Our 2 Weeks Japan Tour Itinerary

We have visited Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo, Nagano and Yamanashi.  

Here is Japan's Map with the places we have visited (circled and numbered).  I can't see Yamanashi in here so you can check in google map where it is.

Here's our Itinerary:
Day 1:  Arrived at Kansai International Airport (Osaka)

Kansai International Airport (KIX) is one of Japan's most important international airports.  Located on a man made island about 40 km south of central Osaka.

There are various ways to travel between Kansai Airport to Central Osaka, via JR Haruka limited express Train, JR airport rapid train, taxi, ferry and by bus.

Since we arrive at almost midnight, we took the direct bus to Osaka Station where our hotel is located.


This is where we bought our bus ticket.  I did ask for help on how to buy :)

Fare: 1550 Yen - one way.

Tip: Try to plan to arrive early so you can do some sightseeing around Osaka like what our
friends have done.


Day 2 - Osaka To Kyoto
We have activated our 7-day Japan Rail Pass then took a 2-hr train ride to Kyoto.

We arrived Kyoto at about lunch time.  Our hotel has 2 single smmmaaalll beds. The bathroom is also small like in a boat cabin, good thing it's so close to train station. We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the nearby places after lunch.

Day 3 - Kyoto Tours
We did some Temple tours and in the evening we've visited the famous Kyoto's Sagano Bamboo Forest: One of the most beautiful groves on Earth (http://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/11/travel/sagano-bamboo-forest/)

Here's some of the pictures:

In Osaka Central, on our way to Kyoto.

 The famous Sagano Bamboo Forest.. one of the 

 places to see before we die :)

Kyoto Tower

Day 4: Kyoto to Tokyo

This is a 3-hr ride via Shinkansen Bullet Train.  This is what i like the most in Japan, we can travel different places via fast trains.  It's very convenient since we only need to wait for few minutes and no need to check-in etc (like what we usually do when flying, wasting like 3-4 hrs in the airport for departure and arrival).

Here's "us" very excited on our first bullet train ride:

Day 5-7: Tokyo
The most exciting days for our little one since we got to visit Disneyland Tokyo, DisneySea and some city sightseeing.


Day 8: Tokyo to Nagano
This is via bullet train again, which goes 260km/h, we reached Nagano City in about one hour and half

Day 9-10: Madarao Kogen Ski Resort, Nagano.
Ski Time :), first time for my son to play in the snow.

Day 11: Snow Monkeys, Nagano
For more details:
http://pearl-exploration.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/japan-trip-day-10-snow-monkeys-of.html

Day 12-13: Yamanashi
My husband's relative picked us in Nagano Hotel. 
Yamanashi is a 2-hr drive from Nagano City.

Day 14 - Home Sweet Home 
Narita Airport is 4-hr drive from Yamanashi so we have to wake-up early since our flight is at 11am.

Japan Trip Day 11: The Snow Monkeys of Jigokudani, Nagano

We've heart about Snow Monkeys in Discovery Channel that it's a "must see" when in Nagano, Japan. And so we tried it. We were so excited and viola, no one told us that we have to walk 3.2 kilometers (back and forth) on an icy pathway. The challenge was, we have a stroller for our 4-yr old son. We can't afford to slip or who knows where we are going to end up :). Half way going up, hubby and I were thinking that it maybe best to go back and wait for our friends in the bus stop.  Glad  that we "break the arrow" meaning we continue to go up.  The view up there was so breathtaking and beautiful.

Here's some of the pics.

Park entrance, this is where one can decide whether to go up or not :).

Meet the snow monkeys:

If it was a challenge going up, i find it more challenging going down since we need to hold the pram and make sure it won't slide.  I was pushing the pram so i was extra careful and i think my motherly instinct is working so well while my hubby slipped twice. Although he was not the only one who slid, it should not deter people to go up and see the snow monkeys.  After looking at the pictures, i find the trip worth it.

Some facts about the Snow Monkeys (copied from (http://www.snowjapan.com/the-snow-monkeys-of-jigokudani-nagano):
The Jigokudani Yaenkoen park opened in 1964 and since then many thousands of people from around the world have visited the park to observe the lifestyle of the Japanese Macaque.  The Japanese Macaque (Macaca fuscata) is a monkey species native to northern Japan, and is the most northern-living non-human primate, surviving winter temperatures of below -15 °C.  They have brown-gray fur, a red face, hands and bottom, and a short tail - and often seem remarkably human like.

In the wild they spend most of their time in forests and feed on seeds, buds, fruit, invertebrates, berries, leaves, and bark.  The monkeys have a body length ranging from 80 to 95 cm.  The males weigh around 10-14 kg while the females are usually around 5.5 kg