USJ Ticket if you buy in malaysia for sure it will be expensive than buy in theme park on that day because they got some processing fee. and express pass is a must, iinm express pass only can get on that day you go and buy at gate. The crowd at the gate actually not that crowded during my visit last tuesday. I hope this will help you choose which ride to use express pass if is your first visit. I found out that super popular ride like The Flying Dinosaur, Minion Ride, Final Fantasy, The Harry Potter 4K3D and Hollywood Dream these 5 rides normal queue or single queue need 2 hours atleast. Flying Dinosour and The Harry Potter 4K3D is really nice. Minion ok ok la... Final Fantasy didnt try but my friend said very excited need to wear VR 1. Hollywood Dream no ride but look fun. The express pass will let you choose 1 of the 2 rides on some rides but actually you can go both like my visit. Spider Man Ride or Jurasic Park Ride. Spiderman normal queue 1 hour and single queue 40 mins and for Jurasic Park normal queue 1 hour and single queue 5 mins. So go for jurasic park single queue then use the express pass for spiderman ride. Then those ride like Terminator and Backdraft actually no need express pass because the hall accomadate around 50 ppl++ sekali masuk so the queue clear quite fast. JAWS and Waterworld Closed during my visit. IF you go for the 4 rides express pass you still can ride other popular rides not in your express list. just wait everning a bit like after 5pm or 6pm. normally the rides waiting time reduce to less than 1 hour. but Final Fantasy is so popular there till the queue is still long even when the park want to close liou.

Osaka Amazing Pass is really very the super worth. 2 day pass 3300yen (but i bought from JTB 3600yen.. lol) give you 2 days unlimited train ride except JR train. also free entry for the Tempozan Ferry Wheel (800yen), Osaka Bay Cruise Ship(1300yen), Umeda Sky Building (1000yen), Osaka Castle (600 yen), The Cruise Boat inside the city (Dono how much ady). This few already cover the 3600 yen liou. not yet include others. so this pass really a good deal. Use this pass to get 100 yen off the Kaiyukan Aquarium and also discount on other stuff or restaurant.

Anyway for me the Kaiyukan aquarium a bit boring. its got big aquarium but u basically start on the top floor then u pusing the big aquarium in the middle with whale shark in it and pusing like 4 rounds till the bottom then walk to other section where you can touch sting ray then nothing liou... i personally prefer kyoto aquarium more.

Did you plan to get Kansai Area Pass to go Himeji, Kyoto, Arashiyama and Nara?

thanks for taking the time to write. I don't plan to get express pass cuz I don't really like thrill rides (or I should say I'm scared of thrill rides), I just plan to visit cuz my friend never been in any Universal Studio before. But I also don't plan to only buy entrance tickets there cuz wasting time queuing even before entering the park, I'd say Klook's price is quite reasonable, just wondering any agent in Matta fair can give a significantly better price than Klook or not.

Ya I calculated how worth is the Osaka Amazing Pass too, its really so much cheaper than combine entrance fee for half the attractions included.

I also having second thoughts on Kaiyukan aquarium as its just seeing fish (and also because they say go Singapore one better), currently only considering it because I have half a day of vacant schedule in my itinerary (after also allocating for other free and easy stroll) so only considering it to fill up the itinerary since I can't really find other things to do in Osaka.

I've planned 1 day USJ, 2 days Osaka Amazing Pass, 2 days Kyoto, 1 day Kobe, 1 day free and easy shopping, half day harukas 300, now left half more day don't know what to do.

Sifu please help need your opinion on this

1. Going to Fuji Q and Hakone (Onsen and do all those Odakuwani, etc. trip) should I sleep at Hakone or just go back to Tokyo and the next day go back to enjoy? Pros going back is no need to bring luggage that's all lol

2. If going to Nikko, is it better to sleep there or how? I've read that it's a very big place but really unsure if should spend a night there. Yet again lazy to haul my big luggage prefer to make a base in Tokyo lol.

1. Stay 1 night if possible. You can leave luggage at coin locker and retrieve when you're back.

2. Recommend to stay a night there. The pass itself is not cheap so more worthwhile for you to stay a night since you're already there and no, just pay a little for coin locker and chuck your big luggage there! Just pack enough for 2D1N in Nikko in a backpack or handcarry.

eh is it possible to leave your luggage for 2 days inside a locker? I thought its for 24 hours only lol

My Rough Itinerary but wanted to focus more on the day 5-7

5. Hakone - Hakone Yuryo, The Pirate Ship Thingy, Sleep at airbnb
6. Fuji Five Lakes - Fuji Q and sightseeing. sleep at airbnb
7. Fuji Five Lakes to Tokyo

Possible or not lol

any other suggestions that sifus can add up?

Which area is the best to stayin Hakone and Fuji Five Lakes?

I recall signboards at Tokyo station lockers reminding gaijins that maximum storage is 3 days only. Don't know if it's 3 calendar days or 72hrs though.

3 days not 72 hours. By the 4th day they will clear the locker

have you bought express pass for USJ?

i bought mine but the express pass that i bought have limited time.

for example :

9.30-10 - FF ride
10.30-11 Minion

is this normal?

yes that's how express pass works, it basically schedule your rides

Yup... the set the time for the flying dinosaur and harry potter. I think is their way to control the queue for express lane.

2 more questions:

1. Is google map a reliable tool for rail commuting? HyperDia don't have map and have to key in exact station name so not that user friendly.

2. When booking online for ICOCA + Haruka, it ask which date I'm gonna take Haruka express to Osaka. However as my flight arrive 9.30pm, any flight delay or immigration delay would mean I will only take the Haruka express the next day instead of day I land. What should I do?

This post has been edited by shirley_andy: Mar 16 2018, 12:14 AM

1. google maps is very sufficient and efficient for the rail commuting. very accurate

2. icoca can buy at japan. just go to the information counter. haruka i'm not sure

but I want the special design one, so have to book online first right?

I kept our luggage for more than 48 hours at Shinjuku station. Going to Kawaguchiko just for 2 nights so lazy to drag along those heavy luggage. 72 hours is the max if im not mistaken and the door will open automatically

yes, need online booking
if you flight reach at 9:30pm, better don't buy the special design
the machine can buy normal ICOCA

special design is what design? astro man at train counter. hello kitty at JR counter.

so it's actually better to buy USJ ticket at USJ itself since it will be cheaper than buying locally right ?

as for Kaiyukan...it's widely known as the 2nd best aquarium in japan while the best is Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, i have been to singapore one and i prefer kaiyukan more but that's personal preference

never been to kyoto aquarium though

USJ u just need to look for deals like in klook apps. Sometime can be very very cheap lile last friday buy1free1 offers.
Kaiyukan is the second best, its cheaper as well if u buy outside and u may skip the Q to go in. Sometime their Q are crazy for Kaiyukan.
Kyoto u may skip if u already been to Kaiyukan.

i missed the buy1free1 deal...but even if i buy also not my travel date unfortunately, hopefully got another promo coming up

thanks for the info ...haha