Hi,

Anyone try book JAL domestic flight thru their website before?
I was trying to book but after finish key in credit card along with the sms code. No confirmation given.. no news at all. I call their customer services, they only say no payment receive, dun even see credit card info. I call my bank, bank say.. no transaction. Sigh.. fed up. Am planning to fly Haneda->Sapporo; then Sapporo -> Osaka. In view that their promo giving 2bag x 23kg.

If given choice, I will avoid reaching foreign place at night. As my last trip reach Kyoto around 6pm (winter) and we have a hard time looking for our Ryokan. Not an issue with the cold night, but so happen thats too quiet to find any ghost to ask for direction.

Am going this year end with this route:
KL > Tokyo (3N)> Hokkaido (6N) > Osaka (4N) > KL
Reach Tokyo early morning, but leave osaka also early morning (by MAS)

For me, purposely putting Osaka last, as we have our shopping list to do there. Went Osaka several times, hence know where to get our stuff in the shortest time possible. We know Tokyo is shopping heaven.. but since is 1st time, we'll be missing lots of our time looking for route/way.

I did that during my last trip, 7-8days.. Kyoto first, then Osaka. As usually I prefer to shop in Osaka, so leave the heavier bag at the end of trip.
Since you reach late night, suggest you to get an easily accessible + very visible hotel in Kyoto (at least for the night you arrive). As I have bad experience, looking for my Ryokan, which I thought is easily accessible (yes, it is.. near Kyoto Station) .. but well hidden inside the neighbourhood (Ryokan!). Gosh! Most regretful 1.
For Osaka, I always stay Namba, walking distance to Namba/Nankai Station.

jhua, actually there are lots of convenient flight from KL-Osaka. Since you will be landing in Tokyo, why not just concentrate on Tokyo, or internal flight to Hokkaido instead of Kansai area (as KL-Hokkaido flight are lesser compare KL-Osaka), hence more worth the travel time. Leave Kansai area for next time.

But if flight already confirm, no choice.. then suggest to spend more days in Kyoto as more scenic and quiet compare Osaka. Please be reminded DIY trip is require lots of walking, train and bus (unless u drive). Hence, avoid frequent change of hotel and changing city/town especially with elderly.

For Osaka, I usually say around Namba with around 5-10min walking distance to Namba-Nankai station. This to ease travelling as well as dragging luggage to catch train to KIX. The place also around Dotonbori, Den Den town, Kuromon Market, etc.. I get all my shopping fix there. For sightseeing, can just hop in the metro at Namba station.

But as for which hotel, can't tell you. Coz I used to enjoy Hillarys Hotel, where I stay (triple room) Rm800plus for 4 nights with buffet breakfast - 5yrs ago. But 3 yrs ago, I paid around RM400plus/night for 2pax with set breakfast. And now they already selling their room at RM1K+ !!
Am going end Nov (3pax), Viaggro Hostel in average around RM400 incl tax.
Don't wait too long... Osaka hotels selling like hot cakes.. their prices can increase fast.

As for Kyoto, last time I stay near Kyoto station, is a Ryokan.. average Rm350/night.. won't recommend this.. as ryokan sleep on the floor.. back ache.

Have you ever DIY vacation before? If you did before, you know your pace well.
What I usually did is, after list down the place to visit.. go google map or hypedia. Plan out the detail schedule/timetable of the day. Say what time you start the day, travel time between location A to B, time to stopby, lunch duration (whether you plan to walk and eat to save time; or sit in restaurant). You only have say max 12 hours a day (tats quite max), with travel time, jalan kaki time.. makan time.. how much time left for you to cover the list of places you want. This omit winter which much shorter day time.

As for time to stopby a place, it depends on your interest. Last time (when stil newbie in planning this stuff), I planned 30min for well known temples (regardless need entrance fees or not). But after several experience, I notice that we actually not willing to pay for entrance wakakakaka.. kedekut. So now I just plan for "look around" the entrance garden and leave about 2 hours extras (nothing) for the day. As I notice our pace is .. we can be fast but suddenly can be drag/halt when seen a cafe or bump into unexpected places that we may stopby. There was a time, we suddenly bump into a huge quiet temple in Kyoto and went in explore.. that took us 1.5hours unexpectedly as we were a bit reluctant to leave and sit at their corridor overlooking the garden for awhile. Search for review and there are many travellers able to tell you whether the place worth to visit.. what in there.. and you analyse whether you want to walk all the way up there just to look at those stuff that could be interesting to others but not you. My experience told me that I don't have strength to climb slope for long duration.. hence I make sure my "walk" worth it, else I won't bother to walk up.

This post has been edited by cc980024: Aug 15 2018, 09:11 AM

Mind to share why buffet breakfast there, anyone recommended it to you?
I assume there are lots of good food in Sapporo, that we don't need to bother look for hotel breakfast.
If Vessel Inn breakfast is well known, I can go try... am going year end.

Tentatively I have all my hotel booked without breakfast. As we used to bring our own coffee press to travel (kaki kopi), thinking to buy bread/cake (I assume Hokkaido good with that) as breakfast before we hit out the street daily.

It depends. For myself, as I went to Osaka, Kyoto several times. I know that my shopping fix will be done at Osaka. This round my trip are Tokyo>Hokkaido>Osaka. Hence, I don't allocate too much time in Tokyo. Anyway, will only be in Tokyo for 3-days. Day-1 (Tokyo Tower, Shinjuku, Harajaku, Shibuya); Day-2 (Hakone), Day-3 (Toyoso Market, Tsukiji, Divercity, Asakusa, Akihabara, Shinjuku-for final sapu as my hubby wanna check out Tower Record). Very much 'touch-n-go' for all the shopping, as I won't go in the shop if I don't think I will purchase anything there. (thou am a lady).. It quite "biasa" tat my hubby is the one who go in & out the shops check things out, while i stand outside asking "can move ady!?"

Hope someone can shred the lights. Of coz if let say they stay in Vessel Inn that come with breakfast, and feel it is good.. then review good. But if ppl purposely go there for their breakfast, then it is very special la.

Best of DIY is.. all are tentative plans.. during the day itself.. play-by-ears. Anytime can add and remove plans.

We encounter before.. love a place too much, which end up decide to cancel next day plan (sacrifies visit to another town), in order to have 1 more day of walking around the same place again.

It seems that you have a primary school kid with you. Do you have the flexibility to travel Jan/Feb.
If not, likeliness to get snow is rare.. but still can pray. Winter doesn't mean snow, ok.

Just like me, we can only go when school holiday, and can't hold til xmas week as to prepare to re-start school.
I am going Hokkaido early Dec, keeping my finger cross.

Shopping time enough, $ not enough only. Hahahaha...
Then.. luggage cannot fit.. exceed baggage
Especially Gundam.. as simply buy also cheaper and better than KL.. basically can close eyes and sapu... hahahaha.

Gundam no choice, furthermore my boy want it with the box. My last trip, I actually throw our winter boots to make way for it.
This round, we are going to bring all the old clothes and intend to wear and throw there, doesn't matter baju buruk as it cover under jacket .. so that our luggage have space to bring shopping items home.

last round to Kansai, actually already 1 same clothes for 2 days. I have tried 1 clothes for 4days.. but cannot.. too busuk
winter clothing dare not put to laundry during vacation.. scare not dry.. if put into dryer .. scare will kecut ... hahahahaha

Hahaha.. good 1.

The Ryokan (Kyoto) I stayed 3yrs ago have private bath (book per use). But I notice is just set up of huge old wooden bucket/tank of hot water in the backyard (looks like no difference from our Malaysian rumah kampung punya backyard). This is within the Ryokan.. not those with scenery. Think again, we won't bath at our kampung house backyard.. why go bath at stranger's place. End up bathroom still best for us. Private bathroom.. haha.

If there is no snow, just winter.. water proof shoe will do too, such as those hiking shoe.

Or like myself, invest on winter gear.. and you will make sure that you have plenty of winter holidays ahead. And take the opportunity to style yourself up, the way that you can't wear in Malaysia.

But.. but but.. if you have sweaty feet.. don't wear those rubber water proof boots (something like those fishing boot.. but now plenty of stylish 1 that make for winter). I have tried that in my last trip to Kyoto... guess what? My feet flooded with water!!! (my sweat!)

For budget wise, can just buy those online winter boot.. and after your trip...if it still looks good.. can keep for next use.

This post has been edited by cc980024: Sep 13 2018, 04:56 PM

Minimally as lady, you can style yourself with a boot, tug in legging along with a short mini skirt, or perhaps a long overcoat (thick yet light fleece material) with nice bottleneck fleece. That's the style that you can't wear in Malaysia.. hahaha. The style to photo.. with jacket, without jacket, with mini skirt, without mini skirt, with beanie without beanie.. hahaha...
I usually brought those and have a foldable shell handy in my backpack. My 1st winter jacket was the usual bulky type, which stays in my storeroom forever after that time travel. Foldable shell (with down feather) is best. And don't bring jeans.. too heavy.

It depends. My 1st try was purchase online.. but not comfy, anyway I survive the trip with feet pain daily.
Then another trip, my hubby got 1 value buy from Universal Traveller.. better rubber base, but after 2 annual trips .. decided to throw it at the airport.. as is quite "dirty" to keep for another year. The boots still works well, just that we choose not to bring it home.
This year end, we buy another new pair as need to survive snow.. take note tat not all winter boot is waterproof.

Of coz mini skirt must go along with legging or mine more like a winter stocking. Not only fashionable, actually skirt is sort of like a safety layer to cover up the bottom, as I don't bring bulky jacket. Only go with foldable shell. And legging actually can be wash daily and dry on-time. 2 legging, use alternately.. can last for full trip no matter how long you go. For my luggage, the only bulky is my leather long boot, as jacket didn't sit in luggage and fleece shirts can be compressed. Sad part is that I can't survive my trip without it, as my feet very troublesome. Have been carrying 2 pairs for every winter holiday, looking for an alternative.. everytime the newer winter footwear will be left behind, not bring home due to luggage limits.. but this old bulky leather (leather skin also peeling) still fly home with me. Sigh. In short, I have been throwing winter footwear every year, until the year I manage to get 1 to replace my "tired" old boot. Special case here.

Actually where you planning to go? Tokyo or Kansai, or both?

Maybe you can source for flight of 'multiple city'.

I am flying in Tokyo, out from Osaka on MAS. Get my ticket during sales about RM1500-1600. Bout RM100-200 more than Return flight of Tokyo during that promo time.

In between, I am taking ANA.. to Hokkaido, then Osaka. Guess my way of transfer is not cheap but minimize my trouble.

For me, I will prevent time consuming travel. As annual leave are very precious, make the most out of your vacation.

This post has been edited by cc980024: Sep 18 2018, 09:13 AM