My company starting to order new calendar already.

how will this impact japan?

Calender have to change. Calendar inside Japanese phone app will be update by patch.

any station will do?

https://blog.gaijinpot.com/5-things-you-did...ors-abdication/

Hope none of you travel plans during the week after golden week lol

"Most Japanese people typically only have four or five days off during Golden Week, but this year everyone gets to enjoy a whopping 10-day vacation from April 27 to May 6."

This post has been edited by deodorant: Apr 2 2019, 01:21 PM

Lots of Japanese documentation is written in Japanese years. When you fill in form, like Date of birth, you need to also put it showa/heisei, etc. If you go to a council, normally there is a card that help you to mapped what year in roman calendar to Japanese calendar.

Small station you can buy it off the machine though not all have it. Big station have a counter that you can buy it from. Of course it have to be JR station.

in tokyo now. i expected as the sakura bloom is reaching its end it would get warmer.. yet it gets below 5c after 8pm.
a bit of rain after dark.

might consider revisiting golden gai after dark today since its so cold + light rain.

Yes, my wife and I will be there that week 😊. Staying until 16th. Book flights and accommodation then found out later about the golden week. Never mind. Will still enjoy nonetheless. We plan to stay around Tokyo centre the first week, try to avoid trains and metro. Second week then visit Kamakura, Yokohama and Hokone Mt Fuji loop. Hope all goes well 👌

ok got it thank you!

Going Japan during this year golden week was seeking suicide.
This year I will avoid it at all cost. Plan going South East Asia country enjoy this golden week.

luckily im back just before the start of golden week

Anybody flying off to Japan soon and want to change to Japanese Yen better do so now. 36.96 now and I think its a good rate.

Hi wanna ask if anyone used Bigpay card to widthdraw from ATM or as electronic payment in Japan before? Is the rate better?

Useful tips~~~
can't wait for my Jaapan trip soon.... ^.^

Why withdraw money...? Insufficient cash?
I did used it as electronic payment. It's very convenient to use - you can swipe in convenience stores and basically anywhere that offers card payment. Best part: there's no minimum amount of transaction required.

Downside, however, is that the rate charged is *not* the rate on the day you swipe your card. It is based on Big Pay's settlement date with the merchant which can be the next day, or 2 days later. As such, you do not know what is the exact rate you're charged as you swipe. You're only given an estimate. I don't really like the uncertainty and thus didn't use the card after finding out about this (had a misconception it's based on the day's exchange rate). You may swipe at a lower cost than your CC or higher, depending. At least with CC i know for sure what's the rate I'm charged before I swipe.

I did yesterday. Rate is 100yen= RM3.672 pending rate. Settle should be around 0.5-1cent higher. Only make sense if you withdrawal the maximum limit of 100k yen.

Ahhh didn't know about the settlement date, thanks for the info! Was planning to use CC/Big Pay for passes and entrance tickets, or withdraw some money just in case any of them don't accept electronic payment.

Every credit card has that issue. Unless if you use DCC which then although the rate is 100% confirmed but it is usually 3-4% higher.

Ok after a bit of researching and planning, I've come up with my "attack plan" for this November's trip (yay autumn again)
Appreciate any comments and feedback and of course suggestions for improvement.

Day 01: Arrive into Osaka (17th Nov) around 12pm from Okinawa. Purchase a HARUKA/ICOCA package and head off to Kyoto. Hotel for the next 5 nights will be Sotetsu Fresa Shijo-Karasuma. Any suggestions on what to do after checking in for the rest of the day/night? Was thinking of taking a leisurely stroll around Southern Higashiyama.

Day 02: Ginkakuji - Honen-in - Philosopher's Path - Yojiya Cafe - Shinnyodo - Eikando - Nanzenji then free & easy for the rest of the day, maybe some shopping at night?

Day 03: Fushimi Inari - Tofukuji - Sanjusangendo - Kiyomizudera - Sannenzaka/Ninenzaka/Ishibei Koji - Kodaiji then free & easy for the rest of the day

Day 04: Visit the Arashiyama bamboo grove early morning then the plan is to do the route between Otagi Nebutsuji and Tenryuji, stopping at the various temples in between. Not sure which route to take yet, can do either directions. Finish off a long day at Fufu no yu before going back to hotel.

Day 05: Kinkakuji - Ryoanji - Ninnaji - Kitano Tenmangu - Nijo Castle then free & easy for the rest of the day

Day 06: Check out from hotel then visit Nishiki Market before heading off to Osaka around noon. Rest of the day free & easy at Osaka. Hotel for the next 5 nights will be The Bridge Hotel Shinsaibashi

Day 07: Full day at Osaka for shopping, eating and the castle maybe

Day 08: Day trip to Himeji Castle & the garden then stop by Kobe on the way back to Osaka, using Kansai Area Pass for this one I believe

Day 09: Day trip to Nara

Day 10: Day trip to Minoo Park

Day 11: Leave for Tokyo

Day 12: Free & easy in Tokyo

Day 13: Leave for KL

Might need to use a bus on some days/routes, will they be super packed on weekdays in the morning?
Any good temples/shrines for autumn illuminations? Not too fussed if there are none as we have seen some in Nikkko.
Any good onsens in Osaka worth checking out?

This post has been edited by Monya Meow Meow: Apr 6 2019, 07:42 AM

Seem tiring journey. especially Day 2, u planning to walk along the path while visiting the temple along the path. the path doesnt seem much in autumn imo.

here where i visit during autumn night illumination last year.
Eikando, iinm start at 5/6pm, but try go there 1hr b4 closing time since a lot ppl will be queueing up early for the tix entry. but returning will be hellish, since everyone is queueing for the bus/taxi.
Toji, i love this place. unplanned but glad to visit it.
Himeji has night illumination as well. i visit at morning n saw notice they are having night illumination Cube somehing, return to kobe, n then Himeji again at night for it (day pass). i din enter the castle park at night due to very long queue.

if u wan, u can also try Kibune momiji tunnel at night. u can visit Kifune jinja 1st at evening. then return for momiji tunnel. choose the right train with the some seat face outside. the light will be close when passing momiji tunnel.