Hi all sifu,

Need recommendation on Osaka accommodation from all sifu here.

Going Osaka on November.

Thank you.

Thanks for the info. Premium economy is few hundreds extra only. I should go for it.

elifen, not sure bout you or your spouse packing skills. Do bear in mind that you have 2 young kids with you. Frequent change of accommodation means a lot of daily packing unpacking. We used to DIY all along, but basically for me.. the travelling/moving hotel day almost equal to a less active day, as we need to pack and unpack; check-out and check-in hotel. Or probably I am the "maid" of the family. I need to dig out clothing for them, pack stuff bk in and worst still when you bought something on the way.. and need to find the best space in the luggage to store it. Imagine doing it almost daily, it is hectic.

Yes, joining travel agency is the same, moving hotels daily. But don't forget that tour guide will discipline you with their timing, but DIY .. no matter how discipline you are on the timing, you won't willing to wake your kids up earlier (as in tour guide rules) and may end up daily get out a bit later than your planned time. Another thing is you maybe worry bout transportation, trying to catch buses/train and if this happen daily due to change of hotel, I don't think you will enjoy much.

My last Dec Japan holiday, I planned start our day around 9am. We have this timing in all our past vacation (Osaka, Kyoto, UK, HK, TWN, etc).. no problem at all. But this round really shock us, we were sandwich in the train terribly in Tokyo and Sapporo. Then we adjust our time much earlier til 7.30am (shake the kid up at 7am, he slept bout 12am daily) yet train still crowded.. move up to 7am then.. wah!!! end up we get out later at 10am unless we choose to walk escape the train (which we did actually). And we stay 6N totally in Sapporo.. no move hotel.. still alot to enjoy and see. But looking at the snowy weather, the thick clothing, the kids' pace, the public transportation..if possible avoid move around too much.

We expect crowded train during peak hours but never imagine that level or sandwich til kepit each other tightly. And the local are quite ignorant when it comes to the fighting their way to squeeze in the train. With kids, this is definitely dangerous. There were once my boy manage to squeeze in but not us. Lucky he know where we are heading and quite use to DIY trip with us.. so he waited us there. And he have h/p & $ with him. He is 11yrs old.

Hi all, just need some advise. We are travelling to Tokyo the first two weeks of May. Flights and hotel all booked. After booking we realise that the first week of May happens to be 'Golden Week' with lots of local holidays. So, Tokyo will basically be packed with people and travelling will be hectic to say the least.

Since we are staying in Yotsuka/Shinjuku area, our plan will be to stay around Tokyo and visit local sights in and around Tokyo, doing as much on foot as possible. I think the Metro will be quite easy to navigate if need be.

The second week will be quieter (theoretically), since the holiday season is over. We plan day visit to Hakone/Mt Fuji etc. The question I want to ask is has anyone experience using the Hakone Freepass, or Hakone Kamakura pass operated by Odakayu Railways? They offer a 2 or 3 day pass for travel from Shinjuku to Hakone Yumoto Station. Then all travel on trams, Ropeway and busses are free. The price for a 3 day pass includes travel to Kamakura and Enoshima is Yen6500. Romance-car has an additional Yen1060 per journey. Sound reasonable to me as we have unlimited use of all transport choices. Just wonder what you peeps think?

I have read mixed reviews with regards to the Gora, Sousan, Owakudani, Pirate Ship journey. Those who have made this trip, I appreciate your comments. Also is Enoshima - Kamakura a worthwhile day trip?  Lastly what about the Chinatown in Yokohama? All these places are around hour or hour and half by train.

I stayed in Airbnb 2 weeks ago next to Kuromon market. Very nice

i used before the hakone-mount fuji pass for 3 days.

plan your route and you're good to go

Thanks for the reply! Is it easy to use? Did you enjoy the trip?

can share the airbnb link to me? thanks

can share the airbnb link to me? thanks

Hi planning a trip to Tokyo/Hokkaido with my family. Just checked ANA. Its RM6966 for 4. Reasonable? I read ANA has sales normally around March/April? Not sure I shld straight away book or not. Thanks sifus!

me too
going october
osaka, kyoto 10 days
will start reading again after february

and want to ask 1 question
is it worth to get the express pass for universal studio?
the ticket is already expensive enough, pair it with like express pass 4...it's like RM5XX

Hi planning a trip to Tokyo/Hokkaido with my family. Just checked ANA. Its RM6966 for 4. Reasonable? I read ANA has sales normally around March/April? Not sure I shld straight away book or not. Thanks sifus!

Yes, Express Pass is a must! The crowd in USJ is way beyond your imagination, spend the money and it worth your every penny when you going through the express lane and have a look at the LONG waiting line at normal queue, felt lucky you bought the express pass! If you could afford the Cool-Japan pass, just bought along too 

Express 4 Standard:
A: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ in 4K3D (proceed the ride in the timeslot given)

B: Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (Please note: From 18 January 2019, the attraction will be change to Lupin the 3rd Car Chase XR Ride) - (proceed the ride in the timeslot given)

C: The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man Or The Ride 4K3D or Jurassic Park - The Ride™
Pick SpiderMan, Because it suitable for kids and adult, so, this will always be crowded and your express pass will do a good job here. Jurassic Park ride is a slight thrilling wet-ride, so, the line will shorter compare to SpiderMan because not everyone likes the thrilling ride.

D: JAWS™ or Terminator 2:3-D® or Backdraft™
Pick JAWS, the others two just not worth for express usage, join the normal line or skip it if too crowded.

If you intend catch all the thrill ride in USJ, best to reach the entrance gate earlier and have some photograph session with the iconic Universal Globe. When the gate open, don't wandering around and take picture, just proceed to the Hollywood Dream - The Ride & Backdrop, go for Single rider lane for these 2 rides, took me less than 25 minutes to finish these 2 ride. Next Go for the Flying Dinosaur Ride, same method, join the Single rider lane, another 15 minutes complete. And Congratulation, you completed all the High Demanding ride with minimum time needed. Now you can slow down your pace and took your time enjoy the rest in USJ.

never went to osaka before but few years notice alot of express pass for USJ but never bothered to research anything
it's like each ride has their own set of express pass
a friend recently went osaka and i ask them which pass did they bought, they told me they bought express pass 4

for me and many ppl, i think the most important and must go is the harry potter
and express pass 4 includes that
is there any other pass that include harry potter?
i know the line is long, as long as 120 minutes

what if i have no intention to do any of the rides except harry potter
fine to go with just entrance tix?

with family travelling is never easy..

luckily your 11yo kid knows how to stay calm

Hi all, just need some advise. We are travelling to Tokyo the first two weeks of May. Flights and hotel all booked. After booking we realise that the first week of May happens to be 'Golden Week' with lots of local holidays. So, Tokyo will basically be packed with people and travelling will be hectic to say the least.

Since we are staying in Yotsuka/Shinjuku area, our plan will be to stay around Tokyo and visit local sights in and around Tokyo, doing as much on foot as possible. I think the Metro will be quite easy to navigate if need be.

The second week will be quieter (theoretically), since the holiday season is over. We plan day visit to Hakone/Mt Fuji etc. The question I want to ask is has anyone experience using the Hakone Freepass, or Hakone Kamakura pass operated by Odakayu Railways? They offer a 2 or 3 day pass for travel from Shinjuku to Hakone Yumoto Station. Then all travel on trams, Ropeway and busses are free. The price for a 3 day pass includes travel to Kamakura and Enoshima is Yen6500. Romance-car has an additional Yen1060 per journey. Sound reasonable to me as we have unlimited use of all transport choices. Just wonder what you peeps think?

I have read mixed reviews with regards to the Gora, Sousan, Owakudani, Pirate Ship journey. Those who have made this trip, I appreciate your comments. Also is Enoshima - Kamakura a worthwhile day trip?  Lastly what about the Chinatown in Yokohama? All these places are around hour or hour and half by train.

never went to osaka before but few years notice alot of express pass for USJ but never bothered to research anything
it's like each ride has their own set of express pass
a friend recently went osaka and i ask them which pass did they bought, they told me they bought express pass 4

for me and many ppl, i think the most important and must go is the harry potter
and express pass 4 includes that
is there any other pass that include harry potter?
i know the line is long, as long as 120 minutes

what if i have no intention to do any of the rides except harry potter
fine to go with just entrance tix?

Yes, just go on a weekday and avoid public holiday or school holiday. Then you are fine. Some ‘strategy’ based on my experience in April 2016

Gate open, straight run or walk fast to Harry Potter. Leave the sightseeing later and queue for the 4D ride. Waited about 30min at most.

Then for afternoon parade, watch it near the beginning of the parade (i watched it near the 4D Theater). Once you finish, just go to the popular ride like Spiderman etc. For me, Spiderman literally no queue. Later queuing for Jurassic Park and JAW took around 30-45mins.