If 1 week there, just buy jr rail. U can buy from jtb office at amoda or 2nd floor isetan klcc. Last week price is at RM1048/pax for unlimited bullet train/train ride under jrail in whole japan.

Just bought 3 pax last weekend.

Yes cheaper if you used the currency converter but really don't know what is the exchange rate that wensite going to charge. We cannot use the currency converter directly. Anyway, I prefer to buy direct rather than online ..well paranoid of getting the courier mess up the delivery.

You can pin this on page 1 too https://www.jtbmalaysia.com/rail-passes/rail-passes-prices/

For those wish to walk in rather than buying online. Just to update my planned trip:

Tokyo>Hiroshima>Osaka>Kyoto>Tokyo. Thereafter, as u suggested most probably to Nagano - Jigokudani - Hot Spring monkey park from Tokyo on 2nd last day of my week long there..

New Year Eve

Alternative for those feeling secure of buying directly rather than online

Darn...yen up again after falling for a week..haizzx

I was there on 1st Jan 2016 haha..otherwise we might bumped into each other again for 2nd time haha. Anyway this winter probably the warmest for years. Avg temp there ~10c. Infact 2 nites ago @ Tokyo temperature only 15c...damn...

No need to reserve also ok..can stand haha..for Tokaido line from Osaka to Tokyo, normally train no 1 to 5 are for none reserved seats.

During my trip, most of reserved ticket sold out so I hv to que @ non reserved cabins. Haizzz.. there were times I hv to stand esp from hiroshima to okayama b4 getting empty seats..

However if u are going to Nagano those trains are seperated by reserved & non reserved type.

This post has been edited by stimix: Jan 7 2016, 05:00 PM

Hehe yeah almost bald now..age is catching up. Daughter also going to U soon.

If u are not traveling during super peak period like the recent new year should be ok & sure easy to reserve. Osaka to Kyoto very short distance..If i can recall only 10-15min via shinkansen

Read lah properly. I mean if not during new year should be ok. During new year, human jam inside shinkansen

Normal. No offkine maps available for Japan. Nevertheless, Do not clear your historical data & cache b4 you leave Japan. Maintained the Japan maps that you have view vecause you still can view the offline googlemaps in detail & current location without any data although you can't navigate.

May I add - avoid new year too! Most establishment closed on 1/1 ,hotel rates almost rack rate, and long distance travel via shinkansen also fully booked unless u willing to stand on none reserved coaches....well from my recent new year experience there

New Year Eve and thereafter. Standing on speeding Shinkansen is really tiring.. Lucky managed to get seats @ Okayama heading towards Osaka from Hiroshima..phewww...

There are free wifi hotspot via wi premium. U can scan ur passport at their kiosk. Not sure where is the location in narita but @ haneda, it is beside the keihin line station opposite of JR monorail.

Otherwise, just for location, open ur googlemaps in msia & view all the location detail that u want to go. DO not clear any historical data or cache. Once u're in Japan, just open the googlemap and your free gps will pinpoint to ur current location and u able to view the maps in detail without any data.

For youtube, just use the hotel free wifi lah

For those photographers, don't forget to visit "map camera" @ South western corner of shinjuku Station. This is a heaven for those seeking 2nd hand cameras & lenses. So many choices at reasonanle prices.

You can't find such a huge collection of 2nd hand cameras & lenses anywhere in msia. Within that area, there are also 2 more such establishment but smaller.

Tokyo more choices in term of cheap chain restaurants mah haha..sukiya, hamatsu udon & even suzhi zanmai also cheaper than those in kyoto / osaka.

I eat coca curry rice chain restaurant nia. Avg 600yen..if kosong wth only kuah much cheaper..450yen haha.

Now got the only branch @ 1U

Anyway, near the 2nd bck alley very close to uniqlo ginza, there's 1 yummy tiny soba restaurant. I had my dinner there last week for only ~1600 yen for 3 diff kind of soba. I will try & get the location later..

Most probably back alley of apple store ginza

This post has been edited by stimix: Jan 18 2016, 11:59 AM

Maybe..can't recall the name but very tiny wth less than 10 seatings haha. It was late ~8.30pm..almost closing.

I think the shinkansen stopped @ shin aomori & thereafter slow train to hokkaido. That's why my ori plan to hokkaido via shinkansen had to be scrapped bcos of this! Otherwise 12 hrs by train to hokkaido...

Anyway, heard shunkansen going to be extended from aomori till hakodate this year but not sure when.. RC might know?