka-fu 554-0031, Japan
+81 570-200-606 | https://www.usj.co.jp/e/
Operating hours to check out the link here as the park changes its schedule each month
~ Day Six : Nara ~
We could not get enough of our hotel's breakfast. They were the best ever!
The reason why I booked Hotel Ichiei was due to airport limousine pick up bus stop which was located right at our hotel front. Note that this is for Itami Airport bound only. Another reason was also the hotel is a strictly non-smoking hotel. So yay for me! Our room was so huge we probably could roll over round and round all day.
Our sushi lunch at Kakinoha-Sushi Tanaka at Nara. The preserved sushis were wrapped up in leaves and had a little sour plum after taste which made them quite unique.
There was a long queue at Nakatanidou so we went to get a mochi. Not a fan here and we thought it tasted just fine.
Since we ate too much, strolling around Nara park was a good form of digesting our bloated tummies. Japan was like eating and walking, eating and walking non-stop. We fed the deers as well and most of them seemed to be so sick of the crackers which we had bought from street vendor.
We dropped by the magnificent Todai-ji temple and Ethan went through a hole on one of the wooden pillars. Legend has it that if one could crawled over meant to attain enlightenment in the next life.
We were too exhausted after walking all day at Nara Park that we just bought dinner from Takashimaya.
Hotel Ichiei
1-6-8 Nambanaka, Naniwa-ku, Osaka city, Osaka, 556-0011, Japan
+81 6-6641-3135 | https://www.hotel-ichiei.com/en/
Kintetsu Railway
https://www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/index.html
Kakinoha-Sushi Tanaka Nara
5 Higashimuki Nakamachi, Nara, 630-8215, Japan
+81 742-81-3651 | https://www.kakinohasushi.co.jp/shop/nara/
Operating hours: 9:30am to 7:30pm daily
Todai-ji Temple
406-1 Zōshichō, Nara, 630-8211, Japan
+81 742-22-5511 | http://www.todaiji.or.jp/english/index.html
Operating hours: 7:30am to 5:30pm daily
Nakatanidou
29 Hashimotochō, Nara, 630-8217, Japan
+81 742-23-0141| http://www.nakatanidou.jp/english/
Operating hours: 10am to 7pm daily
Higashimuki Shopping Street
5 Higashimuki Minamimachi, Nara, 630-8216, Japan
+81 742-24-4986 | http://higashimuki.jp/shop_en.php
~ Day Seven : Kuromon Ichiba Market ~
Hotel Ichiei was a 15 minutes walk away from Kuromon Market. Do arrive early to beat the crowds. There were tons of seafoods here and everything you could think of. We would visit here again if we are coming back to Osaka next time.
Time to board OK bus to Itami Airport.
JAL's return flight meals were just normal. Their child's meal was appetising though.
Kuromon Ichiba Market
2-chōme-4-１ Nipponbashi, Chūō-ku, Osaka, 542-0073, Japan
+81 6-6631-0007 | https://kuromon.com/en/#
Operating hours: 9am to 6pm daily
Osaka Airport Transport
2-17-3 Hotarugaike Nishimachi, Toyonaka City, Osaka. 560-0036
https://www.okkbus.co.jp/en/ | Operating hours: 7:30am to 9pm daily
Osaka (Itami) International Airport
3 Chome-555 Hotarugaike Nishimachi, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0036, Japan
+81 6-6856-6781 | https://www.osaka-airport.co.jp/en/
