Tokyo to Osaka

edmundcflee

Dates of vists Nov15-Nov19. Arriving 3pm and leaving 10am from Narita/Tokyo.
I would like to know what is best way to visit Osaka.
Need suggestions on
-taking the airport express
- where to stay 1st night in Tokyo
-is 7 day JR Pass the best to travel
-where to stay in Osaka
-From Osaka to Kyoto and return same day. Suggest best transportation.
-where to stay in Tokyo on Nov 18.

Thanks
Edmund

Tenjin

A 7 day JR Pass would pay off with the round trip and using the Narita Express twice.
As for hotels, it is all up to how much you want to splurge. If you want really cheap places to stay, there are a lot of such places.
http://www.timeout.jp/en/tokyo/feature/7209/Budget-hotels-and-hostels-in-Tokyo
https://www.tsunagujapan.com/20-reasonably-priced-hotels-and-ryokan-in-osaka/
But if you want something a bit better, there are many budget hotels called business hotels - Toyoko Inn, Comfort Inn, Superhotel, Route Inn, Dormy Inn, etc.
I would suggest though that if you are already seeing Tokyo, then you can largely skip Osaka. If you can take at least half a day to see Nara, then it would be well worth it. The Todaiji Temple is a must see place.
You can easily see Osaka in the evening after seeing Kyoto for the day.
Dotonbori in Osaka is best at night, and the views from the Umeda Sky Bldg or Abeno Harukas Bldg are best at twilight.

You can see a lot of previews of places you want to visit at:
https://www.youtube.com/user/thejapanfaq/videos

edmundcflee

Tenjin,
Thank you for your prompt response and suggestion.
Also is there any suggestion of a good spot to see Autumn leaves in or near Osaka?
Thanks.

Tenjin

Hi,
For Osaka, the closest would be Minoo Park.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4019.html

The real place to see autumn leaves though would be in Kyoto. There are many places famous for them.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3953.html

GCaedo

Hi. We want to see or have a view of Mt Fuji on our way to Osaka, maybe see Kyoto also. We plan to leave Tokyo Feb 1 and will have time before our flight back to Manila via Kansai on Feb 4. What's the more practical/cheaper access to Kyoto/Osaka? and is there a way of seeing Mt Fuji on the way? Thanks.

Tenjin

Hi,
If you want to see Fuji from the train, then try to get seats on the right hand side of the train. If the weather cooperates, you can get a good view - and winter is usually the best season to get clear views.
If you actually mean stop and see the area around Fuji, then you'd likely want to go see Hakone.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5200.html
A Hakone Free Pass can save you some money.
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/freepass/hakone/
You simply get off at Odawara Stn going from Tokyo, see Hakone, return and go to Mishima Stn, and catch the bullet train for Kyoto.

If you're only going one way, no rail pass would pay off for you. You can buy regular tickets. If you want a cheaper way, there is the Platt ticket.
http://www.jrtours.co.jp/kodama/en/
But it stops at every bullet train station and takes a LOT longer. It's up to you if you'd rather save the time or the money.
You can see regular fares, routes and schedules on Hyperdia.
http://www.hyperdia.com