Travel: Japan - General
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lwm99:
It is using the mobile network for data, just like we use our phones in Singapore. Those only use wifi spots are not useful.[/quote]Thanks, but maybe not so useful for me after all. My usage not high so don't need unlimited, and my trips are normally more than 7 days. My 2GB data card after 8 days still have balance. And I was desperately downloading stuff my last 2 days!
Can I check if the access is only to wifi spots around the cities or a 3G/4G mobile net work. Is the coverage good?Dnls_mum:
[quote=\"lwm99\"]For those looking to have data access in Japan, you can rent a Pocket Wifi (aka egg) which can share among a few people.
The one we used was from: http://www.globaladvancedcomm.com/pocketwifi.html
It was delivered to our hotel before we arrived. We paid 5,550 yen for 7 days of rental.
We checked some offers which were for wifi networks around the country only and didn't get them as we were sure how widespread those hotspots were. -
Like to check what is the easiest way to travel from Chitose airport to Hakodate in Mid Dec? Which hotel is recommended for 3-4 nights stay and suggestion for moving around Hakodate?
Also, what is the best/easier way to move form Hakodate to Niseko?
Thanks -
EatNonStop:
Train rides from Chitose to Hakodate is about 3 hrs+.Like to check what is the easiest way to travel from Chitose airport to Hakodate in Mid Dec? Which hotel is recommended for 3-4 nights stay and suggestion for moving around Hakodate?
Also, what is the best/easier way to move form Hakodate to Niseko?
Thanks
http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi/en/search.h ... m_target=7
I haven't been to Hakodate before, so i can't advise on the hotel.
Hakodate to Niseko
http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi/en/search.h ... m_target=7 -
EatNonStop:
Chitose - Hakodate: Train (or if you can, fly direct to Hakodate Airport, then depart from Chitose) or DRIVE!Like to check what is the easiest way to travel from Chitose airport to Hakodate in Mid Dec? Which hotel is recommended for 3-4 nights stay and suggestion for moving around Hakodate?
Also, what is the best/easier way to move form Hakodate to Niseko?
Thanks
Accomodations In Dec 2011, we stayed at Hotel Chocolat. It was reasonably cheap (about S$120 per double room) via booking.com.
It is a little further away from the warehouse/motomachi district (500-1000m), but we had a car. If you want to stay near the main tourist areas, be prepared to spend about S$250-300.
Hakodate to Niseko: Train (note: there's a transfer a long the way)then shuttle bus/taxi depending on where you are staying. or DRIVE!
Back in the winter of 2011, we drove down from Otaru to Hakodate (in about 6-7 hours) long snowy drive, but it was awesome. Then we drove from Hakodate to Niseko (about 3-4 hours).
We stopped to take photos along the way, as well as had meals wherever we wanted (breakfast at Hakodate Fish Market is a must have!).
Also, we drove because we had 3 kids and lots of luggage; hopping from train to train wasn't ideal.
We rented a Toyota Allion, and it was spacious enough.
More recently, my cousin joined us in Winter 2013, they flew in to Hakodate, then took a train to Niseko. But it was just the 2 of them... -
Dlye, thanks for the recommendation. Learnt something new today.
Checked that this hotel prices have dropped (maybe due to the weak yen), prices have dropped to 3400 yen per person. -
lwm99:
is the speed decent?For those looking to have data access in Japan, you can rent a Pocket Wifi (aka egg) which can share among a few people.
The one we used was from: http://www.globaladvancedcomm.com/pocketwifi.html
It was delivered to our hotel before we arrived. We paid 5,550 yen for 7 days of rental. -
dlye:
Thanks Dyle....
Chitose - Hakodate: Train (or if you can, fly direct to Hakodate Airport, then depart from Chitose) or DRIVE!EatNonStop:
Like to check what is the easiest way to travel from Chitose airport to Hakodate in Mid Dec? Which hotel is recommended for 3-4 nights stay and suggestion for moving around Hakodate?
Also, what is the best/easier way to move form Hakodate to Niseko?
Thanks
Accomodations In Dec 2011, we stayed at Hotel Chocolat. It was reasonably cheap (about S$120 per double room) via booking.com.
It is a little further away from the warehouse/motomachi district (500-1000m), but we had a car. If you want to stay near the main tourist areas, be prepared to spend about S$250-300.
Hakodate to Niseko: Train (note: there's a transfer a long the way)then shuttle bus/taxi depending on where you are staying. or DRIVE!
Back in the winter of 2011, we drove down from Otaru to Hakodate (in about 6-7 hours) long snowy drive, but it was awesome. Then we drove from Hakodate to Niseko (about 3-4 hours).
We stopped to take photos along the way, as well as had meals wherever we wanted (breakfast at Hakodate Fish Market is a must have!).
Also, we drove because we had 3 kids and lots of luggage; hopping from train to train wasn't ideal.
We rented a Toyota Allion, and it was spacious enough.
More recently, my cousin joined us in Winter 2013, they flew in to Hakodate, then took a train to Niseko. But it was just the 2 of them...
I booked my airtickets flying into Chitose airport so will be moving from there to Hakodate.
May I know what had you covered in Hakodate? I heard its difficult to drive during winter time, what is your experience in driving then?
If need to take train, how do I move from Chitose airport to Hakodate? And Hakodate to Niseko? Is it Hakodate JR line and which station to transfer? I have 2 kids so will have quite a number of luggages....not sure how difficult to commute in train. -
dimitri_can:
Hi..Thanks! Will try to figure out..
Train rides from Chitose to Hakodate is about 3 hrs+.EatNonStop:
Like to check what is the easiest way to travel from Chitose airport to Hakodate in Mid Dec? Which hotel is recommended for 3-4 nights stay and suggestion for moving around Hakodate?
Also, what is the best/easier way to move form Hakodate to Niseko?
Thanks
http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi/en/search.h ... m_target=7
I haven't been to Hakodate before, so i can't advise on the hotel.
Hakodate to Niseko
http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi/en/search.h ... m_target=7 -
EatNonStop:
Hi, and wow that's early booking. For most winters I only book in August/September...
Thanks Dyle....
I booked my airtickets flying into Chitose airport so will be moving from there to Hakodate.
May I know what had you covered in Hakodate? I heard its difficult to drive during winter time, what is your experience in driving then?
If need to take train, how do I move from Chitose airport to Hakodate? And Hakodate to Niseko? Is it Hakodate JR line and which station to transfer? I have 2 kids so will have quite a number of luggages....not sure how difficult to commute in train.
Places we visited in Hakodate(do note we only stayed 1 night there)
1. Mt Hakodate - definitely a must go. Best to do it in the late afternoon (3pm - remember that the sun sets around 4+) and stay until the sun sets. The view before and after is amazing.
2. Motomachi - the churches around the area are nice. It's also a short walk from the Mt Hakodate Ropeway station. This is where I took my best evening shorts with light falling snow...
3. The Christmas Tree at the Warehouse District - It's worth an evening stroll, for dinner and shopping, and then desserts...
4. Lucky pierrot - It's a special burger shop just near the warehouse district. check out this blog
http://kimi-tourguide.blogspot.sg/2014/01/lucky-pierrot-hamburger-shop-hakodate.html/url%5D%0A5.%20Fish%20Market%20%28near%20the%20JR%20Train%20Station%29%20-%20You%20can%20catch%20a%20Live%20Squid%20and%20they%20will%20serve%20it%20fresh%20to%20you%20%28all%20squirming%29.%20Best%20thing%20my%20kids%20remembered%20during%20our%20stay.%0A%0A%5Bb%5DFor%20Trains%5B/b%5D,%20best%20to%20go%20to%20%5Burl%5Dhttp://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/ttable/
Blueline from Airport.
To Niseko - take the greenish line and then transfer to the orange line
We didn't take the trains much in Hokkaido, except from Chitose to Sapporo; that required dragging 4 large suitcases to the Domestic Terminal (back then it was all underground, not like today), then figuring which trains to take, then boarding (there's always some space for luggage - unlike our MRT trains). Getting out of Sapporo station to our hotel took a little figuring out, but we eventually got to our Hotel with 2 taxis (5 pax, lots of bags... best to split up).
As for Driving.
That was actually my first time driving for more than a few hours in the snow (I drove 700km+ in total).
I actually made a Video about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTjhYI1ARu0
You can rest assured that almost all rental cars in Hokkaido are 4WD - except the hybrids. And as long as you keep to a decent speed, no sudden acceleration, braking or turning, the winter tyres bite sufficiently so that you only drift a little during turns. Best of all, Hokkaido drivers are very patient - no horning, noone purposely overtakes/cuts people off. And the roads are quite empty (outside of Sapporo)
Within a few hours of driving (from Otaru to Hakodate), I was pushing 80-90 on some stretches..... but I do have 20 years of driving experience, and I tend to push the limits whenever it rains.... so drifting, sliding is quite usual for me....
So far we've had 3 winter trips to Niseko and I drove the last 2 times. Winter Snow driving just needs more anticipation and planning.
And read the guides from the Japan Tourism Office / Car Rental. They know most tourists would need help.
Hope this helps -
dlye:
Hi, and wow that's early booking. For most winters I only book in August/September...EatNonStop:
Thanks Dyle....
I booked my airtickets flying into Chitose airport so will be moving from there to Hakodate.
May I know what had you covered in Hakodate? I heard its difficult to drive during winter time, what is your experience in driving then?
If need to take train, how do I move from Chitose airport to Hakodate? And Hakodate to Niseko? Is it Hakodate JR line and which station to transfer? I have 2 kids so will have quite a number of luggages....not sure how difficult to commute in train.
Places we visited in Hakodate(do note we only stayed 1 night there)
1. Mt Hakodate - definitely a must go. Best to do it in the late afternoon (3pm - remember that the sun sets around 4+) and stay until the sun sets. The view before and after is amazing.
2. Motomachi - the churches around the area are nice. It's also a short walk from the Mt Hakodate Ropeway station. This is where I took my best evening shorts with light falling snow...
3. The Christmas Tree at the Warehouse District - It's worth an evening stroll, for dinner and shopping, and then desserts...
4. Lucky pierrot - It's a special burger shop just near the warehouse district. check out this blog http://kimi-tourguide.blogspot.sg/2014/01/lucky-pierrot-hamburger-shop-hakodate.html/url%5D%0A5.%20Fish%20Market%20%28near%20the%20JR%20Train%20Station%29%20-%20You%20can%20catch%20a%20Live%20Squid%20and%20they%20will%20serve%20it%20fresh%20to%20you%20%28all%20squirming%29.%20Best%20thing%20my%20kids%20remembered%20during%20our%20stay.%0A%0A%5Bb%5DFor%20Trains%5B/b%5D,%20best%20to%20go%20to%20%5Burl%5Dhttp://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/ttable/
Blueline from Airport.
To Niseko - take the greenish line and then transfer to the orange line
We didn't take the trains much in Hokkaido, except from Chitose to Sapporo; that required dragging 4 large suitcases to the Domestic Terminal (back then it was all underground, not like today), then figuring which trains to take, then boarding (there's always some space for luggage - unlike our MRT trains). Getting out of Sapporo station to our hotel took a little figuring out, but we eventually got to our Hotel with 2 taxis (5 pax, lots of bags... best to split up).
As for Driving.
That was actually my first time driving for more than a few hours in the snow (I drove 700km+ in total).
I actually made a Video about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTjhYI1ARu0
You can rest assured that almost all rental cars in Hokkaido are 4WD - except the hybrids. And as long as you keep to a decent speed, no sudden acceleration, braking or turning, the winter tyres bite sufficiently so that you only drift a little during turns. Best of all, Hokkaido drivers are very patient - no horning, noone purposely overtakes/cuts people off. And the roads are quite empty (outside of Sapporo)
Within a few hours of driving (from Otaru to Hakodate), I was pushing 80-90 on some stretches..... but I do have 20 years of driving experience, and I tend to push the limits whenever it rains.... so drifting, sliding is quite usual for me....
So far we've had 3 winter trips to Niseko and I drove the last 2 times. Winter Snow driving just needs more anticipation and planning.
And read the guides from the Japan Tourism Office / Car Rental. They know most tourists would need help.
Hope this helps
Very helpful information, appreciate much. Since you had been to Niseko winter 3x...I assume you are there for skiing too? Out of the 4 ski areas, which will you recommend? Grand Hirafu or Niseko village? Can share your experience in accomodation, ski experience, ski rental, ski school etc...there are quite a few when check on the websites.
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