This trip to Japan, I was determined to write a review for my friends who enjoy independent travel, focusing on eating, shopping, and not so much on landmarks. I also wanted to find comfortable and affordable accommodation.

We will write about everything from preparation, travel methods, and our own travel style, which we have tried and found to be very effective. Let's see how it goes.

There will be a total of 3 episodes, 4 cities | This thread is episode 1.


Episode 1: Sleeping at the airport, shopping, playing with deer | http://pantip.com/topic/33634452

Episode 2: KYOTO..Visit the temple, shop, chill | http://pantip.com/topic/33652030

Episode 3: Hipster Hopping in Tokyo | http://pantip.com/topic/33754864



Clarification

The price in the title includes airfare, hotel, meals, and all transportation costs. Every penny is accounted for.

However! This does not include snacks outside of the meals, which cost around a thousand baht. Shopping expenses are not included, which also caused some damage to our wallets.

I stayed at the airport hotel for 2 nights because my flight arrived late and departed early. I was worried about not having enough time, so I decided to stay at the hotel. If you are planning to book a hotel, it will only cost an additional 1,000 baht. If you arrive early and don't leave early, you can also stay at the hotel.





Preparation

1. Plan your trip | Decide which city you want to visit and what attractions you'd like to see.

Our route will be as follows: OSAKA - NARA - OSAKA - KYOTO - TOKYO

2. Flight tickets | We booked a long time in advance, so we got the tickets very cheap. AirAsia X direct flight, round trip 10,933 baht (included in the headline price)

3. Hotel Booking | We book through WWW.BOOKING.COM, no need to pay in advance. You can pay at the hotel upon CHECK-IN. You can CANCEL if you find a better deal.

(But there's one place in Kyoto…OKI'S INN. My sister has been there before and it's…really good. So we emailed them directly, but we paid when we checked in, just like before.)

First night: Kansai Airport >> Free

Nights two and three: BUSINESS HOTEL TAIYO 2 nights 8,700 YEN per person 4,350 YEN

Night four: OKI'S INN 1 night 7,000 YEN per person 3,500 YEN

Night 5: NIGHT BUS 5,650 YEN per person

Night 6: KIMI RYOKAN 1 night 7,020 YEN per person 3,510 YEN

Night Seven: Narita Airport >> Free

4. Plan | Where will you go each day? Is there anywhere you particularly want to go? Just add it in.

5. Research travel options | According to the plan, whether to take a bus, train or subway of which company, because in Japan there are both government and private companies. There are many PASSes to choose from, depending on our travel plan, which PASS is the most cost-effective (it takes a little time, but it's very easy to control the budget).



Various passes and travel methods we used, sorted by city visited:

1. KANSAI THRU PASS 3 DAYS 5,200 YEN

For your first day of travel in Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto (including the train ride from the airport to Osaka)

You don't have to use it continuously. On days when you don't use it, you can keep it. And most importantly, this card offers discounts on admission to many different places. I love it!

2. KYOTO CITY BUS 1 DAY 500 YEN

For the second day of bus travel in Kyoto

3. NIGHTBUS from Kyoto to Tokyo | We used the service HTTP://WILLEREXPRESS.COM/EN/ The website is easy to understand and you can pay by credit card. You will receive an email confirmation. On the day of travel, just print the email and go to the pick-up point. It's very convenient.

4. TOKYO METRO OPEN-TICKET 1 DAY 600 YEN (Regularly 720 YEN)

Accessible by all lines of the TOKYO METRO

5. ONE DAY PASS TOKYO METRO + TOEI LINE 1,000 YEN

Unlimited travel on all TOKYO METRO lines, including TOEI LINE. Great value!

Some places in Tokyo that the subway doesn't reach, we take the train and buy tickets for each trip.

6. Dive Deeper | Regarding the journey itself, it's important to know how to get around. Once you know how to travel from one place to another, you'll know which exit to take at your destination. This will save you time searching for your way, allowing you to simply walk from the car park to your destination. It's a huge time saver and eliminates the need to struggle with confusing maps.

7. POCKET WIFI | We rented it from HTTP://WWW.JP-WIFI.COM/ | The signal was excellent, 195 baht per day, very easy to contact the staff. Actually, there are many free WIFI spots there, but we prefer convenience, so we rented it. Choose the one that suits you best.

8. Travel Insurance | We bought it online from HTTP://WWW.CIGNA.CO.TH/OUR-PLANS/TRAVEL-INSURANCE/TRAVEL | Some people might think it's not necessary, but for us, it's better to be safe than sorry. 8 days for only 296 baht.

9. PASSPORT | CHECK Please also check the expiration date. It must be at least 6 months before your travel date.

10. Pack your bags | Don't forget to make a CHECK LIST to avoid forgetting. This LIST is yours, okay?

Websites for finding travel information

HTTP://WWW.HYPERDIA.COM/EN/ | Timetable Change train Very good

HTTP://WWW.ROME2RIO.COM | This will show you travel options with a map, giving you an overview.

HTTP://WWW.TOKYOMETRO.JP/EN/TICKET/SEARCH/INDEX.PHP | We mostly use the app more than this.

Applications that I used all the time while I was there.

JAPAN TRAINS (use instead of HYPERDIA)

TOKYO SUBWAY (Explore travel by SUBWAY in Tokyo, including both TOKYO METRO and TOEI LINE)

And with the aforementioned methods, we didn't get lost at all on this trip. We were able to go to almost all the places we had planned. We skipped some because we wanted to continue shopping, so we had to cut some places out due to time constraints.

_

Episode 1: Sleeping at the airport, shopping, playing with deer

Day 1 BKK - KANSAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

We departed from Bangkok in the afternoon and arrived at Kansai around 11 pm. We took a train to the immigration building.

With the train service down and only buses available, I knew arriving at my destination would be very late. So, I decided to sleep at the airport instead. This way, I could wake up early, take a shower, and continue my trip without having to pay for accommodation.


We slept at the LOUNGES on the north side, near McDonald's.

No need to worry about safety. There are officers patrolling all the time and they take down the names and passport numbers of everyone who sleeps there. I charged my battery all night and it didn't run out. Also, there are a lot of tourists sleeping there, both Thai and foreign. The bathroom is also not far away.


There are smoking rooms for those who want to smoke.

***Smoking is bad for your health, kids.***

There's food available all night long. Besides McDonald's, there's also LAWSON, FAMILY MART, and restaurants. You can eat all night long.


We weren't very hungry, so we got a FAMILY MART rice ball set for 369 YEN.

Upon waking up, you can go take a shower at the LOUNGES. There are 5 rooms available, and it costs 510 YEN per hour.


And that's our plan.


But in reality, we didn't shower. We were one step too late, and the shower room was full, so we had to wait another hour. We all decided that it was okay not to shower and just dry clean our clothes. It was a cool day, and we weren't sweating, so we figured it wouldn't be a big deal.



Day 2 OSAKA - NARA - OSAKA

Okay, since you're not going to shower, put on some makeup, put on some eyeliner, walk down the escalator to the 1st floor, and go to the TRAVEL DESK to buy a KANSAI THRU PASS.

Don't worry about not finding it. The counter is very large. It will open at exactly 7 am. Before 7 am, there will be people queuing up to wait. You can choose which type and how many days you want. The staff can speak English fluently, so don't worry.

Tickets, manuals, and maps are ready.



Go up to the 2nd floor again to go to the train station. Whether it's JR or NANKAI, walk the same way. We'll split up at the entrance. The signs are big and clear, so don't worry about getting lost.



At the entrance, just insert your card and wait for your ticket. Then, drag your luggage down to the lower floor in style. Look around the cars, check the line you want to take, and then just wait.


Stamp lovers, don't forget! It's on the 2nd floor.


According to the plan, we were going to stop by RINKU OUTLET for some shopping first. But since we forgot to check the opening hours, we could only take some photos of the view, drink some water from a vending machine, and buy some legendary chicken at LAWSON.


*** Take the train to RINKU TOWN Station, one stop from Kansai Airport. Exit at EXIT 4 and walk through the shopping mall. ***

I bought this at RINKU TOWN station. All 3 flavors are delicious! 216 YEN per box.


Since we didn't have the luck to go shopping, we took the train into the city with NANKAI as usual. Because we have a KTP card (KANSAI THRU PASS), we can ride for free. Relax and don't worry.


While on the train, don't waste time. Study the route you will be taking next.


We got off at SHINIMAMIYA station and walked to our accommodation, which was not far away. The CHECK-IN time was 2 pm, so we could only leave our luggage at the BUSINESS HOTEL TAIYO before that time. There was no charge for luggage storage.


The opposite side is a game room.


We've arrived in Osaka.


We didn't get full from eating Lawson's fried chicken. The gang started to feel hungry... We stopped by a restaurant next to the hotel. We walked out of the hotel and turned right.


Delicious and affordable. It cost 480 YEN with free water.


Full, let's move on... N E X T S T A T I O N I S ... N A R A


Journey

There are 2 options: which KINTETSU NARA LINE station should I transfer to?

NIPPOMBASHI or NAMBA

We chose NIPPOMBASHI (K17) without hesitation because NAMBA is a big station with a lot of people and is very wide. We would definitely get tired from walking, so we chose a smaller station instead.

Our accommodation is near DOBUTSUEN-MAE Station (K19 -SAKAISUJI LINE). Take the train to NIPPOMBASHI (K17) and walk to KINTETSUNIPPOMBASHI Station. Then change to the KINTETSU NARA LINE and get off at KINTETSUNARA Station using EXIT 1. All in all, it takes 45 minutes using a KTP card to reach...N A R A.



NARA... has a light

Our goal is to play with the deer, eat the famous pudding, and visit TODAIJI temple.

We don't take the bus, we prefer to walk and relax.

Arrived.


Get off the train and walk up the path. You will find a garden full of young deer. They are very tame and you can take selfies with them.



If you want to be surrounded by deer, just buy them some snacks.



Feeling hungry, we decided to grab some ice cream. We weren't sure which shop was the best, but we decided to try the one run by an older couple. It looked like the oldest shop around, and the ice cream was delicious. It only cost 250 YEN.

As you walk along, you will pass through a tunnel and then walk a little further. You will find the TODAIJI temple on your left-hand side. There are souvenir shops along the way. You may still encounter deer at this point. Oh, be careful not to step on deer droppings. We've been there, done that. It was a mess.


Admire the beauty of the temple.


This is the last one of episode 1.



Day 3 OSAKA

Woke up late, very late. Left the accommodation at 10 am. Rushed to buy rice balls, seaweed soup and water from FAMILY MART 239 YEN



Then travel to the first destination, SHITENNOJI Temple.

Admission fee 300 YEN Open from 8.30-16.30 hrs.



Journey

Take the subway from DOUBUTSUEN-MAE Station (M22) and TRANSFER at TENNOJI Station (M23/T27) to LINE 2. Get off at SHITENNOJIMAEYUHIGAOKA Station (T26) and take EXIT 4.





A group of ducklings were spotted at the station, presumably on a field trip.

After exiting the station, keep walking straight ahead to the right. You will pass an unnamed shrine.


Take a look.


Keep walking.


Walk a little further and you'll find another gang of ducklings. They're the cutest.


Finally, I found a temple.


Go straight ahead.



Entering this temple requires following the prescribed rituals.


There is a sign that says "Don't worry about being embarrassed".


Go for it!


Since we weren't that interested in temple tourism, we just took some pictures and didn't go inside to pray.


Force your girlfriend to take pictures of this and that.


Sometimes take pictures of your girlfriend.


What is this? Anyone know?


Judging from their actions, it seems they are making offerings to bring good fortune and blessings upon themselves and their family.


The second destination is Osaka Castle.


Admission fee 600 YEN Open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you have a KTP card, you will get a 100 YEN discount.



Journey

Walk back to SHITENNOJIMAEYUHIGAOKA Station (T26) and get off at TEMMABASHI Station (T22), EXIT 3.

Walk up from exit 3 and turn left. At the traffic light, turn left again and continue straight ahead. You will see the castle on your left.


After crossing the intersection, walk along the castle wall to the front entrance.


We found a lot of information here that said we could get off at several stations, but we found a review from a foreigner recommending this place as the closest, so we tried it out. It was pretty close, and it was easy to walk. We couldn't get lost because we could see the castle from afar.



The road ahead is long.

Once we got in, we were so tired from walking that we didn't have the energy to go upstairs. So we used the same formula: BACKGROUND castle, and that was it.


If we miss the TOP VIEW from Osaka Castle, we can go see the TOP VIEW from somewhere else.



The next stop is the HEP FIVE FERRIS WHEEL.

Admission fee 500 YEN Open from 11:00-23:00 hrs. Use KTP card for another 100 YEN discount



Journey

Walk back to TEMMABASHI Station (T22) and get off at HIGASHIUMEDA Station (T20). Take EXIT 1 and walk through the mall to the NORTH side.

Found a gang, couldn't help but take a picture.

Before enjoying the view, let's find something to eat first. We walked past shops and restaurants, and while walking through the mall to the HEP FIVE FERRIS WHEEL, we came across a restaurant that looked good and really delicious. We went in and tried it, and it turned out to be very good, very delicious, not greasy, and most importantly, not expensive.


Some menus, please request an English Menu.


The 600 YEN set includes fried pork with rice and clam soup.


After eating, we continued walking. When we reached the building, we took the glass elevator to the 7th floor. We walked out to the right and bought tickets.


Then we queued up, had 15 minutes on it, and the pictures we got were worth it. The view was amazing, you have to go!


After admiring the beauty, we continued to see various products. We took the elevator to the 1st floor to continue shopping at the nearby mall.


Commemorative photo 550 YEN ... Why did I buy it? I'm confused.

I'm hungry again. It's time to eat giant crab legs. Let's go back to the NAMBA area.



Travel

Walk back to HIGASHIUMEDA Station (T20), TRANSFER at TENNOJI Station (T27/M23), and get off at NAMBA Station (M20). Exit 14 as before.



And then I got to eat... giant crab legs

700 YEN for this delicious dish. It's fragrant, sweet, and so tasty that you don't even need dipping sauce.


Not yet, not yet. If you missed any shops yesterday, catch them all today.


Uncle's Fried Food Shop - This is what we call it ourselves, we can't read the shop's name.

I don't know how famous he is, but he even has his own LINE stickers.


And here is the menu.


A man cooked for me. I'm so happy.


Today's meal cost 1,562 YEN per person. Free water, unlimited refills.

How to eat


After receiving the food, we picked it up and dipped it into the dipping sauce in front of us. But wait... we could only dip it once. We like it salty, so we dipped it all the way in. It was delicious with fresh vegetables.

Once you're done with your chopsticks, please dispose of them in the designated container. After your meal, please take the bill and pay at the counter, just like any other restaurant.



This alley is too crowded...we're not going in.



The store is having a big sale, right? My favorite store is having a sale this big?

On Weekday Cheapmonday, some sizes of jeans are on sale like they're giving them away.

Monki doesn't have a lot of sales.

Forever21 Big Sale

It's been a rough start since the first city. The child's bag that I brought from Osaka has sprouted, but don't worry, we'll make it if we plan well. Hooray!!

And then back to the accommodation to rest, tomorrow we will leave early in the morning to…K Y O T O



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If you don't like walking, you can take the bus. If you have a KTP card, you can ride the bus with the green witch picture on it, like the one on the card. It's free!

After the temple, I went on a hunt for pudding.

Coordinates | Turn right from the temple, no need to cross the road, it's on the same side as the temple. The first alley is not it, go straight, if I remember correctly it's the second alley. It's not too deep inside. Here is a picture of the shop front.

This is what the pudding looks like. It's delicious. I really like the blue color. The price is 420 YEN per bottle.


Before heading back, I stopped by this alley to spend some of my yen...


Goal achieved, it's time to say goodbye to NONG KWANG and return to O S A K A.



Journey

Take the same KINTETSU NARA LINE from KINTETSUNARA Station, but this time get off at NAMBA, your next destination. Take EXIT 14 as it is the closest exit to walk.



T I P

It's easy to find your way out. Just look at the pillars or the boards.

To see which bus line to take, look at the signs at the intersection. They will be clearly marked on the wall or on the ground, with the line name and color.


To find out which side of the platform to board on, you need to know the final destination of your train. Look at the platform wall for the information. It's not difficult, in fact, it's very easy! Just take a look.


Camera used to take the picture



- Olympus ODM-EM10 Fix 17mm with KIT lens 14-42mm

- Canon 550D Fix 50mm with KIT lens 18-55mm

- iPhone 6, 5s, 5C



Edited with VSCO program. You can read the second episode here.

The stove is ready.


Prepare to grill


Ready with fresh beer


It cost around 1,700 YEN per person.


Take a picture of the LANDMARK.


Looking around



Queuing to buy the famous takoyaki


Price according to the label.


The uncle who is most determined to make the most delicious takoyaki


Zoom in



I dropped one ball. I'm so sad.


To another row, buy delicious gyoza to comfort yourself.


Menu



Ta-da!


Giant crab legs are sold out.



The uncle of the fried food, the people are tight.



Let's talk about it tomorrow.

After shopping for souvenirs until the mall closed, we went back to our accommodation to find something to drink.

Look up at the camera when you see this.


This will give you a picture like this.


Travel


Take the subway from NAMBA Station (M20) back to the hotel and get off at DOUBUTSUEN-MAE Station (M22), Exit 2.



I came across a shop with a very indie owner who arranged the shop in a very unique way. The shop has a wide variety of beers in the fridge. You can walk in, choose your own beer, and pay for it right away. If you want some snacks, there are many options to choose from, and you also pay for them before eating.

Snacks 100 YEN per stick 5 sticks 400 YEN


Beer cans from 300 YEN and up



Haha, I just found out that my younger sibling also ate here before. The uncle even turned on the karaoke screen and sang for them!

Let's go to sleep after we're a little tipsy from eating.



Business Hotel Taiyo

The room is not big, but it is clean and has a TV and a refrigerator. We booked a non-smoking room, which was fine. There is an elevator, a shared bathroom, and a separate bathroom. However, the shared bathroom is open and closed at specific times, while the separate bathroom is available on some floors and can be used 24 hours a day. There is a hairdryer, towels, soap, and shampoo provided. It is close to FAMILY MART, local bars, restaurants, and most importantly, the subway. It is only a few steps away from the station. Day 3 OSAKA

Woke up late, very late. Left the accommodation at 10 am. Rushed to buy rice balls, seaweed soup, and water from FAMILY MART for 239 YEN.



And then travel to the first destination, which is SHITENNOJI Temple.

Admission fee 300 YEN Open from 8.30-16.30 hrs.

Travel

Take the subway from DOUBUTSUEN-MAE Station (M22) and TRANSFER at TENNOJI Station (M23/T27) to LINE 2. Get off at SHITENNOJIMAEYUHIGAOKA Station (T26) and take EXIT 4.



Spotted a gang of ducklings in the station. They're probably on a field trip.

After exiting the station, continue walking straight ahead on the right side. You will pass an unnamed shrine.


Take a look.


Keep walking.


Another gang of ducklings, the cutest ever.



Finally, I found a temple.



Go straight ahead.


Entering a temple requires following the proper rituals.



There is a sign saying "Don't worry about being embarrassed".


Go for it!


We weren't really interested in temple tourism, so we just took some pictures and didn't go inside to pray.




Take a picture of your girlfriend sometimes.


What is this? Anyone know?



Judging from their actions, I believe they are making offerings to bring good fortune and blessings upon themselves and their families.


The second destination is Osaka Castle.



Admission fee 600 YEN Open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you have a KTP card, you will get a 100 YEN discount.



Journey

Walk back to SHITENNOJIMAEYUHIGAOKA Station (T26) and get off at TEMMABASHI Station (T22), Exit 3.

Speak clearly. If you are confused, you can ask the station master. Tell them where you are going, and they will tell you which exit to take or which line to transfer to.


Go up from exit 3 and turn left. At the traffic light, turn left again and continue straight. You will find the castle on your left.


After crossing the intersection, walk along the castle wall to the front entrance.


Here we found a lot of information that we could get off at many stations, but we found a review from a foreigner recommending this place as the closest, so we tried this way. It's quite close and easy to walk, you won't get lost for sure because you can see the castle from afar.


Almost there.

Once we got inside, we were so tired from walking that we didn't have the energy to go upstairs. So we used the same formula: BACKGROUND castle. Done.


Since we missed the TOP VIEW from Osaka Castle, we decided to go see the TOP VIEW from another place. Our next destination was the HEP FIVE FERRIS WHEEL.


Admission fee 500 YEN Open from 11:00-23:00 hrs. Use KTP card for another 100 YEN discount



Journey

Walk back to TEMMABASHI Station (T22) and get off at HIGASHIUMEDA Station (T20). Take EXIT 1 and walk through the mall to the NORTH side.

Found a gang, couldn't help but take a picture.

Before enjoying the view, let's have a good meal first. While walking through the mall to HEP FIVE FERRIS WHEEL, we passed by many shops. We came across a shop that looked good and the food looked delicious, so we decided to try it. It turned out to be very good, very delicious, not greasy, and most importantly, not expensive.


Some menus, please request an English Menu.


The 600 YEN set includes fried pork with rice and clam soup.


After eating, we continued walking. When we reached the building, we took the glass elevator to the 7th floor. We walked out to the right and bought tickets.

Then we queued up. We had 15 minutes on top, and the view was amazing. It's definitely worth a visit.


After admiring the beauty, we continued to see various products. We took the elevator down to the 1st floor to continue shopping at the nearby mall.


Commemorative photo 550 YEN ... Why did I buy it? I'm confused.

I'm hungry again. It's time to eat giant crab legs. Let's go back to the NAMBA area.



Travel

Walk back to HIGASHIUMEDA Station (T20), TRANSFER at TENNOJI Station (T27/M23), and get off at NAMBA Station (M20). Exit from EXIT 14 as before.



And then I got to eat... giant crab legs

700 YEN for this dish as shown in the picture. It's fragrant, sweet, and delicious, so you don't need to dip it in any sauce.


Not yet finished. Which shops did you miss yesterday? Today, collect them all.


Uncle's Fried Food Shop - We call it this ourselves, we can't read the shop's name.

I don't know how famous he is, but he does have his own LINE stickers.


And here is the menu.

It's so nice to have a man cook for me.


Today's meal cost 1,562 YEN per person. Free water, refills are unlimited.


How to eat


After receiving the food, they picked it up and dipped it into their own dipping sauce in front of them. But wait… they could only dip it once. We like it salty, so we dipped it all the way in. It was delicious with fresh vegetables.

The used chopsticks should be placed in the designated container. After finishing your meal, please take the bill and pay at the cashier, just like any other restaurant.


With a full stomach, he went out to hunt for clothes, jeans, shoes, no, he just went out for a walk.


This alley is crowded...we're not going in.

During the Golden Week, which is a holiday period in Japan, some places can get very crowded. However, most of the people you will see will be Japanese, and you will only occasionally encounter a Thai person.


The store is having a big sale, right? My favorite store is having a sale of this size..

On Weekday Cheapmonday, some sizes of jeans are on sale like they're giving them away.

Monki doesn't have a lot of sales.

Forever21 is having a massive sale.

I got hurt from the first city. My child's bag has been growing since Osaka. But don't worry, we have a good plan, we must do it. Hehe!!

And then I went back to my accommodation to rest up, as I'll be leaving early tomorrow morning for... KYOTO. The end is here!

There are 3 episodes in 4 cities.

Episode 1: Sleeping at the airport, shopping, playing with deer | http://pantip.com/topic/33634452

Episode 2: KYOTO..Visit the temple, shop, chill | http://pantip.com/topic/33652030

Episode 3: Hipster in Tokyo | http://pantip.com/topic/33754864

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