yup..u get what u pay
i got my MAS tix cheaper than AA...MAS is still better for me

is honeymoon in japan good? i plan to go japan next year after my wedding. bought the tix already.

long flight MAS still my first choice, unless SIA got cheap ticket
So far never had this problem in MAS, normally fly JAPAN, they will have 1 or 2 japanese stewardess
friendly untie


the only bad thing for MAS will be the top management only

, u have brought ticket why still ask

No good. You should cancel your ticket and ask before buying ticket...

if no good then i just go for jalan2 only. cheap tix anyway 2 person 1.2k with tax and all. anyway i really want to go to japan but just wonder if honeymoon is good there or not.

yes, it's good...
you might try Hakone or Kawaguchiko area!

It is good.. try osaka / hokkaido / kyoto / Hakone / Kawaguchiko area... Tokyo is a bit mainstream

Enough of that Airline topic here. Discussion been enough.
No further discussion needed.

Anyone post that again will be removed.

Hi guys, have a few questions for those experienced in visiting Kansai Region of Japan.

I'm visiting Japan for some snow experience in early February with my family, we are a group of 7 adults and 3 kids. Will be touching down at KIX late night. The trip will be for 7 days, but only 5 full days.


My itinerary as followed:

day 1: Reached KIX via AirasiaX. estimate at 2225h. As time is of constraint and we are planning to stay in Kyoto which is far from KIX, we have decided to stay overnight in KIX airport.
Day 2: ICOCA HARUKA passs to Kyoto. Luggage drop off. Visit Arashiyama half day.
Day 3: Activate Kansai Thru pass. Hieizan trip to see snow , enryakuji temple. Night visit Nishiki market and Gion.
Day 4: Visit Nara, Fushimi Inari shrine. Night visit Kyoto Tower.
Day 5: Kobe and Himeji day trip. Night rest
Day 6: Kyoto downtown day trip. Higashiyama, Gion, Kiyomizudera.
Day 7: Free activity in the morning. Noon depart for KIX airport.

My questions are:

1. Any tips on staying overnight at Kansai Airport relatively comfrtably? I know it's not gonna be easy..but we are on a budget as well. I heard there is a nice armless chairs at the 2nd floor..just wanna know other people's experience here.
2. Will the Kansai Thru pass pay off? I was thinking of Jr West pass or Kansai Thru pass...because the house I will be staying is very near Emmachi station (which is a Jr station as well as a bus station). But then JR line is not really useful in exploring Kyoto perse and I'm planning to spend most nights exploring tokyo. (night will be early I notice)
3. Anyone has been to Hieizan? I'm planning to go there via Sakamoto cable car as it will make the kansai thrupass worth it. However I don't really understand the route there shown by hyperdia. It says there 2 transfers but there were like 5 trains change?
4. Anyone has been to biwako valley? Initially planned to go there instead of Hieizan but cable car too pricey plus not planning to ski. But I was eyeing the kids park and thought wanna know other people's opinion.
5. Anyone used Kansai Thru pass to go to Kobe/ Himeji? Is it really troublesome?
6. Anything that I miss around Kansai region?

BTW, this is my 4th visit to Japan, 2 times to Tokyo and the 1 time to Osaka. Fell in love with this country, had to come back every year.

Is it really nice there with snow?

How old are the kids? To me, trying to overnight with small children in an airport is a terrible way to start off a vacation ...

This post has been edited by deodorant: Dec 23 2015, 11:08 PM

10, 7 and 4 years old. Actually we have done it before due to flight delay (supposed to be 1 am but end up at 5 am)..it wasn't pleasant..but mostly because I couldn't sleep well, not bcoz of the kids. Plus there is this big budget issue...so we r really trying to save by not booking an accomodation that night (it's a gamble too trying to travel to Kyoto at that hour)

1. Want comfortable sure need to spent money. There is a cheaper lounge at Kansai Airport Aeroplaza 2F
It Called "Relaxation Square" - 260 Yen per 30 minute // Per pax. if don't want to spend then sleep on floor only and don't thinking to find those comfortable armless chair because it won't be your turn.

2. Overall still Kansai Thru Pass. If station near your hotel are JR line then just used the Icoca Card.

3. Yes. Been Once. Have to Used JR Line. Because Sakamoto Cable only one operation at Winter. At JR Kyoto Station take JR Kosei Line to JR Hieizan-Sakamoto Station. Then walk 20 minute to Sakamoto Cable Station.

4. Yes. Been Once

5. Kansai Thru Pass are most perfect Pass to Kobe. Nothing beat it. Himeji slower and more Interchange than JR. Have to used Sanyo Electrical Railway at Itayado Station all the way to last station Sanyo Himeji Station.
(At Sannomiya Station take Kobe Subway Seishin-Yamate Line (Green) to Itayado Station)

6. Depend on you how much effort on homework.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Dec 24 2015, 12:54 AM

Wow! Travel to Japan already in V8!!!
Thanks electron for your reply in V6, I've managed to drive up to Mount Haruna (Mount Akina in InitialD) and met the Original 86

Appreciates so much for your help!!!

1. We have experienced staying overnight at KIX in November this year which was also Kyoto's peak season. I think there are plenty of chairs at 2nd floors and we did manage to find places to sleep but it won't be very comfortable for sure. There was a resting room located at Aeroplaza (next to Refresh Square) which I think is a better place to sleep (for free) as there also have few seats like sofa bed but very limited and this resting area provide blankets also. Since you have 4 adults here, I suggest 2 adults go straight to Aeroplaza after clear custom to check if there are empty chairs there as this place is occupied fast. Then 2 adults book the chairs at 2nd floors, here would be easier to find places to sleep but no blanket lah.

Aeroplaza also located at 2nd floor, from terminal 1 2nd floor, look for the signage to train stations. There is a link bridge (if I could remember clearly) after the Nankai and JR station. The Refresh square is near to Nikko Hotel. Aeroplaza has coin operated shower room (500 yen for 15 mins) operate 24 hours.

2 & 3. Whether Kansai Thru Pass pay off, you need to do the comparison of cost. I notice you want to activate on day 3 to visit Hieizan? But Hieizan is more convenient to reach by JR and JR is not covered by KTP. The direct bus to Hieizan and the Eizan ropeway is not operating during winter. I never been to this place before but based on the information given in Japan's guide, the most convenient way is to reach Hieizan is through Hieizan Sakamoto station (1 transfer if come from Emmachi station) using JR trains. KTP can only use for the Hieizan cable car ride. (1620 yen round trip) For KTP to pay off, you need to ride 5200 yen in 3 days or 4000 yen in 2 days.

5. KTP might paid off if you visit Kobe and Hemeji but not the most convenient way to reach Hemeji, you may refer to their model course. From your itinerary, it look like day 3, 4 and 5 for KTP but the place that you stay (near Emmachi) is more convenient by JR. Since you already have ICOCAcard, perhaps just use ICOCA instead? For me, I think I will just use ICOCA pass to KOBE and Nara, JR 1 day pass to Hemeji based on the place that you stay.

I read from the backpacker (Chinese) forum that they are launching a new card/pass which combined private railway and JR in December this year, you may Google more information on this new pass?

This post has been edited by jefferenelee: Dec 24 2015, 07:49 AM

No idea on this. All I know was Current JR + Some private rail Pass are ''Tokyo Wide Pass''.
JR West + Private rail....really no idea and never heard it before.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Dec 24 2015, 09:51 AM

1. I had experience overnight at Kansai Airport on 2nd floor. Same flight arrival like your. There still lot of people overnight at Kansai Airport until next trips on morning. Its really tired because its long journey. Yes ,they have armless chair with limited and provide free blanket . If you hungry and need some food. You can go to 7 Eleven on 3rd Floor,operated 24 hour. During your overnight at Kansai ,police will come to asking some question about your information.

Based on this experience,I no longer take arrival flight late midnight. Rather take early morning or afternoon.

2. Based on weather condition,this Winter season are little bit warm compare last year , most of ski resort will open on 25th December above. Less snow this year..due Al Nino effect. I would recommended to other resort but bit far away. Next week thinking going to Ski resort...but if less snow..might to cancel. Seem you coming on February,should be no problem. For Heaven snow,highly recommended at Niseko and Rususut in Hokkaido only January also February. Gifu and Nagano also recommended.

http://www.dynaland.co.jp/index.html

You also can go Live CCTV by click the link below.

http://www.cbr.mlit.go.jp/takayama/cctv/cctv_awa.html

3. Osaka USJ , Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan , Namba ,

Thinking about making a half day trip to Nishinomiya which is in between Osaka and Kobe instead of Arashiyama. Looks like a good spot for cherry blossom too. Anyone ever been here?

http://www.ryuusenkaku.jp/english/cherry02.html

Never been before But I do study on it. Because it almost similar to my usual Cherry Blossom spot at Kakunodate.
So end up I didn't go there.

almost similar consider good liao...let me research more, seems like less people blogging about it.