just back from Japan last Friday.
My 5th Trip to japan, i like chubu so much, so this time i go kanto and chubu again, self drive
Destinations i visit
- Tokyo - Disneyland and DisneySEA
Christmas special event is superb, personally i prefer Disneyland, it is much much better compare to DisneySEA in terms of the street parade and environemt
- Mount Haruna
mainly for initial D, it actually quite short, only take about 10 mins drive from start point to end point. i actually booked toyota 86 for this destination, but due to 86 do not have snow tyre, i change to toyota prius, so not so shiok, but achievement done
- Karuizawa
town inside a jungle, everywhere also tree, more like an European town than a japanese town, houses are in European style build inside the jungle, each houses have some distance, not like japanese style houses beside houses. very peaceful and relax, my visit was not a good timing, a lot of attraction having renovation or maintenance, very low light pollution, i can see full of star in my hotel room area
- Kusatsu
a place everywhere also got onsen, longkang water also got steam come out. a very nice and peaceful onsen town
- Yudanaka - Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park
famous onsen town because of a bunch of monkeys enjoy open bath onsen
- Ryuoo Ski Park
heavy snow area, start snowing at the beginning of December, this year winter coming early, when i was there (mid december), the snow is about 100cm, first time to learn what powder snow was
- Matsumoto
do not have much time at this destination, only visit matsumoto castle during the night and morning
- Kawaguchi
visit all the 5 lakes, personally Lake Yamanaka got the best mount Fuji view, didnt manage to shooting the diamond fuji, the timing is too short. visit the Aokigahara (famous suicide forest) didnt go in deep, as i have young children with me. FYI, last week, a blogger found a dead body when filming this forest, google logan paul
- Shimoda
i visit this place because of kinmedai fish and Japanese spiny lobster, i like kinmedai do much, during the 1 day visit, we had 4 whole kinmedai fish, this fish is expensive in Singapore, but not so in this place. Visit the Tsumekizaki Park, wild narcissus flower full blossom the whole park is full of flower, see the sunset at Tsumekizaki light house

Accormodations
- Hilton Tokyo Bay
stay here is because Disney resort fully booked, family room is big and nice, only have 3 restaurants, dinner buffet is nice and reasonable price, got a convenient store inside hotel, you can get bento here, if you opt for budget food, service is good, staffs are friendly, overall 7/10
- Hoshinoya Karuizawa
my friend recommended this resort, it only accept 2 nights stay and above, super nice environment, got 2 onsen, 1 is open for public, another one is only for resort guest, room is huge and comfortable, i'm staying lakeside room (Mizunami), service is superb, you just need to make a call and everything will arrange for you nicely. the in room dining is a great experience, a must try. the only downside, going any place (within the resort) you need to call a car to come and bring you. overall 9.5/10
- Ryokan Tokinoniwa
this ryokan got 2 buildings, Tokinoniwa and Konoha, Konoha only provide standard room, Tokinoniwa only provide room with private onsen bath (im staying this), as per standard package come with 2 meals, breakfast and dinner (kaiseki), it got 2 big onsen (open air and indoor), 2 different hot spring source overall 8.5/10
- Yuyado Sekiya
a small new ryokan with only 8 rooms, this ryokan got 2 big onsen (open air and indoor), 3 private open air onsen, very near to the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park entrance, peaceful and quiet, i'm staying in a big room with private onsen bath, inside the room got a bose wave sound touch, 60 inch tv and a massage chair, service is great, 2 meals are delicious, the only downside is they got too little staffs, about 5, overall 9/10
- Richmond Hotel Matsumoto
business hotel with great location, 10 mins walk to matsumoto castle, beside is parco shopping mall, downside, i need to pay parking fees, even it was belong to the hotel. overall 7/10
- Cottage Pastorale
very small double storey house, great location, from the room window, you can see the mount fuji, 10 mins walk to Kawaguchiko Music Forest, stay here for 2 nights, having a bbq at the house garden with temperature 2c is definitely a great exp
- Gardenvilla Shirahama Resort Hotel
very pretty seaside villa, owner is very kind and good English speaking, you can see pacific ocean from your room window, the sunrise is beautiful, and you can view it from this hotel. overall 8/10
- KEIKYU EX INN Shinagawa-Station - Tokyo Shinagawa
business hotel with great location, opposite is Shinagawa-Station, only take 5 station to shibuya, downside, i need to go lobby to take extra bath towel overall 6.5/10

additional sharing, uber in tokyo only provide premium, price is about the same as Singapore, but non peak period, it is cheaper compare to Singapore