[Asia] Going to Japan (osaka)

rusty · 18th May 2009

Anyone travelling to Japan this month or next week?

Harry Potter · 18th May 2009

got swine flu leh

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...429972/1/.html

ray2003 · 18th May 2009

Originally Posted by rusty

Anyone travelling to Japan this month or next week?

Osaka is nice... some places to recommend is Osaka castle, the aquarium and Umeda Sky Building just to name a few. I was there for 2 weeks working and only got a chance to take pictures on weekends. Can take a train to Kobe and Kyoto if you have more time.

Enjoy!

rusty · 18th May 2009

yeah i know about that, but i've already bought the tickets and booked the hotels since early this year. consolation is that i'll only be staying for 2 nights and im going to Kyoto next but the current situation in Osaka is making me a little nervous.

rusty · 18th May 2009

Originally Posted by ray2003

Osaka is nice... some places to recommend is Osaka castle, the aquarium and Umeda Sky Building just to name a few. I was there for 2 weeks working and only got a chance to take pictures on weekends. Can take a train to Kobe and Kyoto if you have more time.

Enjoy!

Thanks, can't wait to soak in the sights.

yc2005 · 19th May 2009

I'm going in two weeks time (5th June).. Feeling a lil nervous from all the flu and stuff
Hopefully the situation will get better by then..

twinrongs · 19th May 2009

If you've time should also check out Nara in a day-trip. Many temples and very scenic.

slaam · 27th May 2009

heh just came back from Kansai area, went Osaka Aquarium and shrine visiting in kyoto Din't c any geisha though went to the Gion area.
Jap Rail and bus is super confusing.
ability to recog a few chinese words is helpful though!

shierwin · 27th May 2009

Was in Kyushu, Japan for 10 days 6 wks back and enjoyed the full bloom hanami (cherry blossom viewing).
Need not worry too much about the flu. Bring some masks along and wear them in crowded places such as in the train and bus. The Japs wear them whenever they've a cold (a well established culture behaviour) and you'll not feel odd...
Depending on your travel plans, a JR pass or a cheaper local rail pass like Kansai pass may be useful. Transport in Japan is expensive and you've to think seriously what you want and where you want to go. The JR pass voucher can only be bought outside Japan; the other passes can buy while in japan.

Beside those already mentioned. Himeji castle, Hiroshima Atom Bomb site and Miyajima (the famous red tori found in all jap travel brochures is found here) are worthful places to visit

Try these links:
www.jnto.go.jp
www.jorudan.co.jp
www.japan-guide.com

Do some homework, have a plan, and you'll have an enjoyable stay. Japan is fun to visit.

ArcticFox · 3rd June 2009

How many days are you going?

You can consider purchasing the JR Pass (JR EAST/CENTRAL), it really worth it. Basically, it's a pass which allows unlimited travel on JR Line (except Nozomi - a faster type of shinkansen; you can still take Shinkansen though, but slower the type).

I've been to Osaka, in my opinion, nothing really special. I will recommend you to go to the Hiroshima where there's the Tori Gate, Atomic Bomb site. Hiroshima is about 90mins away from Osaka on the Sanyo Shinkansen.

-from wikipedia

anttz · 3rd June 2009

I will recommend you to stay at Kyoto instead of Osaka. You can venture out to Hiroshima as many have already suggested or to the Central Alps region such as Nagano, Gero (onsen), Matsumoto or Takayama. Lots of nice landscape, onsen and trekking.

If you are going to these places suggest you get a JR rail pass.

18th May 2009	#1
rusty Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: bukit batok Posts: 311	Going to Japan (osaka) Anyone travelling to Japan this month or next week?

18th May 2009	#2
Harry Potter Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hogwarts Posts: 239	Re: Going to Japan (osaka) got swine flu leh http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...429972/1/.html

18th May 2009	#4
rusty Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: bukit batok Posts: 311	Re: Going to Japan (osaka) yeah i know about that, but i've already bought the tickets and booked the hotels since early this year. consolation is that i'll only be staying for 2 nights and im going to Kyoto next but the current situation in Osaka is making me a little nervous.

19th May 2009	#6
yc2005 Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 82	Re: Going to Japan (osaka) I'm going in two weeks time (5th June).. Feeling a lil nervous from all the flu and stuff Hopefully the situation will get better by then..

19th May 2009	#7
twinrongs Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 198	Re: Going to Japan (osaka) If you've time should also check out Nara in a day-trip. Many temples and very scenic.

27th May 2009	#8
slaam Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: West Posts: 1,502	Re: Going to Japan (osaka) heh just came back from Kansai area, went Osaka Aquarium and shrine visiting in kyoto Din't c any geisha though went to the Gion area. Jap Rail and bus is super confusing. ability to recog a few chinese words is helpful though! __________________ my photo project http://naturespies.blogspot.com http://www.dreamstime.com/kevinlam_info

27th May 2009	#9
shierwin Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: East Posts: 71	Re: Going to Japan (osaka) Was in Kyushu, Japan for 10 days 6 wks back and enjoyed the full bloom hanami (cherry blossom viewing). Need not worry too much about the flu. Bring some masks along and wear them in crowded places such as in the train and bus. The Japs wear them whenever they've a cold (a well established culture behaviour) and you'll not feel odd... Depending on your travel plans, a JR pass or a cheaper local rail pass like Kansai pass may be useful. Transport in Japan is expensive and you've to think seriously what you want and where you want to go. The JR pass voucher can only be bought outside Japan; the other passes can buy while in japan. Beside those already mentioned. Himeji castle, Hiroshima Atom Bomb site and Miyajima (the famous red tori found in all jap travel brochures is found here) are worthful places to visit Try these links: www.jnto.go.jp www.jorudan.co.jp www.japan-guide.com Do some homework, have a plan, and you'll have an enjoyable stay. Japan is fun to visit.

3rd June 2009	#10
ArcticFox Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: 1°25'10.16"N 103°50'11.01"E Posts: 619	Re: Going to Japan (osaka) How many days are you going? You can consider purchasing the JR Pass (JR EAST/CENTRAL), it really worth it. Basically, it's a pass which allows unlimited travel on JR Line (except Nozomi - a faster type of shinkansen; you can still take Shinkansen though, but slower the type). I've been to Osaka, in my opinion, nothing really special. I will recommend you to go to the Hiroshima where there's the Tori Gate, Atomic Bomb site. Hiroshima is about 90mins away from Osaka on the Sanyo Shinkansen. -from wikipedia __________________ 400D 18-55 50 430EX "Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst" -Henri Cartier-Bresson

3rd June 2009	#11
anttz Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 445	Re: Going to Japan (osaka) I will recommend you to stay at Kyoto instead of Osaka. You can venture out to Hiroshima as many have already suggested or to the Central Alps region such as Nagano, Gero (onsen), Matsumoto or Takayama. Lots of nice landscape, onsen and trekking. If you are going to these places suggest you get a JR rail pass. Last edited by anttz; 3rd June 2009 at 05:57 PM.