Plan tour duration - 14/12/19 to 22/12/19
(2 adult + 2 children)

Go (14/12/19 saturday)
16:00-17:15 KUL-DMK, 23:55-08:25 DMK-CTS (RM 1,209.88)

Return (22/12/19 sunday)
09:40-15:35 CTS-DMK 17:45-21.05 DMK-KL (RM 1,315.28)

The above flight schedule is search from airasia website. All the return flight is scheduled in the morning about 9am++. Could not find any afternoon flight. I really  dont like to rush (need to wake up early and rush to airport)

Sunday-15/12
Monday-16/12
Tuesday-17/12
Wednesday-18/12
Thursday-19/12
Friday-20/12
Saturday-21/12

Where should i stay and should i stay in one place for the whole week?

Lets start from here and to update the place to stay and the place to visit after getting suggestion from experience senior member from this forum.

As suggested by icehart member to visit Lake Toya, Onsen, Asahiyama Zoo and sapporo. When to schedule the above place?

I wish to have a leisure trip and maybe the most is to visit 2 places in a day.

Dear Japan Veteran Travellers..

May I ask, how do you deal with public/shared bathrooms in Japan ?

I am visiting Fuji area, and since there are very limited accomodations.. I had to choose a accomodation with a Shared Bathroom (open shower area) , right next to their Onsen ...

My wife and I are really not sure what to think, and how this will go... I am currently doing my research online about their etiquette , and .... How do you Malaysians handle Shared Bathing in Japan ? Going in naked to bath is quite unnerving ! lol... Please advice ..

My wife was thinking of wearing her simple swimwear to shower (not entering Onsen) ... But is that rude? Or can we just quickly shower with any swimsuit and get out quickly? LOL sorry if this is a funny question....  Sumimasen... T

The rest of your pros and cons not really relevant, so just concentrate on these few. Osaka / Kyoto / Nara / Kobe area tends to be more cultural Japan (see temples, etc). Whichever you choose depends on these, end of the day we also can't decide for you.

For activities for your kid, Nara has deer walking around the temple and town area (not sure if he or she too young to appreciate)

Blofeld Nagano Niigata Yamagata areas are all 3hrs ish from Tokyo and have plenty of snow activities for non skiiers for a short 2 or 3 day jaunt.

Yamagata area you can go see the fox village and go to zao onsen to see the snow monsters. On your way back stop over for day onsen at kaminoyama onsen.

http://look-see-eat.blogspot.com/2018/02/z...-itinerary.html

Alternately go Nagano Niigata area to check out the snow monkeys. And stay overnight at an onsen town up in the mountains to walk around in the snow.

http://look-see-eat.blogspot.com/2016/02/n...awara-plum.html

If you don't want to travel so far then from Tokyo there are many places nearby that are day trippable, for example mt fuji area, gala yuzawa area, etc.

Day 9
Morning: Shirakawago
After wander around Ainokura Village and took photo at the viewpoint, took bus back to Shirakawago explore remaining of the area and took bus again to Takaoka Station for Light Up Tour.



Evening: Shirakawago Light Up
From Takaoka I joined the Kaetsunou bus tour to Shirakawago for Light Up. Apparently the Shiroyama viewpoint usually open for public to ascend during daylight is closed during light up and only allow descend. Anyway the viewpoint is crazily crowded during the light up but the view is really magical so can see why so much ppl flock to there.   After that return to Takaoka from Shirakawago I took overnight bus to Tokyo from Toyama.

Yup. Recommend to take Kaetsunou World Heritage Pass if you're travelling between villages for trip flexibility and using World Heritage Bus.

If Takayama you can take Nohi Bus to Shirakawago, which is what I did last time.

World Heritage Bus Pass only worth if you travelling alot between villages (Gokayama, Suganuma, Ainokura etc) as it serve from Shirakawago to Takaoka Station.

Nope. No free parking. Unless you park at convinience stores or restaurant parking. But if you are in the center of town, it is all paid parking.

Snow are not deadly, deadly was black ice which usually form during morning.
If you not experience driving on winter, just avoid morning. 

Black ice almost kill me many times. seriously injured 

You can opt to travel on either the highway and trunk road between these two areas. The snow plough goes through the highway only when there is a lot of snow on the road, so there wont be any road  closures. The snowfall around these areas are not as heavy as it can get in Hokkaido, so no worries. Just make sure you specify you want snow tires when you rent your car in Tokyo or Osaka because snow tires are considered as optional. Also get your CEP as it will be more worth it to use as tolls are pretty expensive.
If you have the time, remember to drop by at Shin HOtaka Ropeway, very nice attraction worth doing where there is lots of snow.

i drive from kanazawa to shirakawago to takayama & shin hotaka ropeway (this 1 must go) on last year end of dec. yes got snow but still pretty safe to drive d. drive in safe speed & careful lo... request snow tyre when you rent your car in osaka, kyoto or tokyo la... Well the excitement i see snow totally forgot the fear of driving in snow 1st time 

Tbh, there is nothing much to do around the city of Takayama. The shops closes pretty early (Japanese Standards). Hida No Sato is also an attraction in Takayama city you might want to consider. I stayed at Takayama Four Seasons Hotel and its smack right in the centre of the city with free parking. You might want to consider that. Shin Hotaka ropeway is more towards snow playing and to experience heavy snowfall by itself. There are also ski resorts nearby if you are into skiing.

1) No Takayama is not covered in snow. You may get a bit of snow on the roofs of buildings overnight but that's it.

2) Yes. Especially the Lit Up Hida No Sato. Tip try to go in the evening before sunset.

3) I didn't notice any mini snow corridor near Shin Hotaka. Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is another must do trip though. 

4) Sure. Let me look for it.

Breaking news
Tokyo to Yokohama train accident.
One casualties.

You can park at Shibu Hot Spring official car park
https://goo.gl/maps/zQugKwU7agZY7t4W9
500 Yen per Entry or 800 yen if overnight

Depends on where you are going. There is a subway pass for unlimited use for 24 hours, 48 Hours and 72 Hours for travel around Tokyo subways. If you don't travel a lot, getting a suica/passmo would be adequate.
You meant the 5th Floor of Haneda is the floor with the outdoor observatory where you can watch the airplanes? Anyway, I really salute you guys who can spend overnight at an airport.  I really need a proper bed to get some shuteyes, so if I stay overnight at an airport, I will be a zombie tomorrow.

I still cant accept the onsen bathing culture, even after trying so many times. I really loathe going in a bathroom with naked men all around.  Any ways to overcome this anxiety? The only onsen I have tried was a private one in a hotel near Takayama.