Originally Posted by
joejones
If you look on a map, the Osaka Hyatt is in a really crappy location. It isn't particularly closer to KIX than anything else in Osaka, and it is really far from most of what you would want to see in Osaka.
Oh, I agree the Osaka Hyatt is in the unappetizing location at convention center...... but it's free, and there's a direct bus apparently from KIX to hotel which seems convenient after our long flight from IST-KIX.....and hotel runs a free shuttle to JR Osaka station, so we can do the walk you recommend...and it's free which opens up money for baseball tiks!
Originally Posted by
joejones
Staying in Ishiyama for three nights sounds like the pits. I looked up that hotel and it is right next to an enormous Toray factory. Is there really nothing in Kyoto that you can afford?.
For a Kyoto hotel, I've been checking agoda and expedia.....must be something going on in Kyoto during our week......what's available is either near Kyoto station for $300+.....or $100 in uncertain parts of Kyoto with 15-min walks to stations (such as the Urban hotel).....but I'll keep looking......Ishyama at least gives us the convenience of near-station groceries, restaurants, etc..... and we are hoping for a side trip to Hikone and Naghama which look to be on same train line as Ishiyama, at least
Originally Posted by
joejones
If you have time in Tokyo and like baseball (as it seems like you do!) you should also try to catch a Swallows home game at Jingu Stadium (near Omotesando). It's an outdoor ballpark and has a much more small-town feel than Tokyo Dome, and the Swallows fans are a riot with their umbrella dance after each run.
That sounds wonderful....but at the time we'll be there, the usual high temps are around 50deg F so a in-the-dome game seems more pleasant.....is there an easy way for non-Japanese speaker to get baseball tiks?....we're using the Japanball.com service based in USA
Originally Posted by
robyng
Just FWIW - the Ritz Carlton Osaka seems to have reward rooms for 40k points a night. I think they're talking about Marriott points - but I'm not sure (I don't use the program). Robyn
Hmmmm..... I'll check again....for the days we were looking for, the Marriott points site did not show Ritz availability...... sadly, we've had bad experiences at Ritz-Carlies, likely because a mis-match of their formailty and our own informality......thanks for the suggestions!