any public bus companies which is recommended for traveling from

Kyoto -> Takayama -> Shirakawago -> Osaka ?

current plan is to depart from Kyoto in the morning, take a bus to Takayama, stay overnight in Takayama, then on second day morning, will depart for Shirakawago for a day trip, then when about evening time, take the bus to Osaka, so 2 day 1 night is it enough for Takayama and Shirakawago?

takayama is quite near to shirakawago

GoogleMap

after shirakawago, we will take the bus or JR train to Osaka liao

thanks for ur info anyway, i think i ll stick to the original plan, coz already booked accomodation in Takayama, as long as can see grassho houses, we are happy

Google Map is ur best friend, I relied on that during my first trip to JP last year, just get a sim card upon arrival and pop it into ur smartphone, i recommend So-net (Sony) data SIM. It costs about 3000 Yen.

buses in Kyoto are way better than even the ERL in Malaysia, in terms of time punctuality, no worries on that, japs value their time punctuality as much as their lives

there re 3/5/7 days of tourist passes available, that one u need to do a bit of research, as the passes are kinda region dependent, which means some passes are for use in Kyoto only, while some are for Osaka only, some does not include JR trains, so make ur choices according to ur itinerary

after meal go nakano broadway eat 8 layer rainbow ice-cream
i've been finding a reason to go nakano other than the ice-cream

uuurrrggghh...i dnt even wear watches

Hi. Our upcoming trip to Hokkaido end of July is as follows

Day 1 - Arrive in Chitose / Furano / Biei / Overnight in Asahikawa
Day 2 - Noboribetsu / Lake Toya
Day 3 - Hakodate
Day 4 - Niseko
Day 5 - Shakotan Peninsular / Otaru
Day 6 - Jozankei Dam / Overnight Sapporo
Day 7 - Sapporo City / Overnight in Chitose
Day 8 Fly Back ..

But i am thinking if its better to stay in either Hakodate or Niseko for 2 nights instead and just visit Otaru for a couple of hours before staying overnight in Sapporo City.

Any suggestions ? Thanks

U r welcome, just my opinion for your plan

Day 1 - Arrive in Chitose / Furano / Biei / Overnight in Asahikawa
Day 2 - Noboribetsu / Lake Toya.  I will suggest you all to revisit Biei/Furano at the morning again until you all really satisfy.  I have been visited Biei/Furano twice (each visit I stayed three nights here)......so many attraction.  The best time to visit blue pond is with the strong sunlight which will give your photo "wow" effect. So u may reach Noboribetsu late evening or nigh time.
Day 3 - Hakodate........Enjoy your day time and Noboribetsu, visit Lake Toya, Lake Onuma, overnight at Hakodate
Day 4 - Enjoy day trip at Hakodate, stay at Hakodate
Day 5 - Shakotan Peninsular / Otaru There is a fruit orchard near Otaru, u can go there after visit Shakotan
Day 6 - Jozankei Dam / Overnight Sapporo
Day 7 - Sapporo City / Overnight in Chitose
Day 8 Fly Back ..

extra charge yes
but not really recalled how much... coz i stay in ryokan and i walk-in
all paid by credit card
(no research/homework  )

but if u r going during super peak, i dont think u wanna take the risk

my tips: look for the hotel/ryokan website/email
then write directly to them
or call them (from msia) skype?? my phone can call japan for free 

---

almost forget, there is a time i stayed in western room...
the hotel provide extra futon to this type of room too

gud luck

in this forum they hv special status 

actually i hv been telling alot of ppl to planned their itinerary using google maps
but nobody do this, at most i saw excel sheets

taking this chance to show the power of googlemaps
let them see for themself the usefulness

I did some preliminary research. Hokkaido peak is summer, during ,their lavender season. But also alot of visitors during the snow festival.

Assuming i want to do both snow festival and drift ice in next year feb, is it too late if i only start planning/booking in december? Ie 2 months in advance? 4 of us going. Just friends, and we are ok with ryokan/budget accom, flexible.

Too bad they don't provide train options when planning for direction. Else it will be perfect

OMG u r right
i just discover it really didnt hv train options 

want to ask a question regarding place for accommodation
what's the best area to stay for 1st timer?
i know its shinjuku because of AA's late arrival and theres a limo bus directly go there
but i saw most of the airbnb's there aren't located at shinjuku
they're either located at shin okuba, higashi shinjuku or sasazuka
wonder if theres still train that go to these station at night?
or is there other area thats also good and theres bus going there?

i've decided to drop the oedo onsen monogatari and straight to airbnb so i dnt need to haul the luggage the next day everywhere waiting for check in

travelling with family, not solo
so end up i dump oedo onsen and just want book 1 extra day of airbnb
and go there sleep, dump luggage there and start the next day fresh without having to carry luggage around
but found out most airbnb not located at shinjuku station....they're at shin okuba, higashi shinjuku or sasazuka
so wonder if theres train going those station at those times or able to walk or any other area better?
i saw some airbnb cheaper but at ueno

Hi, can I know which area is recommended to stay in Kyoto?

Prefer location near restaurants & walking distance to train station.

I heard reviews about Gion area, other than that, any ideas?

Thanks!

Regarding USJ and Kaiyukan aquarium

can we get cheaper than online tickets in local agencies?

or their website is already the cheapest?

Hi guys,

Apologies if this has been asked before. I tried searching but couldnt find. Do let me know if its out there and I can search again.

I will be travelling to Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo in that order. I have already checked and looks like the JR Pass is a good choice for me. My question though, does anyone know where I can get the Tokyo Subway Ticket (72-hours), Osaka Amazing Pass and Kyoto Subway Pass?

I did find someone talking about the Kansai Thru Pass, but I cant find info that it will completely replace the Osaka Amazing Pass and Kyoto Subway Pass. Anyone knows this as well?

Also, I emailed to JTB Malaysia and they told me that the JR National Rail Pass can also replace the Tokyo Metro Pass?

Apologies for the many questions. Will be travelling with my old folks and its quite a big group of 6 total so I would like to get this travel plans sorted as best as possible. Am getting quite confusing information from the various websites.

Thanks in advance.

hazzly1 depends on your own individual cold tolerance of course. But for what you described ie 10-20deg, I won't even bother with heattech/base layers. T shirts (maybe long sleeve) plus a casual jacket is enough to keep me warm.

Hi sifus here,
I'm planning to go Hokkaido this year around end Oct.
Read in Japan Guide that Hokkaido trees will be turning red late Sept to early Oct. Would it be too late for me to catch the autumn leaves in late October?
When would be the best time to go Hokkaido if given a choice? Early October?

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2014_when.html

my 16~23 , planning to go biei 16/17 then Daisetsu 18/19 , then the rest is at sapporo/otaru
but i wonder is there any oct train schedule release ad?

Sifu,
Anyone has recommendation for hotel around Chitose Airport that has airport transfer? Planning to take early morning flight (7.55AM).
The only one i found is Hotel AreaOne which starts the shuttle service at 6.15AM. Worry i wont be able to make it.

Thanks.

Hi, any experience buying japan rail pass 7 days? Where is the best web trusted to buy it other than jtb malaysia? Or should i buy at jtb malaysia? I will travel early november

Any idea when will the OCT JR Hokkaido Train Schedule release?

Ok... then i shall book my hotel 1st then rather than wait the train schedule.
Hotels seem so fast fully book 

any website recommend for booking hotel at hokkaido(other than booking.com) ? please pm me if any.

Any nice hiking spot in Nara?
heard ppl say Nara has a few mountains, would like to know recommendations for a hiking spot (with good view) which is not too tough and steep, I mean just need to walk against the slope with ladder steps laid out nicely, but not the patch filled with tiny rocks and mud

Hi guy,

In the end, my bro wanted travel to Tokyo instead of the recommended route. Will be flying in Tokyo on early September, and we plan to climb the Mt. Fuji. Currently, the route we choose is Subashiri Trail. There are two (2) option to reach Subashiri Fifth Station, Gotemba or Shi-matsuda. We will do a one day climb, so I'm looking at Gotemba option. Due to the climber's bus from fifth station to Gotemba station which have the later time.
Apart from that, I found the transport to Gotemba will be by limited express "Romancecar" from Shinjuku to Gotemba. Is this the fastest way to Gotemba??

Definitely Mount Wakakusa (若草山), voted as the new top 3 best night scenery in Japan, need around 30mins to reach the top.
I visited Mount Wakakusa just recently, very nice view of Nara city from the hill.
I managed to captured some aerial video when I was there as well (starting 2:08).

just a survey,
NORMALLY & AVERAGE spent for 7 days in hokkaido around how much?
exclude flight & souvenir.
maybe more details example.
2 days Onsen Hotel
2 days Pension
3 days Normal Hotel

just to get an ideal of the spending in hokkaido.