Tips to Prepare for Osaka-Japan Trip

Getting excited for your coming Osaka Trip but do not know where to start?

Here’s a guideline on planning for your trip to Osaka region. I am planning to embark on my adventure to Japan for the first time but could not find precise information simply there is too much information online. Thus, I have come up with a summary of things to prepare should you be planning to go Osaka. For easier reference, I have divided it into categories.

Flights

As the myth continues, book your flight early to enjoy discount! Is that true? In fact, that’s absolutely not true.

You may refer to my previous post: “Ways to Book Cheap Air Tickets”

Generally, I would use Skyscanner to search for my flights. It gives me an overview of what are the airlines flying from my point of origin to Osaka. Other than clicking on the prefer flight and looking at the first price that pops out, please note that often these booking engines linked to online agents websites do not include booking fee which is charagable by agents. As airfare becomes transparent nowadays, this is one of the many methods agencies employed to earn. Of course, there are backend incentives which I will not cover much over here.

*Tips: Do not mistakenly take the first price that pops out on Skyscanner as the best price. Go on research on the individual website such as Zuji, airfares.com.sg, Cheaptickets. They may have promotion deals tie with credit card companies and able to offer discount from the fare that one will be paying. I will also make a point to visit the airline direct website to check out the airfare.

If one is travelling from Singapore to Osaka, there are many airlines offering such choices. The only key point is are you price conscious? Are you one who is often on the hunt for the best prices but do not mind the long layover hours at the airport. Or are you one who do not mind paying more for direct flights since money is time and you seek comfort.

Airlines flying to Osaka that offers cheap deals but long transit time:

• Vietnam Airlines, Philippines Airlines, Thai Airways, China Eastern

Budget Airlines flying to Osaka that involves one transit:

• AirAsia X, Scoot Airlines, Jetstar Asia, Tiger Air, Peach Airlines (connect from Taipei to Osaka)

Full fledge airlines offering shorter transit time:

• Malaysia Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, ANA

Direct flights to Osaka:

• Singapore Airlines

I have personally choosen to fly with Malaysia Airlines because of the short transit time at Kuala Lumpur, less than 3 hours. Furthermore, it departs Singapore only at night thus saving on applying extra annual leave from work. This flight will arrive Osaka early morning at 6.50am, prefect to kickstart your journey after a good sleep on board the flight. For the return flight, it arrives back to Singapore around 8.30pm giving you plenty of rest before you go to work the next day.

Below is the flight timing details:

Transport

Osaka Airport: Kansai International Airport (KIX), 40km south of central Osaka. Best way to get from airport to Osaka is purchase the ICOCA & HARUKA Card for Y4060. Icoca & Haruka can only be purchased at the JR ticket offices of Kansai Airport. Round trip tickets are only sold at Kansai Airport. There is a limit of one purchase per person and stay.

Train categories

• Local:  (kakueki-teisha or futsu-densha) Local trains stop at every station.
• Rapid (kaisoku) Rapid trains skip some stations. There is no difference in the ticket price between local and rapid trains.
• Express (kyuko)  Express trains stop at even fewer stations than rapid trains. In addition to paying the base fare, there is a charge of express fee as well.
• Limited Express (tokkyu)  Limited express trains stop only at major stations. A limited express fee usually has to be paid in addition to the base fare.
• Super Express (shinkansen)  Shinkansen are only operated by Japan Railway. Shinkansen run along separate tracks and platforms.

If you are looking to visit major tourist cities in the region such as Nara, Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe which is highly recommended, the best card to get would be Japan Railway Kansai Wide Area Pass. To enjoy more discount, please purchase the pass in Singapore thru Travel agents such as JTB, H.I.S International, MISA Travel, Pricebreaker, Changi Travel. Most of them offer around the same price, so there is not any much comparsion to do.

Getting around in the big cities such as Kyoto, Osaka may require another transport card. One can get information on different cities on the link below.

Osaka:https://www.osakastation.com/osaka-transportation/#subway

Kyoto: http://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-travel/japan-transport/kyoto-subway

Kobe: http://www.metroeasy.com/kobe-municipal-subway.html

In summary, the map showing major tourist attraction in the region:

Accomodation

Accomodation is one of the costly part for the trip. Select hotel/hostel wisely is the key to great savings. One important point is, it has to be near public transport; train stations. It is so expensive to get a cab in Japan, I bet you would never want to even try it!

Stay in Hostel is a good option in Japan. The shared bathrooms are usually clean and beds are comfortable. In addition, you can meet more travellers and share travel saving tips, so why not!?

Wifi Access

The app called “Travel Japan Wi-Fi”, very popular and over million downloads by trippers to Japan worldwide, is just available at Google Play/App Store in your country.
Download the “TRAVEL JAPAN Wi-Fi” app now and travel around Japan.

However, nothing is free in this world. It comes with many spam adverts and some commented it does not work easily. Use it at your own discretion.

You may like to purchase mobile pocket WIFI online easily at this website: https://www.jrpass.com/orders/new_order_mobile_wifi

Purchase before your trip, collect Pocket Wifi unit on arrival at airport in Kansai Airport (Osaka) and return at the airport before flying back.

Rate as follow:

5 Days- SGD82.00

7 Days- SGD92.00

10 Days- SGD110.00

Alternatively, there are many wifi purchase options in Singapore.

One could simply rent your own pocket wifi for as little as SGD$5 per day in Japan. Simply reserve one from Changi Travel Recommend before departing for the trip. Collect it at Changi Airport, available at all 3 terminals. For more information, check out the link here.

Attractions and Discounts

Enjoy discounted attractions with the use of the mobile application named “Klook”

Tourist information

To read up more information on getting around, major tourist spots, one can use this mobile application: Japan Travel.

Travel Insurance

It is good to purchase travel insurance at all time. If you are heading to Japan, it makes even more important because the Japanese have a health care system that require one to show proof of insurance coverage before treating the patient. As Japanese nationals are covered by the government, they are weary of treating foreigners. Cases of foreginers not being treated by the doctors happened before. Thus, having insurance would mean reassuring the health care professionals in Japan that one is covered, allowing one to receive the necessary treatment.

One of the best period to purchase is during NATAS travel fair period as insurance companies would usually give discounts. However, a good guideline would be always purchase insurance after one had bought the flight/hotel portion. Travel insurance usually does cover your pre-trip incident if there is such as not able to go for the trip due to an emergency. Always check what it covers before purchasing.

With that, have fun planning for your Japan trip!

Categories: Asia Region