I stayed in Sukayu Onsen (Sour Hot Spring) which is on my way from Towada Lake to Hirosaki, which houses the "Senjin Buro" a.k.a The Bath of 1000 Bathers, massive mixed indoor onsen. Accidentally tasted the hot spring water, it is really sour!

also went to Nyuto Onsen's Tsurunoyu for a day spa during my stay at Tazawa Lake, another mixed onsen but outdoor. It was raining that day, having the top half of the body exposed to cold weather and your bottom half in warm onsen, amazing experience indeed.

so all together i tried 2 mixed baths during this trip 

Was it near Kamikochi? It is really weird that after I go around from Takayma -> Toyama -> Alpine Route -> Matsumoto -> Kamikochi, I end up come back to Shinrakawago.   

I do not think I am able to come back Matsumoto on time right? I check the bus traveling time is around 2 hour.

Not heard to Sukayu, but I know Tsurunoyu - the milky coloured onsen. It appears nice, i really want to visit that one. Mixed bath aye mesti #mukadapat

Btw how did you go around Tohoku? Drive or go with public transport?

Kamikochi? Not sure but ShirakawaGo is nearby Takayama. So your order of Takayama > ShirakawaGo is fine. Noticed you're planning to stay a night in ShirakawaGo, which prompted me to ask if you've booked the accommodation there haha because it's always fully booked especially winter.

I've not taken the route you planned so it's hard to comment. But one thing for sure, allow more time buffer for travelling because you may need to find the bus stop/ station, walk etc. In fact, there may be a change in timetable sometimes and we're not aware of it. So be sure to double check the bus schedule over there.

Guys, can you guys advise the following? I will purchase the season 5 days tourist pass and will start use once I travel from Takayama to Toyama on Day 5, till Day 9, but will sacrifice one day for Kamikochi as it is not within the pass.

Day1 - Reach Nagoya Airport 7am+.
          Nabana no Sato, Nagoya Castle
          Stay in Nagoya.
Day2 - Take early train to Takayama. 1 day trip in Takayama.
          Takyama Old Town, Hachiman Shrine
          Stay in Takayama for 3 days
Day3 - Take early bus to Shin-Hotaka Ropeway. 1 day trip in Ropeway.
Day4 - Take early bus to Shirakawago Area, 1 day trip in Shirakawago
Day5 - Take early train to Toyama. 1 day trip in Toyama,
          Kurobe Gorge, (another place, still researching)
          Stay in Toyama
Day6 - Take early bus to Kurobe Alpine Route. 1 day trip for 1st half in Alpine Route
        - Stay in Murodo ( Hotel Tateyama )
Day7 - Continue 2nd half in Alpine Route.
        - Stay in Matsumoto.
Day8 - Take early bus to Kamikochi.
          Stay in Kamikochi ( Unable to find hotel )
Day9 - Travel back to Nagoya. Stay in Nagoya for 2 days.
Day10 - SCMaglev & Railway Park + free and easy
Day11 - Travel back in the morning

I'm having hard time getting hotel at Kamikochi. And I also unable to book the bus ticket from Matsumoto to Kamikochi. Hotel Tateyama seems like the only hotel I can book. The rest are full. And yes, it is expensive... Around SGD570... 

U dont have travel insurance?
Its 16C in osaka right?

flight by ana?

JR East Pass (Tohoku Region) + Drive (for Towadako+Oirase leg and Tazawako Leg)

I plan to stay in Takeyama for 3 days and not going to stay in Shinrakawaga and Shin-hotaka area due to traveling time in between. I believe its easier for the next day trip so I can be like Takeyama -> Shin-hotaka -> Back to Takeyama stay another night -> Shinrakawago -> Back to Takeyama stay another night -> Take train to Toyama.

I gave up Kanazawa because of the traveling time to there as well.  And yes, bus schedule is something I need to take note on it, and currently the only bus ticket I cannot book online is from Matsumoto to Kamikochi.

And now I am not sure whether I can find any place to stay in Kamikochi or not. I browse through booking.com and apparently the nearest hotel is infact near Shin-hotaka area.

Guys,
For Hakone freepass, this has to be bought at the counter?
Online booking I think it’s only applicable for romancecar, since it’s showing 1090 yen, which I think doesn’t cover all the other transport.

contemplating whether i should opt for personal wifi dongle or just use the one provided by my Airbnb host. last year i just used the dongle provided by my host, it's a Wimax based connection. a bit wonky whenever i'm inside a building

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

I plan to stay in Takeyama for 3 days and not going to stay in Shinrakawaga and Shin-hotaka area due to traveling time in between. I believe its easier for the next day trip so I can be like Takeyama -> Shin-hotaka -> Back to Takeyama stay another night -> Shinrakawago -> Back to Takeyama stay another night -> Take train to Toyama.

I gave up Kanazawa because of the traveling time to there as well.  And yes, bus schedule is something I need to take note on it, and currently the only bus ticket I cannot book online is from Matsumoto to Kamikochi.

And now I am not sure whether I can find any place to stay in Kamikochi or not. I browse through booking.com and apparently the nearest hotel is infact near Shin-hotaka area.

Thanks. Going to add Shin-hotaka ropeway to my itinerary when I'm at Takayama. But the trip to Shin-hotaka ropeway will likely take at least a day? Considering the travel time there from Takayama would be around 1 1/2 hours and sundown would be around 5pm.

Video from my recent trip to Tohoku  Enjoy!

Video from my recent trip to Tohoku  Enjoy!

Yes. Most likely will take a day travel back and forth to Shin-hotaka. I tried not to pack so many stuff in a day. Definitely this trip is going to be tired as a lot of walking is needed throughout the travel.

Not sure about sun-down. Maybe it is abit later if its on May? Can someone confirm on this?