Batanes in 3 Days

Day 1

0600     Depart for Basco, Batanes on PALexpress Flight 2P084
0750     Arrival at Basco Airport, Transfer to Hotel (5 mins by foot)

Arrival area of the Basco Airport

0815     Arrive at DDD Habitat Hotel, Check-in 

Aircon room for only 1,200 Pesos/night
Fan room at 600 Pesos/night

0845     Rent a Bike at Amboy's located along Abad St.
             *bike rental fee is 25 Pesos/hour for a maximum of 250 Pesos/day

My bike in front of the Honesty Coffee Shop

0900     Bike thru the towns of Batan Island (Basco, Mahatao and Ivana, about 15 kms. one way)
             *Alternatively, you can get a day tour for 1,000-1,500 Pesos for a Van, a more comfortable way of seeing Batan Island with less time, include the Malboro Country, Valugan Boulder Beach and Fundacion Pacita in the itinerary if renting a van.

Things to see along Basco-Mahatao-Ivana Road:
     1. Mahatao view deck
     2. Mahatao Church
     3. House of Dakay
     4. Ivana Church
     5. Honesty Coffee

You can have lunch at Vatang Grill along the national road in San Vicente, Ivana.

Viands cost between 130-300 Pesos/dish

After a long day biking, I'm sure you'll be happy to just rest and sleep at the Hotel. :)
If you're in the mood for dinner, at around 4PM, the fish vendors will be selling their catch at Abad st., you can get lobsters and fish at a very cheap price and have it cooked at the hotel.

Day 2

0400     Bathroom and Breakfast (if you want to have breakfast at the hotel, be sure to tell them a day in advance, breakfast costs 150 Pesos)
0445     Wait for a Jeep at Castillejos St., 5 seconds walk from DDD Habitat to go to Ivana Port, if you miss the jeep, it would be better to do the Sabtang Tour on your 3rd day.
0545     Arrive at Ivana Port

Boat rides costs 75 Pesos/way

0600     Wait for the Boat, St. Thomas(smaller) or Sta. Ines (bigger). Write your name on the passenger manifest before boarding and then board. Payment is collected when you arrive at Sabtang island.
0645     Arrival at Sabtang Island
             The Sabtang Tourism Office collects 200 Pesos/person as an environmental charge
             Should you have no reservation, there are tricycles within the port that will offer you a tour of Sabtang Island. (800 Pesos for 2 towns, the lighthouse and beach, 1,500 Pesos for 4 towns, the lighthouse and beach.)

Rolling Hills of Sabtang

Chavayan Town, where you could buy authentic Vacul

The only remaining church with cogon roof (Chavayan Town)

Sabtang Lighhouse

Lunch is optional at 300 Pesos/person, served beachside, make sure you reserve with the tour guide before the tour

1300     Arrive at Sabtang Port for ferry back to Batan Island
1330     Arrive at Ivana Port
             If prior arrangements have been made, you can go around southern Batan Island including the Malboro Hills, Vayugan Boulder Beach, Fundacion Pacita and PAG-ASA weather station. Otherwise, ride a jeepney to Basco (27 Pesos) and rest until sunset and dinner at the Basco Lighthouse.
             *Jeep passes in front of
1400     Rest at DDD Habitat
1645     Walk to the Basco lighthouse to see the sunset and have dinner at the bunker cafe (reservations needed)

Basco Lighthouse

 

Bunker Cafe (Reservations needed, they really won't accommodate you if you don't have one)

The Sunset at Basco Lighthouse

1945     Head back to the hotel to rest

Day 3

1000     Go to Church

1200     Lunch at Shanedels or Batanes Seaside Resort or Octagon (please make prior arrangements)

1400     If you did not take the south Batan tour on your second day, now is the time to take it (Malboro Hills, Vayugan Boulder Beach, Fundacion Pacita and PAG-ASA weather station)

1800     Dinner at Pension Ivatan for some local dishes. (refrain from eating coconut crabs as they are endagered.

2000     Rest for the night or drinks at shanedels or octagon

Day 4

0500     Dress up and pack your bags for your return flight.
0600     Head towards the Airport, 5 mins walk
0810     Flight to Manila via PAL Express

I missed some of the attractions deliberately to be sure that I would go back to Batanes.

Some Tips for Osaka and Kyoto

General tips:

Get the Icoca / Haruka Card. It has a 2 way airport Transfer worth 4000 Yen and 1500 Yen balance on your card, 500 Yen deposit for the card for only 4000 Yen. The Airport Transfer can drop you off at Kobe, Kyoto or Osaka. The 1500 balance can be used for local train services in the said areas. Shoud you decide to refund the 500 Yen deposit, there is a small charge of about 210 Yen deductible from the deposit.

 Trains are always on time. Be sure to arrive earlier than departure time.

Ask a lot, the people there are all friendly. :)

Kyoto:

There are numerous temples in the area, be sure to select which of them you want to see try to travel in a linear way. some of the more popular temples are: Kinkakuji (Golden Pavillion), Ginkakuji (Silver Pavillion), Fushimi Inari Shrine (temple of thousands of Torii Gates) and the Kiyomizu Dera (The oldest and biggest Temple). There are other temples in the area, you just need to know what you want to see. 

Food:

Budget: Nakau Restaurant, there's one just across the Kyoto Station

Market: Nishiki Market, this is where you'll find almost everything available to eat. Try their tofu donuts and green tea ice cream.

Rotoyaki: there's a restaurant inside the Kyoto station. it serves good sushi at a reasonable price of 137 Yen per plate. 

breakfast: Go to any convenience store and buy some onigiri, try their salmon onigiri.

To go around kyoto, it is more useful to use their buses as trains are rare. A one-day bus pass is 500 Yen, with this you can go to almost all the temples in Kyoto. 

Go to Gion to look for a Geisha. They tend to roam around during the night.

Osaka:

Sightseeing: 

Osaka Castle for some history and culture. 

Doutonburi as a road of restaurants and stores, you can find almost anything there or its surroundings, as well as the glico running man.

The Umeda Sky Building is also an attraction. you can go to the upper levels and see Osaka from a different perspective. There are also shops located within the area. 

Food:

The restaurants at doutonburi serve good food. For great okonomiyaki and takoyaki, go to the restaurant under the Glico running man. For great ramen, go to Ippudo Ramen near Shinsaibashi. 

Transportation is relatively easy. just use a 1-day train pass for 500 yen and your good to go, except for your night life, as train service end around 11-12 midnight. Take a taxi thereafter.