Discovering Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara on a Budget of 13 Million VND!

Heading to Japan but unsure about the challenges, short-term travel possibilities, ideal timing, and expenses? Get ready for a comprehensive exploration of DIY travel in Japan with #teamKlook!

Join #teamKlook insider Nguyen Duy Anh as we unravel the charm of three cities in the Kansai region: Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka, in a fresh and exciting way!

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This itinerary is not suitable for individuals with limited mobility or poor health as it's packed into just 4 days and 4 nights, covering 3 destinations: Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka.

The best times to visit Japan are during cherry blossom season (typically late March to early April) and autumn foliage (usually late October to November). However, predicting cherry blossom season is challenging due to weather conditions, and once the blossoms bloom, they fall quickly. Generally, the first week of April is considered the safest bet.

Expenses in Japan rank among the highest in the world. Opting for a short-term visit, embracing dormitory accommodation, walking extensively, and dining modestly can help save some costs. I prefer traveling on a budget while still enjoying the essence of the place.

VISA: The cost of applying for a Japanese tourist visa for single entry is 610,000 VND. In reality, I found the Japanese visa application process more convenient and straightforward compared to applying for a Korean visa as it doesn't require documents to be translated. Just ensure that all documents are logically sound to avoid mistakes that could lead to rejection. Additionally, luck plays a significant role. During peak seasons, it's advisable to apply for a visa at least three months in advance to secure affordable airfares.

️Flight Tickets: Ticket prices typically range from 4 to 6 million VND for a round trip, but prices skyrocket closer to peak seasons. Hence, once you have your visa, grab those flight tickets!

Travel Time: This is crucial as it greatly influences the travel experience. Visiting during cherry blossom season can be immensely satisfying, while visiting too early or too late may lead to disappointment. You can consult cherry blossom forecasts on travel websites like japan-guide.com or on Klook.

Accommodation: Opting for hostels can significantly cut down expenses. Choose accommodations near central train stations for convenience, even though they may come at a higher price. You can compare prices to select a suitable location. For solo travelers, dorms are the most economical option, while groups of 2-3 can consider private rooms. During my trip, I stayed 2 nights at Piece Hostel Kyoto for 650,000 VND per night (just 300m from Kyoto station) and 2 nights at Nerarel Hostel Namba in Osaka for 750,000 VND per night (located near Namba-Nankai Line station, offering direct access to the airport and situated in the central shopping and dining area of Namba).

Transportation: primarily by train, bus, walking, and cycling. In Kyoto, buses are the main mode of transportation (consider purchasing a day pass for 600 yen/day), and renting bicycles for exploration. In Osaka, the subway system is widely used. I purchased an ICOCA card through Klook for 410,000 VND (comes with 1500 yen preloaded) which offers discounted fares on the Haruka express train from Kansai Airport to Kyoto (available at the JR counter at the airport) for 1600 yen. Additionally, I bought the Osaka Amazing Pass for around 500,000 VND, which proved to be incredibly useful for free travel around Osaka (excluding JR lines), free admission to certain attractions (Osaka Castle, Umeda Sky Building, etc.), and other perks. Alternatively, you can travel on JR lines using the JR West Kansai 4-Day Pass, covering all three destinations: Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka.

Money and SIM: I exchanged around 10 million VND to Japanese Yen in cash and carried a JCB credit card for necessary transactions (JCB cards in Japan often come with various discounts and attractive foreign currency conversion rates). The 4G SIM cost around 200,000 VND, providing stable and reliable connectivity throughout my stay.

Clothing and Equipment: During that time, Japan was still quite cold, with temperatures around 6-8 degrees Celsius in the morning but sunny and warmer during the day. Therefore, it was essential to pack thick jackets, thermal clothing, and especially lip balm and moisturizer due to the dry weather. Comfortable sneakers were necessary for walking to avoid foot pain. As Japan uses flat plug sockets, it's advisable to carry a universal adapter for convenience when charging devices.

Upon retrieving luggage, head straight to the HIS counter near the airport exit to exchange the Klook voucher for tickets (the counter opens at 9 am, so expect a short wait). Join the queue promptly for an early exchange.

Find the train platform at the airport, proceed to the JR counter at the platform, present the ICOCA card to purchase the Haruka train ticket to Kyoto.

Upon arrival at Kyoto Station, numerous dining options await for lunch. I grabbed a famous 551 HORAI steamed bun to satisfy my hunger. Typically, hotels in Japan allow check-in after 3 pm, so I dropped off my luggage at the hostel and set off for sightseeing. The hostel reception usually sells day bus passes for 600 yen, so I purchased one there. For navigation, bus routes, you can consult Google Maps.

The first destination is the renowned Philosopher's Path – a cherry blossom spot in Kyoto. It was truly mesmerizing with the cherry blossom-lined path; sitting by the canal, enjoying matcha-flavored snail-shaped ice cream was delightful. Next, I visited the Ginkaku-ji Silver Pavilion nearby, admission fee is 500 yen. It was slightly disappointing compared to my imagination of a silver temple, but it's more beautiful in autumn due to the abundance of trees (less cherry blossoms).

- Next, I took a bus to the Heian Shrine, admission is free during cherry blossom season. Here, visitors queue to receive a stamp in a notebook they bring along. I also joined the line and purchased a notebook for around 1000-1200 yen at the counter, and the stamping fee is 300 yen per time. I later found out that it's called Goshuin – a seal or inscription made with temple ink that you can receive when visiting Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines, like a certificate proving you've visited that temple or shrine. I now own a notebook with 3 stamps as a souvenir.

- In the evening, I strolled through Nishiki Market to find some food. But upon arrival, I realized the market only opens until 6 pm, so those who wish to visit should go during the day. When I arrived, most stalls were closed, but luckily a few food stalls were still open in the evening. I chose a wagyu beef barbecue restaurant. Two of us had 2 beef dishes and 1 mixed rice bowl, totaling 3500 yen.

- Continuing the journey with a 600 yen day bus pass. Determined to visit Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, I caught the early 7 am bus as it takes nearly 1 hour to get there (grabbed breakfast at 7Eleven). Arriving at the bamboo grove, it was crowded with tourists, making it challenging to find a spot devoid of people for photos. Following the path leads to Togetsukyo Bridge, where the natural scenery is stunning, with a hillside of cherry blossoms, providing a serene backdrop. There's also the Sagano Railway for cherry blossom viewing, but due to time constraints, I skipped it (though reviews mention its beauty; those who can should buy tickets in advance as it gets crowded during peak season).

- To enter Maruyama Park, you pass by the Yasaka Shrine, with plenty of street food stalls along the way for a delicious lunch. Maruyama Park is truly an ideal spot for cherry blossom viewing in Kyoto, with numerous eateries, tables, and benches, along with tarps spread on the ground for picnicking while enjoying the blossoms.

- Continuing towards the famous Hanamikoji-dori street renowned for its traditional architecture, every alley can turn into a beautiful photo backdrop. Nearby is the Kamo River, Pontocho Alley, and notably, Kiyamachi-dori street with gorgeous cherry blossoms (a must-visit). Here, I was fortunate to encounter a renowned Geisha.

- The next stop is Kyoto Tower. I pre-purchased the tower's observation deck voucher via Klook for 120k. This is the perfect spot to watch the sunset and get a panoramic view of Kyoto, so arrive before 6:30 pm for the best sunset experience.

- After wandering around looking for dinner options, we stumbled upon the famous Aeon Mall, a Japanese mega-mart. Excitedly, we parked our bikes and ventured inside. The bike parking adventure was quite amusing as it was all automated, and it took us a while to figure out how to get in (typically in Kyoto, bike parking fees start from 2 hours and cost around 100 yen). Instead of heading straight to a restaurant, we ended up wandering through the supermarket to buy strawberries, then grabbed two takeaway rice meals to heat up back at the hostel. Ended day two with a late dinner at 10 pm at the hostel.

- Knowing that Fushimi Inari Shrine is incredibly popular and bound to be crowded, we set out early. Today, as we were only in Kyoto in the morning, we used the ICOCA card to tap onto the train. The shrine is conveniently located near the train station, with free entry. Then, it was a 4 km journey to the top, which was quite challenging, but the effort paid off with beautiful scenery along the way, with small shrines and thousands of Torii gates scattered about. For those who want to take Instagram-worthy photos, it's best to bypass the crowded gates at the foot of the mountain and head straight up for better lighting and fewer people. Luckily, during this trip, I met a friendly Japanese girl who was willing to show me around the shrine.

- Back at the hostel for check-out, it was quite regrettable that our time in Kyoto was short, so we missed visiting two places: the Silver Pavilion and the Golden Pavilion. Initially planning to take the train straight to Osaka, we changed course to visit Nara Park because of the intelligent deer 🦌🦌🦌 in Nara. I stored my luggage in the lockers at Nara station, which cost 700 yen for the largest size (lockers use 100 yen coins, with a coin exchange machine available). There are countless friendly deer here, eager for food. When asking for food, they bow in thanks. There are also vendors selling deer biscuits along the way. On the way, I also visited Kofuku-ji Temple with its impressive temple tower.

- Picked up our luggage at the station and caught the train to Namba (Osaka), which took about 50 minutes. Namba station is massive, so it took some effort to find the exit leading to our nearby hostel. In the evening, we strolled through the famous Dotonbori district, a bustling area full of dining and shopping options, with a dizzying array of food stalls, restaurants, and shops offering a wide variety of goods and brands. Here, I tried a bowl of ramen for 850 yen, 6 pieces of takoyaki for 500 yen, and a sushi set of 8 pieces for 750 yen.

- Today was designated to fully utilize the miraculous Osaka Amazing Pass. However, due to the tight schedule and limited time, we couldn't fully exploit its benefits. This pass grants free subway rides on most lines (except JR lines). But navigating the subway stations in Osaka was quite confusing, lacking information to determine directions (I've been to Seoul where the subway system is complex but the directions are clear and understandable). Hence, we mistakenly took the wrong direction on our first ride and had to backtrack. Eventually, we arrived at the train station near Sakuranomiya Park. This is an ideal spot to admire cherry blossoms in Osaka, with two rows of cherry trees lining the pathway. We arrived just in time as the petals started gently falling, creating a romantic atmosphere.

- Walking through the park leads to Osaka Castle – the city's iconic landmark. With the Osaka Amazing Pass, you get free admission (actual price is 600 yen) and a boat ride around the castle (but it was too crowded, so we skipped it).

- The next stop is the modern symbol of Osaka – the Umeda Sky Building. Here, admission to the highest floor of the building is also free with the Osaka Amazing Pass. You'll get to experience the observation deck on the floating garden for a panoramic view of Osaka city.

- With our legs exhausted from days of walking (averaging 15km per day), we decided to experience an onsen bath in the Namba area (though it felt more like a public bathhouse for the Japanese, but it also had hot tubs and wet and dry saunas) at a relatively affordable price of 400 yen. After the sauna, we felt rejuvenated and our legs were less sore.

- In the evening, we continued our culinary journey at Dotonbori with the famous Kobe beef sold along the street (prices ranging from 3000 yen and up per serving per person, depending on the cut of beef). The beef was incredibly tender and sweet, without any heavy seasoning, allowing us to fully appreciate the natural sweetness of the beef. It was a bit pricey but definitely worth trying. Next up was the sashimi, with a set of 5 types priced at a reasonable 1200 yen, including shrimp, salmon, tuna, and bonito. The fish was firm, fresh, and delicious.

- Since our flight was at 9:20 in the morning, we aimed to be at the airport about 3 hours early for safety, so at 5 a.m., we dragged our suitcases to the train station to head to the airport. It was quite convenient as the train station was close to the hostel, and there was a direct route to the airport without any transfers, taking about 45 minutes. As it was early morning, many entrances to the station in the buildings were not open yet, so make sure to check beforehand to find the appropriate route to the station. Luckily, we caught the first train to the airport at 5:15. Upon arrival at the airport station, we had to top up about 800 yen on our ICOCA card to have enough credit for exiting.

- Upon reaching the airport, we checked in early and wandered around to find some breakfast options.

Note: In the duty-free area, be sure to buy Royce Nama chocolate (the original and matcha flavors are the best) for around 750 yen.

Wrapping up the journey with countless delightful experiences and encountering numerous strokes of luck. Personal impressions:

Summing up the expenses for the slightly startling 4-day, 4-night journey: ~13 million VND

Exploring Japan independently is truly hassle-free – especially with Klook! Are you ready for your free-spirited adventure exploring Japan? Klook right away!