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Japan 2015 Part 1: Nara & Osaka

Where to Stay

Nara is about an hour by train from Osaka. For this trip, we decided it would be best to stay some nights in Osaka and then transfer to Kyoto for our Kyoto leg. 

I came across For Leaves Inn Uehonmachi when I was looking for a place to stay in Osaka. The inn is on a convenient and quiet location. From Kansai airport, I would recommend taking the limousine bus which drops you right at Uehommachi station. From there, the inn is just walking distance.

Nara

How to get there: There are 2 train station serving Nara. JR Nara and Kintetsu Nara. The latter is closer to the tourist spots. You can also purchase a bus pass if you are visiting lots of places in Nara.

For this trip, we visited Kofukuji and Todaiji temples and the surrounding Nara Park. These attractions are just walking distance from Kintetsu Nara station.

Nara Park


Kofukuji





Todaiji









Osaka

After spending half a day in Nara, we decided to go back to Osaka. It was rainy season and true enough, the weather is very gloomy with showers throughout the afternoon. We thought it would be best to visit something indoors. Enter Kaiyukan..

Kaiyukan 

 How to get there: Osakako Station is just walking distance from the aquarium.

Verdict: Perfect for kids. There are lots of species exhibited inside including whale sharks.




Dotonburi/Namba

How to get there: Dotonbori is walkable from the three Namba Stations (JR, Nankai, and Kintetsu).

What to do here: Sample local food. Make sure you are hungry when you go here, there are lots of food to try! You can also do some shopping here, the nearby shopping arcade provides a variety of options.

Pro-tip: It is best to visit Namba at night when all the neon billboards are lit. More shops are open too.









Universal Studios (USJ)

How to get there: The entrance gate is about 5 minutes walk from Universal City Station.

Pro-tips: 
  1. Expect big crowds even on a weekday. 
  2. Allot a whole day for USJ. 
  3. If you have the budget, buy an Express Pass so you can save time in queuing. The Express Pass is paid on top of entrance ticket and is purchased separately. 
  4. Do not go, I repeat, do not go to Universal Studios without prepurchasing your tickets. 
    • Klook sells USJ tickets and Express Pass. If you do not have a Klook account yet, click here to get your first discounted ticket.














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