Version 1: https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/545818

Japan Travel Info- Updated by moderators:

1. Transportations

- Japan Rail Network, maps & fare: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2019.html
- Train Schedule: http://world.jorudan.co.jp/norikae/cgi-bin...in.cgi#L_Kekka3
- Cheap 5 days unlimited ride via "Seishun Juhaici kippu" ticket (But no Express/Bullet train) http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2362.html
- JR Pass for those want to go major cities cheaply using Sinkansen http://www.japan-rail-pass.com/train-japon/?ap=j0095g
- Haneda Limousine Bus (Keihin Kyuko) for those reaching late night @Haneda - http://hnd-bus.com/route/nightmorningbus.html
- How to get to Tokyo after midnight:
http://jprail.com/travel-informations/how-...town-tokyo.html (Others pls google)


2.Learn Simple Japanese:
http://japanese-phrases.sakura.ne.jp/

3. General Sighseeing & Attractions:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e623a.html

-Tokyo Disneyland ticket price: http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/en/ticket/index.html

4. Hotel Booking Websites (Please compare 1st)

http://www.agoda.com/asia/japan/tokyo.html
http://www.asiarooms.com/en/japan/tokyo.html
http://ms.hotels.com/?dateless=true (Probably the cheapest to Japan?)
http://www.booking.com/index.html?aid=3096...CFUd66wodUklQNQ

VISA application:
http://www.my.emb-japan.go.jp/English/visit.html
5. More great info compiled from this thread:

- Nikk0 2 days pass from Asakusa Stn - Railway - Bus & entrance available here: http://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/pass/w_heritage_pass.html

To Hakone (Best view of Mt Fuji)
Buy the free pass from Odakyu line @ Shinjuku stn - counter inside Odakyu Mall http://www.odakyu.jp/english/freepass/

More tips
https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=51856595

6. Budget Cheap Food Guide



7. Easy to find halal or pork free food in Japan?

This post has been edited by stimix: Jan 8 2013, 03:09 PM

wow, come to V2 ^^

keep it on n share out more exp n info regarding japan.

Yes! plan to go Japan visit my friends next year,

hope can book a cheaper AA ticker

In tokyo now..
Have a lot of fun here..
Hihihi..

May I ask should I get air ticket first then only apply for visa or apply visa first then only get air ticket? I am not employ at the moment...

Support Japan, but hope ex rate don ever go up beyond 0.4 else going to suffer

You could do either way.

If you are not employed, then make sure that you have sufficient amount of $ in your a/c. If you are still in college/uni, do get them to issue a letter telling them that you are currently pursuing a course with them.

Not sure of your chances of getting the visa if you are unemployed and not even currently studying.

Ooo.....Already V2

Yeah!!!! v2 v2 ^^,

was wondering...what is the cheapest and easiest way to travel in tokyo? plan to find hotel near the tokyo station...but wanted to go Akihabara or shinjuku from the tokyo station...use monorail would be nice?

being slowpoke at cleaning up my pics.. but hey..


at Dotonbori Bridge by e-jump, on Flickr

just use the subway. tokyo subway coverage very broad, anywhere also can go.

IMO, JR is the cheapest but then again doesn't cover ALL places.

Any places not reachable by JR, do take the Subway. Price difference isn't much but if you add up, will be quite alot if you take alot of train.

Monorail will bring you to Airport only......All the placed you mention can be done by Yamanote Line

hmm subway...how does this go?
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-monorail/index.html

is it from the airport to hamamatsucho station only? wont be going around tokyo?

This post has been edited by intothefantasy: Jul 11 2012, 11:16 PM

There are 13++ for subway. Just will be troublesome. If you compare to KL then you need time adapt. I just lost my self 3times whenever u lost your way u will waste $$$ from your suica...... But dont worry they have english subtitle just go accordingly will do.

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Added on July 12, 2012, 12:45 amGot anyone climb mount fuji before to share the experince, i am climbing tomorrow....need some last minute guide


This post has been edited by phanisher14: Jul 12 2012, 12:45 AM

Would like to introduce this small area with old shop-lots converted to commercial purposes in Osaka, near Umeda Station. The exact location is at Nakazakisho Area and the building there are with lot's of character.







And this is the cafe that we loved. We had nice coffee and curry, even had a light chat with the owner, which is a young Japanese lady.


Worth detour for a 30 minutes and the experience is excellent, if you love retro and vintage.

We have covered this area with a simple write up, head to our blog. In Chinese though.

hi all,

come to share your experience whether shinjuku or ueno for hotel stay?
how is the nightlife in ueno? or have to take train to akihabara for nightlife?

thx thx

Next year Sakura trip!

Planning for 13-20 April (8d7n should be "ok" kua for honeymoon). Thinking to fly into Osaka then do Osaka --> Kyoto --> Tokyo & fly back from there hmmmmmmm ...

Now AA have domestic flight, should be ok!

Japan AA price are join venture with ANA...price are high also.....Japan air ticket got rulez and regulation control the price...you cannot go under 10,000 Yen

i dun think so.

random try somemore.

plus fuel and tax ...10,000 already

I have some friends there and I plan to go there in the near future. This post is useful for me. I can not wait to flying Japan to enjoy the hot spring.

Hello. Can you all help me with my itinerary trip to Japan. Feel free to adjust some of them.

i randomly try also less then 10k.


Attached thumbnail(s)

why don't you fly directly in to Tokyo?

if im not wrong, sakura bloom shld b in early april , this year was around first week of april in tokyo . ( in osaka will b a week or 2 earlier ) and they wilt pretty fast . jz from my experience

Unfortunately, the ticket that we bought is from Air Asia during the promotion. The trip to Narita Airport by Air Asia is not not confirm as they depart from KLIA at midnight.

Edit: The promotion for the from KLIA to Kansia Airport is at RM139 one way trip and the same back to KLIA.

This post has been edited by Cho_Hakkai: Jul 17 2012, 08:53 PM

lol..our travel period is the same..damn how u get RM139?! thats bloody cheap.. RM139 inclusive of everything? tax fuel?

We get it around 15 February 2012 where Air Asia X have a special promotion of either going to Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and other countries which I forgot with the price of RM139 exclude the taxes and surcharges. The waiting time is also super long as have to wait for at least 30 mins to 1 hour for the tickets.

I sure if you check the previous thread such as V1 or LYN Japan thread, you can see about the discussion.

Air Asia thread. Page 21 onwards.

http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/2105083/+400

When the promo start, it is RM117 one way ticket. By the time we get the ticket it is RM139.

After include tax and surcharge, it is around RM400 per person.

anybody can share some itinerary sample as my references?
im going to jap for 10d8n during nov-dec. to and flo from osaka, im thinking my travel from osaka heading to tokyo, then return to osaka due to AA cheap tickets. I know it's a bit troublesome.
I tried to asked from agency, they quote me 8k. that is over my budget. as i know from some guys, 4k-5k can settle d.

my view is that if u are flying to KIX, might as well spend more time in the Kansai area instead of travel to Tokyo.

for me Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, etc are much more interesting than Tokyo.

just wondering, anyone have any info on prepaid phone in Japan, specifically in Hokkaido?

Going there next month, just wondering is it advisable to get a line with data? Like trips to Thailand or Taiwan, the line is affordable to call back home

Cheers

Can rent phone together with plan....at New Chitose Airport. Rates should be around 3000 yen per day.

ah i see..around RM400+-..same here..i book during April AAX promotion..if looking juz the ticket price along is consider cheap d.
i see the same pattern for 2 continuous years..AAX promo appears around feb-april.. before AAX is AA promo.

3000 yen per day.... so freaking expensive......

guess i cant make any calls in japan....

Using smartphone?

download those whatapp...skype...something like those stuff...

most of Japan hotel lobby got free wifi. Then you can call back to Malaysia. Worry about lag? Japan broadband speed are 38mps average....our Unifi avg just 20mps only

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Jul 19 2012, 09:55 AM

understand about the wifi, just that during travelling in group, we hardly in hotels, only at night.

should i need to make some work related calls is gonna cost me a bom

claim from company lor

Tonight midnight AA Japan got sales for domestic flight

my company dont allow claim calls, anyway, thanks for the help, just have to make/manage with sms back home (RM1) per sms if i am not mistaken

LOL wth , i jz bought for 18k yen single trip =="

18k yen is fuh...japan own airline?

18K standard price for ANA / JAL

Hi, just to confirm, do we need visa if only transiting at Japan? Specifically just for 2 hours 20 minutes @ NRT. Does it matter whether the connecting flight is on the same plane or different plane? If only 45 minutes layover (same plane for connecting flight), would it be enough?

Thanks.

This post has been edited by Crazy.SoT.Gila: Jul 23 2012, 11:21 AM

inter transfer at Japan no need Visa....because you are not leaving the International lounge....you didn't need pass through Japan custom.

You need Visa if you want go out from Airport

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Jul 23 2012, 12:10 PM

Air Asia Japan at New Chitose Airport

Awesome, thank you!

I took my GF to Japan in February this year. Airfare + Hotel + Transport + Food (RM80 per person per day), 8N9D.

Combined bill for the 2 of us was ~RM6800. And we were staying at decent hotels.

Went to Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Mt.Koya.

I went to Osaka & Kyoto in February this year. Flight ticket + hotel + transport + food + souvenier etc all in RM9k for 2person. 10D,9N and were staying 4star hotel

Thank for the sharing..
wow.. is that cheap? i heard each person spending around 5k. any nice hotel recommend?
Im planning osaka, nara, kyoto, xxx, tokyo. 10d 8n.

Fiona, with 4 star hotel spending only 4.5k? might to share more detail?

I am staying at "Kyoto Royal Hotel & Spa" for 6days. The hotel is very big compare to Osaka hotel.

I just came back from a 8D7N tokyo-kyoto trip earlier this month, with roughly around 2-3k budget, still can manage to spare roughly 10-15k yen for survenir and stuff,
if you're staying at kyoto on a budget i'll recommend this place, Nagomi ryokan
that's where i stay, room was roughly around 8k yen per night and the staff there was like super friendly, they're basically my local guide when i'm there

Thursday, March 14, 2013 14.40 ~ 22.30 overnight at Toyoko Inn Tokyo Haneda Kuko No.2
nex+monorail
Friday, March 15, 2013 akasuka, ueno garden, shinjuku, overnight at toyoko inn akiba
Saturday, March 16, 2013 tsukiji, daiba-megaweb, sony explora science，
Sunday, March 17, 2013 hakone, overnight
Monday, March 18, 2013 hakone, meiji jingu, shibuya
Tuesday, March 19, 2013 palace, roppinji, ginza
Wednesday, March 20, 2013 disney sea
Thursday, March 21, 2013 free, flight at night

can some one help me to look at this and comment?

i'm bringing husband, two kids (7 n 5) and mum going seld travel, mainly concentrate in tokyo only.

any reason for choosing disney sea instead of disney land?

are u member of toyoko inn club?

This post has been edited by afiqasbar: Jul 29 2012, 02:28 PM

Disney sea only found in tokyo... i been to disney land at los angeles... so choose disney sea lo

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Added on July 29, 2012, 2:35 pmNo.. y?

This post has been edited by blurprincess: Jul 29 2012, 02:35 PM

LOL, I stayed at this hotel also in Kyoto. Only RM200 a night.

the same management operates another hostel nearby too : http://www.ikoi-no-ie.com/

stayed there last month n quite like it, good for those who wan to experience the traditional jap style tatami room.

anyway for me thats not quite budget... Kyoto Tower Hotel which is right infront of Kyoto Station cost me less, n it come with free entry to Kyoto Tower

i'm gonna be in Tokyo next year mid of February for about 6 days. tentatively, these are the places i've got in mind:

1) Disneyland / Disneysea
2) Akihabara
3) Mt Fuji (one day tour)
4) Tokyo Sky Tree
5) Yoyogi Park
6) Meiji Shrine
7) Tsukiji Fish Market
8) Tokyo Mid Town
9) Roppongi Hills

any other must-go places? we'll only be in Tokyo throughout the days. other than Mt Fuji, which we intend to join a day tour, instead any suggestion on this?

if i'm to look for Gundam toys, where else would be better than Akihabara? is there a place for Snoopy, too? and One Piece? or probably i'm able to look for all these in Akihabara itself?

we'll be staying in ryokan, most probably, in Tokyo. any other suggestion asides from Tokyo Heritage Hotel, Sawanoya Ryokan, Shinokubo Sekitei, and Kimi Ryokan?

anyone has any experience sleeping/camping at the Haneda airport?

thanks a lot for the time!

This post has been edited by domo_kun: Jul 30 2012, 01:45 PM

infos on reld lights!!hihi

Look like i miss quite some fun over here.

sifus,the real size gundam and thousand sunny still have at odaiba? easy to find the place? afraid getting lost..haha

Yes

nice! thnks! btw,can i just use credit card there? or i need to go to the bank and ask them to setting for japan travel? coz my mom ordered a lot of things and she give her credit card to use..

how much is kyoto tower hotel?
well to be fair, i was talking reasonable budget for 2 person because of the room they offered was kindda huge compared to the usual 2 person room

where do you plan to go for the fuji view? hakone's abit risky i would say, during the day i was there the weather was cloudy so i cant see it during the day i was there.
About skytree, you'll need to book your entrance ticket ealier, i didnt manage to go in because the ticket was sold out for the whole week i was there!

Be warned if you plan to stay in Sawanoya Ryokan; it's almost 40 minutes walk from JR Ueno station. Nothing against Sawa-san though, they provide excellent hospitality.

i got the following quote, is it reasonable?

Day 01

Arrival Kansai Airport, Osaka. Meet by local tour guide and transfer to down town hotel for free time. Nearby hotel have a lot shops and restaurants.

Day 02 (B /-/D)

After breakfast at hotel,drive to Universal Studio for whole day.

Day 03 Osaka Aquarium/Osaka Castle/Shinsaibashi Shopping Mall (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel, drive to Osaka castle have a good look,one of the three famous castle in Japan. Then to one of the biggest Aquarium in the world. Late evening to Shinsaibashi shopping mall for shoppin, one of the two famous mall in Osaka, the other one is Sanban Street Uemeda area.Dinner at local restaurant.

Day 04 Kyoto/Osaka (B/L/D)

Take breakfast at hotel, drive to Kyoto city for sightseeing-K iyomizu Temple, one of the famous wooden constructed temple at the mountain side, you can see the whole view of Kyoto city, then to Heian Shrine ,have a good look of Japanese textile, traditional kimono show at Nishijin Textile Kaikan Hall. Afterward to Gion Street for more understanding about the old time of Kyoto, the Heian dynasty construction building. T hen back to Osaka for dinner and hotel for rest.

Day 05 Kobe/Nara/Osaka (B/L/D)

After breakfast at hotel, drive to Nara city to view the beautiful and great Buddha-the bronze solid metal statue, which over 500 tons weight and good fun with the holy deer at the deer park as well. After lunch drive to Kobe city have a good look of Japan China Town, Waterfront town at Harbourland shopping mall. Dinner at local restaurant. Back to hotel Osaka for rest.

Day 06 Kansai/Kul ( B/-/- )

Breakfast at hotel, free time at hotel or shopping nearby hotel and transfer to Kansai Airport, have a pleasant flight back home.

Accommodation:B est Western Joyful Hotel Osaka or Similar

Fare( based on twin sharing):

Adult: RM3380

Incl. Air tickets and all attractions entry fees (if there is any)?

If yes, quite cheap. But it could be cheaper with free and easy and if you are willing to do research as train tickets wouldn't be expensive since you will be in kansai region itself.

excluding air tickets. i already bought tickets myself at RM860 per person. The quote includes the entry fees. kinda scared to be free and easy cuz only got 5 days and i dont speak the language...

OIC, then the package is quite expensive.

There's nothing to be afraid of.

I'm a solo female traveller to many countries which don't speak the languages that I know, like Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy & etc. Nothing to be afraid of. Just go with the flow.

Tour agents usually always bring you to touristy places, bring you shop at touristy places (which is very expensive), bring you to eat at touristy restaurants (which aren't authentic at all most of the time)..... but this is just what my thoughts are!

so, how it went out for you Japan, then? Tokyo?

Of course my trips to Japan were good. I'm going to Osaka in Oct.

Went to Tokyo twice.

13k for 2 nights, semi double room which is actually quite ok n more spacious than i expected. factor in the 2 kyoto tower ticket that worth 700 each n its location, its quite a good deal.

doesnt look good to me coz sounds like u gonna miss out quite a number of interesting places, i would say juz go free n easy by urself.

i cant speak any japanese but never hav prob going round, its easy especially if u know chinese. get a guidebook n ur all set haha.

it's 7 minutes away from Nezu Station, why would you wanna walk 40 minutes to Ueno Station, instead? how's the Ryokan? it's one of my shortlisted place to stay in Tokyo, though... and it's ranked #1 in Trip Advisor, wow...

can share some of your experiences in Tokyo? hehehe...

by the way, anyone camp at Haneda Airport before? staying overnight, i mean...

This post has been edited by domo_kun: Jul 31 2012, 07:47 PM

May I ask where to find green tea kit kat in Tokyo?? This is urgent.

@Flo_2010: You can get them at Haneda airport.



One thing I can say about One Piece, they are EVERYWHERE. Every freakin place on every freakin thing. Nothing against that, I even bought some OP souvenirs haha. Gundam can also be found in Toys R Us there. Snoopy, not sure but you can try Kiddy Land at Harajuku.

I stayed overnight at Haneda, it's okay quite a number of people do that too. The seats are pretty comfy actually, and it's quiet. There are some patrol guards walking around, quite safe. I don't think they have incoming passengers after midnight. It'll start to get a bit busy after 4am, since the first train is around 5.

How about Narita airport? Any specific store that I should lookout if its Haneda/Narita? Bcoz I'm trying not to make my friend purposely go to Haneda just for it.
What time shop close?

This post has been edited by Flo_2010: Jul 31 2012, 09:01 PM

first bite, i felt like vomiting... second bite, hmm, not bad... third bite, where can i get more?!

thanks for the tip, it'll come in handy... it's quite a bad timing to touchdown between ten thirty and eleven, and it would be quite inconvenient to look for the hotel/ryokan after that. so, we might as well save some cost and camp in the airport, instead. and start to make our move in the morning...

haha.. yeah, i heard a lot of nice comment.. trying to get my friend get as many flavour as he can..

This post has been edited by Flo_2010: Jul 31 2012, 09:20 PM

when is your trip?

@Flo_2010: I dunno eh, I tried really hard to find the KitKat at shinjuku and town areas... couldn't find at all! The night I depart at Haneda only I managed to find it in Hello Kitty shop, inside the departure hall also got souvenir shops selling. wtf

I bought like 6 flavours there!


@domo_kun: Yeah that was my plan too, camp there and take first train to Tsukiji (leave luggage at hotel first). But you'll only be able to take 4-5 hours sleep la coz it gets noisy at dawn.

weird...
i thought you can get em almost everywhere easily? come upon it quite frequently in convenient store when i'm there.

Nope, the limited edition are somewhat a specialty for tourist n not easy to find in public even at candy store
Theres like over 20 flavors n i only able to find like half of it over my 3 trips

there is an airport tax free shop branch in AquaCity, Odaiba. thats the only place i found those special kitkat in city area.

nice kitkat?

must prepare more space for chocolate....

Credit Card are world wide

Tokyo Station....got a shop selling choc.....got alot kind of Kit kat....

Got alot nice Kitkat but is limited Edition....no more in selling.

If you lucky enough can find Almond Kit kat.....the most nice

most weird are Wasabi Kit Kat

Agree. Need to do homework and research in order to save money and enjoy the trip more