thanks..

How come there is lack of snow in Hakuba this time around?

i bought it online 3 days before my trip after checking the weather forecast .. takut sold out.

Hi everyone!

Not sure if this is the right place to post; but I have 2 x 1 day hankyu line pass to sell.

I bought & collected the pass during my trip to Osaka in September this year to travel to Kyoto but we ended up not going. So just trying to sell it off for cheap - it expires in April 2020.

PM me if anyone is interested!

Can easily take the Airport Express train (just tap with ICOCA or any IC card) or take the Nankai express train (reserved tickets--need to purchase tickets).

I feel Namba is way more happening due to the various shopping streets and Dotonbori eating street.

Climate change I guess. A couple of my skiing acquaintances who decided to go Honshu resorts over Christmas were super upset with the lack of snow 🤷🏻‍♂️

May I recommend Lake Shojiko? There's very little ppl there so chances of getting a nice view without being disturbed.

Can take green bus to there from Kawaguchiko Station. Alternatively Lake Yamanakako also not bad but got some walking to do depends where you get down at bus station.

I did almost the same route as yours except I did from Tokyo - Fujisan - Tokyo - Kanazawa - Shirakawago - Takayama - Toyama - Tokyo.

You travel to these spots by shinkansen?

The train run until 1am if not wrong. You can take nankai line to namba. Just took it last month as i stay in namba and arrived kix around 10pm.

Nankai like will take around 45 to 55 mins to namba depend on the ticket u purchase. Got cheaper free seating at 920yen(like lrt) or fixed seat at 1290yen(like klia express)

Hey, I read that if I purchase rail passes in Japan I can only buy one only. So I can't purchase two passes for the same person.

i am okay with that. but can I still buy like , i.e.

for the same person.
one Hiroshima Kansai JR pass
one kansai Thru Pass
one Osaka Amazing pass

I know its bit more expensive purchasing in Japan but i like flexibility. TQ

thanks bro.. i am still finding cheap accommodation in namba area

If cheap.. ibis style.

I stay in holiday inn.. not bad bro

Finally have time to come up with my Okinawa trip report from our recent November trip. Was there mainly to attend the wedding of my younger brother but had an extra week after that to tour around the island.

Day 01
* Arrival into Naha Airport from Shanghai Pudong in the afternoon, picked up our rental car from マハロレンタカー 沖縄
* Mihama American Village - Sunset and dinner was taco rice
* Checked into our Airbnb at Onna - https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/akizero-on...7195.en-gb.html

Mihama American Village by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Day 02
* Today was the wedding ceremony/reception so mainly spent with family and relatives
* Went to Orion Happy Park in the evening and booked the last beer factory tour before it closed

Beer Factory by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Day 03
* Kouri Ocean Tower (bought tickets from Klook) - Nothing special but the views are nice
* Tinu Beach - The star attraction are the heart-shaped rocks but the place was pretty crowded
* Nakijin Castle Ruins (今帰仁城跡) - Interesting but wouldn't go out of my way just to visit
* Lunch was Okinawan soba and dinner was some local food

ハートロック by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Nakijin Castle Ruins by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Okinawan Soba by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Goya Champuru by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Day 04
* Daisekirinzan (大石林山) - Nice hike and good views, worth doing this one. There are 3 trails and we did all 3
* Cape Hedo (辺戸岬) - The northernmost point on mainland Okinawa so worth checking out
* Cape Manzamo (万座毛) - Came here for the sunset but could only see the silhouette since it faces west, crowded with tour groups

Daisekirinzan Wonder of Rocks Trail by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Daisekirinzan Ocean View Trail by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Cape Hedo by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Cape Manzamo Sunset by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

This post has been edited by Monya Meow Meow: Dec 31 2019, 04:11 PM

Day 05
* Checked out from our Airbnb after 4 nights
* Coffee & Break Ginoza Farm Lab - Stopped by for coffee on our way down south
* Katsuren Castle Ruins (勝連城跡) - Steep climb up but nicer than the previous castle ruins
* Kafu Banta/Nuchi-una Salt Factory - The cliff and salt factory are side-by-side so easy to combine together
* Yamada Coffee Okinawa - Great drip coffee and very nice ambience
* Checked into The Yuinchi Hotel Nanjo - https://www.yuinchi.jp/en/

Steep Climb by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Kafu Banta "Happy Cliff" by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Yamada Coffee Okinawa by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Day 06
* Ojima Island - Very small island but famous for its fresh seafood
* Okinawa Peace Memorial Park - Nice to roam around the park without actually paying to enter the museums
* Lunch at Cafe Makabechina
* Himeyuri Peace Museum - Was in the area so might as well dropped by
* Umikaji Terrace Senagajima - Nice place to see the planes land into Okinawa, beautiful sunset and very chill vibes
* Dinner at Eightman's Sea Burg

Sunbathing by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Cornerstone of Peace by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Cafe Makabechina by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Himeyuri Peace Museum by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

ANA Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Golden Hour by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Eightman's Sea Burg by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

This post has been edited by Monya Meow Meow: Dec 31 2019, 04:29 PM

Day 07
* Checked out from The Yuinchi Hotel Nanjo
* Nirai Kanai Bridge (ニライカナイ橋) - The drive over this bridge was spectacular, too bad the driver can't enjoy
* Sefa Utaki (斎場御嶽) - Important sacred site of the indigenous Okinawan religion
* There's a nice ice-cream shop at the corner of the road with really yummy Blue Seal ice-cream
* Cape Chinen Park (知念岬公園) - The park is actually a 5 min walk from where you buy the Sefa Utaki entrance tickets
* Checked into Community & Spa Naha Central Hotel and returned car rental - https://www.communityandspanahacentralhotel.com/en
* Shopping and dinner along Kokusaidori (国際通り)

イーストキッチンあがりすむ by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Blue Seal Ice Cream by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Cape Chinen Park by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Japanese Stork by Eugene Fanyfied, on Flickr

Day 08
* Checked out from Community & Spa Naha Central Hotel
* Morning flight with ANA into Osaka!

Overall, I felt that Okinawa is worth a visit even if you are not a huge fan of the beach or water activities. Going in November meant that the sea was a bit too cold so we didn't manage to do any of those.

Car rental is a must and it's very easy to drive around. There is not much point in paying for the toll roads as it might save you only 15 mins tops compared to using the freeway.

The local food is quite heavily influenced by Chinese and less Japanese but very tasty nonetheless. The goya champuru (bitter gourd stir-fry with tofu) was my favorite local dish.


This post has been edited by Monya Meow Meow: Dec 31 2019, 04:45 PM

Its snowing quite heavily at Hokkaido though. Anyway peak snow period would be end of January to February. Wrong time to go skiing I guess.

Nice write up on Okinawa bro. Quoting this for future reference.

Hi,

I will be traveling to Osaka/Kyoto next April with family and planning to travel between Osaka and Kyoto daily.

Do you guys think it is good enough to just get ICOCA for transportation? Or should I buy any other passes?

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia...orries-in-japan

> most ski resorts struggling with lack of snow
> jan-mar forecasted warmer weather so Sakura 2020 also expected to be earlier than the average

Have to consider the daily 2 hours traveling time (to and fro) between Osaka and Kyoto which is no joke. Plus also the short day light duration...

It would cost minimum 1600Y or RM60 per person for the traveling expenses (to and fro) and would it be much cheaper for you to stay in Osaka assuming the reasoning for the daily travel between the two cities is due to the more costly hotels in Kyoto?

Thanks. Thinking of allocating like 2 nights for Kawaguchiko and might rent a car to drive around..

Considering to land at either Tokyo, Nagoya or Kansai depending on the costs, duration of the travel (train) and how I plan the itinerary

Too bad that Hokuriku pass is only for 7 days, might get the 14 days JR pass but gotta calculate the traveling costs to see if it's worth it or not..

Thanks for the suggestion. My itinerary still in the planning stage actually so I can add/subtract places.

But I'm planning for like 14-15 nights this time round

P/s: I do really enjoy planning as it's kind of therapeutic and stress relieving

Staying in Osaka is much cheaper even if added in the traveling cost to Kyoto daily.

But you are right, daily 2 hours traveling is no joke and was also my concern as my parents may not have enough time to rest. So I have changed my plan and will be staying in Kyoto for a few days instead of traveling daily.

Btw, may I know if it is good enough to just use the ICOCA IC card for traveling between Kyoto-Osaka-Nara?