Foreword

The significance of travel lies not in the beauty of the destination, but in the transformation experienced throughout the journey.

Someone says that at 18, studying at university, when asked about your ideal, you say you want to travel around the world; at 22, after graduating from university, you say you'll go after getting a job; at 26, when you've established a stable job, you say you'll go when you buy a house; at 30, with a house and a car, you say you'll go when you get married; at 35, with children, you say you'll go after your children are older; at 40, when your children are grown, you say you've recovered from raising your parents before you can go. Ultimately, you end up going nowhere!

Departure Preparation

• 1. Flight Tickets

Flight tickets are best booked approximately 2 months in advance to secure the lowest prices. Based on my experience booking numerous flights, this is a proven strategy.

Recommended Booking Platforms: Go-Go Flights > Phi-Phi > Official Websites > Trip.com > Other Platforms

• 2. Visa

It's easiest to arrange the visa through Phi-Phi. Materials required: Application form, original passport, 2-inch color photos, copy of property deed, family relationship proof, copy of ID card, and copy of household registration certificate. Currently, the required materials may be slightly fewer (I was a university student and obtained my visa one month before departure, fearing rejection).

• 3. Phone Card

I purchased a local SIM card a few days before departure from a website like Taobao; it arrived in two days. The card functions perfectly, and when activated as a roaming data plan, it offers excellent signal and sufficient data.

• 4. IC Card

Japanese public transportation is incredibly complex, making navigation a real challenge. The numerous stations and various companies operating different lines can be overwhelming. As we were staying in Osaka, we frequently traveled between Nara and Kyoto, so I purchased a Kansai Thru Pass. With this pass, we avoided additional transportation costs in Osaka, although we got slightly lost and switched lines when we made mistakes – we didn't have to purchase new tickets.

⚠️Please note the following when purchasing tickets⬇️

Differences between the Kansai Thru Pass and the Kansai Area Pass: The Kansai Thru Pass is valid for travel within the Osaka metropolitan area and on buses, while the Kansai Thru Pass covers Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe, and also allows travel on Kyoto buses. However, both passes are usable on most railway lines except for Shinkansen (bullet trains) and limited express trains. Basically, you can reach most destinations.

JR Shinkansen (Bullet Train) is too expensive, so we didn't choose it. The JR Nara Line (local train) is also convenient and recommended, especially when you don't have a tight schedule. The Kansai Thru Pass is more suitable for longer trips.

• 5. Currency Exchange and Exchange Rates

100 Japanese Yen is approximately equivalent to 6.2 Japanese Yuan.

I exchanged 15,000 Japanese Yen at the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. I made an advance appointment by phone. Within China, I exchanged 15,000 Yen. Most 7-Eleven stores in Osaka accepted Alipay, but many places in Hokkaido did not, so I exchanged more Yen at an ATM in the New Chitose Airport when I arrived. Although ICBC (China CITIC Bank) offers free monthly withdrawals for the first time abroad, it charged a 12-yuan fee, and the exchange rate was also favorable. (It's not recommended to exchange RMB into USD and then USD into JPY).

• Itinerary

Chengdu – Osaka (Nara, Kyoto) – Sapporo (Otaru, Jesso) – Osaka – Chengdu

The flight attendant will provide an arrival card and a baggage declaration form on the flight. Please complete these forms before landing.

First Stop – Osaka

Our first impression of Japan was very positive; the streets were exceptionally clean!

Nara – Visiting the Deer

If your time in Nara Park is approximately 4 hours, you can go to Mount Yoshino, where you'll find fewer crowds and a closer encounter with the deer, along with a panoramic view of Nara.

You don't need a ticket to enter the park.

There are many stalls selling deer crackers (shika senbei) around the park, selling for a uniform price of 150 Japanese Yen per bundle. Each vendor sells at the same price!

⚠️Please note: Don't show off your deer crackers in front of a large group of deer, as they will aggressively compete for food and may accidentally injure you.

Transportation

I took the JR Nara Line (local train) from Osaka Animal Park Station to Nara Station; a slower train takes approximately 50 minutes, so you can opt for the local train to enjoy the scenery along the way. Upon arriving at Nara Station, I followed the Google Maps directions, which took about 20 minutes.

The park is open-air and doesn't have fences, so you can see the deer along the entire route.

If you don't want to walk:

You can take bus routes 2, 6, 72, 160, or 98 from Nara Station to various points within Nara Park.

Kyoto – Kimono Experience

You can rent kimonos on the streets of Kyoto, especially when it's not the peak season; you don't need to book online beforehand; instead, you can negotiate prices with the store staff when you meet them and choose the kimono you like.

✨Must-Visit Spots in Kyoto: Konan (Detective Conan) Fans will recognize the beautiful Kiyomizu-dera Temple!

Kiyomizu-dera Temple: 400 Japanese Yen; Opening Hours: 06:00 – 18:00 daily.

Transportation: Take bus routes 83/85/88/206 to Gojo-zaka Stop, a 10-minute walk; or take bus route 207 to Shijo-zaka Stop, a 10-minute walk.

Tips

1⃣️ Many small alleys are recommended for photography – Flower Road (Chion-ji), which has beautiful scenery.

2⃣️ Smoking is prohibited on the streets; you'll be fined, so you can purchase smoking-designated area packs from convenience stores.

3⃣️ During spring and autumn, visit the Arashiyama Park, where you'll find beautiful maple leaves.

4⃣️ Take the Sagano Scenic Railway for a round trip of 25 minutes; it's reminiscent of the scenes in the movie 'Harry Potter'.

Universal Studios Japan

It's located on Sakinaga Island, a 5-minute walk from Universal City Station on the JR Sakura Line.

Tickets

1-Day Pass: 7,800 Japanese Yen for adults, 5,400 Japanese Yen for children; 7,100 Japanese Yen for people aged 65 or older.

2-Day Pass: 15,400 Japanese Yen for adults, 10,500 Japanese Yen for children.

Many platforms offer these tickets; you can book in advance.

Heart Island (Shinsekai) – Shopping

We were shopping in the Dotombori area, which is close to Heart Island, so we went there after shopping, wow, there were really a lot of people! Various drugstores sell cosmetics, and there are many brands.

You can also visit the Black Street Market, where drugstores offer lower prices (around 10-20% less) than in Heart Island, but the stores are generally small, don't accept credit cards, and don't have Chinese-speaking staff. Also, they don't have many products and a small selection.

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