yankeetraveller

I will be travelling to Kyoto and Osaka at the end of April, a friend suggested I stay in Osaka and commute to Kyoto since it is only 30 minutes away by train. The reason being there are more affordable hotels to choose from in Osaka, they suggested the following hotels Miyako, Swisshotel and Cross hotels. Please comment.

Also, I am a little confused with the train system "JR passes etc", how do I determine which one to purchase. I'm starting my trip in Tokyo and then travelling to Kyoto, Narra and Osaka.

Lastly, I am hoping to see the cherry blossoms will I be too late (april 19 - March 2).

Thanks

rkkwan

Don't listen to your friend. The Shinkansen takes 14 minutes, but it's from Shin Osaka, not Osaka, and the Kyoto train station is a bit south of city center and away from most sites, requiring bus/subway connection, plus it's expensive to take the SHinkansen. It's fine if you're only going to Kyoto once for a day trip, but definitely not commute for more than one day.

If you're taking other private railway lines - Keihan or Hankyu - that goes from central Osaka to central Kyoto, it's about 50-60 minutes each way. Not 30.

Mara

What about the JR Kyoto or JR Special Rapid trains? According to hyperdia.com they run several times an hour and takes 30 or 40 minutes and costs ¥540.

As far as a JR Pass it depends on your itinerary, you say you are starting your trip in Tokyo - are you flying home from Tokyo - if you are, a JR Pass might very well work for you if it's used within seven days....

WillJame

Don't listen to rkkwan! Hankyu does indeed travel from Osaka's Umeda Station to Kyoto in as little as 30 minutes by the fastest train. Not "50-60 minutes each way." The cost is ¥390 one way.

rkkwan

Really? The fastest I can find takes about 46. Most are 48-49. Maybe I'm missing something. Anyways, I'm not an expert on these trains. Just saying...

yankeetraveller

I will be flying in and out of Tokyo. I arrive on the 19th and leave on May 2nd. I know I won't get to see everything in such a short period of time so I will be hitting the must see "tourist spots" first. Am I dividing my time well?

Also can you comment or suggest hotels in Kyoto and Osaka, my budget is US 100 I would like to be close to the trains.

Apr 19 - Arrive in Tokyo
Apr 26 - leave for Kyoto
Apr 29 - leave for Osaka
May 1 - Return to Tokyo
May 2 - Return home

Thanks

Mara

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html - Here is the cherry blossom forecast posted on japan-guide.com - an extremely helpful site for planning Japan trips....

With your schedule the seven day JR Pass should save you some money particularly if you do day trips.....

Have you tried to see if there is hotel availability in Kyoto for your dates? Personally I would not want to move from Kyoto to Osaka if I did not have to.....

hawaiiantraveler

OK......your friend was right about a lot of things except their choice of hotels with your budget. All of their hotel suggestions are great especially the Swissotel Osaka but they are not in your $100 US per night. This one is more in line with your requirements.

http://www.toyoko-inn.com/e_hotel/00054/index.html

Your friend was also right about Osaka being a cheaper place to stay and only 30 minutes or less from Kyoto via various different train lines including the JR special rapid trains which only take about 25 minutes. The shinkansen would take 15 minutes from Shin-Osaka.

Yes you would benefit from a 7 day JR pass which you would activate on the day you leave Tokyo for Kyoto. See here for more details about the pass and traveling via train in Japan in general.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2016.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2018.html

As Mara suggests check out the whole japan guide site as it will answer a lot of questions you have about these cities:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2158.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2157.html

If you want to view cherry blossoms at the times you are there you may still see some lingering in the cities you will be in but a day trip to Nikko, Hakone or Takao from Tokyo and Mt Koya from Osaka may bring you more luck.

Aloha!

WillJame

I recommend the Karasuma Hotel in Kyoto. Check the Tripadvisor reviews. It's right in the centre of downtown, and easily accessible to the places you'd want to see. Check their website for your dates, but I think you'll find it come in at less than $100. Don't go for the optional breakfast. There's a Starbucks adjoining the lobby (if that's your thing) or other choices nearby. You could make it your base for the entire Kansai stay, and make a day trip or two to Osaka from Kyoto if you wished.
Actually, I have travelled by Hankyu Railway from Umeda to Kyoto's Kawaramachi Station dozens of times and it is, I assure you, only 30 minutes by the fastest train.

Mara

I checked two of the three Toyoko Inns in Kyoto - they have availability through April 30th for single rooms.....under ¥7000 a night....you can reserve now and cancel with no penalty up til almost the last day if you find something you like more.....

Paul1950

I stayed in Toyoko Inns last year and was satisfied. Typical businessman's hotels--clean, well-maintained, private bath, fairly small rooms but certainly fine for my purposes. Included a limited Japanese breakfast that kept me going until early afternoon.

WillJame

Another hotel choice in Kyoto under $100: Super Hotel Kyoto shijokawaramachi, ranked #8 on Tripadvisor.
Check out the JR rail pass carefully. Taking only a Tokyo-Kyoto round trip won't pay for it and excludes the Nozomi trains. Remember that the JR station in Kyoto isn't very close to the hotels mentioned here. You don't want to get unnecessarily locked into taking JR trains to Osaka, Nara, etc.
Another option for you--though it may be too late--is to consider making your return trip from Osaka's Kansai Airport rather than Tokyo. That would give you more time, and save you from having to return to Narita just to fly home. If you can do that, then passing up the JR pass really makes sense.

yankeetraveller

Thank you everyone for all your help.

Unfortunately I can't change my tkt I'm using my frequent flyer miles and they didn't have flights out of Osaka to Toronto.

Is Nara, Nikko, Hakone possible day trips?

arata

your friend is right. i live in osaka.

kappa1

> Is Nara, Nikko, Hakone possible day trips?

Nara, yes. The others, no.

Mara

I disagree, many people do Hakone as a day trip from Tokyo.....

lcuy

Both Hakone and Nikko are popular day trips from Tokyo. They are better if you stay the night though.
Nara is a very easy day trip from Kyoto or Osaka.

kappa1

> I disagree, many people do Hakone as a day trip from Tokyo.....

Oh, I thought OP was asking about day trips from Kyoto/Osaka. From Tokyo, yes, tight may be but you can.

yankeetraveller

Yes, I was planning to go to Hakone and Nikko from Tokyo. I will be travelling by myself, should I take a tour or do it by myself.

Thanks again for all your help.

hawaiiantraveler

Very easy to do by yourself. See here for details:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5206.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3805.html

Aloha!