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 

Here my example letter,my Visa already approved using this..hope it helps
btw,if u mom going with ur father need to put marriage certificate

Embassy of Japan
No 11 Persiaran Stonor
Off Jalan Tun Razak
50450 Kuala Lumpur

To Whom It May Concern

JAPAN TOURIST VISA APPLICATION
This is to certify that I (Name) of Passport No: (passport no) is currently a (Student/Employee of what organization). I will be joining short trip/holidays to Tokyo Japan from (Date of trip)
Accompanying by my friends, all the financial responsibilities and expenses incurred will be self-borne and support as well by my mother.  Attached herewith is my (student/employee) verification letter from (university/company) and latest current account statement.
I appreciate all efforts and courtesies you may extend to me in order to grant me an entry visa to Japan.  Should you need any further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me at (phone number)
Thank you for your time.
Yours Sincerely,

Day 1
Question:

1) How to travel from Nazenji Temple to Kiyomizudera Temple??
There are 2 ways to reach Kiyomizudera, by bus or by foot. You may tune your itinerary from Nanzenji, then walk down to Chion-in Temple, Maruyama Park, Yasaka Shrine, Kodaiji Temple, Ninenzaka & Sennenzaka, Kiyomizudera. You may skip some of the places.
2) From Gion walking distance to Pontocho??
Yes.
3) Kiyomizudera Temple are under construction, so should be ok to go right? Close at 6pm, will I be able to reach according to my plan?
Should be just fine if you start early morning.
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Day 2
Question:

Arashiyama back Kyoto station - From Arashiyama on the subway line to Shijo Omiya Station, then?
Before this, i suggest you visit kinkakuji the first in the morning in order to avoid the crowd.
Why dont you use JR line? Kindly refer below.
http://www.infomapjapan.com/images/map/Kyo...rain-subway.pdf

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Day 4 (15th Oct, Mon)
From Kyoto Station to Namba(Subway) - Take JR Special Rapid Service ( ¥540, 23mins), arrvial @ Shin-Osaka track no.16, take Osaka City Subway Midosuji Line to Namba (¥270, 15mins)
Above all, understand i have a lot of walking to be done on Day 1, for the other 2 days? should I be taking the Kansai Thru Pass? Only can purchase once?
or: Kyoto Sightseeing Card, Surutto Kansai Card, Miyako Card?
I will still be travelling from Osaka area for the next 6days.

IMHO, Kyoto attractions can be reach easily via bus and it's quite frequent. Buy the All-day bus pass instead, besides saving, you can enjoy the scenery in Kyoto and seeing the lifestyle of Kyoto's ppl.
My Kyoto trip is full on Bus & Foot.

kyoto sifu,
wanna ask about route to arashiyama - kinkakuji - kyoto station

my plan is like this.. morning take jr from kyoto to saga arashiyama
then take the sagano scenic train at trokko saga station to trokko kameoka
then from kameoka, back from trokko arashiyama and then explore araishiyama a while

my question is how do i go to kinkakuji from arashiyama,
best is take by bus or buy train?

thanks

thansk for the info

why i didn't choose kinkakuji first is bcos i read few review saying kinkakuji is best to visit during 3-4pm cos that time the sunlight will shine towards the temple n the temple will looks very nice

maybe i should consider ur suggestion as well

u mean go kinkakuji first then only go araishiyama n take trokko train to kameoka then back to saga arashiyama n back to kyoto station?

cool.. ur idea is nice.. can view the evening scene at arashiyama as well then only back to kyoto station

one thing i wanna ask if i depart from torokko arashiyama, issit possible? bcos most ppl will take the train from torokko saga (first station) and the train should be full already am i right, still able hop in at torokko arashiyama until kameoka?

visit kinkakuji for 2 hours? you sure?

i went there and around less than 30 min i already finish touring there lol. unless you stop and do some prayers or eating some snack at some stalls there, at most you will stay there is around 1 hour cause you go there and look at the golden temple and some other scenic view, nothing more.

Of course you can visit some other temples/shrine near kinkakuji like the ryoanji temple.

i not sure will be rush or not
my plan for that particular day in kyoto got only few places
kinkakuji and arashiyama for day
night not sure where to go yet

wanna ask ur oppinion,

is this a good plan?

morning take 8am bus no 50 to kinkakuji, reach at 9 (if take jr to enmachi then take bus 204, used 29 mins not sure which to pick yet)
visit kinkakuji 2 hours
after tat take bus 205 to jr enmachi, from jr enmachi take train to jr umahori
from umahori walk to Torokko Kameoka Station, take the scenenic train to torkko arashiyama and walk pass the bamboo forest to the arashiyama bridge
spend time till evening then back kyoto station by bus/train

i staying hotel wing international shinjuku hotel as highly recommended by few of the mods in lyn tat travel there b4, price is expensive but location is great.. many food and things and around there
i going with 3 other frens
i checked google map, to walk there need around 1.7km.. i guess should be ok
thanks

wanna ask ur advice is the idea of kyoto station-kinkakuji-umahori-torokko Kameoka -arashiyama-kyoto workable?

actually i have 3 days 3 nights in kyoto only, can't aim too much of places

first day is aiming ginkakuji, philosopher's path, kiyomizudera, if got time will go nijo castle, n night dunno do wat yet, maybe gion area as u suggested or Kawaramachi

2nday day aiming kinkakuji and arashiyama, night maybe kiyomizudera again (night session, it's open at night during the day i going)

3rd is tofukuji, fushimi inari, and nara (utilize the jr pass)

not sure workable or nto yet

thanks for the advice

wanna ask, can i cover gion and kawaramachi in a night?
for gion, u have suggestion Gion Shirakawa - Shirakawa canal and Hanami-koji Street
any idea what can do at kawaramachi?

meanwhile do u know how to buy the ticket for torokko train?

thanks

The 30 mins memang you can finish the stuff but the travelling there + waiting for bus/subway may take longer, so have to factor those in as well.

That and the fact that we're not familiar with the routes there will take us extra long to go from one location to another... like sometimes just standing in front of the board trying to figure out which way to go...etc.

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Added on October 8, 2012, 2:28 pm

Kawaramachi lots of things and eateries to see, walk into the alleys for makan places and those souvenir shops, that's where we found our kyoto limited edition gashapons

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.

well i made my ryokan reservation liao. Ryokan Shimizu, 13600yen/night for 2pax (no meals). Can't afford any of the "top top" ryokan's so have to go for this one

wow... for 1 nite?? i din know ryokan is so exp...

13.6k yen/night is considered already almost at the budget level for ryokan, the price levels are amazingly high (I too was surprised). Give you one example http://www.hiiragiya.co.jp/en/info/ ...

Room Rates:
Main Building 32,000 to 90,000 yen
New Wing 38,000 to 60,000 yen
Rates are per person per night, based on double occupancy

but include breakfast and dinner lah
Well, since this is going to be my honeymoon so can't be THAT budget lol. Plus ryokan shimizu is ranked #2 on TripAdvisor so I hope it won't be a disappointment lol.

but bro, is that legal in japan? coz i heard they dont like customer like that and chase you out of the hotel if they found out.

if its like malaysia, book 1 room, squeeze in as many person as possible, then i think i can save alot when i go jap in december

so i guess i will book a room for 2 and when i arrive i will ask for an extra bed
honesty is the policy