wondering if anyone here have Lawson Ticket account and can help me to pre-order tickets...?

i really need to get 2 entrance ticket to the new Snoopy Museum. Since i'm flying back on 24 April (night), the ideal visit date is 23rd, which is the opening date lol

http://l-tike.com/event/snoopymuseum/

Hi sifu sekalian,

Need some advice on a part of my itinerary. I'll be there for 10 days. Fly in Osaka on 14 April and fly out from Tokyo on 23 April.

I am trying to figure out what the best arrangement for Mt-Fuji/Hakone/Tokyo for the later part of my trip. I don't plan to visit a lot of places in Tokyo - the only priority is Gibhli Museum and Snoopy Museum (only open on 23rd April).

Option 1
From Osaka take JR to Shinjuku. Then straight go to Hakone with 3-days Fuji Hakone Pass. Spent a night in Hakone (20 April) and another night in Kawaguchiko (21 April). Go back Shinjuku for the remaining 2 days (22-23 April). My concern is - will I have time to fully tour Hakone..? Since Osaka-Shinjuku then express train to Hakone easily take 4 hrs travel time...

Option 2
From Osaka take JR to Shinjuku. Spend a day there (20 April). Then travel to Hakone (21 April) and Kawaguchiko (22 April). Then come back to Shinjuku/Tokyo on 23 April.

Welcome any better suggestions. Thanks!

This post has been edited by tohff7: Mar 2 2016, 05:47 PM

Hi sifu,

This is my tentative itinerary. I am thinking whether i should cover Osaka first (14, 15 and half-day 16 Apr) before i cover Kyoto. Reason being hotels/airbnb seems to be quite fully booked for 14-17 April, while 16-19 April seems better....

Appreciate any comments

Thanks for comments.

For Osaka-Kyoto, i was using somebody itinerary, but now it made sense since they only fly through Kansai Airport. I thought of putting Osaka first, but worried i can't cover much since 1st day might be tired quite early since midnight fly in, while 2nd day mostly for Universal Studio already.

For Hakone-Tokyo, i got the idea previously from somewhere else. Apart from buying the Fuji-Hakone passes in Shinjuku, you can also switch your luggage into smaller 1 and deposit into a coin-locker or hotel etc.

U should start reading page 1 first

A bit like Uber. Not outright illegal yet. But some hosts might have faced complaints from neighbours, so they cancelled off reservations.

In some cases, the landlord found out their tenants actually is renting the unit to do Airbnb business.

In extreme cases, read before got ppl use the entire building for airbnb business. essentially like a hotel already

This post has been edited by tohff7: Mar 4 2016, 12:21 PM

there's go my hope of seeing any sakura haha

Kyoto/Osaka - 14-19 April

Hakone/Tokyo - 20-23 April

There seems to be late-booming species at Heian shrine garden in Kyoto, which is late by a week or so. My only hope is that hahaha

Hotel Musashiya. Location is quite convenient. Not too pricey. Only complaint from ppl is that it's a bit old but i read somewhere they renovated a bit recently.

google it lar next time. if not sure kena scold by sifu RC

http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/sh...a.html#notice02

1. Your budget is reasonable and should get decent hotel at decent location in Tokyo/Osaka. Maybe should try Airbnb
2. No idea since i am staying in Hakone Ryokan. For Kyoto, maybe try look at Gion Fukuzumi?
3. don't think you will need a JR pass but i'm might be wrong. Reason is I don't plan to travel outskirt (Himeji, Kobe, Nara, Enoshima etc) when i'm in Osaka/Kyoto/Tokyo
4. From what i can see from ppl instagram, travelrecommends travel WiFi is au KDDI Wifi Walker. Pretty much what everybody else is selling. Maybe they are undercutting to gain fame for now. Already booked and let see how the service (travelling 14-23 Apr)

This post has been edited by tohff7: Mar 14 2016, 01:38 PM

Just a quick question. I'm planning to visit Hakone and Kawaguchiko using Fuji Hakone pass. Will be staying one night at Hakone and Kawaguchiko.

Which route is better, Shinjuku-Kawaguchiko-Hakone or Shinjuku-Hakone-Kawaguchiko?

I was just wondering whether i can maximise my trip because i will likely be staying in Gora, which is midway of the Hakone loop. Or is this not a valid concern since it won't take a long time to complete the loop in one-day (assuming i start early from Tokyo)?

don't think you could buy any 12/18-year Yamazaki in their distillery.

For Yamazaki 18 year, the sure have 1 is at the airport which cost 50,000 yen a bottle. Outside of that, it near to impossible to get any 18yr Yamazaki. Even getting a 12yr Yamazaki can consider very lucky liao

Nikka should be still quite easy to get. Just go to their departmental stores

No lar, just try to set your expectations only. If budget is not a problem, you can actually buy it online at Rakuten and ship to your hotel

Where are you going btw? You have better chance to get 12/18yr in outskirt areas rather than in Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto etc.

Most of the times it's 3 month before

October should be fine and you have plenty of time to do your research on which hotel/ryokan is the best.

I'm going this April and it's booked almost to the max

Seems like better to travel by subway/rail to Arashiyama and also Kinkakuji area?

I'm thinking whether worthwhile to buy 1-day bus pass for a particular day of my Kyoto trip (18 Apr, Monday). Plan to cover Tenryuji-Ninnaji-RyoanJi-Ginkakuji or the other way around. At Tenryuji, most likely will use subway/rail since not exactly covered by 1-day buss pass.

How many days are you staying in Japan? To be honest, moving from Tokyo-Kyoto-Tokyo is not really worth the time and money. Maybe should consider just stay in Tokyo.

Admin fee for Suica/Pasmo is 210yen. But can consider just keep if you decide to visit Japan again next time. It can last 10 years from last transaction.

Not an expert but you can try to look at this http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3051.html

Typical places that ppl visit outside Tokyo is Hakano, Fuji Lake, Nikko, Kamakura, Kusatsu etc.

Unless weather changed drastically, it will be the perfect time since the sakura will be in full bloom. Date indicated is opening date, then about 1 week reach full bloom, then start to decline.

But be prepared since it will be a peak period + school holidays