Sounds like you had a good trip! Glad to hear that did you enjoy Nikko? Not sure if you managed to get to Kinugawa and see the suspension bridge?
I think a lot of people gave their feedbacks. If you ask me, as long as your return date (on the day you're due to fly back to Malaysia from Japan) your passpost validity is no less than 6 months, it's still okay.

But if you're worried, might as well go renew it. Passport renewal is fast and efficient these days i went to UTC Sentul the last round at around 6.30pm and there was no one. I was served immediately and within 15-20min I got my new passport ady.
Awesome!!!Did you go to any onsen?
What about the gassho-zukuri (triangle roof houses) in Shirakawa Go? It needs to be booked early as well because if it's last minute it's usually full. Your itinerary seems fine to me

LOL, lucky you didn't try Japan domestic route. 
Once you try fly domestic, no more wonderful experience on Japan carrier anymore 

Very expensive fare. Almost no service. 1 hour or 3 hour domestic route flight, only one cup of orange juice [Non refill], no snack at all. No Mineral water at all, Just orange juice, take it or leave it. 

During Golden Holiday season, they will arrange international route aircraft to take domestic passenger load. All IFE system in international route aircraft will be shut down. 15 inch LCD infornt of you also can't see anything.    Pocket Magazine are fully Japanese, no single English word.
You will boring to dead on aircraft.......

You cant used any electronic device on aircraft, You cant even watch movies or drama from your handphone......I once tries, due to too boring, Japanese guy sit beside me stare at me like I kill his whole families......
Fukuoka to Sapporo flight, almost 3 hours....It was most boring flight I ever takes....

Been know some time.

It is some windy road uphill and downhill. Just like genting. There is 1 stress of road that even have music rhythm when drive over at a constant speed.

You can stop some view point scenery. It lead to a some resort town famous with onsen.

Next week will go over there once more.

Very nice photos, what camera did you used?

Time Machine activated 

2017 December Otaru
Otaru city view from Mt Tengu

i am planning to self drive from tokyo to hakone and kawaguchiko. 

do i need those jr pass mention by the way?

where is this? I google ryokyo cant find details. Hard for beginner or not? So beautiful

anyone can search flight on AA website now?

guess not right timing huh? trees botak ady

Stunning pictures

Wow, that is beautiful. When i was there early of this year cant even see much of the Mt Fuji. Mainly covered with clouds.
But i got to see Sakura blooming.