for kyoto, i'm not a cyclist, i'm lazy, i wont cycle, looking at the distance. bus is quite nice actually + google map to check their punctuality, it's convenient really.

but depending on the point of attraction, a mix of train, bus, subway is needed.

for tokyo, honestly you dont really need the subway pass everyday and it depends on what you want to do. i notice subway prices in tokyo is quite decent for per trip basis. it could cost "only 242 yen using IC card" per trip for a 35 mins on the subway or 198 yen on the JR yamanote (JY) line with same duration. depending on where you stay maybe the JR train station is nearer than subway (this was my case actually).

but 1-day pass cost 800 yen (3 day pass will cost only 500 yen per trip, but it's not like you jump from places to places everyday too).

subway pass do not cover JR line (the yamanote line, which can be more convenient, cause it's that "circle" line)

https://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/travel/

subway passes can be be bought at certain locations (some of the major stations listed above, ueno, ginza, etc, i think are major enough kua)

This post has been edited by adele123: Dec 25 2022, 08:42 AM

Instead of buying sim, you should also check the cost of your local telco provider for the data roaming. Doubt you need the call service.

I have limited knowledge on japan rail but... i only can see you reaching osaka from takayama via nagoya. The stretch from nagoya to osaka is best by shinkansen lo. But actually i am sure got non shinkansen to take but save time ma. If take shinkansen, then jr pass... only can take those certain trains (which i recall was less frequent).

Actually google map is already very good for japan trip planning. You can compare the price for each single ticket by using the public transport option. Iirc, the price seems abit cheaper when i bought on the spot compared than the price on google map, i suspect because of reserved pricing on google map (i bought unreserved) but the difference was only few hundred yen.

From kanazawa to takayama via shirakawago, you will be on the bus, so you should calculate properly before buying the jr pass to make sure worth your money.

Ok la. Chill at takayama. Eat more hida beef and other stuff and drink their hida milk (can get from convenience store). Really loved it. I enjoyed the food i managed to try at takayama, but night time abit dead though.

Actually you can decide later you want to go to hida folk village (at takayama itself) or shirakawago or go to both. I went to shirakawago, but from pictures, hida folk village macam similar.

Can go to hida-furukawa for a quick walk and some sort of insta-worthy picture, but when i was there, feels like a very quiet town. Lol. When i got off the train, only 6 ppl including 2 of us, who were "tourist"

I dont have any itinerary honestly. I was only there for 1 full day exclude arrival and departure.

We wing it.

Just makan, and went to hida furukawa for 1 hour exclude the journey time (but like i say, semi dead but still ok to jalan). Went to try the famous route (20% of it then gave up, cause cold tired and hungry). It's less touristy when i was there but when makan bbq, then see all tourist.

Got 2 makan place i like to recommend

Makan soba
https://maps.app.goo.gl/nzR56LZRzaAsQYZF9

Makan beef but different way of eating
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3iRj3d5JXqtrntAd7

So the bbq place somewhere in town. Mostly serve tourist. But still good. Downside is self cook, lack the finesse of jp cooking style but the A5 hida beef is good. Google hidagyu maruaki.

This post has been edited by adele123: Jan 8 2023, 10:56 AM

Quoted above. You can go to the soba/udon place. I rmb seeing sushi and ramen place all quite decently rated and recommended by my hotel but i didnt try any since we focus on the beef place.

Hida furukawa, yes small town but only 15mins away by train. You see google, then you decide lo. I think if you have too much time can go jalan abit. But if no time, you wont miss anything.

Nice 15mins train ride too.

Can hotspot. Been there done that.

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

To answer your 1st question, no such thing in japan for places i have been to (central japan, kyoto, osaka, tokyo). Everything charged as per price written be it cash or card. I only use it at restuarant and department store la.

Btw, yes, japan double beds (at certain hotels) are 140cm wide, normal queen is wider. If your bookings do mention bed size at least you can avoid this. I think i kena this alot because i always stay in business hotel (budget also).

I could be highly bias but... i feel uniqlo is more marketing than actual tahan for hokkaido winter. I bought my clothes at an actual winter clothing shop... this is back in 2019...

Wool scarf works best for me. I use same scarf from uni until now.. >10 years...

You can google for the actual dimension of the luggage size that needs reservation on japan train. Most luggage does not fall into that category. It has to be real big...

This post has been edited by adele123: Jan 28 2024, 05:00 PM

Throughout my journey in Q4 2022, I used the fare estimation recommended on Google maps. The fares are worth referencing. It's usually correct for me. Although when I go on the longer shinkansen, the fare could be off by few hundred yen, but the whole ticket was 14k so... The difference was not significant. Even for local trains I notice the fare is accurate.

Also it was convenient to reference Google map for less frequent trains... For the timetable. Makes it easier to plan when to be there.

The part of about surrender driving licence in JPJ is very very old and not updated, i found the same information from googling.

You will keep your license. You will be given IDP that looks like a small booklet from the 1980s.

This post has been edited by adele123: Jun 9 2024, 09:10 AM

You just have to sum up the cost for each train trip you might take, and compare with the jr pass price.

Google maps do indicate the price for each train trip which makes it easier for you to sum them up.

KL to osaka do have direct flights which may be less stressful with either MAS and Airasia. And plenty of option if you are ok with 1 stop. HK, singapore, somewhere in china, taiwan, bangkok etc.

Lets not forget you have to be at the airport at 5am. So your entire journey takes 16 hours...


This post has been edited by adele123: Apr 12 2025, 12:40 AM