Japan Station

Yes, visitors from overseas can get a Kansai Thru Pass (also called the Surutto Kansai Pass) for two or three days. This covers not only Kyoto City Bus and Kyoto Bus services but also the Kyoto Municipal Subway Line, and many of the private railway and bus companies in Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara and Shiga. https://www.kyotostation.com/taking-a-bus-in-kyoto/

You can buy tickets for The Rapi:t Airport Express at Namba Station ticket office or ticket machine on your departure date. You can find more information about The Rapi:t Airport Express here: https://www.osakastation.com/the-nankai-airport-line-the-airport-express-rapit-services-for-kansai-airport-namba/

The best way to travel from Kansai International Airport to Osaka Station is the Kansai Airport Rapid Service: https://www.osakastation.com/traveling-between-osaka-and-kansai-international-airport/#the-kansai-airport-rapid-service-for-osaka-station-and-tennoji-station From Osaka Itami Airport to Osaka Station: https://www.osakastation.com/osaka-monorail-for-osaka-itami-airport-and-osaka-expo-park/#traveling-from-osaka-station-to-osaka-itami-airport

Hi Mike, Yes, you will be able to use your Suica cards in Osaka. Suica cards are valid for 10 years after last use. IC cards from one region in Japan can be used in other regions as well. You can find more information about IC cards in this article: https://www.japanstation.com/japans-prepaid-transportation-cards-ic-cards/

You can check seat availability on the Sagano Romantic Train website: https://sagano-kanko.co.jp/en/kuseki.php Tickets can be bought on the day of travel, but during peak periods, the trains are very busy, so it is a good idea to reserve tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. You can do this up to one month in advance at an JR West ticket office. It is also possible to reserve tickets for the train at major travel agencies throughout Japan. https://www.kyotostation.com/the-sagano-romantic-train/

Will you be traveling from Osaka station, Shin-Osaka station or Namba station? There are several different services going from Kansai Airport to Osaka. You can find more information about Traveling Between Osaka and Kansai International Airport in this article: https://www.osakastation.com/traveling-between-osaka-and-kansai-international-airport/

The station nearest to Yokohama cruise port is NIHON-ODORI on Minatomirai Line. From this station you can take a train to Yokohama station and from there take JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line directly to Shinjuku. Alternative route is to take Minatomirai Line all the way to Shibuya and then take Yamanote line from Shibuya to Shinjuku. You can see all the possible connections on Hyperdia site (enter your travel date and time): http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi/en/search.html?dep_node=NIHON-ODORI&arv_node=SHINJUKU(JR)&via_node01=&via_node02=&via_node03=&year=2017&month=11&day=28&hour=09&minute=16&search_type=0&search_way=&transtime=undefined&sort=0&max_route=5&faretype=0&ship=off&lmlimit=null&search_target=route&facility=reserved&sum_target=7 From Shinjuku station go out of JR South Exit to the street level, turn right and walk along the Koshu Kaido street. The Washington Hotels will be on your right (around 8 minutes walking distance).

Osaka Amazing Pass doesn’t cover the Nankai lines, it only covers Osaka municipal subway and bus lines. https://www.osaka-info.jp/osp/en/about/about_2day.html We would recommend a Kansai Thru Pass instead. It covers Nankai, Subway and many other lines in the region. http://www.surutto.com/tickets/kansai_thru_english.html Please note that this Pass covers Airport Express train from Kansai Airport to Namba. Rapi:t train requires seat reservations and additional charges. https://www.osakastation.com/the-nankai-airport-line-the-airport-express-rapit-services-for-kansai-airport-namba/

There is a substitute bus service between Hashimoto and Koyasan station. You can still make a trip to Koyasan, but it will take a little longer, around 2 and a half hours. This route can also get busy on weekends and during the holiday season. More information from Nankai Railway: http://www.howto-osaka.com/global/pdf/notice/171101/furikae_en.pdf

Special Rapid services to Kyoto and Kansai airport are not reserved seating. https://www.osakastation.com/jr-kansai-airport-line-kansai-airport-rapid-service/ It may be crowded around the holidays, but you don't need to reserve a seat. For shinkansen we recommend that you make reservations as soon as you arrive in Japan. Christmas is not as busy as New Year, but it's a good idea to make reservations a few days in advance.

The official JR regulation is each passenger is allowed up to two pieces of luggage onto trains, not including smaller bags. Each piece of luggage may not weight more than 30kg and its three dimensions (length, width and depth) may not add up to more than 250cm, while its length may not exceed 200cm. If you have oversized luggage you can use a luggage delivery service that will safely deliver your luggage to your next destination.

From Kyoto Station you can take bus number 28 to Arashiyama. From Kawaramachi take bus number 11 to Arashiyama. Here you can find more information about taking a bus in Kyoto, including maps and destinations: https://www.kyotostation.com/taking-a-bus-in-kyoto/ You can also go to Arashiyama by train: https://www.kyotostation.com/traveling-from-kyoto-station-to-arashiyama/

Isetan at Kyoto Station will close at 6:00 pm on December 31st and reopen at 9:30 am on January 2nd. Aeon mall is open every day during the new year holidays. The souvenir shops within the station will be open every day, most other shops in the city usually close on January 1st, but are open on all other days around New Year.

If your luggage will fit in locker you can access the station lockers as soon as the station opens (before 7 am). Another possibility is to keep luggage at your hotel or send for next day delivery. Most hotels will hold your luggage after you check out or before you check in.

Here is lost and found information for Osaka subway: http://www.kotsu.city.osaka.lg.jp/foreign/english/FoundCenter.html and JR West: https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/howto/service_02.html

For oversized luggage you can use the baggage room on the fist floor at Shin Osaka Station. Here is a map: https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/sc/timetable/pdf/station_shin-osaka.pdf https://www.osakastation.com/shin-osaka-station-facilities-transfers/

So many stations in one area certainly can be confusing. Your hotel is east of Nankai Namba Station. To get to Midosuji or Yotsubashi Line you will need to walk back in the direction of Nankai station. Here is a good map of the area showing all the stations: http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/plan/images/minami.pdf

Terminal 1 building is directly connected to the Kansai Airport Station. Follow the signs from international arrivals to the second floor (domestic arrivals) and then to the station. http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/map/pdf/t1_2f.pdf

Take the main North Exit (To Midosuji, Shinsaibashisuji, Sennichimae.) and then turn right. Walk two and a half blocks east and one block south. https://www.google.com/maps/place/APA+Hotel+Namba-higashi/@34.6649625,135.5021701,17z/data=!4m8!1m2!2m1!1sapa+namba+eki+higashi!3m4!1s0x6000e76a481d34f1:0x5e7625009c08055c!8m2!3d34.664594!4d135.50457

Follow the signs to New South Gate. The Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal is located right above the New South Gate. You can find more information here: https://www.shinjukustation.com/new-shinjuku-expressway-bus-terminal-basuta-shinjuku/ The station layout map: https://www.shinjukustation.com/shinjuku-station-map-finding-your-way/

You can get an ICOCA card at the JR ticket office or ticket machine at Kansai Airport station on arrival.

According to the website http://kloop.jp/en/ it only operates on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Another alternative is the Sky Bus operating every day: https://www.kyotostation.com/kyoto-sky-bus-sightseeing-bus-tour-kyoto/

Going to Nara from Namba area you can take JR or Kintetsu lines: https://www.osakastation.com/traveling-from-osaka-to-nara/ The fastest way to go to Kyoto from Namba is to take the subway Midosuji line to Osaka Station and get on a JR train from there: https://www.osakastation.com/traveling-from-osaka-to-kyoto/

Only airport express trains, like Narita Express, Kansai Haruka and Nankai Rapit, have dedicated luggage space. On shinkansen bullet trains luggage can be stored on the overhead shelf (airline carry-on size and slightly larger medium size suitcases) or in a space behind the last row of seats (larger suitcases, but the space is limited). You can also send your large suitcases to the next destination via a luggage delivery service available across Japan for a reasonable price. Most hotels will help you fill out the paperwork and call for a pick-up.

Here is a Google map of the hotel: https://www.google.co.jp/maps/place/アパホテル〈なんば駅東〉/@34.6645984,135.5023813,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x6000e76a481d34f1:0x5e7625009c08055c!8m2!3d34.664594!4d135.50457 You can use “Directions” to find a way from Nankai Namba Station to the hotel.