I stayed in Androoms near Shin-Osaka station, it’s about 5-6 mins walk from the station and every night you get a free bowl of soba. Plus there is a very nice fish broth ramen just opposite the hotel and an Aeon supermarket about 10 mins walk away

Tokyo can’t recommend much, I stayed in Koko hotel just opposite Tsukiji market. That was quite ok. The other one I stayed in Shinjuku I don’t recommend at all, so far from the station and aircond not cold and rooms not clean
Forgot what’s the name, you can check my blog…

All right. Thank you so much! Anyway, Ultra Heat tech innerwear from Uniqlo is useful?

heattech scarf not useful enough for the neck area? 

will be heading back to Japan after 7 years, Osaka - Sapporo - Tokyo next week

can anyone enlighten me about the luggage reservation on trains?

Im planning to buy the haruka train ticket to tennoji, do I need luggage reservation for this train?

Not sure about the routes you are taking but last April I took a few Shinkansens and normal trains using JR pass around 6-7 different cities, no luggage reservation needed but it’s a bit of a hassle if your bags are huge, the compartments are limited and if you put your luggage near your leg space, you don’t have much place to put your legs

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...

yeah I am booking near the Shin Osaka station. But am thinking if i should move to Namba area or not, near the town centre.
I'm planning to stay in Osaka and travel back and forth to Kyoto. What do you think? Or I should just stay close to Osaka centre.

It looks like majority of my time in Japan will be spent on trains. Hahaha!

Depends on what you do in Osaka actually, I just went to the Aquarium, Namba and Dotonburi, There’s more shopping in Namba but I stayed near shin-Osaka because I travel to Kyoto, Hemeji and Nara

Kyoto is just 15 mins away from Shin-Osaka via Shinkansen, i have some note in my blog
https://wlst-ourfirstjourney.blogspot.com/2...from-osaka.html

I am also staying near Shin Osaka cause I plan to travel back and forth to Kyoto. How do you travel within Osaka though? Did you get any day passes?
I'm not using the JR passes cause it's expensive now.

I am also staying near Shin Osaka cause I plan to travel back and forth to Kyoto. How do you travel within Osaka though? Did you get any day passes?
I'm not using the JR passes cause it's expensive now.

I am also staying near Shin Osaka cause I plan to travel back and forth to Kyoto. How do you travel within Osaka though? Did you get any day passes?
I'm not using the JR passes cause it's expensive now.

Yes. This is the one. Bottom Station. 

Zao Sanroku Station to Juhyo Kogen Station 樹氷高原駅  [Middle Station] - 2000 Yen per Pax

If you willing to spend another 3800 Yen per Pax then can continue from Middle Station to Top Station which is Jizo Sancho Station 地蔵山頂駅
2023-12-23 〜 2024-02-25 got light festival on middle of moutain which is Juhyo Kogen Station.  Entrance time was 17:00・18:00・19:00・20:00
Ticket will be included Ropeway,....one pax 6000 Yen

are the tickets unlimited rides? 

i go in the morning, then evening i go again to see the lights 

anyway i saw this message in the website. Everyday also so long queue? Including weekdays? I will be going on a weekday.


https://zaoropeway.co.jp/winter/en.php

Yes. This is the one. Bottom Station. 

Zao Sanroku Station to Juhyo Kogen Station 樹氷高原駅  [Middle Station] - 2000 Yen per Pax

If you willing to spend another 3800 Yen per Pax then can continue from Middle Station to Top Station which is Jizo Sancho Station 地蔵山頂駅
2023-12-23 〜 2024-02-25 got light festival on middle of moutain which is Juhyo Kogen Station.  Entrance time was 17:00・18:00・19:00・20:00
Ticket will be included Ropeway,....one pax 6000 Yen

I read that to see the Zao Snow Monsters, you would need to take the ride up to the top Station Jizo Sancho Station? Man... this is the most expensive Ropeway.... Usually other places only charge max 1200 -1600 yen.

Do you think it will be worth it to go all the way to Jizo Sancho Station?

Since it already costs so much to go up, there is another option which is to take the Snowcat from Miyagi Zao Sumikawa Snow Park which costs 5500 yen.

Snow monster start appear at Middle Station.  Illumination Light Festival also on middle station.
Top Station for the complete view, means more snow monster.

If we take the full priced tickets to the top, can we stop at the middle station? Dont think wil go for illumination because will prefer to see the snow monsters during daytime.

Anyway since we are there might as well take the tickets to the top right?

Ticket had to buy separate. Bottom station ticket only reach Middle Station.  From Middle station had to walk to another part of section and buy ticket again to the top. So you can walk around sightseeing Middle part of Zao mountain.
2000+3800 = 5800

if wanted to see  illumination, ticket will be 6000 per pax, from bottom to middle +  illumination entrance ticket.

I think I read that return tickets is 3800 to the top station. The 2000 yen return is the bus tickets to Zao Onsen.

Anyway, thanks for the tips.

You are right. I look back old achived picture.  2014, That time route trip ticket just 2600 !!      2600 Yen (2 way ticket) from Bottom Station to Middle station + Top Station.

Now 3800 Yen from Bottom to Middle + Top  /  2000 Yen from Bottom to Middle. Bus fare excluded.  Bus fare from Yamagata Station to Zao Ropeway cost 1000 Yen per way.

My Experience on Mt Zao was terrible weather.




Middle Part of Mt. Zao Juhyo Kogen  樹氷高原


Zao mountain peak condition


From Top to Middle Station cable car view