Readme before you journey
10 Days | 6 Cities
Osaka - Kyoto - Nara - Takayama - Shirakawago - Tokyo
Back again with a simple and homey guide to traveling in Japan ≖‿≖
Following our trip to Japan last year, where we went with a tour group and didn't feel like we got to experience everything we wanted, this year we decided to plan a backpacking trip with friends. The time we chose to go was during the period when plane tickets were discounted, or in other words, the low season. This meant that the scenery might not be as grand or spectacular, with no snow or cherry blossoms, and we even had to worry about rainy days.
So what was there to do? Let's take a look!
✧ Before Departure
PLAN
Booking Flights
Once we finally managed to coordinate our schedules (phew!), we started checking flight prices.
Luckily, there was a promotion going on at the time, so we ended up booking our flights for June 5th to 16th.
On the 5th and 16th, we'll be spending the whole day on planes, haha!
We booked direct flights with AirAsia X, and the round-trip price came out to around 9,xxx baht (including 15 kg of checked baggage).
Accommodation
Since we were visiting multiple cities, we had to book our accommodation separately.
Osaka
We stayed in Osaka for 4 days, and we booked an apartment through Airbnb.
We contacted the host directly through the Airbnb website to make the booking.
The nearest stations to our apartment were Nipponbashi and Ebisucho, and there was even a 7-Eleven right in front, which was super convenient.
Takayama - J-hoppers
We also booked this directly through their website. It's a hostel with mixed dorm rooms.
It cost around 800 baht per night (super cheap!), but there was one problem:
It was fully booked on Saturday because it was so popular. So we had to book it for other days and spend one night in Shirakawa-go instead.
Shirakawago - Shirakawa-go Hostel
We booked this through Booking.com with a "pay later" option and just printed out the confirmation to show them.
This place was absolutely adorable, and the host was so friendly. It's a ryokan, but since it was a holiday, the price was a bit steep.
The hostel is located a little bit away from the main street in Shirakawa-go, which made it very peaceful.
Tokyo - Bunka Hostel
We booked this one through their website as well. It's another hostel with mixed dorm rooms.
The hostel's design is super modern and minimalist, kind of like sleeping in a capsule. It's located in the Asakusa area,
near the Sensō-ji Temple and Tokyo Skytree. The surrounding area is full of restaurants and the Rox department store, so it's a great place to go shopping.
Pocket Wifi
We used BS-Mobile. One tip is to choose the newest model available,
because I heard from someone who traveled with us that the older models have spotty internet connections.
We had a signal the entire ten days, even up in the mountains!
The price was 280 baht per day, but it dropped to 100 baht per day from the 7th day onwards.
PASS
Here are all the passes I used for this trip.
Click on the spoiler to see the details (it's long and very detailed).
- Osaka Amazing Pass 1 Day (2300¥)
You can tap in and out as many times as you want, even if you get on the wrong train. 5555 If you plan to stay in Osaka all day, this pass is for you. It gives you access to all the museums, such as the art museum, aquarium, and zoo. You can use it all over Osaka. Unfortunately, it rained on the day we used this pass, so we couldn't go to many places. T-T
* You can buy it at the information center at major stations such as Namba and Umeda.
* The 1-day pass allows you to ride more trains than the 2-day pass.
You can find more details on this website: http://www.osaka-info.jp/osp/en/index.html
- Kyoto Sightseeing Pass 1 Day (1,200¥)
This was a mistake. The staff at the station told us that we didn't need to buy the Kansai Thru Pass because it wasn't worth it, but in reality, this one wasn't worth it either. You can only ride buses and a few trains, and you can't really use the discounts on entrance fees. *I'm so sad.* I recommend buying the Kansai Thru Pass instead.
* We didn't use the pass when we went to Nara. We just took a regular train and rented a bike there.
- Takayama-Hokuriku Pass 5 Day (13,500¥)
The most worthwhile pass on the trip. The price may seem a bit steep (around 4,500 Thai baht), but it's worth it just for the inter-regional train ride. We used this pass to travel from Osaka to Takayama. We could use the Thunderbird, Shinkansen Tsurugi, Hida wide view, and Nohi buses unlimited times. We even took a detour to ride the Shinkansen, even though we could have reached Takayama with just one bus. 5555555
* You have to buy it from Thailand. We bought it from H.I.S.
You can find more details here: http://touristpass.jp/en/takayama_hokuriku/
- Tokyo Subway 48-hour Ticket (1,200¥)
We chose this pass because we were going to be in Tokyo for 2 days and most of the places we went to didn't use the Loop line, so we just used the subway. The 48 hours starts from the first time you use the pass, not from the last train of the day.
Now that we've talked about passes, let's talk about trains.
Many people who are backpacking in Japan for the first time might be confused about the trains because they have so many different colors and lines.
Not only are there many lines, but there are also many different types of trains! What should you do? Here's how to buy tickets and check train schedules.
(Credit for the picture of the ticket machine goes to Google. I didn't take a picture of the real one.)
After a lot of rambling, I'm going to post a lot of pictures now.
Let's invade Japan!
✧ DAY 0 / 5.06.16
DMK - KIX
Let's call it a flight day because our flight took off at two in the afternoon and arrived there at almost ten at night.
✧ Arrival
As soon as the plane landed, I grabbed my luggage and ran like crazy to immigration.
Luckily, I was one of the first in line, so I got through quickly. I picked up my bags and ran to buy a train ticket.
(I was afraid of missing the train and didn't want to take the shuttle bus because it was far from my accommodation lol)
By the time I got to my accommodation, I was exhausted from dragging my luggage.
After putting my things away, I took a shower and went to bed to rest up because the next day we were going to conquer the amusement park.
Universal Studio Japan, here we come!
✧ DAY 1 / 6.06.16
Universal Studio Japan
Wake up early and walk to Namba Station.
The fast-paced life of salarymen
I'd say that even when the amusement park just opened, it was already packed with people.
I recommend buying an Express pass, otherwise you'll definitely be waiting in long lines like us.
Once you reach the gate, just show the QR code you booked online to the staff for them to scan.
The first zone we're going to is the most popular one,
which is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Once you pass the front gate, run as fast as you can because there are a lot of people
queuing up to get a queue ticket to enter the Harry Potter zone. The earlier you come,
the sooner you can choose your entry time.
My father's car is waiting in the forbidden forest. It's a bit damaged.
Hogsmeade, with Harry Potter soundtrack for an immersive experience.
Hogwarts Express 9 3/4
Witch
After a short walk in Hogsmeade, we went to queue for the ride
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. We didn't buy Express.
We queued for about an hour, but for Harry, we did it!
After playing, I must say that I was moved to tears. It was so good.
For Harry Potter fans, it's a must-see. The visuals are so realistic.
The scene in the Quidditch field with the Dementors chasing us was so thrilling that we all screamed. 555
After leaving the castle, we queued up for Flight of the Hippogriff.
While waiting in line, we could see Hagrid's hut and pumpkin patch. Fang was barking non-stop from inside the hut.
After that, we went shopping at various shops in Hogsmeade. If you can sell your kidney, you can sell it here.
Every item is a must-have. We bought a Marauder's Map and Hermione's wand.
Those who bought the Interactive Wand can cast spells in different zones.
You will see children queuing up to practice Wingardium Leviosa.
A show from the Beauxbatons girls and the Durmstrang boys.
After a tiring walk, I took a break at the Three Broomsticks.
Sitting outside, I had a full view of the castle. Sipping on Butterbeer, the taste was very strange.
It had a vanilla and caramel scent, but I have no idea what else was in it. 5555
/ The regular one comes in a plastic cup. The collectible one costs an additional 1100¥ and comes in a glass like the one in the picture.
After the Harry Potter zone, we'll head over to Jurassic Park.
That's Jurassic Park: The Ride, a very chill park tour.
It's like a super splash in our house, a little wet, the dinosaurs are very cute. 55555
And another ride is Jurassic Park: The Flying Dinosaur, which is perfect for people who like heights.
The queue is super long, I recommend buying Express. We waited about 2 and a half hours to play.
While waiting, there will be John Williams' soundtrack playing in the background. Listening to it makes you feel like dinosaurs are going to appear all the time.
Judging from the picture, you can tell it was hell. The Japanese person sitting next to me exclaimed, "Oh my god!"
It wasn't just flying, it was also spinning. It's like a flight simulator for Pteranodons.
When I got on, I could only imagine if the lock broke, would I fly away with it? It was so scary.
Next, let's take a look at the atmosphere in other zones of USJ.
Note: The provided text is empty. There is nothing to translate.
The Magical Starlight parade is the grand finale.
✧ DAY 2 / 07.06.16
OSAKA
After a full day at the amusement park yesterday, I was completely knocked out.
I woke up late and didn't leave my accommodation until after 10:00 am. 55555
I started my day by buying an Osaka Amazing Pass at Namba Station.
Then I took the train to Tennoji Station. Unfortunately, it was raining today, so we couldn't go to the zoo.
We changed our destination to the Art Museum instead.
Photography is prohibited inside the museum, but the exhibits inside made us, architecture students, gasp in awe.
The craftsmanship is incredibly detailed, making us wonder how they were made in the past. For example, the intricate wood carvings of Buddha statues, the embroidery, the paintings, and the various porcelain pieces. If you have time, I highly recommend visiting the museum.
✧ Kindai University
After finishing the museum tour, I spent a long time deciding where to go next.
With the intention of visiting Free! I took a train to Nagase Station. And then we arrived at the prototype of Samezuka High School.
The school of the little shark Rin.
Prototype Canteen
Sorin
After the Samezuka tour, I went to Osaka Castle. It was raining heavily.
Come on, Sky Blue!
After walking around, we went to the HEP FIVE mall.
Let's go on the Ferris wheel!
Very rare cityscapes view
While waiting for my friend to go to the bathroom, I happened to see this.
It's a horse! So we decided to go in and pretend to be lazy eggs for a while.
As I was leaving the mall, I came across two young men singing One OK Rock's "Wherever you are".
I couldn't help but stop and listen. I was just talking about buying the album myself.
✧ Dotonbori - Shinsaibashi
After today, we come here every day to find food. It is both a shopping district and a food district at the same time.
Osaka Landmark - Glico Man Sign
✧ End the day with a delicious hunt at #1
Ichiran Ramen: Ramen Exam
The branch by the river is very crowded, so I walked to another branch in the alley on the other side. Google it.
The ordering method is that there will be a sheet for us to circle what level of intensity we want, what kind of noodles, and what to add.
After that, press the button on the machine according to what we wrote.
The atmosphere is like a table with a partition (which can be removed), just like in an examination room.
We can focus on the true taste of ramen. I'm exaggerating.
The noodles are soft, the soup is very rich, it's fragrant and creamy, I can't describe it, but it's delicious. I give it an A+.
✧ DAY 3 / 08.06.16
KYOTO
Last year when we visited Japan, someone told us that since we had already been to Little Kyoto, we should definitely visit the real Kyoto next time. This year, we're here following that person's advice. Yay!
I took the train from Osaka Station to Kyoto.
When I arrived at Kyoto Station, I bought a pass and then walked to the bus stop to wait for the bus.
Look at the sign carefully. If you are not sure, you can ask the uncle at the station (at the map sign). He speaks English very well.
✧ Arashiyama
Let's visit the farthest part first, our goal is the bamboo forest.
But we stopped by the temple for a bit.
From now on, we will see people wearing yukata all over the city.
Jinkirisha - Similar to a horse-drawn carriage but powered by humans, how tough do you have to be, brother?
Tenryuji Temple is a Zen temple.
Just a little further from the temple, and you'll reach the bamboo forest.
I heard music playing in the distance. I walked over to see this man playing music.
I don't know what the instrument is called, but it sounds beautiful. It would be a great soundtrack for a bamboo forest.
It's so peaceful to listen to.
Kinkakuji Temple is so far away! I only had a short time to walk around and take pictures.
On the way to Fushimi Inari
✧ Fushimi Inari Shrine
I just realized that the pillars here are not short at all. They are so long that they go up the mountain.
I can't even walk halfway / It's very difficult to find an angle to take a picture without people.
White fox
"So delicious!"
The barbecue vendor said (in Thai)
Inviting our friends to spend money on a stick each 5555555
After returning from Kyoto, we decided to try Osaka's famous dish, Okonomiyaki.
Unfortunately, Mizuno was no longer accepting reservations, so we went to Chibo instead.
It was so much fun to eat the real thing, stir-fried fresh, and I'm so happy.
That's the end of day three.
✧ DAY 4 / 09.06.16
NARA
Today we're going to Nara, the city of deer! We took the train from Namba Station.
It didn't take long, and we enjoyed the view from the train window.
When we got off the train, there was an information center in front of the station.
We went in and asked for a map.
Today we rented bicycles to ride around. It costs 500¥ per day. The rental shop is marked on the map.
When we arrived at Nara Park, we saw deer everywhere. You can buy deer crackers to feed them for 150¥ per pack.
If we don't let it eat, it will swarm us and chase us like this....
Let's go on a field trip to Todaiji Temple.
Girls in yukata
✧ Mellow Café
After walking around the garden and temple, I came to Sanjo Dori Street.
There are many cute cafes hidden here, but the one I saw recommended is this one, Mellow Café.
After a break, we continued cycling around the city. The small town is so cute!
The atmosphere is just like in a Japanese series.
When we like someone, we will come down to walk the bike and walk with them.
As a bonus, Nara is actually a reference to a location in the anime Kyoukai no Kanata.
However, the main city is Kashihara, which we didn't get to visit. It's a shame.
After returning from Nara, we went to eat dinner in the same area as Dotonbori as before.
Today I have another delicious treat to share with you. It's a dessert shop with a long line of people waiting!
PABLO, the famous cheese tart shop from Osaka.
There are many branches of the shop, but the one we visited today is in Shinsaibashi.
I was originally going to buy a small piece, but when the line moved to the front of the store,
the staff changed the sign to sold out. So I had to buy a large piece to share with my friends.
They claim that the cheese melts in your mouth, and I have to say that it's true. It really melts and is so delicious.
I ended the day with dessert.
✧ DAY 5 / 10.06.16
TO TAKAYAMA
Halfway through the trip already
It's our sleep all day because we're in the car all day
The first train we will take today is Thunderbird. Show Hokuriku pass and it's a breeze VIP / Get off at Kanazawa.
Upon arriving in Kanazawa, we immediately transferred to the Shinkansen Tsurugi.
Excited for my first time on the Shinkansen! I wonder how fast it will be.
Not just fast, it's super fast. In just over an hour, we've crossed the prefecture to Toyama.
There are trams here too.
As the wait for the Hida Wide View train was taking a long time,
we decided to grab a bite to eat. The local specialty of Toyama City
is Shiro-ebi, or white shrimp. The restaurant we chose was Shiroebitei,
which is conveniently located right next to the station.
After lunch, we waited for the train.
And this train is the Hida Wide View, which lives up to its name. The windows are 360 degrees!
Upon arriving in Takayama, I grabbed a Hyouka brochure from the information center at the station.
Ready to follow in their footsteps! / As for capturing the details of the scenes,
✧ Takayama
Welcome back to this charming little town.
The places we will go to tomorrow are:
A foreign woman in a yukata
For tonight, we're in Takayama, and there's no way we can miss this...
Hida beef! The restaurant we're going to eat at was recommended by our host at J-hoppers.
The name of the restaurant is Suzuya. Just follow Google Maps, haha. 5555
For this meal, we ordered both grilled Hida beef and Hoba miso pork.
The Hoba miso is also one of their specialties. The miso sauce is so delicious and fragrant.
✧ DAY 6 / 11.06.16
SHIRAKAWAGO
Today we will move to a ryokan in Shirakawago.
The beautiful reason is to soak up the atmosphere of the village all day long.
/ The real reason is that Saturday is full of j-hoppers, so I can't book any more, so I have to find another place to stay instead. 555555
Take the bus to Shirakawa-go. Show your Hokuriku Pass as usual.
Walking from the bus stop, you will see the suspension bridge and beautiful views of the Shokawa River.
Lunch at Ochudo restaurant.
The restaurant that the host recommended. The reason why he recommended it is because it is a restaurant where Oda-sensei,
who wrote One Piece, once ate and drew a picture. 55555
This is a brown rice curry with mixed grains. It is topped with Japanese sweet potato.
At the shop, there are postcards available for you to pick up for free. They are souvenirs.
✧ Shirakawa-go Hostel
After checking in, I came back to the hostel after informing them earlier in the morning.
It's a ryokan-style hostel with fan rooms, comfortable to sleep in, located a little away from the village area.
What impressed me was the incredibly kind hosts, Kyoko-san and Tomo-san, who took excellent care of me.
They recommended restaurants and places to visit, answered all my questions, and even taught me some Japanese.
I give them a perfect score for their attentiveness, and the ryokan was very comfortable to sleep in.
I only needed the fan because it was quite cold at night.
After we finished packing our belongings at the accommodation, we headed up to the village viewpoint.
We took a different route than most people, as it was less crowded, but it involved a bit of hill climbing.
Stamping the postcards I picked up at noon for my collection.
Another day has passed at Shirakawa-go with its beautiful atmosphere. I'll be back again!
✧ DAY 7 / 12.06.16
TAKAYAMA
In the morning, we took the bus back to Takayama.
We planned to visit the Miyagawa Morning Market, but we were too late.
They had already packed up their things. 5555
The owner of this shop advertised that it was a shop that Houtarou (Hyouka) had walked past and eaten at before.
The owner is similar to the older brother at Fushimi Inari who said, "It's so delicious!" My friend also ordered one skewer. 555555
For lunch, I walked past the Hida Beef Ramen shop and decided to stop in for a bite.
The ramen itself was just okay, but the real star was the beef. It was so tender, it practically melted in my mouth.
Better than ramen is Hida beef sushi. I highly recommend it. It's delicious and unique.
I usually eat fish sushi, but this is beef.
Spent the whole day following Hyouka's footsteps.
This is Hida High School, the prototype of Kamiyama High School in the story.
This kind lady walked up to me and asked, "Do you like Takayama?"
She tried to chat with me about the city, she was so lovely! / But on the other hand, she also seemed a bit sad.
Today is our last day in Takayama.
Tomorrow we will head to the capital of Japan, Tokyo!
✧ DAY 8 / 13.06.16
TO TOKYO
We started the day with another cloudy sky. Today we will take the Hida Wide View to Nagoya, then take a bus to Tokyo. / Sleep all day again.
Missed the Shinkansen Nozomi again
We're taking the bus now. We're using JR, which we booked at Nagoya Station. There's a counter there.
Another option is Willer Express, which you can book online and pay for at FamilyMart.
It's a long ride, so we'll arrive in Tokyo late tonight.
After arriving, I took a train from Tokyo Station to Tawaramachi.
The trains in Tokyo are much more difficult to navigate than in Osaka. By the time I changed trains, my legs were dragging.
If you don't want to get lost, remember the color of the line and follow the signs. 555555
Tonight I'm staying at Bunka Hostel, a small hostel located near Asakusa Station.
But it's surrounded by food. There are restaurants all over the alley. The coordinates are near the Rox / Rox 3G department store.
Surroundings
The beds will be in box-like structures, unlike other hostels that use curtains for privacy.
The design is super cute!
After packing, I went out to eat and walk around the accommodation.
✧ Sensoji Temple
It was a bit eerie at night, but there were still some visitors.
Just a little further and you'll have a clear view of the Tokyo Skytree.
Nearby, there are souvenir shops selling snacks (popular with tour groups), such as KitKats,
cheese-flavored fish snacks, pistachios, etc. There are also cosmetics and a wide variety of other items. 555
Across from this mall is Rox / Rox 3G, which has Japanese clothes inside.
ABC Mart sells shoes, and there's also UNIQLO.
✧ DAY 9 / 14.06.16
SHIBUYA - HARAJUKU - SHINJUKU
I declare today a shopping day. I'm ready to spend!
I woke up early and headed to Shibuya. The crosswalk wasn't very crowded in the morning.
Hachiko
Stopped by It's Demo, a cosmetics store with a ton of Characters.
Came to see the Disney princess eyeshadow palette, was planning to buy Belle but it was sold out.
Because it's a nude color, it's very popular. The price is 1,400Y before tax.
To Harajuku
✧ Meiji Jingu
I stopped by Meiji Jingu Shrine. I never thought there would be a forest like this in the middle of the city.
Takeshita Street, the center of youth fashion where everyone goes wild.
anello has become a super popular bag, following the trend of kanken.
This is a store that sells figures and various anime-related merchandise.
There are a lot of them, from all-male anime like Free! Haikyuu Utapri Prince of Tennis, etc.
Or cute dolls like Sumikko Gurashi, Gudetama, Moomin, there are also gachapon machines.
After shopping, we took a break to eat some desserts.
You can't miss the cold crepes, which are very famous in Harajuku. There are many shops,
but we ate at Santa Monica for 550 yen. After walking around Harajuku, we went to Shinjuku.
We went shopping and didn't take any pictures. 55555
We walked into many stores in Shinjuku, including Muji and ABC Mart (we each got a pair of shoes).
We spent a lot at Animate, buying CDs, photobooks, and collectibles. After shopping until we were tired, we
went back to eat near our accommodation. I realized that tomorrow is our last day in Japan..
✧ DAY 10 / 15.06.16
AKIHABARA - DAIKANYAMA
It's already the last day in Japan. I don't want to go back.
Today we will spend our last moments in a place we've been wanting to visit since our last trip.
Akihabara, the true center of everything anime.
Gundam Cafe and AKB48 are here too
Lunch break at Go! Go! Curry, a famous curry rice restaurant.
It's easy to spot, just look for the yellow sign with the big King Kong.
Very rich and fragrant, with a lot of cabbage too
Then we'll zip over to Shinjuku for a bit, following in the footsteps of The Garden of Words.
Since we came yesterday, the garden was closed.
A group of photographer uncles came to take pictures with their equipment fully loaded.
I took the train to Daikanyama. I was actually a little sad that I didn't get to go to
Jiyugaoka and Kichijoji because they were too far away, so I came here instead.
From Zakka, I switched to admiring the buildings and architecture.
The buildings are very clean and beautiful, all in the same tone.
Just like a cat
The expenses are summarized in the picture below.
This price does not include shopping, as each person shops differently.
Ending with a picture of the gang, imitating a scene from Hyouka 55555555
See you again, Japan. I love it every time I come here.
Follow the rest of the photos on our page
www.facebook.com/plaintography
All photos were taken with a Fuji X-T10 and processed in Lightroom.
A girl goes there.
Friday, September 27, 2024 10:19 AM
