Hi guys,

I need some advice here.
I applied my visa yesterday and supposed to collect tomorrow. Today I had to resubmit another letter of employment due to different than what was required. It's my first time applying for tourist visa for Japan and I was wondering the following issues:-
1. If visa refused, how long only can apply again?
2. If they do not call you, does it mean that it is ok?
3. What's the lowest amount of money in your acc to have been approved for visa?
4. What are actually the chances of a Malaysian being denied visa?
5. Re-submission of letter will extend collection date although is "chopped" there the collection date?
6. How would you know if visa denied? Will they call?

Thanks.

I've got another question here:-

Shinkansen from Saitama to Osaka.

Any advice on this?
Is there anywhere in Malaysia I get reserve / buy the tickets
to avoid not getting any seats? Is it always packed?

Thanks.

Ah, soka ..so means that, from Saitama -> Tokyo -> Shinkansen -> Osaka?
Well, I was worried that the Shinkansen maybe packed and we may not be able
to reach Osaka on the planned date, but well, maybe just hope it will be a smooth transfer.

Thanks for suggesting Hyperdia, but I'm a little confused,
Is there any particular way to differentiate between rapid / local trains at the train station?
Oh by the way, how often would you see station names in english? I cant read chinese either

Thanks.

Are you arriving at Haneda?
Have you tried Haneda First Cabin?
Im not sure how is it but looks quite ok to me. Is about RM250+ per night.
First Cabin Website

I think it won't be considered impolite but I don't see any reason to do so.
As stimix said, there're cheap foods in Japan. You've to be aware of some etiquette though.

Oh by the way, any Muslim here having experience of eating halal in Japan?
I'm not a Muslim but 3 person following me is, so need to find somewhere for their meals.

Um...any other things i need to observe when I'm there?
So far, it seems like:-
1. No eating while walking
2. Clear own stuff after eating. (Clear to where?)

Anything else? Anything about food with bones / cores?
Proper placements of utensils? Is Itadakimasu really necessary?

I wonder if this is a bad idea?

http://first-cabin.jp/en/cabins/

No worries about transport etc. at all at any days.
It's right there in the terminal.

Hi guys,

I really need advice on this. I tried using the search function
but nothing turned out to be useful and doesn't answer my
questions so far.

I'm going Japan next week and it seems that phone rentals / prepaid sims
are too expensive with almost 40k yen charged deposit. (14k = RM500+, 40k = RM1k++)
I can't really afford that for my budget travel.

So, I was just wondering, if I get a prepaid card here,
will it still work in Japan since it's 3g network?
Which network has the best rates for roaming?

And how is it charged? 2g? 3g?

I'm using Galaxy Note by the way.
Will it work in Japan?

I need to make some local voice calls
and send international sms only.
Data plan not necessary.

Thanks.

Which network are you using?
What is the charges?
Does it matter if I did not apply 3g here, will it still work?

Hmm...sounds ok.
I'll just buy another prepaid from here.
Don't want to use my current number there,
in case unknown persons call up and the roaming
charges will be

Thanks.

You can check your phone capabilities at www.gsmarena.com.
As long as your phone, under the network 3g -> having 2100, you should be fine.
For your info:- Japan Coverage
As you can see, there's not GSM network but only 3g.

This post has been edited by Ultimaweapon: Sep 18 2012, 04:39 PM

Hey guys,

I just had to ask this out of curiosity.
With the dispute between China and Japan now, I wonder what is the chances of the
Japanese Kastam, denying the "Permission to Land" on the basis that you're Chinese
from Malaysia although having zero relations / ties with Mainland China or zero support for China?

It would definitely be shame to have obtained the visa
but yet denied entry into the country

Coincidentally, I'm going to Japan this Sunday.

This post has been edited by Ultimaweapon: Sep 19 2012, 08:58 AM

Nope. He arrived "from Tokyo" not "at Tokyo",
unless the fish market you mean is the pasar pagi

Will be flying this afternoon. Excited now to go Japan.

I just came back from Japan last Friday, and learning some Japanese words "might" help but,
Once they full force with the Japanese language, you'll be shocked at how much you actually know.
Sometimes they aren't much help with your limited vocabulary.

I think as a traveler, the main concerns are the hotel and asking for directions.
And also for the transport. As for hotels, the ones I encountered mostly speak
minimal understandable English so it's fine.

It's not necessarily to learn all but here are some of the
phrases that I find most helpful when I was there:-

Summimasen (Excuse me)
Ikura des ka? (How much is it?)
Sore wa (That)
Kore wa (This)
_____ doko des ka? (Where is _____?)
Watashi wa ______ eki no ikitai des (I want to go to _____ station) < Taxi
Kono ni doko des ka?
______ tsen wa doko des ka? (Where is the _____ line?) < Trains / Subway
______ ga arimasu ka? (Do you have _______?) < Shopping

And last but not least
Arigatou Gozaimasu! < Every other conversation.

Hope this helps.

This post has been edited by Ultimaweapon: Sep 30 2012, 11:59 PM

Radiation Levels in Japan - Link
Radiation Levels in Kuala Lumpur - Link

Radiation levels in KL are even higher but I don't see anyone panicking about it?
Radiation is everywhere, but unless you're visiting Fukushima area, I wouldn't worry about it.

Oh come on, at least go jalan-jalan there for one day also better than burn.
Are you arriving at Haneda Airport? If you are, I know First Cabin speaks English.

If you're arriving at Kansai Airport, go Sunny Stone Hotel.
Kansai Airport > Namba,
Namba > Midosuji Line > Nishinakajimaminamikata
Walk towards Family Mart Direction.
Hotel is at corner after T-section
after the 2nd Family Mart.
Sunny Stone Hotel staff speaks English and is helpful.

Find all you need at - www.booking.com
Booked many times with it, no fraud!

Don't worry about the subway / railway. It's super easy.
Plenty of English signs available. Even trains have
station name announcements in English.

Tickets, just pay and press how much is it depending on destinations.
Train stations have big maps on top of the ticket machines.
If you can read English, that's all you need!

With a map, just ask:-
Koko ni, doko des ka? (Where is this?)
Summimasen, watashi wa Sunny Stone Hoteru no ikitai desu.
(I want to go to Sunny Stone Hotel.)

Just go and explore, don't waste it!
Japan is single-traveler friendly!

I suggest you focus on stay places only now.
The rest don't care first. Can plan slowly later.
You book with booking.com, show them the email
and they will understand.

With so many sifus on this thread. What you not sure, just ask,
everyone will try their best to answer your questions and eliminate your doubts.

This post has been edited by Ultimaweapon: Oct 12 2012, 05:02 PM

Sure no problem. I brought a couple of
those to Japan 2-3 weeks back in my luggage.
But I don't see the point putting it in your hand carry though.
You're not gonna eat it on the plane are you?

In your case, to me, the Umeda sky garden is quite redundant then.
I've been there 2 weeks ago and nothing spectacular compared to rest.
You have to pay to go up anyway, its about RM27 (700 yen).
Maybe 1-2 photo shots and then that's all to see.
My opinion that its better that your time and money is spent elsewhere instead.

---

Added on October 15, 2012, 1:35 pmYeah. As Ah Wang mentioned, its really up to you.
For some old people, 25c is already very cold which I don't think
you're that old? It should just be minimally cooling, not cold until it send shivers.

Wearing a t-shirt is sufficient for me. It feels like Genting the whole day.
Do bring just a jacket, just in case it gets colder than expectations.

This post has been edited by Ultimaweapon: Oct 15 2012, 01:35 PM

Which hotel in Osaka are you staying?
I thought the common check-in time is around 3pm?
By the time you settle-in, rest and transport, you would reach
Osaka-Castle around 4pm.
By 6pm, its already quite dark (like Malaysia 7.30pm)
due to the autumn season and nothing much else to see at Osaka Castle at 6pm in the dark.
Osaka Castle Musuem entrance closes at 5.30pm by the way, see if you can rush there in time.
It is a long walk from the station to the Castle, ~ 1 hours?
So, by 6.30pm, Shinsaibashi will look like a high-class pasar malam.

Just a friendly tip so that you won't make the same mistake I did.

Take the train to Temmabashi to reach Osaka Castle, don't look at the maps provided and think
the nearest trains stations are what you thought they are.
Nearly lost when going there, stopped at Umeda as it looks and near,
and due to the locals or me not understanding each other's language
even with a map as the map is in English.

This post has been edited by Ultimaweapon: Oct 15 2012, 04:17 PM

If I remember correctly, yes they do allow for early check-in, but cant confirm.
If not, since you're staying near Shinsaibashi station, suggest that you leave
your bags at the hotel to decrease burden and walk around before the check-in time.

Leaving at 2pm from the hotel should be no problem.
You'll arrive at the Osaka Castle Museum with plenty of time to spare.