Osaka itinerary advice
 

Hi,

We're traveling to Osaka this month-end with 2 kids (3yo and 1yo), and would appreciate your advice/comments with regards to our itinerary. We will be staying somewhere near Nipponbashi, and we have decided we will skip the usual Osaka Aquarium and Universal Studios attractions since we have almost the same here in Singapore.

Day1: Kuromon market, Namba Parks

Day2: Osaka Castle (Whats the diff between this and Osaka Castle Park? :)
Dotonbori, River cruise?

Day3: Day trip to Kyoto (Is it recommended to use all-day pass?)
- Golden Pavillion, Nijo Castle, Arashiyama

Day4: Rinku premium outlet (Is this one of the better shopping outlet there?)

Day5: Day trip to Nara
-Nara Park (deer feeding?), Higashimuki

Day6: Shinsaibashi? Any other suggestions?

Day7: Any suggestions? (Our flight back is 630pm)

PS. Any good restos worth trying in Shinsaibashi, Dotonbori and Namba areas?

Thanks in advance :)

>>Osaka Castle (Whats the diff between this and Osaka Castle Park?
No diff. The castle, Osaka-jo, is in the park, Osaka-jo Koen.

I suggest that you enter the park from the southwest corner of the park just north of the Osaka Museum of History. From that direction, the front of the castle will be facing you as you approach it. The Osakajokoen station is behind the castle so somewhat less dramatic.

Am pleased so see the same advice here: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4000.html

The recommended approach to Osaka Castle is through Otemon Gate at the park's southwestern corner. The closest station is Tanimachi 4-chrome Station along the Tanimachi Subway Line and Chuo Subway Line.

<<Day3: Day trip to Kyoto (Is it recommended to use all-day pass?)
- Golden Pavillion, Nijo Castle, Arashiyama>>

Good luck with that - the golden pavilion and Arashiyama are at opposite ends of the city in the northeast and northwest extremes, respectively. Nijo-jo is more central. That's a good bit of running around in one day. If you want to see a great site that's relatively close to Kyoto, take the Nara local two stops to Inari for the Fushimi Inari shrine. Then you can reverse and go up to Arashiyama on the Sagano line before going back to Kyoto station for the trip back to Osaka.

Like BigRuss, I think your Day3 is overly ambitious.

Day5 -- I must admit that I'm not sure I would recommend feeding the deer. I see far more questions about how to avoid the deer who have come to expect being fed! I could be wrong....

You have a wealth of opportunities in Kyoto and Nara -- I would look to those locations for the time you haven't already committed to other places. Here's some information from the internet site that I have found most helpful about traveling in Japn -- japan-guide.com. FWIW, I've found it to be an excellent source for just about everything BUT it's recommendations for how long things will take -- and in those cases, I thought it offered estimates that were about half of what I actually thought appropriate. Here you go:
for Kyoto: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2158.html
for Nara: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2165.html

Enjoy!

Thanks for all the replies. Here's our final itinerary:

Day1: Arrived in Osaka 7AM; Kuromon market, Namba parks, Tokyu Hands
Day2: Shinsaibashi, Midosuji, Dotonbori
Day3: Kyoto - Arashiyama, Kinkakuji (Easy to take bus?)
Day4: Osaka Castle, any other suggestions?
Day5: Kyoto - Kiyomizudera, Higashiyama, Gion (Easy to take bus?)
Day6: Osaka Aquarium, Tempozan Ferris wheel / marketplace
Day7: Rinku premium outlet before going to airport for 6pm flight

Few questions:

1) Any recommended restos in Kuromon, Shinsaibashi, and Dotonbori areas?
2) Do I need to purchase an all-day pass for subway/bus? or ICOCA card is more practical in our case?
3) Staying somewhere near Nipponbashi/Namba, whats the best way to go to Kyoto (traveling with 2 kids) ?
3) Is it really very expensive taking taxis in Osaka or Kyoto?

Thanks again in advance.

Day 5 is, IMO, far too rushed -- it takes about 2 days just for Higashiyama. Day 3 also seems busy to me, but might be possible if you are selective about which parts of Arashiyama you visit.

The cup noodle museum was fun in Osaka. Not much English language info, though you could ask if they had a leaflet, but I had a blast drawing my own design on a noodle cup, then choosing my fillings for it and lastly having it sealed!