No... some places separate it out. This means you still need to pay 3900 yen + 1600 yen ski pass. Gear rental is usually separate and would be costly.

Yodobashi Jiro no longer Michelin star restraurant due to not open for public anymore. It only can do reservation thru 5 star hotel or recommended letter from someone had power.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Nov 29 2019, 04:54 PM

It’s a bit strange that you have your own ski gear but seem so unfamiliar with ski prices. Lift tickets are (almost) always separate from equipment rental.

Snow escalator = the beginner zone escalator. If you only plan on sticking to super beginner zone then can save money buy only this ticket.

1 day pass = all the lifts on the mountain including snow escalator

Equipment rental: separate charges https://sapporo-teine.com/snow/rental/general

This post has been edited by deodorant: Nov 29 2019, 05:24 PM

Japanese tiada hari without saying arigato gozaimasu.

If go Osaka, Osaka Castle is a must to visit.

This post has been edited by L.Torreira: Nov 29 2019, 11:18 PM


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Osaka tsukenkaku

This post has been edited by L.Torreira: Nov 29 2019, 11:22 PM


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Just got back from Japan (Kyoto & Osaka) and it was a tiring trip but very very enjoyable and memorable. I'm waiting to plan my next trip there again

Here are a few things I noticed/experienced:

1) Personal opinion:

Food wise, Osaka is better than Kyoto. This is based on some restaurants we visited based on recommendations online and also random walk-in when we were walking around.

The convenience store food like sandwiches and their desserts were really yummy. Also, Family Mart and Lawson's fried chicken

2) Osaka is a shopping heaven. It's absolutely crazy and there are SO MANY people around at the shopping streets and there are so many pharmacies/shops - Tenjinbashi, Shinsaibashi, Ebisubashi, Namba Walk. Literally shop till you drop!

3) Kyoto is an absolutely amazing place to relax and unwind. So many lovely streets in the Higashiyama district and you can really wander around. Arashiyama is another lovely example, though I hated the crowd there.

4) Gotta be careful when using google maps taking the trains as there are many types of trains; Express, Limited express, Rapid express, Semi-express, Sub express.

There was one instance where Google Maps asked us to take Limited Express to Nara (can't remember the location) and we tapped ICOCA when we entered the station and when we wanted to enter the train, the conductor told us we need to get tickets so we had to buy tickets. We found out some Limited Express trains require an extra surcharge.

Also there are other times where we did not even need to purchase tickets for the limited express trains and we sat at some "Elegant Saloon 8000 series carriage" which we thought was reserved but it wasn't.

We actually had a harder time using the bus than the train. Like we were supposed to take bus number 5 and there is some extra japanese kanji at the side of it. We checked that it was going to the right direction (For example Bus no.5 heading towards direction of Kyoto Eki mae) but it was the wrong bus maybe because of the different kanji next to the number?

Luckily a very nice old man saw us struggling and handed us a map with all the bus routes, it was so much easier with it.

5) Hardly any dustbins in the streets of Osaka and Kyoto. In the end, have to pass back the rubbish back to the shops. Sometimes you see them at the vending machines.

6) Every time you pay cash for something you'll get back a lot of coins. Yeah you guys were right. We always had to try to get rid of those coins when making purchases.

7) The red maple leaves were incredibly and unbelievable red during the peak season in Kyoto. We were soooo amazed by it. Not only that, trees with yellow leaves were like golden yellow and they were so beautiful.

8) Japanese people are mostly polite. However, there were 2 encounters which weren't pleasant at the train station - the 2 person at the ticket office were impatient and unfriendly. I would just take this as an isolated case.

This post has been edited by -kytz-: Nov 30 2019, 04:31 PM

Planning for family trip for 8 (2 elderly folks) from 25th Feb to 28th Feb to Fukuoka. Do you guys think we should just travel around Fukuoka will do?

Honestly I don't find many interesting places at Fukuoka. Just use Fukuoka as a base for you to travel out to other nearby cities, counties. Hakata station is a major station for many shinkansen lines and you can travel to Kumamoto, Yufuin, Beppu, Oita, Nagasaki for instance.

I just came back from Northern Kyushu recently and this is my personal preference, of course everyone has different opinions.

I feel the same too after spending this afternoon to research about the places in Fukuoka. Thanks for validating.

Nevertheless, the places I mentioned are interesting.
I prefer Kyushu over Kansai due to lesser popularity and lesser tourists, I went to both regions recently and Kyushu did give us surprises.

Depends on what ur party would like to do, see, visit, experience.

You could do Dazaifu+Kyushu museum in half to 3/4 a day, Nanzoin in half a day, Ohori park in half a day, Sumiyoshi, Kushida shrines and other nearby temples & shrines in 3/4 of a day or the whole day if you include the nearby museums, then remainder can be shopping in Tenjin area, Amu Plaza, or Kamikawabata shotengai or all 3. Since you have elderly, take more time at each places.

Or else, can go other prefectures as fruitie mentioned. Nagasaki is just a 2 1/2 hr bus ride away, if ur party is into the A Bomb thingy among many others. The 3 best views of Japan is in Nagasaki and best viewed at nite but during winter, temps might be unbearable for some. Nagasaki is also less popular with PRCs so it feels less touristy and more authentic feel, until a cruise ships docks on weekends. lol!

This post has been edited by babylon52281: Nov 30 2019, 11:17 PM

Nagoya Chubu Central Airport.
Snowing.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Dec 1 2019, 10:34 AM

😁

Honestly I don't like Osaka. Too windy and cold. For shopping, why do I find the price is more expensive than I found in Tokyo.

Btw, can you suggest me where is the most beautiful maple leaves in kyoto?


Mount rokko View is good during sunset


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All those famous temples have a lot of maple trees with those red leaves - Kiyomizudera, Tofukuji, Kinkakuji, Tenryuji and especially Eikando temple. Some parts of the Kyoto Botanical Gardens have lovely leaves as well.

Got a lot of pictures which I'm still editing, hopefully can share some pictures soon..

May I know where to buy kyoto bus pass if I stay in kawamarachi area?

JR Kyoto Station or Kawamarachi Subway Station ticket counter.

been there...did you enter the castle?

Thanks I'll try to plan according to this suggestion

Previously I lived in Nagoya for 5 years but never snow this heavy