I have one day to myself during an upcoming trip to Japan - this happens to fall on a Sunday while in Osaka. Anyone have any recommendations for a one day walkathon/tour?

Thanks in advance - runningshoes

Do you have the whole day? or are you flying out at sometime during the day?

Hi Willie - I've actually got the whole day. Coming in from Tokyo late Saturday night, not doing any business until Monday morning.

Hi, runningshoes

I am from this area and I can help you with some idea. Osaka is a fun city but mostly for eating and shopping. You can take a train for 45 minutes by express train from Umeda(same as Osaka station) using Hankyu Line and will take you to the center of Kyoto. Spend sometime at Kiyomizu temple and Kinkakuji (Golden Temple) in Kyoto from 10 am till 3 pm with a nice traditional Japanese touch of meal at Pontocho where Geisha girls to be found and come back to Osaka for dinner, shopping and a night life. For dinner, I can recomend Okonomiyaki (cabagge pankace with BBQ sauce) at Namba area (Namba station at Midosuji subwayline)and then you can head into the night life cause you will be fascinated by the young crowd with all the neon signs at Dotonbori river area over Ebisu bridge. Subway runs till 1 am. Have a fun trip!






[This message has been edited by astroboy (edited 11-25-2001).]

Astroboy - thanks for the tips.

runningshoes

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by astroboy:
Hi, runningshoes

I am from this area and I can help you with some idea. Osaka is a fun city but mostly for eating and shopping. You can take a train for 45 minutes by express train from Umeda(same as Osaka station) using Hankyu Line and will take you to the center of Kyoto.(Get off at the last stop called Shijo-Kawaramachi) Spend sometime at Kiyomizu temple and Kinkakuji (Golden Temple) in Kyoto from 10 am till 3 pm (use Taxi in Kyoto which cost $10-25 per ride)with a nice traditional Japanese touch of meal at Pontocho where Geisha girls to be found and come back to Osaka for dinner, shopping and a night life. For dinner, I can recomend Okonomiyaki (cabbage pancake with BBQ sauce) at Namba area (at Namba station on Midosuji subwayline which is 15 min ride from Umeda)and then you can head into the night life cause you will be fascinated by the young crowd with all the neon signs at Dotonbori river area over Ebisu bridge. Subway runs till 1 am. Have a fun trip!

"I re-edited."


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[This message has been edited by astroboy (edited 11-25-2001).]

Seeing as you have the whole day, astroboy has hit some of my suggestions on the nail, head to Kyoto.

Here are two other must do's in Kyoto (there are many in Kyoto, but I think you can fit these in).

I really liked the two temples astroboy lists, they are must see's. I would also highly suggest the Sanjusangendo Hall (9am-4pm), it contains 1000 life size, for japan at least http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif
statues of the thousand handed Kanon which are displayed in the 400' long hall.

At dusk/night we also viewed commorant fishing from our personally guided wooden boat (decked out w/candle lit lanterns), on the Oi river. VERY COOL. if you need directions email me. Can't remember them now.

Astroboy's suggestion of the meal Okonomiyaki is right on as well. GREAT STUFF!!! I just found a place here in Chicago that serves it.

Thanks again for the helpful hints - I am leaving tomorrow early AM, even got the upgrade to BizE on the way out http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif, waitlisted on the way back. After I get back I'll let you know if you guys got me in trouble....

runningshoes

Willie and Astroboy hi - got back last week and it was a good trip in spite of not getting the upgrade on the way back. With the cutbacks in the number of flights, it was packed!

Anyway, I ended up with almost a full day in Kyoto, saw the Sanjusangendo temple - really nice work. I was really impressed by the craftmanship of the building itself - no nails in the whole thing including where the roof beams connect. Walked around the city, saw the castle and a few other places, had a nice lunch and took the train back to Osaka, where I cruised DenDen looking at all the new toys. (Did not buy anything there but did finally pick up a pair of the Sony NC10 noise cancelling headphones which were worth every penny on the way back).

Thanks for the help - runningshoes