Suma Mountain is a great location to see a view of Kobe city. There is a cable car ride to the top of the mountain and a hiking trail. At the top of the mountain there is a lookout and a small game center with 1980s retro style games. Telescopes are also provided for viewing the sights.
To the east Kobe airport is visible. On a clear day it is possible to see as far as Osaka. The beautiful white sands of Suma beach just below the mountain make for a great photo. To the west Awaji Island, Tarumi city, Himeji city and Akashi Kaikyo Bridge can be seen.
If accompanied by children it is best to ride the cable car to the top. It costs 500 yen. Hiking is the free way to the top. Along the way there are many beautifully manicured gardens and trees. Benches are provided along the trail for a rest and to take in the sights. There are also other trails that go deep into the mountains. Many elderly
people hike these trails on weekends.
To get here take the train from Sannomiya station to Sumaurakoen station on the Sanyo Electric Railway main line.
The train is the
best way to travel in Japan. If you’re a child
aged 0 to 5 you can travel free,
children aged 6 to 11 travel at half fare. If you’re an adult you may get
offered a free ticket from someone who is done with his or her all day pass. I
would always give away my all day pass to someone when I had reached my final
destination for the day. All day passes are a great option when in Osaka and
Tokyo.
Osaka Unlimited All Day Train Pass
The Osaka
subways have an unlimited 1-day pass available for 800 yen/day, buy it at the
ticket vending machines in any subway station. Tokyo has an unlimited all
day Tokyo Metro pass which costs Adult: 600 yen and Child: 360 yen available
only for tourists, and it must be purchased from terminal 1 or 2 at Narita
airport. Otherwise it costs Adult: 710 yen, Child: 360 yen. It can be bought at
the ticket office at any station on the Tokyo Metro Line. The other Tokyo
subway company is called the Toei line. It has all day passes for Adult: 700
yen, Child: 350 yen. These two passes can be combined and bought for Adult:
1000 yen, Child: 500 yen. This will give you unlimited rides for one day on all
subway lines in Tokyo. There are also welcome tickets from Haneda airport that
offer a ride from the airport and a 1,2 or 3 day pass on all Tokyo subway
lines. http://www.haneda-tokyo-access.com/en/info/discountticket.html
Umeda Station Midosuji Line Osaka Japan
Kansai Thru Pass
There are also discount train
tickets for tourist to travel around Osaka. The
best pass to buy is the Kansai Thru Pass, which costs 4000 yen for 2days or
5200 yen for 3days. This pass allows you unlimited rides on buses , train
lines, subways, not including JR though, throughout the Kansai area. It even
includes discounts on some tourist attractions. They can be
bought in Japan from Osaka city visitors information center (Shin Osaka,
Umeda, Namba, Tennoji), Kansai Airport (Travel Conuter), Itami Airport
(information), Kyoto Station information center, Nara city sightseeing
information center, and main Hotels in Kansai. Your passport will be required.
Other Osaka travel passes can be found at: http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/plan/practical_information/travel_passes/
Waiting For Train Umeda Station Midosuji Line Osaka Japan
Tokyo Grutto Pass
In Tokyo a similar pass is the Grutto
Pass. This is a ticket combining two Tokyo Metro 1 day passes and a discount
coupon book that contains free entry or discount tickets to 78 places of
interest, including museums,art galleries, zoos, aquariums and botanical
gardens around Tokyo. This tourist coupon book is usable for 2 months after the
first use. http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/other/index.html
Sightseeing For 120 Yen In Japan
Major cities,
especially Osaka and Tokyo, have massive rail systems that move millions of people
a day. These transport networks include a loop line around the inner city
center and other lines coming into the central stations from the suburbs, and a
subway system that crosses in all directions all over the city. The Osaka JR
(Japan Rail) loop line is a fun sight seeing adventure that costs almost
nothing. Buy the cheapest ticket for 120 yen, which will take you to the next
station, but don’t get off. Continue to ride the loop line all the way around.
It’s all above ground, so there are lots of sights to see. Make sure you don’t
get off at the station you started at. Exit one station from your destination,
as the ticket won’t allow you to exit the station that you bought it at. Tokyo
also has an interesting loop line to ride. Most train station names are posted
in Kanji and English and also the names of the preceding and following
stations.
Umeda JR Station Osaka Japan
How To Ride The Subway In Japan
Subway lines
operate in Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo, and Yokohama.
They are the fastest and most convenient way to get around the city. For
subways and local trains, you have to buy your ticket from a machine. They're
easy to understand, they even have English instructions and a map explaining
the routes and the cost to travel to each station on the map. From this you can
find out what your fare should be. If you can't work out how much the fare
should be, simply buy the lowest price ticket, usually 120 yen. When you reach
your destination, go to the ticket-adjustment machine, insert your ticket and
it will tell you how much more you have to pay. If you can’t find the fare
adjustment machine ask at the staffed counter at the exit gate and pay the
difference.
How to Ride The Train For Free In Japan
If you wish to
ride anywhere for 120 yen, buy a ticket for 120 yen, and when you reach your
destination tell the staff at the ticket office that you have lost your ticket.
If it’s a small station with only one staff member, sometimes they will let you
exit the station without paying anything. Otherwise they will ask you where you
came from. Make sure you know the name of the closest station to your
destination, and then they will ask you to pay for another ticket, which should
only cost you 120 yen. If you have traveled far between cities it could save
you 2000 to 4000 yen or even more! For example its possible to travel from
Kansai Airport to Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, Shiga, Wakayama, Himeji or even as far as
Okayama on the JR train line without ever exiting the station and paying for
another ticket except your initial 120 yen investment. I don’t recommend doing
this regularly, as they have cameras at the stations, and will keep a photo of
you in case you re offend. This is for emergencies
when you have nearly run out of money, or lost your money and need to reach
your destination far from where you are. Please try to leave Japan a better
place than you found it. Most people in Japan abide by the law, and so should
you if you wish to have good fortune and a great holiday.
If you find my articles informative and interesting, please help support my writing career and my family by making a small donation, or by sharing this website through social media.
If you find my articles informative and interesting, please help support my writing career and my family by making a small donation, or by sharing this website through social media.
Japan has good bus services. It is the most difficult transport
system for foreign travellers to use, so is usually underutilized. Stops are
often written only in Kanji. So learn the kanji for your destinations. Have
pictures of them on your phone. Ask the driver to tell you when to get off.
Depending on the city, payment may be required when you get on, or not until
you get off. In some cities, there's a flat fee regardless of distance traveled.
In the other cities, you take a ticket as you board that has a zone number,
which is your starting point. When you exit the bus, a sign at the front of the
bus shows the fare charged for each starting zone number. You just have to pay
the driver the fare that matches your zone number, by putting the ticket and
your money into a fare box. There may be a change machine near the front of the
bus that can change 100 yen coins, 500 yen coins and 1000 yen notes. Some buses
require you pay when you board.
The buses I ride in the suburbs of Osaka cannot change 10,000 yen notes. One day I boarded the bus with only a 10,000 yen
note and found out how to ride for free. The driver could not change it, and he
let me ride the bus for free. One time I found myself without change, an
old man paid my ticket, and then proceeded to complain to me for the whole
journey about how I should always bring change. Keep in mind if you present a
10,000 yen note, the driver can refuse you entry to the bus.
The bus around the
inner city of Osaka is a great way to sight-see. It will take you down streets
that you would never see if you just rode the subway. The suburban buses are
harder to use, and run less frequently. Make sure to plan your trip carefully
before boarding a bus.
If you find my articles informative and interesting, please help support my writing career and my family, by donating to my fan funding page on Youtube, or via Pay Pal at stingyscoundreljapan@gmail.com.
The city of Yokohama Japan, is now hosting a Pickachu Summer street
festival until Monday the 17th of August 2015. Pikachu is the popular mascot for
the Pokémon cartoon and video game chain. Over 1000 Giant Pikachus will be in the Yokohama Minatomirai area.
To see the Giant Pikachus go to the Landmark Hall Shopping Center in Yokohama Minatomirai Japan. They will also be performing dance routines in random areas on the streets of the Minatomirai harbor area, Sakuragicho Station, and also at the Aka Renga complex.While you are there check out the free Anpanman Show.
Giant Pikachu Yokohama Minatomirai Japan
Anapanman Yokohama Minatomirai Japan
Pikachu Yokohama Minatomirai Japan
If you find my articles informative and interesting, please help support my writing career and my family, by donating to my fan funding page on Youtube, or via Pay Pal at stingyscoundreljapan@gmail.com.
Summer is a great time to take children to see outdoor shows in Japan. The Anpanman museums are located in Yokohama, Sendai, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Kobe. Here your children can enjoy the world of one of Japans most famous cartoon characters, Anpanman. This cartoon series is over 30 years old and is still a very popular children's TV show and book series.
The entry fee to the Anpanman musuem is 1500yen for children over 1 year of age and adults. A small gift is given to each child upon entry. However there are free shows on weekends in front of the museum and there is an interesting shop with food and souvenirs that will also interest children. I recently took my daughter to see the free show in Yokohama. She was very impressed by it, and enjoyed meeting all the characters including Anpanman, Currypanman, Shokupanman, Uncle Jam, Batako, Cheese, Baikinman, Dokinchan, Horaaman, and, Melonpanna.
Museum Opening hours are: 10 am to 6pm. The shop is open until 7pm. Here is the official website: http://www.kobe-anpanman.jp/
Anpanman Museum Yokohama Japan
Show at Anpanman Museum Yokohama Japan
Anpanman Cakes Yokohama Japan
Show at Anpanman Museum Yokohama Japan
Show at Anpanman Museum Yokohama Japan
If you find my articles informative and interesting, please help support my writing career and my family, by donating to my fan funding page on Youtube, or via Pay Pal at stingyscoundreljapan@gmail.com.
