Want to ask , anyone here will always going to harajuku tokyo ?

is it ryokan or minshuku? I'm currently looking a traditional ryokan for us to stay in Kyoto area.. already booked 5 days minshuku, 5 days at friend house, but feeling like having an experience in ryokan, but the Ryokan I've searched is either pretty far and non-convenient or very expensive..

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side question, speaking of ryokan.. I'm still undecided either to stay in Ryokan or an Onsen Resort... Onsen Resort is expensive but if I want to try Onsen once..

oops, sorry didn't read earlier post... wow this is helpful!!! Thanks!

If you wanna try a true onsen experience, head over to Tenzan at Hakone

well it's a ryokan to me not a 100% authentic one of course

http://www.hokousou.com/e/p01.html

Went tenzan when doing the circuit in hakone. Awesome awesome! I vouch for this.

Would be great to stay there at least a night. Very peaceful environment

thanks for the info. was going to bring some maggi but seeing your post stopped me

Happy New Year !!!

Below is my itinerary for 20D&19N.

Jan 2014

13 -Arrive in Narita &heading to Niigata to see my sister (1N)

14 Kanazawa (1N)

15-17 Osaka as base (Kyoto, Kobe, Nara) (3N)

18-19 Hiroshima / Miyajima Island (2N)

20-22-Fukuoka as base (Nagasaki/ Beppu)(3N)

23-24-Hakone (2N)

25-30-Tokyo (6N)

31-Narita (1N)

Feb 2014

1-Depart back to KL


I would appreciate any SIFU advise on:

a)I will be using Osaka as a base to go to Kyoto, Kobe, Nara. I am wondering is it worth to spent 1N/2N in Kyoto?

b)From Hiroshima I plan to go to Miyajima Island. Is it worth going on winter?

c)I will be using Fukuoka as a base in Kyushu Province. Are there any places worth going besides Nagasaki &Beppu. For the record in Fukuoka ,I have been to Fukuoka Tower only.


d)As I will be reaching quite late to Hakone from Fukuoka (4pm ) I will lose out one day in Hakone which is why I am allocating 2 nights in Hakone.

-I am planning to go MT Fuji (worth going on winter?) and what is the distance from Hakone? Do we have to take a bus or train to get there?

-Would anyone be able to recommend any affordable Ryokan with Onsen in Hakone? My budget is around 60/70 USD per night.

-Is the Gotemba Factory Outlet in Hakone worth going as well?

e)As for Tokyo, I would like to mix my accommodation between hotel/hostel with Ryokan. Does anyone experienced /heard that you would like to recommend ?

I hope my personal info below would help to give a better suggestion

-It is NOT my first time to Japan. I have been to Disneyland, Nagoya (Nagoya Castle), Fukuoka (Fukuoka Tower) & Osaka (Osaka Castle/Sakura)but I have not been to Kyoto/Nara/Kobe


-I have purchased the JR Nationwide Rail Pass for 21 days in Kuala Lumpur

-My focus is on Sightseeing/Culture/Food/Heritage/Island and a bit of nightlife

-I will be travelling alone.

Hope to hear from all of you soon!

Thanks!

since you've been to tokyo before i suggest you add more days for kyoto. kobe and nara already take one day each. need at least 4-5 days to really cover kyoto.

Tokyo Disney Sea Part 4

After the hearty breakfast we then continued to explore the park. Claiming the Fast Pass has not been a priority yet so far for us lol (though I really wanted to get my hands on the pass for Tower of Terror). We finally tried our first ride which was the train ride that brought us from the American Waterfront all the way to Port Discovery.


DSC06780 by zstan, on Flickr

The sight of the theme park on higher ground was simply beautiful. We were also very lucky that it did not rain that day although it was forecasted to. The ride took about 10 minutes to reach its destination. From this you could imagine how big is the theme park that the owners think its worthwhile to build a train ride for just one part of the theme park.


DSC06796 by zstan, on Flickr


Port Discovery by zstan, on Flickr

And we explored the area even more as we left the train station. We found a popcorn stall selling strawberry flavoured popcorns and they are really nice. There are other popcorn stalls located across the whole park selling other different flavours.


DSC06820 by zstan, on Flickr


DSC06822 by zstan, on Flickr

And we made our back to the American Harbourfront for Tower of Terror..


DSC06830 by zstan, on Flickr


DSC06832 by zstan, on Flickr
Kawaii-desu


DSC06852 by zstan, on Flickr
A showcase of Japanese discipline. Baby prams arranged nicely outside an attraction.


DSC06858 by zstan, on Flickr
Finally we secured our Fast Pass for Tower of Terror! The time stated on the pass indicates that you are eligible to use the Fast Pass queue at that interval before it expires. There's another time which indicates the time that you obtain the pass. With the pass you can really plan your time on what to do in the theme park. For us we just lingered around to rest while waiting for time to pass after all the walking in the morning.


DSC06850 by zstan, on Flickr
Very nice life band performance using kitchen utensils

Yes It can.
Only you spent 10000 Yen above in single receipt. You can redeem 5% back from that 10000 Yen

While Japan sales tax are 8%. You still Rugi 3%

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Dec 29 2013, 08:26 PM

wow this look good! Rm30-40 ish for an onsen experience is not bad..

thanks for the link, however it looks pretty much the same with my minsushi~

O.o! Can't read Japanese, give it to my friend to enquire how much to stay a night..

Sales tax is still 5%. 8% will only start from April 1st next year. So I guess that time you can get a refund of 8% as well. Too bad i am not entitle.

Don't worry. You will survive. Just learn some Japanese phrase or buy the Lonely Planet Japanese phrase book to help you communicating with the Japanese. Or else you can ask the reception (most of the time the reception at the hostel I stayed speak fluent English) write for you in Japanese something that you need. For example, no pork, no lard etc. We ate at 1 small restaurant in Tokyo, we ordered Tempura, some veggie & rice. There have chicken and meat in the menu but no pork. We also eat a lot of sushi

I stayed in Kimi Ryokan in Ikebukuro area. I love this Ryokan because this place is quiet and comfy. No noisy and drunken youth. Most of the boarders are adult.

Go when the sky is dark if you are shy

This post has been edited by Human Nature: Dec 29 2013, 11:20 PM

Any1 know if cimb Debit master can draw cash at ATM? quite confuse as 7bank website never show master/cirrus logo there. N japan using 4 or 6 digit pin, since my debit card is 6 digit pin.

RT @japantimes: Bullet train bulldozes car in Yamagata, killing driver http://jtim.es/s7S12

Yes. JR blame driver fault. JR shinkansen got alot similar accident also but less publish on news.

Due to delay. That 290 passenger all get free ride.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Dec 30 2013, 11:13 AM

oh my help.
i will be going to japan this january.
arrive there on 1st january. supposedly going to nagano on 1-3rd but place is full. so change of plan, 1-5th january. 5-8th nagano
heard most of places would be close for new year,holiday etc etc. any suggestion where should i go during my stay in tokyo from 1st jan to 5th?