Getting around Osaka?

Question:

My husband, daughter, and I have a 7 hour layover in Osaka Japan and wanted to spend a few hours sight seeing. I've looked into a personal tour guide since we speak no Japanese, but can save some money if we go off on our own. We wanted to go the the castle, the park around it, and eat lunch. Will it be easy for us to get around via subway and eat somewhere? I'm really good about doing research, so I can look up what trains to take and which stops to exit. So pretty much do you think we will be ok getting around with no knowledge of the Japanese language? Any tips would be helpful. Thanks!

Answer:

I assume you will be arriving at Kansai Intl. Count on wasting some time collecting your baggage and going through customs and immigration. If you are from the U.S. or any other country that has a visa agreement with Japan, no problem. Otherwise, forget your plan. Now you have about a 1 hour train ride into Osaka, a bit more to Osaka castle. You have just used up to 2 hours of your layover. How about your luggage? Carrying that around? I'm not sure if you can check it through and then leave the airport. Security and all that.

Even though getting around will not be that hard, you have to solve the luggage problem. And you have to allow enough time when you go back to the airport to get through immigration. On a previous post like this one someone said you may have to pay departure tax again. And remember, they want you at the gate, ready to board well before departure time.

That was very lengthy to say that I don't think your plan is a good one, you will at best be a bit rushed and perhaps not enjoy the trip at all if you have to deal with your luggage.