We're prolly somewhat of a same kind then. I am not a temple guy myself since I go around for food and views. But i do go to some parks since they have breathtaking views.
A bit of advice, bring a sweater along if you're staying out later than 7PM. It may not be so cold during the day, but when it gets dark the chill gets so much more intense. A down jacket would be nice since it's space friendly.

As a foodie, I winced at your duration for Osaka and Kyoto since they have awesome food, view and attractions.
Then again.. I do not know the focus of your trip so.. yeah..



About Nara.. as I did not visit temples as much(still visited a number of them in Kansai) I don't find a lot of interesting stuff there. If you don't care about temples and deer, might as well skip it.

I got my pocket wifi from Wiyo when they promoted RM14 perday for Japan. It's now RM20 tho.. They'll call, meet and give you the device before your departure(you state the date and time) and they'll call you to pick up when you arrive.
If you departure/touchdown at KLIA2, it's self service at their counter for both pick up and return.
Some other providers are offering RM15 per day but I can't tell about the service. Just read through their rental steps and you'll be fine.

hi there.. 7 day metro pass? i only read got 3day max metro pass.. can i know more on 7days pass?

Uh.. i think i remembered wrongly? maybe it's 3 days

EDIT: yeah 3 days. its the 72 hours Metro Pass. My bad!

This post has been edited by Grimtooth: Jun 5 2017, 09:35 AM

1. 10 days will be a bit rush. I stayed 9 days in tokyo few months ago and it is barely enough, and I only visited one shrine/temple only which is the sensoji temple. Others, not interested. But since you've already booked, so you just have to prioritize which one you really want to visit.

2. Cant comment for JR pass but for Tokyo, a suice/pasmo card will be able to cover most of your travel around central tokyo.

3. I stayed in hotel and honestly, very hard to find a decent and convenient hotel at Rm200 per night. Mine is around RM400+ per night but location and only 3-5 mins walk to metro station.

4. I went to Hakone to view Mt Fuji. actually it all depends on the weather. If there's clear skies, you can view it from observation decks in some of the buildings in Tokyo. If weather is foggy, you can't even view it in Hakone. I only saw it clearly on my way to Hakone in the morning.. after 10am, it is already covered by fog.

5. Mobile wifi is better and cheaper, especially if travelling in groups, can split the cost. If you use simcard, other people won't be able to use it, or if u hotspot, your phone battery will go flat very fast.

Alamak.. Thanks for the feedback.

1. No choice, since booked another thing is our boss will not let us take so long holiday off work.

2. Not worried about Tokyo. 7 days JR national pass is now RM1100+/- and the one way back to Tokyo from Kyoto is already RM550, i have another RM550 budget to cover traveling around Kansai (Osaka to Kyoto to Kobe or maybe Nara will be more than RM550? Sorry i havent got the time to sit down and count it in Hyperdia)

3. RM400 and u stayed for 9 days in tokyo! I did research and averagely tokyo hotel is RM350++ and if airbnb is around RM200 to RM250 for decent. As for kansai, hotel can get around RM250 and for Airbnb around RM150 below.

4. Yes, really depends on time and luck. But at the same time, we plan to try onsen. Just abit research, it seems kawaguchiko onsen has better view of Mt. Fuji compared Hakone's onsen. (Might be wrong) But i need ideas on how to go Kawaguchiko from Kyoto. Some suggest to back Tokyo and go from Shinjuku will be better.

5. Just my wife and i so we will get one sim card and share hotspots. Some Airbnb provide free portable wifi as well.

I guess we are really same kind, both of us are travel foodies.. especially me. Hence the main objective of this trip is i want to experience authentic japanese food.

Well 90% will skip Nara and keep the budget for Kobe and for onsen in either Hakone or kawaguchiko.

If you plan to go to Onsen, one option is Atami which is between Kyoto and Tokyo, though its much nearer to Tokyo.
Its cheaper than Kawaguchiko and easier for you to access from Kyoto and depending on luck, you might get a view of Mt Fuji too. Dont think a lot of tourist goes there but for Japanense its famous for its onsen.

Thanks for the tips. Will look it up.

Typically late March to early April. Some place may carry on to mid-April. It depends on the weather that year. This year sakura bloomed a bit later.

You can see the chart of sakura locations for 2017 ...

Hanami Japan: Popular spots 2017

For reference, Kyoto 14th April.

omg.. i actually followed 2017 time and booked my flight. We will be there from 2nd week to 3rd week. I see mostly its early April..

Hey I'm planning for a solo trip from 1st April 2018 to somewhere around 10th-13th depending on the pricing of AirAsia, Singapore Airlines and JAL.

Here's some question that I have in mind that I need you guys to help me with so please bear with me.
Is it advisable for me to book flight ticket/airbnb as early as now given that the date that I'm planning to go is pretty much "hot" season for tour industry in Japan. (don't really plan to stay in hotel because I'm traveling alone and don't really care about comfort either since I'm just going to sleep there)

Actually I don't have much thing planned for my trip except going here and there around Kanto aimlessly to enjoy cherry blossom and the concrete jungle of Akihabara for the first half of my trip and maybe attend AKB Theater or some of the band concert that I'm interested with if they ever perform in the period of me being over there.

After Kanto I'm planning to go to Kansai region for the second half of the trip maybe enjoy one or two temple visit and rent a car for 2 days just to go and enjoy driving aimlessly and get lost. I will return back to Malaysia from Kansai Airport if I don't have anything new planned for the trip for the time being, like if I'm crazy enough to go to Sapporo after Kansai maybe then something will change.

Planning a trip to Japan in late August. Bought the ticket on impulse, should've bought the ones in October oh well, no harm done. If I'm lucky I could see fireworks.

How hot will it'll be compared to the local weather?

I went to Tokyo twice during mid of July.......it was look liked in the oven/sauna.
I think August will be hotter.

a lot of airbnb users also reported that the free portable wifi provided by airbnb operators/owners have already finished the data quota or near to finish. So I guess it depends on a bit of luck and timing see whether you're one of the first users during the data cycle period.

I think you've answered your question knowing its the peak, yes, you should book your flight (when its cheap) and subsequently your accommodation. Or course from now till April '18 there are appx 7 months+ so you have plenty of time to plan. Most importantly map out a rough itinerary, so that you know which date you're aiming to go Tokyo and which date for Kyoto back to KL.


Have not been there for Summer and I'm not keen book your accommodation earlier because it tends to be full, and some places may encounter problem with water due to the heat.

Try the cherries, ume and peaches! They are in season during Summer!

http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/japanese-fruit

You can do a search in the internet for schedule of all the fireworks. I am sure they have it in the internet especially those big ones in Odaiba or Akasuka.
August will be very hot in Tokyo. I always dread going to work as when I reach office I will be drench with sweat. Unlike MY we take Public Transport and most buses/train temperature at set to 27C.

That's the risk of Airbnb. Or was it for all airbnbs? Never used airbnb. Even for my Taiwan trip we book direct with owners of minsu.

Thanks for the alert about portable wifi.

That's news to me. I have booked and stayed in Tokyo twice in 2016 and have not encountered this problem

I've been to Tokyo in August. It's hot and humid ... but not like really THAT much hotter than KL (maybe 1-2deg warmer). The main difference is that when we are "back home" we are normally in air conditioned comfort in car, shopping mall, office etc and only go outdoors in short bursts.

When you're on holiday you spend a lot more time walking and sightseeing outdoors, so the sweat builds up on the clothes a lot more