yes,bus is a good backup if fail the catch the train.

only down point is that it will takes long time to your destination.

You're already back?
Come come, share your experience and itinerary

in japan now? heard this morning japan earthquake in east side, tokyo can feel the building shake

Hi All,

Would like to get your suggestion.
We (couple) are planning to Hokkaido for autumn scenery in early November this year. Plan to visit Hokkaido for a 12 or 13 days visit.
Currently we've not book the air ticket yet as we are thinking if it will be too long for a trip of 12 days to Hokkaido, instead maybe a Hokkaido + Tokyo Trip would be better. If Hokkaido + Tokyo trip, we are planning to fly to Hokkaido > Tokyo > KL. So we need to make up our mind before purchase the air ticket(either a return ticket to Hokkaido or 1 way tic to Hokkaido, then to Tokyo, then.. etc).

So would like to check you guys opinion, is it too long for a 12 days trip to Hokkaido only? Or its better to include Tokyo in the trip?
*If added Tokyo, we'll go for Studio Ghibli, ramen-cup studio etc. If Hokkaido only, we'll have more time for each of places like Sounkyo, niseko, etc.

*Some elaboration on what we like - we not really interested into those biscuit making class (saw some blog that there is a place in hokkaido for this), as we love to take photos (of ourselves) we are more into scenery(cant wait for that mt. yotei background shooting from niseko ground), or nice buildings (temple/old buildings) as background, or new environment city (like tokyo modern city).


I know everyone's interest in a trip may be different, but would like to get some opinion from those that visited Japan. Is 12 Days Hokkaido-only Trip is too long?

Thanks

http://kencantravel.com/10-12-days-hokkaido-itinerary-ideas/

am living somewhere nearby Kanazawa. although its purchasable from Kanazawa station, but too bad, it seems that the ticket can only be purchased by tourist

haven't been on the alpine route, look nice from the photos!

12 days seems pretty decent for visiting Hokkaido. I would suggest to start from Hakodate in your itinerary (they have cheap and fresh seafood in morning market, couldn't find in big city like Sapporo). Along the way you can visit Otaru (small city but quite beautiful and romantic), Noboribetsu (for its onsen, go for Dai-ichi Takimotokan-they have the best) and Jigokudani, Daisetsuzan National Park (if you like to see mountain), Lake Toya, Furano (for its lavender field), and Sapporo (the big city).
Tokyo itself can take around 4 days if you plan to visit popular landmark and quite pricey if you want to spend more time in big city.

Those suggestion is based on my own experience and its pretty much packed for its schedule, if you want more relax time, go for 15 days in Hokkaido


Btw flight from KL to Shin Chitose airport is around 8hours, so if you include that in your 12 days itinerary, u will mostly left with effective 10 days.


This post has been edited by iluvcalculus: Mar 31 2018, 11:36 AM

hi guys. questions about timeline during flight.

from KL to Tokyo, haneda, 4th June 2.40pm depart from KL and arriving at Tokyo Haneda 10.30pm.

and from Osaka KIX, 10pm depart and arriving in KL at 4am in the morning.

I mean will there be any big difference in the timeline? Or is the arrival time stated above is based on the time in Tokyo already?

All arriving and departure time will be in local time.
Means u will depart from KL at 2.40 pm malaysia time, and arrive in tokyo at 10.30 pm tokyo time.
Same with ur departure from Osaka (10pm osaka time) and arrive in KL 4am malaysia time.
Tokyo is one hour ahead from malaysia time.

wadever time quoted on the official airline booking sites are destination time zone

very much appreciated for both sifu's opinion. i shall proceed with my hotel and itinery planning. Thanks.

Hey guys!

I'm heading to Tokyo on Monday. My return flight is about 10AM. The Airbnb I'm staying is at Shinjuku. I'm planning to take the train to Tokyo Station then board Access Narita bus to Narita Airport. Based on your experience, what time is best to leave the Airbnb to the train station? How long does it take from Tokyo Station to Narita airport using Access Narita bus?

Japan transportation is very punctual. Train timing is on the dot while highway bus typically arrive slightly early than scheduled. You can plan according to the schedule that they have

Just when i’m ok to purchase full fare, the JR ppl decided to throw a curveball again.

Now they are doing advanced sales ticket from 2-6pm a day before for 15-16 April. Now I’m worried that it could get sold out (or very late departure time) for same-day sales at 5am

Thanks a lot for the suggestion.
Yea, we are thinking the same and decided to go for full Hokkaido trip. After look at the schedule , probably will be a 14days trip 👍
But in a dilemma on which date we should go, as we have previous experience visited Korea for autumn, we visit on 12th October and the results was the trees n leafs are not so foliage yet. After back to KL, we have colleague that visit Korea in early November and the foliage is so pretty.
Not sure if Hokkaido will be the same as Korea, read many online stated that November is a bad month to visit as all the foliage will be over and the snow is yet to start.

So we have 2 dates to start or 14 days Hokkaido’s trip, either 20oct-2nov or 27oct-7nov. Which one do you think would be better?

Thanks a lot guys. Appreciate.

Hi,

When I was in Tokyo 2016, I also stayed in Shinjuku, airbnb. I took Narita airport bus from Hilton hotel and it took 1.5 hr to reach narita. I took 6.00 am bus.

If I buy Fuji-Hakone Pass + RomanceCar, I can take RomanceCar from Shinjuku to Hakone then take any transportation available travel between Hakone and Fuji; when come back to Shinjuku from Fuji I have to take Chuo Highway Bus, is my understanding correct? Is it always recommended to book RomanceCar beforehand? My flight will touch down at Haneda at 630AM. How much buffer time should I put to decide what time I should board RomanceCar? I'm thinking to keep my luggage at Shinjuku Station luggage storage probably so that I don't need to carry around during my trip to Fuji & Hakone. Please advise.

Yes. You are correct. When you buy the pass, i think they will ask how are you going to take the route i.e. highway bus first to Kawaguchiko or train first to Hakone.

Unless u are travelling on Golden Week, I don’t think Romancecar will be fully booked. You can purchase it on the spot

I will be there on the 22nd. they say can buy before 1 day of your departure date in advance. so i think you can get it when you're there

if you're going to see Autumn foliage, i suggest you check again whether Hokkaido is the right place to go. By November i think it should be winter if im not mistaken

Thanks for confirming. I'm going on Oct 24 it's Wednesday, I guess should be less crowd right? Do you think it's worth to stay one night near Fuji then another night Hakone OR both night at Hakone?