Osaka - Worth It?
 

Hi,

I am still in the early stages of my research, but my spouse and I are looking to going to Japan for 8 days. We would arrive in Tokyo on the 29th of August.

Day 1 - Arrive in Tokyo
Day 2 - Tokyo
Day 3 - Tokyo
Day 4 - Mt. Fuji
Day 5 - Kyoto
Day 6 - Kyoto
Day 7 - Osaka
Day 8 - Fly Home

Is Osaka worth it? Or should we just focus on Tokyo and Kyoto? Is Mt. Fuji worth it? We've seen the Rockies?

Thanks for any help.

With so little time, I'd cut Osaka and spend that day/night in Kyoto.

Are you planning to go to Hakone to get the view of Fuji? Often, you can get a good view from the train between Tokyo and Kyoto. Seeing Fuji is very different than seeing the Rockies.

Good advice from Kathie, we had a great view of Mr. Fuji from the Shinkansen window on a clear sunny day last winter. We even saw Fuji-san in the distance from our hotel room in Tokyo.

From Kyoto Station, it is a one hour bus ride to Osaka International Airport, so unless you have something specific to do in Osaka I would skip it.

I recently returned from my first visit to Japan, we had 12 days. With 8 days, I might recommend the following:

Day 1 - Arrive in Tokyo, overnight Tokyo
Day 2 - Full Day Tokyo, overnight Tokyo
Day 3 - Full Day Tokyo, overnight Tokyo
Day 4 - Day trip to Kamakura, overnight in Hakone or Kawaguchiko (suggest staying in a Ryokan this night)
Day 5 - Full day Hakone or Kawaguchiko, evening train to Kyoto, overnight in Kyoto
Day 6 - Full Day Kyoto, overnight in Kyoto
Day 7 - Full Day Kyoto, overnight in Kyoto
Day 8 - Half Day Kyoto, afternoon train to Osaka, evening flight out of Osaka

I personally did not visit Osaka or Hakone. I did love Tokyo and Kyoto equally and I really enjoyed our day to Kawaguchiko for a very nice view of Fujisan! Hakone might be easier than Kawaguchiko if you are short on time.

Are we correct in assuming that you are flying out of Osaka?

For a first-time 8-day trip to Japan, I suggest focusing on Tokyo and Osaka. You have only 6 full days.

Visiting Hakone to see Mt Fuji would be worthwhile as a break between the big cities, but it will complicate your logistics. You need to look into it more to decide if it is for you. It could be a day trip from Tokyo.

It seems to me that you are at the very beginning of planning your trip and haven't really looked into the destinations that you are considering that. Without specific interests in Osaka you can drop it. Later, if you find that you have an interest in Osaka then you can visit there as a half-day or full-day trip from Kyoto. You don't gain much as far as access to Kansai Airport goes by moving to Osaka.

Instead of Osaka, consider visiting Nara from Tokyo.

Instead of Osaka, consider visiting Nara from Kyoto <s>Tokyo</s>.

Considering the rest of his post, I assume mrwunrfl means you should focus on Tokyo and Kyoto (not Osaka).

Hakone is an easy day trip out of Tokyo, which is how you'd need to do it with only 8 days. I saw Fuji from both my hotel as well as the shinkansen, but there was NOTHING so awe inspiring as seeing it for the first time coming over the hill on the gondola. I could have stared at it forever. The Rockies are nothing compared to the beauty of Fuji-san.

Never went to Osaka but with the very limited time you have, I agree with all the others. Add that day to Kyoto to give you 3 days which, of course, would be cut a bit by travel time to Kyoto.

Kathie, your assumption is correct!

For a first-time 8-day trip to Japan, I suggest focusing on Tokyo and Kyoto <s>Osaka</s>.