i'm not sure the exact sunset there in early Feb, but from my experience in mid-January at another place that's is of around the same latitude, it's already getting dark even at 5pm, so i expect it to be quite the same
Quick check on Sapporo and today's sunset is expected to be at around 4:15pm
if you really plan to go ahead with the drive, read up about using snow chain and make sure the car comes with it, just in case. Stock up on food and drink before starting journey. Make sure car has a full tank of fuel. And use the highway where possible, don't skimp on the toll
Speaking of toll, check if it make sense to get the Hokkaido highway pass

with no experience driving in snow conditions, I don't think it is safe to drive at night...

correct, the last time i was there... end of autumn and almost winter
typhoon oso, mean heavy rain and thick fog
u can hardly see anything at night...
many part didnt have street light and the cat eyes doesnt really reflect any light

and there is a part with icing road...
lucky i have AWD with traction control

This post has been edited by lucaswjk: Jan 6 2015, 05:02 PM

die lo what should i do =(
need ts regentCid advise

This post has been edited by ping325: Jan 6 2015, 05:29 PM

Feb at Hokkaido was one of most bad ass snow storm time. If snow storm coems. It will be impossible for you to drive. You might ends up at middle between Otaru to Niseko then sleep at car.
You better pray no snow storm.
About car. Must choose AWD car with English GPS. Which car rental can offer english GPS then just rent it.

Hokkaido winter , 4pm already dark as Malaysia 10pm

taxi from Otaru to Niseko will be more than RM1000

speaking of fog, reminds me of the drive from Furano to Shintoku during mid-summer evening
left Furano at 5+, and it started to rain along the way. On a stretch nearing Shintoku, the fog was so thick that can only see 1-2 car length ahead

by the way, you do realize that Otaru-Niseko is about 75km apart by road right?
and Niseko being a ski resort, it is located at higher elevation, which means hilly roads

i had already google many rental provider and seems that nippon hokkaido , best match ur description , and their provide services in english , car with english gps , and snow tyre and 4WD , and also 24 hours help if i face any problem on road...included CWD insurance everything in one fees

https://www.nrh.co.jp/charge_v3/en.shtml?id=CJ1P7V00NT

is honda fit enough for 2 person ? without any ski equipment or luggage , as we will put at hotel
also another question is do i need a ETC card ? or just pay cash for parking and toll everthing via cash ?

24656 yen for 3 days , seems to be a good deal and cheaper a lot if i take bus and train and i travel so many places.
just hope to pray no snow storm and drive safely , bless bless T.T

electron ya already calculate all the distance ... i also got ask opinion from nippon hokkaido my itinerary and they also suggest me to rent a car as my schedule is quite tight , using public transport will delay in time and no flexibility , they will give me full support from time to time , all i need to do i pick up and return both at chitose airport , seems quite convenient to me ...only need to aware when driving and pray pray no snow storm =(



is this consider a snow storm ?

This post has been edited by ping325: Jan 6 2015, 11:01 PM

Great. Hakone's queries are cleared.
Already done some homework on other places, will ask here again.
Actually I feel heartache to pay so much for transportation in Japan. I rather spend the money to eat.

Omai, how rare is this but I love it.

Transport in Japan is not cheap, but service is good and efficient
Are you still getting the JR pass?

Honda Fit is our Honda Jazz
Good enough for 2 person definitely.
Don't forget the petrol, parking and toll charges
Parking in Otaru may be a challenge so do your homework ahead and identify potential parking area
Again, pack sufficient ration just in case you get stranded

Yes...These can consider as snow storm.
Extremely difficult to drive.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Jan 7 2015, 12:13 AM

I'm still considering...
I do have other options right? Will study on the places I wanna go and see if they are accessible via JR.

This post has been edited by fruitie: Jan 7 2015, 01:02 AM

if you get the JR pass, use it to for Tokyo-Odawara (although on the slowest Kodama Shinkansen, but still fast) then you can save a bit from the Hakone Pass

But i remember you are using it from Tokyo to Osaka/Kyoto one way only, so it may not pay off
going to takayama?

I used the pass for Kyoto->Nagoya->Takayama->Nagoya->Tokyo->Odawara...Gotemba->Tokyo and getting around Tokyo on the Yamanote, and Tokyo->Haneda + New Chitose -> Sapporo and I just about break even
But the convenience and flexibility it gave is really good. Example, i used Shinkansen between Ueno and Tokyo cos i find that getting to the Shinkansen platform is easier than to the train platforms

electron i think settle hokkaido side plan already
now is osaka , kyoto and tokyo side ,
tuesday morning ( feb 10 )
- depart from chitose and reach osaka airport around 12pm
- check in in richmond hotel at namba, evening go some coffee shop nearby , walk walk around , night maybe sight seeing and the red ferry wheel and sleep
-wed ( feb 11) early morning go universal studio and late evening go to kyoto via shinkansen
-wed night stay at kyoto tower hotel just beside JR station
-thursday morning ( feb 12 ) plan to go to Kinkaku-ji gold temple and bamboo forest
afternoon go to higashiyama district for walk around and souvenier purchase
later evening / night , shinkansen to tokyo

feb 13 , 14 will be at tokyo shibuya , disneysea , and akihabara

stay two night at tokyo at akihabara washington hotel , nearby JR also
tokyo itineary still planning in progress
first day for disneysea , and second day choose certain place if not enough time
(tokyo skytree , diver city gundam ,character street etc )

flight from tokyo back to malaysia is on satursday night ( 1150pm) Feb14
already apply optiontown for extend , if approved will convert to sunday night ( 1150pm ) Feb 15
if extend approved will visit more place in tokyo

for osaka and kyoto and tokyo , do i need a JR pass ? or just purchase normal ticket on the spot ?

electrionRegentCid

This post has been edited by ping325: Jan 7 2015, 11:34 AM

First. Your sure you will landed at Osaka Airport or Kansai Airport? Don't mess up with this 2 Airport.

JR Rail Pass Rm9xx
Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo RM6xx one way.
If you got JR Rail Pass. Your pass usage at Shinkansen + Tokyo Yamanote Line & JR Chuo Line only.
Basically not worth the money for JR Rail Pass.



This post has been edited by RegentCid: Jan 7 2015, 11:37 AM

Osaka - Kansai (KIX)
2015/02/10 Tue 11:45
Terminal: 2

via peach airline

so , mostly start from osaka till tokyo all using train , and inside tokyo mostly subway
i also did research for weeks and notice JR pass seems not suitable for me ...
so everything i can purchase on the spot right ? shinkansen everything ...no need advance pre book ?

This post has been edited by ping325: Jan 7 2015, 11:49 AM

Kansai have to say Kansai. Don't say Osaka Airport. If you say Osaka , People will think Osaka Itami Airport.
Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo have 3xx train traverling each day. No need advance booking. You sure can get seat. Even reserve seat was full. You still can buy non reserve seat section.

Osaka to Kyoto section no need Shinkansen. Waste Money. Just take Jr Kyoto Line

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Jan 7 2015, 12:17 PM

http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/fare/_pdf/nozomi.pdf
for this table

from osaka --> kyoto izzit total 2460yen + 560yen ?
and kyoto --> tokyo izzit total 8210yen + 5700yen ?

both nozomi ?

per person will be 16930 YEN per person for this 2 shinkansen ride correct ? or i calculated wrongly

regentCid

Osaka to Kyoto no need SHinkansen. Just take JR Kyoto Line 500-600Yen per person only
40 Minute journey ride

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Jan 7 2015, 12:20 PM