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Hello everyone. Long time visitor, first time posting.
I am planning an 18 day Osaka/Tokyo trip for two of my friends and I (2 males, 1 female), this coming April. I previously spent 9 days in Osaka, back in Feb/March 2007, so this will be my second visit, but only the first for my friends. I've already reserved/purchased the airfare and hotel accommodations, and also have an idea of the areas that we'll visit... but as for what routes and how much could be accomplished/combined within a day, that's where I might need some advice. (I'm actually still waiting for Willer Express to open their reservation schedule pass April 7th.)
A little extra info:
The female (in her 20s) of the group simply wants to view cherry blossoms at some point in the trip, and is content on tagging along and doing some fashion shopping.
The two males will be in dedicated search of vintage video games, new & vintage toys/collectibles, sight seeing, souvenirs, and anything fun and/or entertaining.
None of us are into sushi, but we plan on trying all types of food, including that.
I've been on and off with teaching myself the Japanese language, but at this point, I don't know enough for reading and communication, in case anyone was curious.
We are from the USA (east coast).
Current Osaka Plans - Base: Osaka Umeda Station
- Frequent Shinsaibashi-suji/Dotonbori/Amerikamura
- Osaka Castle
- Den-Den Town/Otaroad
- Tenjinbashi-suji and perhaps the Osaka Tenmangu Shrine
- a day trip to Kyoto to visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple and the historic street leading up to it
- lots of roaming and anything else that's possible
Current Tokyo Plans - Base: Ikebukuro Station
- Sunshine City/Ice Cream City
- Nakano Broadway
- Shinjuku Gyoen Park
- Harajuku (Takeshita Dori, shopping at the Oriental Bazaar and Kiddy Land)
- Shibuya Crossing area, Tobacco & Salt Museum
- Akihabara (Chuo Dori, Radio Market, Big Yellow Sign, other shops)(2 days?)
- Ueno
- Ginza
- Asakusa (Shin/Nakamise Shopping streets, Sensoji Temple)
- Maybe a trip to Chiba and/or Machida to hunt down some shops
Listed below is our dated itinerary. I have yet to fill in the dates with the areas that we'll visit, since I didn't want to pigeon-hole specific areas to specific dates just yet, without getting some advice.
April 4th (Thursday), 2013 --- April 21st (Sunday), 2013
April 4th, Thur. (Day 1) • Arrive at Newark (EWR) Airport by 9:00am. Depart to Japan.
April 5th, Fri. (Day 2) • Arrive at Osaka Itami (ITM) Airport (7:20pm). Take shuttle bus/train to hotel.
- Check-in at the Hotel Monterey Osaka (around 9pm).
April 6th, Sat. (Day 3) •
April 7th, Sun. (Day 4) • Check-out of the Monterey hotel by 11am.
- Check-in at the Hotel Granvia Osaka (3pm).
April 8th, Mon. (Day 5) •
April 9th, Tue. (Day 6) •
April 10th, Wed. (Day 7) •
April 11th, Thur. (Day 8) • Check-out of the Granvia hotel by 12 noon.
- Depart via Willer Express overnight bus to Tokyo (around 11pm).
April 12th, Fri. (Day 9) • Arrive in Tokyo (around 6-7:30am).
- Check-in at the Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo (2pm).
April 13th, Sat. (Day 10) •
April 14th, Sun. (Day 11) •
April 15th, Mon. (Day 12) •
April 16th, Tue. (Day 13) •
April 17th, Wed. (Day 14) •
April 18th, Thur. (Day 15) •
April 19th, Fri. (Day 16) •
April 20th, Sat. (Day 17) •
April 21st, Sun. (Day 18) • Check-out of the Metropolitan hotel by 11am.
- Arrive at Narita (NRT) Airport by 3pm.
- Depart Japan, returning home (4:55pm).
So far, I've acquired a lot of information from the travel guides on this site. But it is missing some of the more detailed and pinpoint info that individuals can personally give. Basically, any help with scheduling, recommended must-see or little-known places, and anything else is greatly appreciated.
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