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Anonymous
Hello everyone.

I've never been to Japan before and going end of october, I am going to Osaka and will stay there for 11 days.
I've done quite some research and I am thinking about visiting atleast Nara, Kobe and Kyoto.
I'm thinking about taking a train to Tokio for a day (i've read it takes about 3 hours which should be doable).

I'm currently finding either a ryokan or a cheap hotel to stay.
I was wondering if anyone had any experience with any of these places or anything in Osaka at all? ((cheap)places to eat?)

Also the questions:
Are taxi's expensive in Osaka?

I'm from the Netherlands, is there anything in particular that would make a nice gift?

Money:
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>> Anonymous
Taxis are ALWAYS expensive. EVERYWHERE.

In Osaka, try the Dotombori Hotel. It's right on the fucking Dotombori-dori, the best and most iconic place in Osaka (save perhaps Tsutenkaku in Nihonbashi to the south). Also try Comfort Hotel Shinsaibashi. Enjoy your free breakfast.
>> Anonymous
For cheap hotels in nearly every major city in Japan try Toyoko-inn.
http://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/index.html
>> Anonymous
>>45166
>>45174
Okay thankyou.

Anyone else care to contribute something?
>> Anonymous
No you can't make a profit using Dollars. Don't bother with cash, but check if which ATM's work for your bank. Postbank users can use the ATM's at the post-offices in Japan. Perhaps bring a credit card for backup and use that to book hostels on-line.

Tokyo in a day is just silly, safe it for some other time and use the money you'll save to do fun things in Kansai.
>> Anonymous
>>45166

Not if you ride the "Svart taxi" (translates into black taxi) in Sweden. It's illegal but you can go like 6 miles for 6 bucks.
>> Anonymous
>>45166
Taxis are not particulary expensive in japan. But I'm a norwegian, everywhere seems cheap to me.
But you wont really be needing taxis in Oosaka, there's lots of trains and subway lines.
Kyoto on the other hand requires that you understand the busroutes, but you can get a nice map with all the tourism spots at the train station.
>> Anonymous
>>45205
Awesom, seems like you been there before?
More tips or anything?

I appriciate it
>> Anonymous
>>45216
I live in Tokyo.

Buy a guide book like Lonely Planet, seriously, all the basic stuff is in there.

You've already mentioned four cities in the same region. That is plenty for 11 days, don't waste your time on needless travelling.

Also:
http://www.hostelworld.com/

Really useful.
>> Anonymous
>>45221
Thankyou
>> Anonymous
Why would you bring dollars? That's plain stupid. The exchange rate for 1 euro should be around 155 yen by now, what more do you want?

Don't bother going to Tokyo for one day, you would maybe manage to visit Shibuya and a bit of the Shinjuku area. Or spend the time at Ueno and Akihabara, which is more likely for Anon, before having to take the Shinkansen back from Tokyo Station. And Shinkansen is expensive, so if you haven't got a rail pass, it's practically not worth it.

I spent a week in Osaka recently and there's enough there to keep you busy. If you've never stayed at a Ryokan, go for it, if you can find a good one. I just love tatami rooms with futon.
>> Anonymous
>>45033
The two hotels I've stayed in in Osaka are Hotel Kinki (sic) and Hotel Kuramoto. Kuramoto is in the Kita/Minami area close to Dotombori and Kinki is up in Umeda. Both can be recommended, both are close to a shiatload of restaurants, etc. For nightlife, Minami is probably a bit better, though you can find good spots in Umeda too.

Shinkansen to Tokyo is 2h35min from Shin-Osaka station so a day trip is doable allthough I'd recommend putting aside a few of your 11 days in Osaka for Tokyo. Sightseeingwise there's not a whole lot to see in Osaka, except of course Osaka itself, so you could affor a few days in Tokyo. For sightseeing you can always head to Kyoto and Nara, 30-45 minutes by train. 1 day is enough for the basic sights in Nara and depending on how many temples you can stomach before getting fed-up you might consider 2 days in Kyoto. Gijon and Pontocho are also nice ares to stroll around in Kyoto in the evening.

Eating....Menus/display portions are generally always outside the restaurants with prices attached, you'll find plenty of cheap eats, especially in Osaka. Tokyo can be a bit more expensive. Just find a place you'll like and dive in. Conveyor belt sushi is always a good choice and pretty cheap, as are ramen dishes in small lunch restaurants/franchise places.

Taxis are affordable and the metro is very convenient in Osaka.

I wouldn't bother with the dollars unless you have them readily at hand, otherwise you'll just pay a comission twice. Euro has been doing pretty good against the yen too, so just get yen in Holland before heading out, as finding an ATM for international credit cards can be a bit of a hassle in the evenings (although somebody mentioned that 7-11's have international ATM's now that wasn't my experience the last time I was there in June).

Hope this helps.
>> Anonymous
>>45259

Seven Eleven ATMs everywhere now handle foreign credit cards. They even got an English instruction, if you need that too.

Apart from that, there are still post offices, although obviously 7/11 is more convenient and available 24 hours.
>> Anonymous
dont go to tokyo for the day. go for at least 2 nights, or dont go at all. it costs too much to take the shinkansen and you could spend a day in each of tokyo's districts easily, never mind trying to see the whole city in one day. ive been to tokyo for about a month total, plus living in japan for a year otherwise. take my advice, dont waste your days there on the train
>> Anonymous
Thank you all for your input its been really helpfull.

I decided not to go to Tokio and just to bring Yen, i also read elsewhere its save to carry around alot of cash money since its unlikely i'll be robbed.

I have an appointment with a tattoo artist in Osaka and thats the reason I was thinking of taking a taxi there, everything else I plan on finding my way with the metro and train.

Damn this board is helpfull, much love for you guys.

Would you guys appriciate it if I post pictures and stories when I get back?
>> Anonymous
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>>45387
Have fun in Osaka (pic related), a rocking city after dark and full of great people.
>> Anonymous
>>45387
Please do. Hell, I'll share mine when I get around to it.
>> Japan
i live in japan mate , use Public transport and stay away from taxi's
>> Anonymous
>>45543

this is very true. subway fare around osaka is about 200-250 yen when it costs about 650 yen to just get into the taxi. plus with big japanese cities like osaka and tokyo, the traffic gets so bad the subway ends up faster anyway.
>> Anonymous
>>45543
>>45552
Okay, guess i'll have to figure out what the nearest metro station is instead then.

Hows red/white wine for a present to someone you never met before?
I remember reading somewhere that its rare in Japan..?
>> Anonymous
>>45554
um, wine isn't rare unless it's actually rare wine (expensive shit)

i can go down to the kombini anytime and buy all the wine i like

it's ok as a present i guess, if it's not some cheapo bottle of piss
>> Anonymous
>>45572
Then I really need to think of a better present.
>> Anonymous
>>45554
>>45588
Buy ice wine. It's the local specialty of where I live.
>> Anonymous
Take something weird and goofy.

Don't you Norwegianfags have like Elderberry Wine or something?

As long as it isn't American it should be weird enough to make a unique gift.
>> Anonymous
>>45628

What really counts is as long as it's a local specialty or local item. That's what really counts, the connection to the place you're from.
>> Anonymous
>>45640
I understand, but where i'm from we dont really have any local speciality.
Atleast im bringing some syrup waffles.

Thanks though.
>> Anonymous
>>45844

Maple Syrup is awfully sweet for Japanese tastes. Just to let you know.
>> Anonymous
Hey there, I was just about to make a thread asking about hotels in Osaka, when I stumbled upon this thread.

I am too going to Osaka at the end of October, also for the first time. I have already arranged the travel stuff, but I needed to find a cheap place to live there for a week. Well, thanks and cheers to OP, we might even meet without knowing it.
>> Anonymous
>>45259
I've stayed in Hotel Kinki too. A single room is like 4500 yen a night. It's close to Umeda station, but there's nothing really special about it otherwise.

If you find a place closer to Namba I would stay there. As anon said, there's slightly more going on down there.
>> Anonymous
>>45890
Hey Anon, im going 17 october till 29 october.
Maybe meet you there, who knows.

You'll reconize me, haha.
>> Anonymous
>>45166
I like Umeda better
>> Anonymous
hotelkinki.com

Cheap, TV, western bathroom, they speak good english, no breakfast, they clean your sheets everyday.

It's in Umeda, near Hep5 and most important of all, 5 minutes to the train station.

The room is small though, but if you complain about that you better stay at home.
>> Anonymous
>>45387
Here, see mine.
http://picasaweb.google.com/Unisergius
>> Travel Japan Anonymous
Gift of Black Label Whisky is usually much appreciated there. Its the status brand for businessmen. It is an expensive country, but the cheapest accommodation, transport, and food are clean and safe.
>> Anonymous
>>45890
Oh thank god for this thread, I'm headed to Osaka soon as well. I've been trying to find out about placed to stay.
>> Anonymous
youth hostel - way to go. Didn't like the breakfast; cold egg, salad and mayo but cheap and easy.

Everyone eats out pretty much, noodles houses, okonomiyaki etc all abound. It's only the restuarants and venues that break the norm that charge more.
I.e. sandwhiches, foreign stuff (I had italian but had to pay a pretty penny) nonetheless food is usually all good. Mc D's is never too far away either.

I liked Tokyo, shopping and all. Be careful at night, I was 16 and with my mates. You get a lot of big black dudes who are all to happy to take you to their shop and sell baseball caps or whatever, downstairs or whatever.

Osaka is nice. A homely litle town.
Taxi's aren't cheap and road travel isn't recommended - poor driving, narrow streets, toll charges, slow moving traffic...

Best of luck. I stayed in Minoh and it was all good. Laid back. Some places had rather large roads as opposed to your regular narrow streets.
>> Anonymous
>>45991
Awesom pictures man.
>> Anonymous
>>45844
Well, what about klompen, thats what we dutchies have.
>> Anonymous
wtf? I'm another anon headed to Osaka next month.

You dudes need to see Kyoto if you go to Osaka, it's like a $6 train ticket, and there's some really cool stuff.
>> ifalna !VENk5mkP7Y
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>>46391
Yeah (OP here) I'm going there actually, 2 days Kyoto 1 day Kobe 1 day Nara.

Minor update:

I booked a ryokan ( Yayoi-Kaikan ) at Umeda, from which I should be able to get around pretty easy. Namba and Dotombori arnt too far away (though im not sure if its in walking distance, i've learned that if i cross the Ebise Bridge (aka Hikkakebashi) and turn left I should find myself somewhere in the Dotombori but fuck knows how thats going to turn out)

I've already aquired some sights i definatly want to see.

As a gift im thinking of bringing 'drop' (sweet liquorish candy) and i figured i'd bring a 'delfts blauw' tea cups (pic related) its typical dutch, would you guys think it would be appropriate or too boring (for a tattoo artist)?
Also some random dutch postcards to give to the hostel im staying in or general people.
>> Anonymous
>>46391
Yeah (OP here) I'm going there actually, 2 days Kyoto 1 day Kobe 1 day Nara.

Minor update:

I booked a ryokan ( Yayoi-Kaikan ) at Umeda, from which I should be able to get around pretty easy. Namba and Dotombori arnt too far away (though im not sure if its in walking distance, i've learned that if i cross the Ebisu Bridge (aka Hikkakebashi) and turn left I should find myself somewhere in the Dotombori but fuck knows how thats going to turn out)

I've already aquired some sights i definatly want to see.

As a gift im thinking of bringing 'drop' (sweet liquorish candy) and i figured i'd bring a 'delfts blauw' tea cups (pic related) its typical dutch, would you guys think it would be appropriate or too boring (for a tattoo artist)?
Also some random dutch postcards to give to the hostel im staying in or general people.
>> Anonymous
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>>46730
Oops forgot my picture.
>> Anonymous
>>45033
>> Anonymous
>>46730
Postcards are a good idea.