Kyoto or Osaka Pre-Cruise
Nov 16th, 2010, 03:53 PM
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Kyoto or Osaka Pre-Cruise
How awkward would it be to be staying in Kyoto and have to get not-insignificant luggage to the Osaka port to board a cruise, say by 1 pm? Would we be better off staying in a well-located Osaka hotel for all of our 4 days pre-cruise, just the night before, or not at all?
Our 4 days would be roughly broken down into 2 days in Kyoto, 1 in Nara, and 1 in Himedji/Kobe.
Further complicating this is the fact we'll be flying in from Bangkok and it might be a red-eye cutting into part of the first day, and it may be into KIX or ITM, not sure yet.
Our 4 days would be roughly broken down into 2 days in Kyoto, 1 in Nara, and 1 in Himedji/Kobe.
Further complicating this is the fact we'll be flying in from Bangkok and it might be a red-eye cutting into part of the first day, and it may be into KIX or ITM, not sure yet.
Nov 16th, 2010, 06:20 PM
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Hmmm, haven't posted in a long time... anyway, have you thought about using a luggage delivery service to send the majority of your luggage to the port the day before, and have a overnighter pack for the last night in Kyoto? That way you won't have to pack much the next morning, and still have plenty of time to get to Osaka without a lot of luggage and without rushing around.
Nov 17th, 2010, 05:11 AM
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Agree w/Sydney2K's idea about sending your luggage ahead the day before the cruise by the Takyubin service. <b>However</b>, you would need to get confirmation from the cruise operator that they have a location at the port that will accept luggage. (They almost certainly will, but you'd need to verify and get the address.) That solution would not only be non-awkward, it would be enormously simple.
As for KIX/ITM, I don't see any flights from BKK to ITM. There are both day flights and overnight flights from BKK to KIX.
For most 1st-timers (or possibly even 2nd- and 3rd-timers), Kyoto is a more interesting city than is Osaka. While both are big cities with the usual trappings, Kyoto also offers several spots that are especially tourist-worthy -- a 3-word Google search will turn up a ton of info.
As for KIX/ITM, I don't see any flights from BKK to ITM. There are both day flights and overnight flights from BKK to KIX.
For most 1st-timers (or possibly even 2nd- and 3rd-timers), Kyoto is a more interesting city than is Osaka. While both are big cities with the usual trappings, Kyoto also offers several spots that are especially tourist-worthy -- a 3-word Google search will turn up a ton of info.
Nov 17th, 2010, 06:04 AM
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With your itinerary I would choose a well located Osaka hotel. The places you mention are easily reached by staying in either city but Osaka is the hub of transport in the Kansai area and you will find lodgings more modern and less expensive in Osaka. You can see all the sights that Kyoto has to offer and take a very short train ride home in the evening.
<i>Kyoto is a more interesting city than is Osaka</i>
That would depend on ones interests. If you are into food,shopping, modern museums,castles,modern theme parks,Bunraku all within a modern city then Osaka is definitely the choice imho. If you want to see older temples and historic sites within a modern city then Kyoto is the place for you but staying in Kyoto usually comes at a steep price unless you opt for the business(and the like) hotels. Nicely located 4 and 5 star hotels come at a hefty price in Kyoto espescially Fri and Sat nites.
Aloha!
<i>Kyoto is a more interesting city than is Osaka</i>
That would depend on ones interests. If you are into food,shopping, modern museums,castles,modern theme parks,Bunraku all within a modern city then Osaka is definitely the choice imho. If you want to see older temples and historic sites within a modern city then Kyoto is the place for you but staying in Kyoto usually comes at a steep price unless you opt for the business(and the like) hotels. Nicely located 4 and 5 star hotels come at a hefty price in Kyoto espescially Fri and Sat nites.
Aloha!
Nov 17th, 2010, 12:38 PM
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Thanks for all the suggestions. The cruise line definitely will have a port agent, but the ship will not be in port the day before it departs, so I don't know if that complicates things.
Rizzuto: flights on ANA via Narita and maybe Haneda go to ITM.
We are definitely not shoppers, theme park or bar hoppers and believe we'd prefer the historic sites in Kyoto, but with the itinerary originally mentioned (Kyoto 2, Nara 1, Himedji 1) then there's no time at all for Osaka and I'm not sure that would be best.
I've seen reports that the Sheraton Miyako has a good location in Osaka (and we have some Starwood points) so I assume we could get to the other locations easily from there.
As to air, there are very expensive non-stops on Thai Airlines from BKK to KIX, mainly red-eyes. (It's 5+ hrs in the air and 2 hrs time change.) There are more reasonable 1-stops (approx 9 hrs total flight elapsed time) on Air China, Asiana, and Malasian Airlines. Do any of those carriers set off any warning bells?
Rizzuto: flights on ANA via Narita and maybe Haneda go to ITM.
We are definitely not shoppers, theme park or bar hoppers and believe we'd prefer the historic sites in Kyoto, but with the itinerary originally mentioned (Kyoto 2, Nara 1, Himedji 1) then there's no time at all for Osaka and I'm not sure that would be best.
I've seen reports that the Sheraton Miyako has a good location in Osaka (and we have some Starwood points) so I assume we could get to the other locations easily from there.
As to air, there are very expensive non-stops on Thai Airlines from BKK to KIX, mainly red-eyes. (It's 5+ hrs in the air and 2 hrs time change.) There are more reasonable 1-stops (approx 9 hrs total flight elapsed time) on Air China, Asiana, and Malasian Airlines. Do any of those carriers set off any warning bells?
Nov 17th, 2010, 12:46 PM
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The luggage may be an issue. In the past, posters here have found that baggage is not accepted for delivery at the port by their cruise line. Certainly check directly with your cruise company before assuming you can forward your luggage to the port.
A service like MK Taxi company might be a solution to getting you and your bags to the port from Kyoto.
Flights to BKK from Japan tend to be reasonable, so I'm wondering about your pricing. Perhaps it is too far in advance to be getting any prices other than published fares. Discount fares are typically released 3 - 6 months out here in Japan, and I'd guess the rest of Asia is similar based on my experience booking tickets within Asia over the years.
But, also, if you are only flying one way, that will be very expensive, as most discount fares require round trip.
A service like MK Taxi company might be a solution to getting you and your bags to the port from Kyoto.
Flights to BKK from Japan tend to be reasonable, so I'm wondering about your pricing. Perhaps it is too far in advance to be getting any prices other than published fares. Discount fares are typically released 3 - 6 months out here in Japan, and I'd guess the rest of Asia is similar based on my experience booking tickets within Asia over the years.
But, also, if you are only flying one way, that will be very expensive, as most discount fares require round trip.
