Just a t-shirt and a down jacket will do or swap the t-shirt with a long sleeve shirt if it's cold. Tokyo isn't that cold but if temps do drop, you can always duck indoors to warm up; benefits of being in a city.

Seems not possible for Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass holder to make advance reservation via online.

By the time I arrive at KIX and clear immigration etc, it may pass the 6 PM operating hour to call Nohi Bus or Hokutetsu Bus for reservation. Any idea how to make the reservation if I intend to take the bus from Kanazawa to Shirakawago in the next early morning? Thank you.

Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass holder are not allow to make any Reservation on Nohi Bus.
https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/route_bus/takaya...kawago-line-en/
You still can try luck 20 minute before departure at Kanazawa Station. 8:10Am & 8:40am Bus.

Get your ticket here:
https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/wp_rnw/wp-conten...c8a452a5e88.jpg

If you really worry, then just called from Malaysia direct to Nohi Company & make reservation.
TEL (0577)32-1688. Don't forget add +81

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Mar 19 2023, 11:55 PM

will be going to Osaka in mid-Sept, and leaving via Tokyo in end-Sept

planning to stay about a week in Osaka, then day trip to surrounding areas like Nara, Kobe, & Kyoto

then another week in Tokyo, then go back

Should I get the JR Pass in this case? Since most of the day trip travelling will be in Osaka and it's surrounding area, then going to Tokyo, I was thinking the 7-days JR Pass?

No need JR Rail Pass since you going one way from Osaka to Tokyo only.

Nara , Kobe , Kyoto are Keihan & Hankyu & City Subway Territory.
JR coverd very limited area.

Osaka are Nankai & Kintetsu & City Subway Territory.
JR coverd very limited area in Osaka city.
Best Line are Loop Line.

Tokyo are Keikyu , Seibu & City Subway Territory.
Best JR line are Yamanote Loop & Chuo Line. Suica / Pasmo / Icoca more worth.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Mar 20 2023, 03:03 PM

So I am going to fly this Sunday.
Doing last minute checks and realized I booked 2 nights of my hotel ON THE WRONG DATE.
Luckily still more than 3 days only pay 10% cancellation fee.
But rebooking the new nights freaking expensive now.

why many restaurant are closed in USJ ??
still yet recover from pandemic?

One of reason was:
No Chinese tourist.

I thought open Liao that’s why JPY so strong

Chinese now favorite country will be Thailand.
Even Japan no more restrictions on Chinese but what had done already damage. Short period hard to see any big group of Chinese.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Mar 22 2023, 05:57 PM

Usually, are the buses plying the Kanazawa-Shirakawa-go-Takayama route punctual or will it get long delayed to due traffic jam?

It will be very Punctual from Kanazawa. Unless got traffic accident at Takaoka to Kanazawa part.

From Kanazawa to Shirakawa highway are very dead. Very less traffic.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Mar 23 2023, 12:19 PM

the bus can be quite empty also haha

Facing some stumbling block here. Below is current plan. Using Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass for Day 1-5

Day 3, want to spend visit Takayama morning market which ends at 12 pm, earliest can arrive at Takayama Station is 9:28 am using the earliest Hida Limited Exp. Earliest bus arrives as 10:25 am. So considering to go to Takayama on the evening of Day 2 instead, both bus and Hokuriku-Hida leaves Kanazawa around 4 pm. Would have prefered to leave later around 6 pm but seems no option. Already booked accommodation, so need to rebook for Day 1 and 2.


Day 1 - Arrive KIX 3:30pm, Haruka + Thunderbird, Kyoto to Kanazawa. Stay Kanazawa.
Day 2 - Kanazawa. Stay Kanazawa.
Day 3 - Hokuriku + Hida, Kanazawa to Takayama. Stay Takayama.
Day 4 - Day trip to Kamikochi. Stay Takayama.
Day 5 - Bus to Shirakawa-Go, then Thunderbird, Kanazawa to Kyoto. Stay Kyoto.
Day 6 - Kyoto. Stay Kyoto
Day 7 - Haruka to KIX

Another option is to swap Shirakawa-Go to Day 3 like this:
Day 3 - Bus to Shirakawa-Go, then to Takayama. Stay Takayama.
Day 5 - Takayama, then bus or train to Kanazawa and Kyoto. Stay Kyoto.

Any thoughts on this, maybe a better suggestion? Thank you

add: Can I make bus reservation the following trip at Nohi Bus Center in Kanazawa?

- Nohi bus for Takayama to Hirayu Onsen/Kamikochi
- Nohi Bus for Takayama to Kanazawa

This post has been edited by Human Nature: Mar 23 2023, 06:02 PM

Suggestion by ChatGPT:

Based on your current plan, it seems like your main concern is arriving early enough in Takayama on Day 3 to visit the morning market. Given your constraints, I have two suggestions for your itinerary.

Option 1:
Revise your current plan by moving to Takayama on the evening of Day 2. You can then explore the morning market on Day 3 without any time pressure.

Day 1 - Arrive KIX 3:30pm, Haruka + Thunderbird, Kyoto to Kanazawa. Stay Kanazawa.
Day 2 - Kanazawa (explore until the afternoon), 4pm bus or Hokuriku-Hida to Takayama. Stay Takayama.
Day 3 - Takayama morning market, explore Takayama. Stay Takayama.
Day 4 - Day trip to Kamikochi. Stay Takayama.
Day 5 - Bus to Shirakawa-Go, then Thunderbird, Kanazawa to Kyoto. Stay Kyoto.
Day 6 - Kyoto. Stay Kyoto.
Day 7 - Haruka to KIX.

Option 2:
Swap Shirakawa-Go to Day 3 and adjust your itinerary as follows:

Day 1 - Arrive KIX 3:30pm, Haruka + Thunderbird, Kyoto to Kanazawa. Stay Kanazawa.
Day 2 - Kanazawa. Stay Kanazawa.
Day 3 - Bus to Shirakawa-Go, then to Takayama. Stay Takayama.
Day 4 - Takayama morning market, explore Takayama. Stay Takayama.
Day 5 - Day trip to Kamikochi. Stay Takayama.
Day 6 - Bus or train to Kanazawa, then Thunderbird to Kyoto. Stay Kyoto.
Day 7 - Kyoto. Stay Kyoto.
Day 8 - Haruka to KIX.

This option extends your trip by one day, but it allows you to explore the Takayama morning market without any time constraints. Additionally, you'll have more time in Kyoto on Day 7.

Both options have their pros and cons, so it ultimately depends on your preferences and flexibility in extending your trip. If you decide to go with Option 1, remember to rebook your accommodations as needed.

You mean this whole thing is typed by ChatGPT?

Pass holder cannot make any reservations. That the weakness of the pass. If you make reservations, you had to pay full fare.

oh, I wil buy the round-trip ticket for the the Nohi Bus from Takayama to Hirayu Onsen/Kamikochi, so I suppose this one can

Any idea if this can be bought online? I checked Nohi bus website, they only state timetable and fees buy no option to purchase,

Kamikochi opening from 17/4, maybe booking not yet open?

Cant find details about this ticket elsewhere apart from here:
https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/route_bus/kamikochi-line-en/

Takayama～Hirayu Onsen～Kamikochi Round trip set ticket

The one combined with Shinhotaka ropeway can be purchased from Klook