Have anybody used the Philippine Airlines from Malaysia to Narita?
Was its acceptable?
The price was almost half of ANA, 800 cheaper than AIRASIA.
I gave up on JAL & MAS

hi again bro... so sorry so many questions recently.

I am renting a car to drive in Nagoya, would you recommend me to go for Shirakawa-go or Gokayama?

i have read that Gokayama has less tourists, which of course its good with less foot traffic but activity wise looking from japan-guide.com looks like there is less activities or things to do at Gokayama.

Would like to have a more local insight in to this.

http://www8.plala.or.jp/tsukijiyamamoto/YAM99.htm


If you going by April then yes. Jan - March nop, unless you got snow driving experience.
Make sure you got International License from JPJ first.
While Renting car, make sure the car comes with english GPS plus top up some money for Unlimited usage of ETS.
Insurance optional.
Oh yes.....Make sure is 4WD.

You can park at Gokayama, then walk to Suganuma (Recommended), after finised this 2 can drive to Ainokura.
BTW, after visiting Shirakawa-go, then going Gokayama, for most people will get sightseeing fatigue due to everything very similar.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Feb 1 2023, 08:45 AM

Anyone knows if Dyson in Japan is much cheaper than the selling price in Malaysia? Just saw it in shinjuku and it's about Rm1.5k..

Item more than Rm500 will kena Malaysia Custom tax.

I can open and use it here in Japan first right? 😂😂

Then if spoil how?

just back from osaka......very cold because of cold wave
surprise there have Ichiran Ramen with no pork, it's using beef, worth to try

https://goo.gl/maps/phxc8qHHzkjv6imH7

You think Malaysia custom are 3 years old kids? Who will bring Vacuum to Japan?
Custom sure know this vacuum cleaner are bough from Japan. Even without box, the thing still look brand new.

If you don't declare, while during crossing x-ray and Malaysia custom find out, you will get another extra Penalty or confiscate your vaccum.

The broth / Soup base already made from pork bone . It only no serve pork meat only, but soup still pork bone.

i not sure about the soup.....because i don't know Japanese ......i saw many muslim going to eat



This post has been edited by sben525: Feb 2 2023, 09:27 AM

It used Chicken Bone as soup based.
Then this is no longer the real authentic Ichiran Ramen.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Feb 2 2023, 09:43 AM

when I was there during December almost all the ichiran was closed, including this
only the one in dotonbori one was open, 9pm need to Q 2 hours.... I walk away

Hi guys..plan to rent kimono for photoshoot and walk. Which is better, asakusa area or kyoto? Could u recommend me any good shops for both?

Saw asakusa many mention yae kimono.

Will be going for sakura, according to the forecast both kyoto and tokyo i will hit dao blossoms. Many thanks

I will choose kyoto. I dunno price but... if asakusa area only got one place to take picture. Kyoto got more places.

Try Klook

Hi guys,

I am planning to go to Japan in May. Have been searching the net for the "How To's" but am stuck at the Kyoto to Takayama portion with regards to ticket purchases and mobile hotspot related ones.

Has anyone tried using the SMART-EX app for booking a seat on the shinkansen? I would like to know if it also prepaid debit cards as I have a Merchant Trade prepaid VISA debit card with JPY currency already loaded in it. JR Pass is not cost effective for me vs purchasing the ticket by cash but this app gives some savings for advance purchases. Also, is it possible to purchase the Hida Wide View ticket via this app?

Also anyone have experience using the Shinkansen-Ticket service (https://shinkansen-ticket.com/)? I'm thinking of using this to reserve the Wide View Hida seat if it cannot be done via the SMART-EX app. I'd like to reserve a seat far in advance as I will be departing from Kyoto to Takayama on a Sunday morning.

As for the tech side, for those who have their own personal mobile wifi and just buy a Japanese data sim card to slot it inside, I would like to know which model do you use/ I am kinda paranoid about the device not being compatible with the network type there (any recommendations would be very much appreciated).

Thanks in advance.

Many sim card sold in the market are not compatible with pocket wifi due to their limited network. Just pop the sim into a mobile phone and open hotspot.

Tokyo wide pass can use machine at JR machine to book seats in advance. I book my seats 8-10 days in advance

Just curious if there are any merchant credit/debit card fees for using cards in Japan?

Like in Lowyat, when you purchase computer parts, etc the shop will charge you additional 2% if you use cards, is it the same in Japan in places like BIC camera or Yodobashi camera?

Also anyone using multi currency debit cards like Wise for ATM withdrawals? Any issues or comments?

This post has been edited by kenji1903: Feb 4 2023, 09:51 PM

I actually plan to reserve the seats in Malaysia and just print out the QR code ticket for the shinkansen ride. The tickets are cheaper if I book at least 3 days in advance using the SMART-EX service (tickets are open for sale one month before the travel date). My itinerary is from Osaka > Kyoto > Takayama > Tokyo, hence the only shinkansen ride is from Kyoto to Nagoya and from Nagoya to Tokyo.


Not sure if it depends on merchant but I did not pay any extra credit card charges when purchasing an anime figure from Akihabara back in 2017. My friend also didn't pay any extra charges when buying an extra luggage bag (also in Akihabara).

This post has been edited by Okina: Feb 4 2023, 10:15 PM