Here are some answers to your queries. Hope they are helpful.
Originally Posted by
chris1gill
I'm actually flying to Japan for medical reasons, so I'm looking for information on just about everything. First, the train from Tokyo to Osaka, is it 10 hours long? I thought there was one that was 4? It's roughly 300USD more to fly into Osaka than Tokyo, but if there's a 10 hour train ride, then Osaka would be worth it....
We're talking a train between
Tokyo and
Osaka, not between
Boston and
Washington DC. In Japan, Tokyo to Osaka, roughly the same distance, will take you about 2.5 hours. And won't cost you near 300 USD, more like 150 or so.
The train ride between Tokyo and Osaka hasn't taken 10 hours since 1954 or thereabouts.
Originally Posted by
chris1gill
I know United/American fly into NRT, but I find United miserable, and American just bores me... Do both ANA & JAL serve food and have seatback entertainment?
No, ANA and JAL don't serve food on flights that long. Why do you think all the Japanese are so thin?
Originally Posted by
chris1gill
If flying into Osaka, there's a train that goes to Kyoto? Has anyone taken it?
Yes, there is a train, very convenient, pretty much non-stop. It is called the Haruka. I don't think anybody in this forum has ever taken it, though. No one has yet figured out the schedule, it's all in Japanese!
Originally Posted by
chris1gill
Finally we are ultimately going to the University of Kyoto Medical Center. Are there any reason hotel's in that area that anyone knows about?
Hotel's what? If you mean
hotels, and assuming the medical center is near the university hospital, just north of Marutamachi by Kumano Jinja. Not a bad location, a bit north. Any of the city center hotels (e.g. the Okura) would be good. The Takaragaike Prince is also not too far from there I think.