Futon during winter no problem lah, I go ski'ing always sleep in JP style rooms with futons, the blanket is so thick and plush, no problem.

But you're right that the thin mattress ... especially as I grow older ... I start to be less and less entranced with the 'culture' and more and more wishing for a proper comfortable mattress

Any recommendation for August trip in Japan?

Just realize AirAsia got offer flight to Fukuoka. Worth it to travel there? No?

Not bad if u want a trip away from the crowded osaka & tokyo. Just back from there. Less crowded than tokyo & osaka not sure bcox of summer or what la... The hot still bearable during my trip. I like their kyushu trains. Got special design train for each destination. Must get the kyushu rail pass la... Can do a lot side trip to nagasaki, yufuin, kumamoto & some area more south like miyazaki. After visit few city in kyushu i take the their domestic flight to okinawa for few days then back fukuoka & back kl.

that depends.

for me i will get from klook since i can easily get cashback from it

are the tourist tax included in the airbnb accommodations when we book? or we have to pay it separately when we arrive at the accommodation?

I thought tourist tax or departure tax is included in the flight ticket already.

included

airbnb and flight are different
tourist or hotel tax is for airbnb
departure tax is for flight

If you stay in most international hotel, you will get a big room. As for business hotel like APA, they cater for business people who just need a bed for few hours as they are normally out working or drinking. I have tasted both world. When I travel to Japan for business trip, get to stay at ANA, Hyatt, Hilton. Once I start to work in Japan, the budget for a hotel was 8000yen a day! So mostly is those business hotel.

yes, it would work
i'm actually bringing my pasmo card to osaka in OCT
validity of that card is 10 years from last reload

Ana, Hyatt and Hilton will cost average Rm1.2-Rm2k per night. Not for mere mortals I'm afraid. Is Daiwa Roynet considered a good and reputable chain hotel in Japan? I see they have branches in many locations. Rooms are not bad too for the price.

8000 yen per day would get you a nice 2-3 star hotel right in the city centre for 1.



If you use your friend's pasmo/ suica card, you could save 500 yen deposit for the card. But I would rather buy my own and have my name printed on the card. You could even recover the balance in the card if you happen to accidentally lose it.

This post has been edited by TOMEI-R: Jul 2 2019, 12:20 PM

Oh... Paiseh tot there are same tax.

Me & my 4 sisters addicted to japan already. We only have 2 suica. Since we most of the time going different date they will go with their husband. We take turn to use the suica. Lol... Did you plan to use their rail pass or whole trip use IC card only?

I agree. Japan is really addictive. Its safe, people are well mannered. everything is automated, so many new experience to be experienced, great weather and so many new places waiting to be explored.

Hi guys, thinking of using this when going to Tokyo. Anyone used this before and is it recommended to do so? Thanks in advance

not sure you still got time to study this or not. sometimes if you travel a lot using train some train pass may help you save some money. for example travel around Osaka town using Osaka Amazing Pass (3600 yen for 2 days) unlimited city train except JR train. then you can enter some attractions FOC like Umeda Sky Building, Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel & most of the cruise boat or ship in Osaka. Basically if you get 3 or 4 of all the 50 attractions or facilities that they offer free entrance, you already earn back the 3600 yen somemore you get 2 days unlimited city train ride. Anyway just suggestion not necessary to follow. most important you enjoy and for sure you will. hehe...

you can have a look here
Osaka Passes

i use it in europe.

the rate is always cheaper than the market rate. and of coz, cheaper than bank

I'm flying to Osaka in October. Any recommended hotel and reasonable price? Near shopping area.

Just look inside Agoda.
How we know which hotel suit ur taste and ur budget.

credit card for oversea used may charge additional 2~3%
but this one same as daily forex rate

If you have cash, the rate of your cash is usually better than Big Pay. However if you plan to swipe CC instead, most of the time Big Pay's rate is better than bank's CC. You'll just need to top up cash into your BigPay card like Debit Card.

Something like that, but it follows the MasterCard rate of when BigPay settles payment with merchant, not when you swipe it. For example, you purchase item A today with BP card. What you get is an estimated charges. If BigPay settles the payment with the merchant next day, the actual amount is charged tomorrow based on the next day's exchange rate.