OK, because RegentCid mentioned they may not allow me to do it, not sure if I misunderstood his statement.

Where would be more convenient to stay? shinjuku, shibuya or tokyo station? plan to go Gala yuzawa, Kusatsu , Hakone day trip. any value or budget hotel to recommend? not too far from train station. 15 minwalk max

Once u reach Hakata, You able to book those Kyushu Train from Hakata to Nagasaki, Beppu etc etc....
But from Osaka to Hakata period....you cant book those Kyushu train at Osaka Station because Osaka are belong to JR West while Train from Hakata to Nagasaki, Beppu, Yufuin are JR Kyushu.

Great! At least I can do it in on the first day I reach Kyushu.
Can I book Hello Kitty ride from Nara? Same region? Or must I do it in Shin-Osaka?

For Yufuin no Mori, I can do it in Hakata right? Despite I will board from Tosu.

Planned juz drop the luggage on hostel I'm going check in later, then walk the town.

For me, Shinjuku ftw, We stayed in Tokyu Stay Yotsuya for 14 nights. Larger than usual hotel rooms, has a kitchenette and washing mc which is a bonus! No room service and room cleaning is once a week. There is a station (Yotsuya) nearby, 5 minutes by foot. Four lines pass through this station so it is very convenient. It is away from the busy tourist areas but enough restaurants, snack and convenient stores. Shinjuku main station is 3 stops away, but be aware that it is a very huge multi-level station (reputed to be the largest in the world). It is always busy, rush hour is a nightmare. We got to Hakone using Odakyu from Shinjuku station. We also did the so called Hakone Loop which covers Gora, Mt Fuji, Lake Ashi etc. Mt Fuji is really worth it and should be considered as part of your trip to Hakone. Make sure the weather is nice, i.e. not cloudly or worst rainy. Mt Fuji can be very shy,lol.

Shibuya, I find more suited for young crowd and a bit chaotic as it is close to Harajuku (another 'young' ppl place). Tokyo station is a bit out of the way but most Shinkansen leave from here!

To be fair, any of the areas you mention is really good and as long as you are near the metro, everything else is ok. Tokyo, I think has one of the best of not the best metro network. Take a little time to study the rail map and you will be ok. The three lines I use most of the time to travel around Tokyo are the Red, Marunochi Line, the Yello Ginza line and the very useful but busy Green Yamanote Loop. Good luck!

I dont think Nara station can do that because Nara Station has no Shinkansen line so they might not have the Shinkansen ticketing computer inside station.
Shinkansen Ticket are bigger size compare to normal JR train line ticket.

But you can try.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Aug 28 2019, 11:39 PM

Then, I don't want to take the risk la. I will drop by Shin-Osaka to exchange ticket and book ride before heading to Nara for whole day. Thanks for the advice so far.

But Yufuin no Mori should be OK to book at Hakata even if I wanna get on at Tosu?

By the way, what do you think of Beppu? It seems the only attraction they have is Hell tour? Visit different hot springs? Otherwise, I will change my destination, may as well from Yufuin straight back to Hakata instead of Beppu. Then I can go to places like for e.g. Kokura, Mojiko? My hotel in Beppu hasn't charged yet. Any advice for me?

There are 2 type of Yufuin no Mori Train. 1 of it got lounge area where you can sit facing the window. This 1 I think is quite popular. When I try to book at Hakata for this particular train morning time to Yufuin for next day, all seat fully taken liou and same for the following 3 or 4 days. I think they book online maybe. Book online need to add another 1000yen every reservation if i not wrong. You can see the timetable Yufuin no Mori 3 & 4 are the one that got lounge area & Yufuin no Mori 1,2,5,6 are just all seat area with mini cafe in middle no lounge & this 1 got a lot of seat available. If you not into that particular train then shouldn't be a problem d.

Yeah, JR Pass Kyushu holders can book online because they don't need to exchange for tickets.
People like me have to exchange to JR Pass first only can start booking my rides.

And only Mori 3 suits my time as I'm coming from Nagasaki to exchange at Tosu before heading to Yufuin.

I will reach Hakata on day 1 and only need to use it on day 5, I hope I still can get two seats with few days advanced booking..

This post has been edited by fruitie: Aug 29 2019, 01:56 AM

Don't bank on it. I did it on the very first day when I was in Hakata, and the Yufuin no Mori trains for the day I wanted (4-5 days later) was already fully booked especially for morning departures. End up I just have to take the earliest Yufu 1 train.

Some consolation is at least i managed to get Yufuin no Mori 3 for Yufuin-Beppu when I depart the next day

Sigh. That's so sad wei.

I wonder if after I get my JR pass in Osaka, then can I do online booking myself for Shinkansen and/or Yufuin no Mori? Link: https://kyushurailpass.jrkyushu.co.jp/reser...33;-130399529?0 and guide: https://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/english/booking/manual_e.pdf

Wait I back home tonight and dig Beppu, Kokura and Mojiko attraction for you
All inside my 555 booklet

Hard, Because Shin-Osaka Station are belong to JR West and ''Yufuin No Mori'' Limited Express Train are belong to JR Kyushu
Unless you reserve the seat of ''Yufuin no mori'' thru online website such as klook, and redeem at JR Hakata Station. You can't redeem at JR Shin-Osaka Station due to JR West.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Aug 29 2019, 11:22 AM

Thanks bro. for the Hakone, is the 2 days Hakone pass covers the mt Fuji trip or it is separate trip. if separate , you buy the day trip ticket? Yotsayu can consider but i want more central and convenient but is it worth the big tokyo shinjuku station or smaller for easy access.
any other day trip outside tokyo you can recommend with tokyo wide pass?

Yeah, thanks!

Looks like not possible huh even online...

Anyway, Hello Kitty Shinkansen takes long time (almost double the time) to reach Hakata from Shin-Osaka, so I plan to get down half way at Okayama and switch to Nozomi to Hakata. Do you think I can book this Nozomi ride from Okayama to Hakata at Shin-Osaka when I book Hello Kitty ride? I want to experience the Hello Kitty ride.. But the travel time is too long.

Going to Tokyo in Jan next year. Can sifus rate my draft itinerary:

Day 1: Hakone (overnight)
Day 2: Back to Tokyo in afternoon (Shinjuku area), check in Maihama area in the evening
Day 3-5: Disney
Day 6-9: Tokyo cities (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Akihabara, etc)

For Tokyo cities, where to stay is more value (on budget side)?

We booked the Hakone Enoshima 3 day pass and stayed a night in Gora Shinanoki Ichinoyu which has a private onsen. Well worth it and we were glad we stayed the night as on the first day we did not get to see Mt Fuji. On the second day the weather was gorgeous and we had the full view of magnificient Mt Fuji, really a sight to behold. The best view was on the Ropeway and at the Owakudani stopover. We didn't do the 'pirate ship' the second time as its just a bit gimmicky unless you want to visit the towns by the lake. After the second round to see Mt Fuji we returned to Hakone enroute to Kamakura and Enoshima. Both nice places to visit. Then back to Shinjuku on a local express train. Sit on the left side of the train to get a last view of Mt Fuji as the train leaves Odawara (I think!) From Hakone, its just another hour or so to Kamakura then another short journey to Enoshima. The trains there are quite unique. Google to find out more

tokyo hav casino? check google, it is legal last year but no info on casino place.

u think so fast can build a casino from nothing? license also haven't awarded yet