Travel: Japan - General

[cool_hi]

Estéema:

Sorry, cool_hi, for late response. Was traveling & read yr msg halfway yday & got distracted. Punish me for trying to multi-tasks!

The JR train will hv sufficient space for 2 large luggage based on my experience. There are 2 rows of 2-seaters & 3-seaters, so enuf for 3-large luggage even. Altho announcements on train says we shld inform staff when we placed luggage, we never did coz too little time to settle & look for staff to inform, but we never misplaced due to any theft, etc. Japan seems pretty safe.

You might want to check if u hv sufficient muscle to carry those big luggages up stairs to platform, altho most times we maneuver into lifts & escalators whenever we spotted one.

Most stations are easy to transfer fr subway to JR (visi-versa) as it's within same underground location - just different gantry. However, some stations I've gotta completely get out and go to next bldg to change. In Japan, they're very orderly & queue to get into train without rushing or pushing. So no worries abt peak hour, not crowded during peak as all hv reserved seatings. With the subways, peak hours are packed (but I realised Spore is more packed as in not just shoulder to shoulder but body touches & we're arms up to guard our bags & upper region. Ha, ha..). Still possible to push large luggage, altho we did only one time on 3rd day of our travel fr Osaka up to Kinosakionsen. Everywhere at stations, u'll see many pushing luggages small & big. Japanese travels for work long distance.

Your travel period is right into Autumn. However this year seems exceptionally cold. We had lots of rain & were told by the locals due to the cyclone storm. We learnt that Uniqlo wear provides both warmth & shield fr rain esp those with hoodies. They are also ultra light! Get the heattech internal wear too! It's also light, thin but keeps u warm fr the elements.

Shld quickly get yr nec jabs. Also prepare probiotics as well as medication for diahorea, etc & take them coz if u're into sushi & sashimi.... I had diahorea but can't trace which food I took. I brot my probiotics & medication, just too busy & tired mind to rmbr regular intake.

Take care & enjoy yr trip!

Hi, Esteema, Thanks so much for your time to share so much details!! esp despite being tied up:)
& helps clear up a lot of doubts!

May I check what kind of jabs do we need? & how many weeks in advance to be effective??
flu jab?? my gal researched and insisted also need jab for hepatitus A???? :?
think we have to take the jabs by this weekend or next Mon/tue..
we are leaving on 24th Nov 11.55pm flight .. :?:

ANyone went Rokko snow park before?? in Kobe thanks for any sharing

[Estéema]

:slapshead: Better get jab today or tmr. Shld be done min 2 weeks ahead of travel. Best is get that Hep A jab tho it's not a 3rd world country & unless u're avoiding all the raw fish & seafood! :drool:


We drip Kobe, hence cannot advise.

Btw, pls keep warm with gloves, socks & scarves/mufflers, unless u're my DH type, always like free air-cond on the streets. I prefer raincoats to umbrella, the former free my hands to handle all the stuff whilst the latter is an encumbrance. I can't handle luggage, backpacks or shopping stuff with gloves & umbrella. We lost a couple when DH & kids left hanging on train hooks & rushed out to disembark.

[cool_hi]

Estéema:

:slapshead: Better get jab today or tmr. Shld be done min 2 weeks ahead of travel. Best is get that Hep A jab tho it's not a 3rd world country & unless u're avoiding all the raw fish & seafood! :drool:


We drip Kobe, hence cannot advise.

Btw, pls keep warm with gloves, socks & scarves/mufflers, unless u're my DH type, always like free air-cond on the streets. I prefer raincoats to umbrella, the former free my hands to handle all the stuff whilst the latter is an encumbrance. I can't handle luggage, backpacks or shopping stuff with gloves & umbrella. We lost a couple when DH & kids left hanging on train hooks & rushed out to disembark.

Hi, Esteema..I laughed at your slaphead icon:) ya really :spank:
been too busy with PSLE, Sa2 exams & it's been peak season for my work la..peng sang!!
think i too geh kiang liao..1st time go long trip for 2-weeks.. so much to read, digest & plan!!
(though started research since June, but only finally understood Osaka transport system last week & realised booked wrong hotel which need transfer subway & very troublesome :slapshead: ...after a few days of searching,almost gave up, BUT
thank GOD I finally found a new & affordable apartment hotel!! i think someone cancelled it & i happened to \"see\" & grab quickly!! Heng ah!! i was smiling over the next few days..haha :celebrate: )

OK we better go for hep A jab by tml...what about flu jab,need??coz not into winter yet?
i haven't check the clinics ard our place :spank:

[Estéema]

cool_hi:

Estéema:

:slapshead: Better get jab today or tmr. Shld be done min 2 weeks ahead of travel. Best is get that Hep A jab tho it's not a 3rd world country & unless u're avoiding all the raw fish & seafood! :drool:


We drip Kobe, hence cannot advise.

Btw, pls keep warm with gloves, socks & scarves/mufflers, unless u're my DH type, always like free air-cond on the streets. I prefer raincoats to umbrella, the former free my hands to handle all the stuff whilst the latter is an encumbrance. I can't handle luggage, backpacks or shopping stuff with gloves & umbrella. We lost a couple when DH & kids left hanging on train hooks & rushed out to disembark.

Hi, Esteema..I laughed at your slaphead icon:) ya really :spank:
been too busy with PSLE, Sa2 exams & it's been peak season for my work la..peng sang!!
think i too geh kiang liao..1st time go long trip for 2-weeks.. so much to read, digest & plan!!
(though started research since June, but only finally understood Osaka transport system last week & realised booked wrong hotel which need transfer subway & very troublesome :slapshead: ...after a few days of searching,almost gave up, BUT
thank GOD I finally found a new & affordable apartment hotel!! i think someone cancelled it & i happened to \"see\" & grab quickly!! Heng ah!! i was smiling over the next few days..haha :celebrate: )

OK we better go for hep A jab by tml...what about flu jab,need??coz not into winter yet?
i haven't check the clinics ard our place :spank:

For me, I didn't bother with flu jab. Let the body system fight & cope and be stronger for it.

Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto or Nagoya are all easy to manage cities. Technically, you won't get lost for long. Which hotel did u book? We enjoyed Hotel Grasmere Monterey in Osaka. It's got a supermkt right below & the limousine bus within 5 min walk. Lots of shops - we bought a whole range of stuff fr massage belt to deco stickers and accessories for kitchen, bathroom & books. We visited the Kuromon mkt almost everyday for meals & bought all my kombo, plums, seaweed, variety of Japanese condiments.

What we did to minimise traveling with big luggages is to parked the big ines with the hotel & go on day trips out to Kyoto, Nagoya, etc. Take yr smaller luggages. We re-pack those items we didn't need & all shopping into the big luggages to be stored at the hotel even when we spent 2 nights at Hakone.

My advice is pick up a local tour booklet or map. They're very good for planning with English. In most maps, one look you'll find all the major tourists attractions. Mark out which direction u choose to start with & cover those within same direction.

We did that for Kyoto & managed to cover major spots within a day - Bamboo Groove/Forest, rafting, 'Romantic Train' Saga-Arashiyama ride, etc. Just be watchful for the timing and do those activities that ends early or connects you to next tour spot timing. We visited the Nijo Castle & Nishiki mkt on the other side.

[cymphere]

Anyone can advise how to purchase asahikawa zoo package online for 13th Jan 3018

[cymphere]

Sorry shld be on 13th Jan 2018

[DJKA]

Hi, Can i check is it possible to left my luggage at tokyo haneda airport? cos i will be flying to sapporo. I thinking put my luggage at haneda airport locker, then when I’m back then go back to collect it.

[Zeit]

DJKA:

Hi, Can i check is it possible to left my luggage at tokyo haneda airport? cos i will be flying to sapporo. I thinking put my luggage at haneda airport locker, then when I'm back then go back to collect it.

Yes, of course, but why won't you bring the stuffs to Sapporo with you? It's usually the case where people store their bulky ski gear in lockers after their Sapporo skiing to travel light for a few days in Tokyo.

Don't you need to buffer more time to go collect your baggage back upon returning from Sapporo and before flying back to Singapore?

There are coin lockers next to the nursing rooms/toilets at both the arrival and departure halls. Those are for less than 7 days. If you need up to 14 days, go to the Temporary Luggage Storage counter which is where the wrapping service counter is located.

[zbear]

Like to find out from those who have recently gone to TYO Disneyland _ do you buy yr tickets online from Klook or directly from Disneyland or from any other sources?


Thanks.

[Estéema]

zbear:

Like to find out from those who have recently gone to TYO Disneyland _ do you buy yr tickets online from Klook or directly from Disneyland or from any other sources?


Thanks.

We bought fr KLOOK & print individual tickets for each pax. Black & white printout is OK. You'll need the printout to scan barcode to get in.