It doesn't have as much tall buildings as the other big cities I mentioned. Even in CBD I don't feel being crowded and many of the places I visited is easily reached by public transport or walking (I walked from Hyde Park to Opera House to the Rocks and back to Circular Quay and then boat to Manly and around the shores). I walked in Fukuoka as well but I feel like going past rows and rows of tall nondescript buildings after another and one street looks the same like another. This contrast to my walks in Nagasaki where if I popped around a quiet shotengai or past residential areas (which I do often) I am serious excited to find what I find because I don't know what I would expect just around the corner, it could be a jinja, or a small park, or a shop/stall, or something that catches my eye. Similarly during a walk in Sydney suburbs, I just stumbled into a Greek bakery that had a choco dipped butter cookie which I used to buy in Malaysia. That kinda connection & unknown discoveries what really astounds me and something that I look forward to in my trips, not just to Australia or to Japan.

BTW, travel sifu. Can ask is there an English guide to local trains in Nagano?

Hi, I will be arriving at Kansai Airport, spend few nights in osaka & kyoto then travel to tokyo and fly off from there. Following are my arrangement for rail pass. Do you think any other ways i can save from my transportation? I dont find any other rail pass that suit my itinerary.

Kansai Airport to Namba Station - buy Nankai Rapid Airport Express Ticket
Train within Osaka and Kyoto - use ICOCA
Osaka to Tokyo - buy JR single way ticket
Train within Tokyo - use SUICA

SUICA & ICOCA is compatible. You don't need to buy another card.

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6003.html

Thanks but I was looking for more info, timetables, distance cost, for JR East Oito line in the area around Omachi city.
In English if possible. Thanks.

This is correct. Just came back haha, I bought ICOCA in Osaka, used it at KYOTO and TOKYO as well.

Oh, then you should ask more specific. You only say Nagano.....
Means after Tateyama Alpine Route, from Shinano Omachi Station back to Nagano izzit?
Fastest way are JR Express Bus.
11:05,13:00,14:10,15:10,16:30 from Shinano Omachi Station to Nagano Station - 2100 Yen

If you wanted to take Train using Oito Line then can check from Hyperdia. It got train fare & timetable information.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Dec 14 2019, 09:43 PM

Sorry my bad. Thanks for the link. I can assume for such interior parts, its all by Japanese only? No English yeah?

Izit? when i read online they said have to buy separately...

Lucky i ask here. Save 500 yen haha

I am also surveying the best traditional ryokan in either kyoto or hokane.

Am i the only one have trouble choosing the best ryokan? Im looking for traditional ryokan experience with good view (nature). However, there are so many choices online and i dont know which to pick. @@

Best for me is Hoshinoya
https://hoshinoya.com/kyoto/

Sifu, I am going to Osaka next year February.

May I know that which recommended ATM to withdraw cash from BigPay? Such as maximum withdrawal cash? Charge?

I heard a lot of people mentioned that the currency exchange rate is better via BigPay.

Thank you in advance.

You can find all the answers to your question on the first post here:
https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/4623336

Thanks, Sifu.
I plan to go Japan without carry any "Yen". I just afraid that withdraw unsuccessful/ fail only.

better carry yen. I withdrew at 7bank atm. walau charged so much. 40 k yen kena charged 420 yen.

Used BigPay and withdrew from Seven ATM, only RM 10 per withdrawal, no extra charges. Moreover, BP has super good exchange rate, must utilize it.
I suggest you to bring some Yen along and withdraw while you are there. Japan is still a cash society, just prepare for emergency.

Well, I didn't use a single cent of Euro in cash when I travelled on my Europe trips, can't say and do the same for Japan.

cheap transport from osaka to tokyo, use bus
no need to buy another car, just use ICOCA in tokyo
every place in japan has their own car but compatible nationwide


u can't go to japan without carrying yen, it's a cash country
BP rate is cheap but u haven't include the withdrawal charges yet

Heheh, Akihabara is a heaven for otakus ... especially shopping for hobby stuffs. But not necessary the cheapest, Nakano Broadway mall in Nakano is well-known also, plus Ikebokuro got some interesting hobbyist shops also, and my fren said Osaka prices are cheaper than Tokyo. So, we've to spend many hours comparing prices among almost all the shops in Aki, plus window shopping, 1 or 2 days not enuf for us. Chuo Dori is one of my favourite streets in Tokyo, so far.

I concur with your fren ... among the cities/towns visited in Hokkaido, Biei is my fav. Can describe the town as cute and quaint. Maybe not for city lovers, Biei is just a small quiet town/village, but if I wouldn't mind living there. Maybe don't expect it's as historical or unique as Kyoto; for me, it's an eye-pleasing place, streets are very organized, can see the town planning is very good, etc.

Biei is a member of The most beautiful villages in Japan Union.
https://utsukushii-mura.jp/
https://www.tsunagujapan.com/15-must-visit-...anese-villages/


Those who said must visit Japan every year, are really fans of Japan; not just tourist places but the food, culture, etc. ... can't cover all in one short trip. Japanese cities skyline aren't that pretty, coz they can't build too fancy high rise buildings. Japan country-side might not be the prettiest also, China got more prettier natures (bigger mah). It's the combination of Japanese people (polite, even if forced to), safety, convenience, food, nature, cities, culture, etc. that made most wanna go back to Japan.

Overall, Tokyo trips still more memorable for me compared to Hokkaido, coz maybe I went during summer to Hokkaido (cheaper flights mah). Hokkaido is more relaxing, less crowded. Tokyo got much more things to see, and places to go. But for food, I feel Hokkaido's sashimi/seafood is nicer (of course lah).

Still wiser to carry some yen, maybe few thousand yen, just in case need it before got chance to withdraw from ATM. Activate your BigPay overseas usage first, else will fail. And compare the local money changer rate if possible with estimated exchange rate + withdrawal fee.

I withdrew 80,000yen in July from airport 7-11 ATM, BigPay exchange rate was JPY100=RM3.8093, I got RM3,047.45 ... but if factor in RM10 fee, then the exchange rate was RM3.8218.
Still got leftover yen notes from previous Japan trips, so I didn't change any locally, plus I didn't wanna bring too much yen notes in my wallet/bag from Malaysia.
If I were to go again, I'll still withdraw most of my budget thru ATM there, if difference between local money changer rate and BigPay is negligible. (not changing million yens )

Do we need to enable overseas ATM withdrawal on BP before that ?

Furthermore on the 7ATM, does it only dispense JPY or also our local currency ? Just to make sure what to expect


This post has been edited by calvin: Dec 16 2019, 02:10 PM

No need la.. BP's usage is for overseas, so no need to enable anything.

Only JPY currency... You are in Japan of course their local currency...