Hana Hostel/Hybrid Inn. anyone stay before?
So far this is cheaper than backpackers budget inn at kyoto, nearer to kyoto station. It also have branch at osaka, near shinsaibashi station.
by looking at their room picture, quite ok. just to share for those under budget trip/solo traveler/backpacker.

This post has been edited by menmissed: Aug 6 2013, 04:58 PM

MAS promo is on again. Osaka, 899
Booking Period: 05 Aug 2013 - 25 Aug 2013 Travel Period: 19 Aug 2013 - 31 May 2014

wow its great!

Hi all,
I'm traveling to JPN in Oct via a tour company (first 7 days) and then I'm extending my stay for additional 5 days (DIY).
I plan to go back to Hakone on my additional 5 days to cover more ground there and also to take lots of Mt Fuji (UNESCO) pics.
The itinerary below is still work in progress. Feel free to give comments/feedbacks.

Also, on Day 7 and Day 8, should I get a Tokyo Metro pass or something? Need to do more research on this.

DAY 1, Saturday (12th Oct)
Arrival at Osaka Airport
Transfer to hotel for rest

DAY 2, Sunday (13th Oct)
- Universal Studio, Osaka
- Shopping at Shinsaibashi

DAY 3, Monday (14thOct)
- Visit Todaiji Temple in Nara (UNESCO), the oldest temple and largest bronze statue of Buddha in Japan
- Sightseeing at Nara Park (Deer Park)
- Visi the Kiyomizu Temple
- Visit Heian Jingu in Kyoto
- Enjoy Japan Bullet Train

DAY 4, Tuesday (15th Oct)
- Sightseeing at Oshino Hakkai
- Tour to Mt Fuji, if weather permits, drive up to the highest station (5th Station)
- Enjoy the Japanese Hot Spring baths

DAY 5, Wednesday (16th Oct)
- Visit Tokyo Asakusa Kannon Temple
- Enjoy shopping at Nakamise Arcade Street
- View Tokyo Sky Tree
- Imperial Palace and Nijyu Bridge (coach passby)
- Enjoy shopping at Ginza Area
- Ascend the Metropolitan Government Building to have a panaromic view of the Tokyo city
- Sightseeing at Shinjuku Red Light District
- Visit to Royal Garden, Gyoen Garden (Sakura season only)
- Visit to Toyota City Showcase (Except Sakura Season)
- Visit to Odaiba Park + Tokyo Statue of Liberty

DAY 6, Thursday (17th Oct)
- Full day at Tokyo Disneysea

DAY 7, Friday (18th Oct)
- Depart to Empire hotel at Shinjuku, Tokyo
- Head over to Shinjuku station to obtain Hakone Free Pass
- Visit Ueno shopping street. Sightseeing at Ueno park + dinner
- Back to hotel (if time allows, visit DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba)

DAY 8, Saturday (19th Oct)
- Depart to Harajuku Station. Sightseeing around the area
- Depart to Shibuya Station:
- Hachiko Statue
- Shibuya 109
- Visit Meiji Jingu Shrine
- Starbucks Coffee at Shibuya to get the a view of the Shibuya crossing

DAY 9, Sunday (20th Oct)
Check out from Empire hotel.
Depart to Hakone via Romancecar at Shinjuku Station.
Overnight at Senkei Plaza Inn Hotel, Hakone

DAY 10, Monday (21st Oct)
Hakone Yumoto > Moto-Hakone (Hakone Shrine)
Moto-Hakone > Hakone-Machi
Hakone-machi > Togendai (Lake Ashi)
Togendai > Owakudani > Shouzan
Shouzan > Gora
Gora > Hakone Yumoto

DAY 11, Tuesday (22nd Oct)
Depart to Shinjuku station from Hakone-Yumoto station
Overnight at Narita Airport.

DAY 12, Wednesday (23rd Oct)
Flight depart in the morning
Transit at HK
Flight depart to Penang




Also, big thanks to stimix, e-jump, RegentCid, and the rest of u for sharing info on your stay/trip...


This post has been edited by teng_08: Aug 6 2013, 10:32 PM

Due to most are Typical Tour Group plan. Overall....I give 75% out of 100%

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Aug 6 2013, 10:27 PM

Wah.. Got rating for my itinerary summore. Hahah...

Oh ya.. Would u recommend me getting a SUICA + N'EX card for my Day 7 - 9 travels around Tokyo?
Cos on last day which is Day 7, the tour group will be staying nearby Narita airport. So I was thinking of following them to Narita airport to get my SUICA + N'EX card which is also sold inside Narita airport.

The SUICA + N'EX (round trip) will cost me 5,500 Yen.



I will be going to Harajuku on a Saturday (I know Sunday is the best day to visit Harajuku, but.. oh well)
Will I be able to catch a glimpse of the cosplay culture on a Saturday morning/afternoon?

This post has been edited by teng_08: Aug 6 2013, 11:08 PM

OMG??? i wrote as TAN ALBERTMEELEE, is it acceptable @@...........coz i tot last name will always be the surname!? i made my payment already......~~~~~~

This post has been edited by Lennethe: Aug 6 2013, 11:17 PM

thats pretty cheap
osaka is a very nice place, went there last year!

Yes...you need buy Suica + NEX together for better deal. Since you flight back to Malaysia at Narita Airport.

Only Sunday.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Aug 6 2013, 11:38 PM

yup.. go to see sakura.

first time see ppl give rating for free n easy trip

seriously question> wat is criteria for full mark vacation... for japan?

Let me disclose my hokkaido trip plan for Autumn this year. do me give some advice, this is my maiden plan for Hokkaido Trip (I have never plan a backpack trip). I bought my air tickets from KL to Haneda at RM765 (airasia) last year in November, travelling with another 4 person (family). i did my homework as much as i can, hope i din plan any stupid route

Travel period: 5/10/2013 - 15/10/2013

5/10/2013 (Miri - KL-Haneda)
Miri - KL - haneda, reached at 2300, plan to sleep/rest in international airport (they dont let passengers to stay over night at domestic terminal)

6/10/2013 (Haneda - Shin Chitose - Sounkyo - Asahikawa)
0610 - 0740 haneda to shin chitose (skymark airlines)
0800 - 1200 drive a rented car directly to Sounkyo (might take a rest in Asahikawa) - (still planning, might take Toyota Vellfire through Nippon rent a car, as they provide ETC card rental)
1200 - 1600 roaming at Sounkyo (Kurodake roperway, Ginga Ryusei, Obako, etc)
1600 - 1800 back and one night in Asahikawa, Shoyu Ramen
Accm: Fujitakanko Washington Hotel Asahikawa

7/10/2013 (Asahikawa - Biei - Furano - Shintoku)
roaming at Biei and Furano for whole day, 青池 (blue lake) and Chiyoda Farm restaurant, buy a bottle of lavender wine in Furano for dinner in Yorkshire Farm at Shintoku. There are sheeeeeeeeeeeps at Yorkshire Farm, I cant wait to see 'em
Accm: Yorkshire Farm

8/10/2013 (Shintoku - Sapporo)
Return car.
Ramen Alley for Miso Ramen (maybe?) Susukino shopping district, Tanuki Koji
will be having dinner at 蝦蟹合戰 札幌本店 (Battle-with-crab-and-prawn-Restaurant)
Accm: Best Western Fino Hotel

9/10/2013 (Sapporo - Otaru - Sapporo)
using the Sapporo Otaru free pass for a relax day in Otaru. go to Tobi for a Sushi lunch
Accm: Best Western Fino Hotel

10/10/2013 (Sapporo - Jozankei/Hoheikyo - Sapporo)
a bus trip to Jozankei/Hoheikyo, a dam in Hokkaido.
if go back to sapporo earlier than expected, maybe a visit to hokkaido university, clock building...etc
Accm: Best Western Fino Hotel

11/10/2013 (Sapporo - Noboribetsu)
onsen (you know.....)
pick up the rent car again to go to Noboribetsu
Place of visit: Jigokudani (Hell Valley), Date Jidaimura, Oyunuma natural footpath
Accm: Daiichi Takimonokan (with in-room Japanese Kaiseki for dinner)

12/10/2013 (Noboribetsu - Toya)
onsen again!! (you know.....)
literally, there is nothing in Toya (I guess....prove me wrong) except the beautiful lake, there are fireworks at 8.45 every day from April to October. due to the high cost of Daiichi Takimonokan, i choose to stay at a cheaper ryokan further from the lake. well, im sure i can walk around the lake during daytime.
Nature walk?? lake toya sightseeing boat??? Ususan ropeway???.....maybe.....
Accm: Daiwa Ryokan

13/10/2013 (Toya - Hakodate)
return car.
sightseeing bus: goryokaku park, Trappistine Convent, bay area
ropeway to Mt. Hakodate for night view (one of the world best night view)
popular food: squid ice cream, whale burger
Accm: Smile Hotel

14/10/2013 (Hakodate - Haneda - Shinjuku/Shibuya/Ginza - Haneda - KL)
hakodate morning market - breakfast - Shio Ramen
flight to haneda (yet to be purchased, scheduled at noon)
roaming at either one of the place - Shinjuku/Shibuya/Ginza
2355 - 0635 - flight back to KL

15/10/2013
flight back to Miri

Do you have International Driving Licence?

will go jpj to make one, all i need to do is to bring my driving licence and pay rm150

Now no need visa di lah U just came out from jungle?

Then assume you are at UK immig. Bring same docs lah. Senang.

Sorry, misunderstood ur question. Just bring along to be safe. Don't take for granted. I have heard ppl getting deported in the past even with visa. Dono what reason

This post has been edited by estcin: Aug 7 2013, 10:59 AM

I think he wanted to know if anyone has gone there without Visa since July. Anyone care to share how it was like?

It should be same like any other country without visa - Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia. But as precaution just bring along some documents

-edit-

This post has been edited by estcin: Aug 7 2013, 11:08 AM