Travel: Japan - General

[dimitri_can]

Just post my trip 33’s itinerary for those thinking of how much you need to spend for a trip in Japan. Total damage including shopping: eta $1.1k

======================================
31st July: Osaka
1st Aug: Tokushima
2nd Aug: Tokushima
3rd Aug: Kagawa
4th Aug: Kagawa
5th Aug: Kurashiki (Okayama)->Osaka
6th Aug: Osaka ->Singapore

Osaka->Tokushima: By bus (3200 yen)
Tokushima->Kagawa: By train (1600 yen)
Kagawa->Kurashiki: By train (1940 yen)
Kurashiki->Kakogawa: By train (4570 yen)
Kakogawa->Osaka: By train (1490 yen)

Total: 12800 yen (Transport) : $159
=================================
Hotels:

Day 1(Osaka) : 3100 yen
Day 2(Tokushima): 3847.5 yen
Day 3(Tokushima): 3847.5 yen
Day 4(Kagawa): 3550 yen
Day 5(Kagawa): 3550 yen
Day 6(Osaka): 3400 yen

Total: 21295 yen (Hotel): $265.50
========================
Total for Hotel & Transport (eta): $424.50
Each day (eta): $70.75

total damage with airfare: $788.50

[dimitri_can]

smurfy:

nov 24th (Fri) touch down around 5pm at Tokyo (stay @ shinjuku)
nov 25th (Sat) Shinjuku, Harajuku, Meiji Shrine area (stay @ shinjuku)
nov 26th (sun) Studio Ghibi, Asakusa, sunshine city, Ikebukero's Pokemon Center, (stay @ shinjuku)
nov 27th - 31st (mon - thurs) Disneyland and disneysea (stay at Hilton/sheraton)
dec 1 (fri) - Day trip @ Odaiba area covering National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Mega Web Toyota, Odaiba Ferris Wheel (continue stay at Hilton/sheraton),
dec 2 (sat) -Hakone (stay at hakone, but send main luggages to USJ area hotels)
dec 3 (sun) - Hakone / himeii temple, (or whatever's on the way)..ends day at Osaka and check in USJ area hotel (stay at USJ area hotels)
dec 4 (Mon) - Day trip Kyoto, covering Arashiyama, autumn leaves, bamboo groves.(stay at USJ area hotels)
dec 5 - (tues) - Day Trip Nara .(stay at USJ area hotels)
dec 6 - 7 (wed - thurs) - USJ .(stay at USJ area hotels)
dec 8 (Fri) - cup noodles museum, last min shopping at Osaka .(stay at USJ area hotels)
dec 9 (Sat) - 11am flight back

Got a few to comment.

Nov 26th (sun) Studio Ghibi, Asakusa, sunshine city, Ikebukero's Pokemon Center, (stay @ shinjuku)
See Map: https://goo.gl/2p2dgA

My recommendation is for you to drop Asakusa for this day.

For Kyoto, i personally think if you are bringing young kids there, they might not like too many temples, so 1 day might just be enough. You have to gauge properly.

If you are doing an open-jaw (come in from Tokyo/exit from Osaka), then you dont need to buy JR pass. Just buy single trip ticket will do.

Your itinerary doesn't seem to be v fixed now. May need some adjustments. May i suggest the following?

Nov 24th (Fri) : Tokyo / Shinjuku
Nov 25th (Sat): Studio Ghibli/Mitaka, Ikebukuro (Pokemon Center/Sunshine City)
Nov 26th (Sun): Tokyo/ Shinjuku, Harajuku, Meiji Shrine (will see cosplay on Sun)
Nov 27-31st (Mon - thurs) Maihama/ Disneyland and Disneysea
Dec 1st (Fri) - Tokyo/Odaiba
Dec 2nd(sat) -Hakone
Dec 3 (sun) - Hakone / himeii temple ->Do you mean Himeji castle? https://goo.gl/brfxt1
Dec 4 (Mon) - Kyoto (Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizudera, Gion)
Dec 5 - (Tues) - Nara
Dec 6 - 7 (wed - thurs) - Osaka/USJ
Dec 8 (Fri) - Osaka/Cup noodles museum, last min shopping at Namba/Umeda
Dec 9 (Sat) - 11am flight back

[dimitri_can]

Dear all,


To help fellow Japan travelers, below is a very detailed guide on how to plan for your Japan trip/important information on where u can seek help (with pictures).


Step 1: Planning
Timings might not be accurate anymore. Pls check more details via the airline websites

1.1: Check available airline timings

Tokyo Narita flights
http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/5354/narita.png\">
======================================================
Tokyo Haneda flights

To Haneda: ANA NH152: Night 10:00pm departure, reach Haneda 6:00am
Back to SG from Haneda: ANA NH151: 11:30pm departure, reach SG 6:20am

To Haneda: JAL JL36: Night 10:00pm departure, reach Haneda 5:40am
Back to SG from Haneda: JAL NH151: 11:40pm departure, reach SG 6:20am

To Haneda: Airasia: Early morning 0745hrs/1030hrs/1140hrs departure, reach Haneda 2230hrs
Back to SG from Haneda: Airasia Night 2345hrs departure, reach SG 0840/0950/1110hrs
======================================================
Osaka flights

To Osaka: SQ SQ618: Early morning 01:30hrs departure, reach Osaka 08:40hrs
To Osaka: SQ SQ616: Afternoon 14:00hrs departure, reach Osaka 21:10hrs
To Osaka: Jetstar: Night 10:40pm departure, reach Osaka 6.10am (direct flight)
To Osaka: Jetstar: Early morning 01:15hrs departure, reach Osaka 10:30am (transit)
To Osaka: Jetstar: Morning 07:10hrs departure, reach Osaka 4:15pm (transit)

To Osaka: Airasia: Night 18:30hrs departure, reach Osaka 08:25am (transit)
To Osaka: Airasia: Night 20:20hrs departure, reach Osaka 08:25am (transit)
To Osaka: Airasia: Night 21:45hrs departure, reach Osaka 08:25am (transit)

Back to SG from Osaka: SQ: Morning 11:00hrs departure, reach SG 17:05hrs
Back to SG from Osaka: Jetstar: Morning 10:30hrs departure, reach SG 16:20hrs (direct flight)
Back to SG from Osaka: Jetstar: Morning 11:30hrs departure, reach SG 19:30hrs (transit)
Back to SG from Osaka: Jetstar: Evening 17:05hrs departure, reach SG 00:55hrs (transit)
Back to SG from Osaka: Jetstar: Evening 17:25hrs departure, reach SG 00:55hrs (transit)

Back to SG from Osaka: Airasia: Morning 11:00hrs departure, reach SG 23:05hrs (transit)
Back to SG from Osaka: Airasia: Morning 11:00hrs departure, reach SG 23:30hrs (transit)
Back to SG from Osaka: Airasia: Morning 11:00hrs departure, reach SG 19:40hrs (transit)
Back to SG from Osaka: Airasia: Morning 11:00hrs departure, reach SG 21:15hrs (transit)
======================================================

1.1.2 Identify needs to take domestic flights: See http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2365.html
Places that need to take domestic flights to: Hokkaido/Naha, Okinawa

1.2 Plan your itinerary. See http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/japan-271/japan-sample-itinerary-thread-2820148.html for some samples
-When you plan your itinerary, put places that are near together (e.g Kyoto/Osaka)

Places to visit: http://www.japan-guide.com

1.3 Planning your Routes to places

-Identify needs to buy any kind of pass when you are there
---http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/travel/index.html
https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/travel-information/#ticketsContent
---http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass
---http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/railpass/rail.html
---http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357_001.html
---http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2362.html
---JR Nation Wide Pass (Note: Can only buy here in SG, take the exchange order received to change for the actual pass. See below on Section: Buy Japan Rail Pass if needed)
---http://willerexpress.com/x/bus/dynamic/3/en/html/pc/buspass/
---http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/kantoareapass/index.html
---More pass info over http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357.html

---http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/

http://www.hyperdia.com/
http://transit.loco.yahoo.co.jp/
http://www.tokyo-subway.net/english/
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2356.html

1.4 Post your Itinerary in HWZ Japan forum to get feedback.

1.5 Amend your Itinerary

1.6. Identify needs to get a data card/WIFI router for data usage/use data roaming bundle by M1/Singtel/Starhub (Remember to call your subscriber activate roaming (^_^) )

1.7. Identify hotels/hostels to stay. Check http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/japan-271/compilation-useful-websites-japan-1054978.html for info.

Good sites to use for booking of hotels
http://travel.rakuten.com
http://www.hotels.com/
http://japanican.com/index.aspx
Good/Reliable Hotel/Hostel chains (not in order)
http://www.superhoteljapan.com/en
http://www.wh-rsv.com/english/index.html
http://www.sunroute.jp/SunrouteTopHLE.html
http://www.hotespa.net/business/en/inquiry/
Hotel Activehttp://www.richmondhotel.jp/en/agreement/index.php
http://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/
http://www.khaosan-tokyo.com/en/ninja/

1.8 Identify needs to get rental phones

Generally, rental phones are not really required, and for the data sim cards, you just need to register at the site to get it activated. If there's a need, u can visit the below sites for more info.

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/essential/telephone.html

1.9 Check radiation level
If you wanna check radiation level in Japan, see http://monitoring.tokyo-eiken.go.jp/en/index.html


___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Step 2: Week before departure

2.1. Changing money (Check https://cashchanger.co/singapore/sgd-to-jpy for rates too,
also check http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/japan-271/how-much-you-will-need-bring-trip-japan-2369267.html on how much to bring)

1. Mustafa (http://www.mustafa.com.sg/forex.asp)
2. Marine Square (Fountain Money Changer)
3. Chinatown (i don't really like the rate there)
4. Bugis-shop beside the UOB ATMs facing the road (rates comparable with Mustafa)
5. The Arcade (Raffles Place)
6. Airport (last option)

2.2. Buy Japan Rail Pass if needed
Where to buy Japan Rail Pass:
https://goo.gl/5ZZsta

Form to change to Japan Rail Pass (IMPORTANT/Print before going): They
no longer give the form on the website anymore. The form is available at the JR Pass exchange counter.

[u]2.3. Learn some basic Japanese
https://goo.gl/hgWajL

If required, borrow a survival Japanese book from me (contact me via pm)

[dimitri_can]

Step 3: Packing for Departure


3.1. Use a checklist: Try using http://www.mediafire.com/download/6f7901l9auxp6dn/Travel.xls as a reference

3.2. Identify if there's a need to bring a small bag along.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Step 4: In Japan

4.1 Exchange for Japan Rail Pass with your Exchange Order
Form to change to Japan Rail Pass (IMPORTANT/Print before going):
NOTE: There's no more form available online already. Have to go there to fill up.

4.2 Japan ez-link cards
Now the below ez-link cards are cross-usable. Suggest to get Suica/ICOCA/Pasmo.
Note that now all these card are generally 通用 already.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_003.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_002.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAPICA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOICA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICOCA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SUGOCA

4.3 Where to seek help
1. The station staff
2. Shop staff
3. The people
4. Koban (Police Station)

4.4 Saving money in Japan
-Buy bento in shops near closing time

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Step 5: Preparing for return back home

Do not buy too much back home. We have forumers in HWZ that
bought a lot, tried to ship back the items, in the end, the parcels
were stuck in Japan because they contained food items
(matcha powder, non-cooked macaroni,etc). Once you go Japan, you will love it and will want to go more.

-Be at the airport 2-3 hours before departure time
-SHOP! (http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/japan-271/what-souveniors-had-u-bought-japan-2353047.html)

[cool_hi]

thanks to dimitri_can,

for all your advice & sharing HELPS a lot, esp for 1st-timer-F&E people
anyone went hiroshima direct from tokyo? 3 hour train, is it too tiring??
or better to go hiroshima from osaka as day trip??

snow monkey park..anyone went in end nov/early dec before??no snow yet right?

thanks!

[dimitri_can]

its 5 hrs train from Tokyo

Check Google Maps

[cool_hi]

dimitri_can:

its 5 hrs train from Tokyo

Check Google Maps

Oops!! Think i blur,probaly the time i checked was for nozomi ballet train:(
Thanks a lot for pointing out,dimitri_can!!

Have to abort going hiroshima direct from tokyo then..haiz! Siao liao!!
Need re-plan again:( coz the apartment we booked in osaka cannot check in 1day earlier..
Thinking of taking this chance to try out ryokan..can anyone recommend a reasonably priced ryokan in kyoto for 2A2C(8+12yr old)?!?
But seems very hard to book?
Thanks in advance!!

[dimitri_can]

what’s ur budget per night?

[cool_hi]

dimitri_can:

what's ur budget per night?

Hm..don't laugh..ard $300?!?
For 2A2C for kyoto ryokan...possible?!?
I saw your 1st recommendation on page 136,
For 2A3C with breakfast was ard $250
But that was 2yr ago la...haha!
Thanks in advance for your kind help+advice:)

Or should we go snow monkey park from tokyo,stay 1 night in shibu onsen..
Then go osaka next day?!?
But late nov not snowing there yet? I prefer go there when snowing..but saw a blog who says went late nov and was snowing..
i am so confused!!! Haha

[dimitri_can]

cool_hi:

dimitri_can:

what's ur budget per night?

Hm..don't laugh..ard $300?!?
For 2A2C for kyoto ryokan...possible?!?
I saw your 1st recommendation on page 136,
For 2A3C with breakfast was ard $250
But that was 2yr ago la...haha!
Thanks in advance for your kind help+advice:)

the recommendation is not mine. is posted by other ppl i think.

The cheapest i found was 35400 yen. May have cheaper ones, but the room wont be so nice...
http://s.jalan.net/2tbY9it

you might need to up your budget a bit...