Yes. Not only JR Rail Pass. There are alot more pass that required purchase outside of Japan.

Yes because JR Pass is only for tourist only. Not applicable for local.

Ok. Mayb can consider that.

So were there any additional payments for out of sentral kyoto? Did you use pass with money or just pay money?

Ok. After much tinkering this is how my itinerary going to look like for now:

Day 1:
Fly to KIX reach at 945pm leave airport by airport bus to Kyoto Station

Day 2:
Kiyomizu-dera temple
Sannen-Zaka and Ninen Zaka Street
Chion In Temple
Shore in Temple
Nishiki Market
Fushimi Inari
Mayb gion for dinner

Day 3 :
Arashiyama
Tenryuji Temple
Bamboo Forest
Okochi Sanso Villa
Kinkakuji Temple
Daitokuji Temple


Day 4:
Ginkakuji Temple
Honen In Temple
Path of Philosophy
Eikando Temple
Head to Osaka

Day 5:
Hiroshima + Miyajima Day Trip

Day 6:
USJ

Day 7
Spend day in Osaka (Not sure yet what to do)

Day 8:
Take train to Kanazawa
Take bus to Takayama
Chill out in Takayama
Hida Folk Village Illumination

Day 9:
Shirakawa Half Day Tour (Package)
Shirakawa Light Up Tour (Package)

Day 10:
Takayama Walk Around
Head back to Osaka

Day 11:
Last minute sightseeing/Shopping
Fly back to KL.

Any comments on the above and any idea where to go in Osaka.. Nothing really popping out at me to go see so far except the aquarium.. mayb the castle.. More like makan place i think.

are you planning to buy any passes?

Yup. Kansai Hiroshima Pass and Takayama Hokuriku Pass

But both pass is for 5 days which imho your itinerary doesn't fully utilize the pass. why don't you focus either one? just my 2 cents but it's up your preferences

The Kansai Hiroshima is for first 5 days and the last 5 days is covered by the Takayama Hokuriku Pass which covers all of the trip there. Thats based on my discussion with HIS and JTB.

yes i know it's covered. what i mean is that your day first 5 days is mostly in Kyoto/Osaka based on your itinerary which use less Jr lines. same as the last 5 days.. as you did take up tour on day 9 which transportation already covered.. just my views but anyway that is your trip.. decision is on yours

Yeah true. Just need to calculate my costs for the first pass and see if it covers. The train to Hiroshima is expensive I guess might cover with that and can use it for train to Kyoto from airport I guess?..

you can use hyperdia to calculate your cost. yes the train to hiroshima itself is expensive. so if you have round trip, it's already pay off. kansai hiroshima area pass can't be use on shinkansen from kyoto to osaka or vice versa but you can use it on jr conventional train line. you mentioned that your arrival time is 9.45pm so i'm not sure whether you wanna activate your pass on that day itself or not.

This post has been edited by yvonnesoo: Nov 20 2017, 12:48 PM

Yup2 considering that. But since if I dont use it the subsequent date is USJ which i dont think i can utilize the cards too so may not have any difference. haha I am more worried i screw up usage of passes.

Hi, I will be traveling to Japan in March next year. Thus, here is the big picture of my itinerary.
This trip, I am more focus balance of city and scenery environment. Mix of both worlds. Any recommendations?

Also when comes to JR Line Pass - I saw it cost RM1k plus and must be purchased in Malaysia right?


Day 1
-Haneda Airport (Landing @ night 9.30pm).
-Hotel @ Shibuya (I am open to other recommendation for cheap yet cheerful accommodation).
-Roam freely around Shibuya surroundings for supper.

Day 2
-Breakfast at Shibuya area. (See See)
-Hachiko Status , Shibuya Crossing, Museum of Yebisu Beer & Garden Place.
-Cat Street, Tsutaya Daikanyama, Shopping areas
-Harujuku – Surrounding (see see)
-Snoopy Museum at Roppongi (Night).

Day 3 – (Saturday)
-Ginza – shopping and see see
-Ikebukuru
-Shinjuku (Metropolitan Building –Night)

Day 4 – (Sunday)
-Trip to Yokohama
-Visit Cup Noodle Museum
-China Town, Hakkeijima Sea Paradise, Moto Machi Shopping Street, Lalaport, Red Brick Warehouses
-Yokohama Ramen Museum
-Mount Fuji (TBC)

OR (Another Option) – But traveling going to be time-consuming & costly.
Ibaraki Prefecture
-Fukurade Falls – 2hours from Tokyo
-Oarai Iso Sakis Shirine
-Hitachi Seaside Park

Day 5 – (Monday)
-Disneyland (Whole day?)
-Surrounding of Odaiba / Chiba Prefecture

Day 6
-Ueno District & Asakusa
-Ueno Park, Ueno Izayaka-Machi, Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Garden, Nadeshiko Asakusa Ekimise,
-Asakusa Culture & Toursim Center, Sensoji Shrine.


Day 7 – Mostly tag along the JR Yamato (Line)
-Shinjuku,
-Ikebukuro - Kit Kat Store, Seibu Dept Store.
-Roppongi

Day 8 - Flight is night flight (11pm)
-So thinking to tag around Hadena area.


This is my first time to Japan and hopefully, there are some recommendations.

There are also a few places under my list but I am not sure whether is worth to go.

1. Tobu World Square,
2. Kusatsu Onsen
3. Railway Museum
4. Kamakura
5. Kawogoee

This post has been edited by incredibless: Nov 20 2017, 03:24 PM

that's why you need to plan your itinerary properly beforehand.. else USJ you can put it on your day 10? or as i mentioned go for either one. because if you didn't utilize the pass, it's kind of wasted. for eg. kansai hiroshima area pass, beside going to hiroshima/miyajima, there are still others places that worth to visit. such as himeji, nara, uji, kurashiki, wakayama, tottori, okayama, okunoshima, etc

Nah. Cant really put on day 10. The ride back to Osaka will reach around 6pm. But Hiroshima and back is worth it already I think. Seems pretty packed as it is already.

Your day 5 Disneyland will be a whole day and even then it’s doubtful you will finish the whole park. Plan your fastpass tickets carefully. U intend to skip DisneySea?

This post has been edited by chaos32: Nov 20 2017, 08:26 PM

Hi Friends,

Just to share my last April 2017 itinerary when visit Tokyo and Osaka.

[/U]Day 1
Arrive in Narita Airport, active JR Rail Pass.
From Narita to Tokyo by Narita Express.
Then Tokyo to Osaka by shinkansen then check in hostel at Namba.

Day 2
Go Universal Studio Osaka.
Night go Shinsekai.

Day 3
Run anti-clockwise with JR Osaka loop line for
a) Shitennoji Temple (Tennoji Station)
b)Osaka Castle (Osakajokoen Station)
c) Sakuranomiya Park for cherry blossom
d) Umeda Sky Building, Pokemon Centre, HEP Five (osaka station)
e) Back to Namba and go Dontodori

Day 4
Go to kyoto by haruka train.
Visit as below
a)Saga-Arashiyama
b)Kiyomizu-dera
c)Fushimi Inari
Before back, stop at Tennoji Station and go to Abeno Harukas Department Store..

Day 5
Wake up early and breach tokyo at 1pm.
Drop luggage at Shibuya.
Anticlockwise for yamanote line.
Visit
a) Akihabara
b) Ueno Park
c) Shinjuku

Day 6
Disney sea + Shibuya

Day 7
Go to odawara by shinkansen and buy hakone pass.
Hakone 1 day trip.
Go Owakudani, Souzan, Hakone Ropeway......
and Kowakien Yunessun for Red Wine, Green Tea, Coffee onsen….

Day 8
Tokyo tower, Shinsoji Temple, Tokyo Sky Building. (Tokyo Subway 1 day ticket).
Go to haneda airport, flight departure at 2330....

<<END>>

And really miss Japan.......

Yes will only focus Disneyland. Where can i purchase the tickets in advance besides klook? Fast pass tickets? Care to share more about it?

I have always bought my tickets at the hotel since I prefer to stay there for the duration I am in Disney so I am afraid I cant help you with the cheaper ticket part. The advantage of staying at the Disney Hotel's is I am guaranteed tickets and other privileges. FastPass is essential especially if you are attempting to try to finish Disney in a day. Read more at this link - http://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/help/tds_fastpass.html

Seems pretty complete and nicely done. Just some suggestions:

1. Day 3
- Ginza - be there around 12noon onwards to experience Pedestrian's Heaven.
- Tokyo Metropolitan Building : check the time before you go. They close around 6 or 7pm if I'm not mistaken.

2. Day 4
- Personally I'll choose either Yokohama or Mt Fuji as Ibaraki area is nice to explore - and suggest to stay overnight there for a 2-days-1-night thing.

3. Day 5
- After Disneyland go Odaiba? It'll take you around 40min-1 hour. But seemed like a long day. Sure you have enough energy to do Odaiba?
- Suggest you do a half-day trip to Odaiba instead as there are 2-3 malls, new Gundam and Fuji broadcast tower worth checking out.

Others
- Not so sure bout Onsen and Railway but I heard Kamakura is beautiful. Didn't manage to cover it in my previous trip but will be going in my next one.
- Kawagoe is just alright. It's very touristy with narrow lanes to walk. Been there once and it's off my list - not planning to go back unless there's major changes to the place.

This post has been edited by sweet_pez: Nov 21 2017, 10:11 AM