We had a trip in April 2024, these are the main trip details.
Pre Trip Preparations
Reading materials and video guides:
- https://insideosaka.com/
- https://www.insidekyoto.com/
Getting a eSIM card for the trip:
- https://www.klook.com/activity/109393-japan-esim-high-speed-internet-qr-code-voucher/
Pre booking of restaurants and attractions:
- Kobe beef Wanomiya Namba Oriental Hotel (steak restaurant in Osaka)
- Hokuto GEMS Namba (nice sukiyaki restaurant)
- Sagano Romantic Train Ticket (after that you can go for a walk in the Bamboo Forest)
- Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan Ticket (YouTube guide)
- Limousine bus transfer from Airport to Osaka or Namba Station
- Book your hotels, obviously. Personally I like Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka.
For Kyoto, we stayed at Hotel Keihan Kyoto Ekiminami (across from Kyoto Station, breakfast included). - Kimono rentals + photographer package if you want photoshoots
- Shinkansen tickets if you want to secure a seat
- Ideally you might want a Suica card for easier commuting
- If you plan properly, the Osaka Amazing Pass might save money
Day 1 - Singapore to Osaka Kansai Airport
Fun fact — did you know that Kansai Airport is sinking?
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/how-to-save-a-sinking-airport-180968985/
- http://www.kansai-airports.co.jp/en/efforts/our-tech/kix/sink/sink3.html
- https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/osakas-sinking-kansai-airport-to-raise-runway-after-last-years-flooding-by-typhoon
If you’ve bought a physical sim card from Klook, gentle reminder to redeem it from the Cheers counter when you reach the airport:
- https://www.changiairport.com/en/shop/shopping-directory/cheers.html
The flight from Singapore to Osaka takes about 6 hours and 40 minutes. Upon reaching Kansai Airport, set up your eSIM and collect the tickets for the limousine bus.
Please note buses keep a very strict timetable — check the departure time:
- Kansai Airport → Namba Station timetable: https://www.kate.co.jp/en/timetable/detail/OC
Also, there’s a limit to how many hand-carry luggage are permitted per passenger (usually 2 per passenger is ok).
Depending on what time you leave the airport and board the bus, the commute varies between 50 to 80 minutes.
In our case: 8.30am flight → arrived ~4.10pm Osaka time → limousine bus 5pm → reached Namba ~6pm. Dinner was 6.30pm, so we had enough time to walk to Hokuto GEMS Namba (~8 minutes).
Restaurant is nice, staff is friendly, food is good. It’s awesome. (Tripadvisor link)
For parents travelling with kids: you can buy diapers at the supermarket next to Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka — cheaper than lugging from Singapore.
Check in after shopping, and sleep.
Day 1 ends.
Day 2 - Legoland, Osaka Aquarium and Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel
To be honest, Legoland isn’t that exciting and is a bit small — you can skip unless you want to max out your Osaka Amazing Pass.
Cost comparison for Day 1 and Day 2:
| Itinerary | Location | Cost | Remarks | Osaka Amazing pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Hotel to Legoland | 290¥ | Commute | Included |
| Legoland | 2,200¥ | Partially covered | Subsidized 1,700¥ | |
| Osaka Aquarium | 2,700¥ | Not covered | 2,700¥ | |
| Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel | 900¥ | Included | ||
| Tempozan back to Hotel | 290¥ | Commute | Included | |
| Day 2 | Hotel to Osaka Castle | 240¥ | Commute | Included |
| Osaka Castle | 600¥ | Included | ||
| Gozabune Boat Ride | 700¥ | Included | ||
| Osaka Castle Nishimatsuya Gardens | Free | Free | ||
| Osaka Castle to Hotel | 240¥ | Commute | Included | |
| Grand Total (per adult) | 8,160¥ | 9,900¥ |
Note: these are July 2024 prices.
Versus a 2 day Osaka Amazing Pass (5,500¥), the pass might be cheaper if you’re more ambitious and do more activities; otherwise customize your trip.
Legoland can skip. (YouTube Guide)
Osaka Aquarium is impressive. (YouTube guide)
Morning breakfast options were plentiful — we went to Rita Coffee:
Thereafter we made our way to Legoland:
The Osaka Amazing Pass lets you take the Yotsubashi Line + Chuo Line, saving time (no need to queue for tickets).
Legoland, Aquarium, Ferris Wheel are all in the same area — walkable.
Dinner was damn good:
Kobe beef with crazy marbling — book early: Wanomiya
Day 2 ends.
Day 3 - Osaka Castle, and travelling to Kyoto
If you Google “Osaka Castle Pond”, you’ll see this famous shot:
It’s a nice photo spot — keep an eye out for it.
Commute is easy: Yotsubashi Line → Chuo Line. There’s some walking and mild upslope but manageable.
After the castle, you can go to Nishimatsuya (kids/baby clothes):
We headed back to pack and travel to Kyoto. We left some luggage with Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka and collected it later (less lugging).
You can pre-book Haruka tickets via Klook for reserved seats.
Kyoto Station has a free mini attraction in the evening:
Then check in to Hotel Keihan Kyoto Ekiminami and sleep.
Day 3 ends.
Day 4 - Kimono photoshoot and exploring Gion district
Breakfast was included. After that we took a bus to the Kimono rental shop. After changing, it’s a short walk to Yasaka Shrine for photos.
We ended the day at Pontocho Restaurants Street (many places need reservations).
Day 5 - Iconic Kiyomizu Temple and Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine
Day 5 and Day 6 are designed to break your legs — be mentally prepared.
Day 6 - Sagano Romantic Train, Arashiyama & return to Osaka
Day 6 = lots of walking.
The train drops you near the Bamboo Forest for a nice walk before lunch.
Tenryu-ji is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — worth visiting.
Day 7 - Osaka to Nara Park and back to Osaka
Short trip to Nara to say hi to the deer.
Deer snacks: you can buy to support the uncle, but the deer are kind of sick of it unless very hungry.
Day 8 - Universal Studios Osaka
Did you remember to bring your Harry Potter wand and Gryffindor scarf?
Download the Universal Studios Japan app and book tickets early.
If travelling with kids, use Child Switch — parents take turns without missing out.
Day 9 - Free and Easy Shopping Day
Doguyasuji Arcade — for Japanese kitchen knives and whetstones.