We will have one free day in Tokyo and two free days while staying in Osaka. The Oak Hall team will be available on these days to help you plan what you would like to do.
Tokyo
The free day in Tokyo will take place on the following dates:
JP45: 10/10/24
JP48: 1/11/24
JP49: 3/11/24
Here are some timings which might help you plan:
Free day meeting: 9-10am
Lunch/dinner: you will find your own food whilst out and about.
On our free day in Tokyo, you might have somewhere specific in mind to visit. If this is the case, we would recommend doing some researching and making bookings before we get there.
Alternatively, you’d be welcome to join with our group leaders for the day, on the following itinerary:
In the morning, the leaders will make their way to Hamarikyu Gardens in Tokyo Bay. These are beautiful landscape gardens that offer a tranquil escape from the bustling city. There is a small entrance fee of 300 yen to enter Hamarikyu Gardens. If you buy a one-day travel pass for Tokyo travel, there is a small discount. No need to book this in advance.
After the gardens, there will be time to find some lunch together.
In the afternoon, the group leaders plan to head to
Team Lab Planets. This is an immersive digital art museum located in the Odaiba area of Tokyo, renowned for its innovative and interactive art installations that blur the boundaries between art, technology, and human experience. You will need to book tickets about a month in advance. We suggest booking tickets for 3.30pm if you would like to go in together with others from Oak Hall. Please note that there are two venues in Tokyo run by Teamlab. Teamlab Planets tends to be more popular than Teamlab Borderless. Tickets for November are released in late August. You may wish to read the FAQs section of the website before travelling as it contains some helpful advice about clothing etc:
click here
The Tokyo transport system can be confusing. Our suggestion for this day would be to buy a subway day pass (which covers the two subway systems and costs 900 yen). There is a separate overground system called the JR lines but getting between the two systems can be complicated and you should be able to get around Tokyo on the subway.
There is a card system which is similar to the London Oyster card but buying and charging the cards can be complex, so we would suggest buying day passes from the ticket machines for Tokyo and also for transport in Osaka. The Oak Hall team will explain where to get the tickets from. Please note that these can generally only be bought in cash.
Osaka and beyond
The free days in Osaka will take place on the following dates:
JP45: 15/10/24, 16/10/24
JP48: 6/11/24, 7/11/24
JP49: 8/11/24, 9/11/24
Here are some timings which might help you plan:
Free day meeting: 9-10am (both days)
Lunch/dinner: you will find your own food whilst out and about.
On our free days in Osaka, you are free to make your own plans. Our team members who know Japan have said that while Osaka is a good base for our stay, some of the most interesting sites are outside Osaka so the information below reflects this.
Here’s a list of suggestions of things you might like to do on the two full free days – all of which can be decided once you are in Japan:
1. Hiroshima Peace Park with optional visit to Miyajima Island – Travel time from Osaka to Hiroshima 1.5 hours via Shinkansen (Bullet Train) or just over 2-2.5 hours to Miyajima island. This should be approximately £110 return from Shin-Osaka station. It is quite complicated to arrange this from the UK so we would recommend arranging this once you are in Japan.
If visiting both Hiroshima Peace Park and Miyajima Island, go to Miyajima first via bullet train to Hiroshima station, then 30 minute train ride to Miyajima Guchi Station, followed by a ferry ride to Miyajima Island.
The Peace Park is some distance from the station in Hiroshima and you would need to get a bus or taxi to get you there. Three people in a taxi makes a good deal for price sharing and would be the quickest way to get there. Shukkeien is also a lovely Japanese garden you can visit not too far from the Peace Park.
2. Himeji Castle & Kokoen Japanese Garden (opposite Himeji castle) – This is one of the finest castles built in Japan. Travel time from Osaka via Shinkansen takes 30-40 mins and costs 3,500 yen (£18 one way) or via the special rapid service on JR Kobe line to Himeji from Osaka station, takes around 1 hour and fare is 1500 yen (£7.50) one way. The castle is around a 15 minute walk straight up the main road as you leave the station and is clearly signposted in the station. Entry fee to Castle is 1,000 yen (£5)
3. Kyoto- Arashiyama Bamboo Grove – Take the Hankyu railway, Kyoto line express train towards Kyoto and change at Katsura station for Arashiyama. Takes just under 1 hour. (This could be a half day afternoon visit to coincide with returning to Kyoto but you can also spend the whole day there.) Entrance to the bamboo forest is free.
4. Other places of interest in Kyoto –
Kyoto main railway station is worth a visit as there is a great view of the city free of charge at the very top reached by some long escalators.
kyotorailwaymuseum – is a must for any train enthusiasts. In walking distance from main Kyoto station.
Fushimi Inari Shrine – with its hundreds of red Tori gates leading up the mountain. Not worth going to the top unless you really like a long climb.
Other places of interest are the Kinkakuji golden temple, Ginkakuji temple and the start of the philosophers walk along a narrow canal and Ryoranji temple (stone meditation temple). All these places are on the outskirts of Kyoto and take a little while to get to on trains. Traffic becomes very busy in Kyoto especially from around 4pm and its best to catch the underground if possible for which you can purchase a day pass.
5. Kobe City – is a much more relaxed city than Osaka and can be reached by train in about 30 minutes by either JR express trains or Hankyu express trains from Osaka. Popular places to visit there;
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Nunobiki Ropeway – takes you to the top of the mountain behind central Kobe giving great panoramic views of the city. At the top is a herb garden and rose garden and café. You can either return via the ropeway or walk down the mountain which in my opinion is a great thing to do. On the way you will pass informal floral gardens, a large glass house with a foot bath for public use overlooking the city on the verandah of the glasshouse (take a small towel to dry feet otherwise you will be charged for one.) Carry on down the mountain and you will come to a dam providing water for Kobe and further down you will reach the spectacular Nunobiki waterfall before exiting at Shin Kobe station where you can pick up buses back into central Kobe or Harborland.
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Kobe Harborland- is an area around Kobe harbour where you can take boat trips around the bay. Also located here is the Kawasaki Museum for any motorbike enthusiasts along with many good eateries and shops. Motomachi Doria is a favourite eating place and started in Kobe. Most cafes and restaurants have English menus.
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Kobe City Hall and Flower Clock – Located on the south side of Flower Road (main road as you exit Sannomiya train station) Take the lift to the 28th Floor for a free panoramic view of the city and Port Island a man made island in the sea, passing the flower clock as you go.
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Kobe Chinatown – is a short walk from Sannomiya station. It’s only a few streets but a lot of Chinese restaurants and street food.
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Kobe Sightseeing Buses – there are a few different routes around the city and they are an inexpensive way of getting around, stopping at all main places of interest but they can become crowded. You may have to buy tickets before boarding. Bus stops near Sannomiya station and you can google the various routes.
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Kobe Suma Beach – If you really just want to crash take the JR express from Osaka to Suma station in Kobe. The train stops right beside the beach and there used to be a café serving fish and chips as you left the station called Grace.
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Sorakuen Garden – is a lovely Japanese garden in the heart of the city about 10-15 mins walk from Sannomiya station passing the Ikuta shrine. Lovely Chrysanthemum festival from 20th October 2024 which is worth seeing. Entrance fee is around 300 yen.
7. Osaka Minoo Hiking Trail – Take the Hankyu Takarazuka line from Umeda to Ishibashi. Change to Hankyu Minoo line to Minoo. Look for signs outside the station that lead to the road that leads up the mountain to the waterfall and other hiking trails. A good half day if not longer. Lots of shops and eateries back near the station and along the route. It was famous for its monkeys, but they became a nuisance and have been moved further away. However, you never know, you might see one - but do not feed.
8. Osaka Dotonbori district – is a street food area, nice for a stroll by day or night along the canal. Canal cruises available from here.
9. Osaka Namba – Main shopping and entertainment area. Visit one of the department store food halls, always on the lower ground floor.
Useful information about getting Around Osaka- There is an Osaka day pass which covers all travel on the metro and gives free entry in some cases and discount entry in others to various places of interest. All the places listed are in the metro guide which comes with the
day pass.
Main Places covered by the day pass:
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Osaka Sky Building – good for views over the city.
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Kaiyukan Aquarium – Really Good
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Osaka Castle and Park
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Osaka Museum of Housing and Living – takes you back in time to a typical Japanese village. Sensibly priced Kimono hire to wear while touring the village.
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Shitennoji – the oldest temple in Osaka.
Japanese Cultural Morning:
Alistair McKenna, our speaker, and his wife, Wendy, used to lead a church in Japan.
One of their friends there, Mamiko, has kindly offered to organise a cultural morning in Kyoto on one of our free mornings for those of us who are interested. Mamiko is part of the Mustard Seed International Church in Kyoto.
Please see the details below:
Date: Tuesday 15th October
Travel plan/timings: Morning including lunch. Those of us who opt in for the cultural morning will travel together with Alistair and Wendy – you would then be free to come back to the hotel at your own pace, so might choose to do something else in the Kyoto area during the afternoon.
What will the morning involve:
1. Write your name in Japanese and learn some Japanese characters.
2. Origami tuition. The Japanese art of paper folding.
3. Learn and sing a Japanese song or Hymn.
4. Making your own traditional style mochi a Japanese sweet rice cake.
5. Japanese Onigiri lunch supplied by local onigiri shop.
There will be about 10 Japanese helpers who you can talk with during your sessions.
Cost: £15 which includes the cost of lunch.
Participants: Up to 20 people. Bookings taken on a first come, first served basis.
Japanese Cultural Morning Booking Deadline: if you're adding this after 07 Aug 2024, please contact
office@oakhall.co.uk to see if there is still availability.