From Takamatsu to Tokyo higher chances.
JR Rail Pass holder no need aditional money for nobinobi "Unique experience". If you do online reserved on NobiNobi, you will charge 530Yen Extra.
JR Rail Pass + 11000 Yen for Private Single (berth with door)

From Takamatsu to Tokyo Train leaving at 21:30. You need reach platform at 21:00 for the "Limited" Shower Card

Using RM, Exchange in Malaysia better rate. If Exchange at Japan, USD better rate.

If you booked without JR Rail Pass
You need to pay Train Ticket 11,540 + 11,540 + 18,700 (Twin) = 41,780 Yen
If you book with JR Rail Pass (Reserved seat with your Pass No.) = 18,700 Yen only.

Sunrise Seto / Izumo already phase out Twin Deluxe. Only left Private Twin...means you need to rush for Shower Card.

Japan Golden Week reservation will not open for foreigners. All reservation reserved for Japanese local. If you travel to Japan within Golden week. Then just stay inside Tokyo. Forget about Hakone, Lake Kawaguchiko, Nikko, Aomori, anything......Just only Tokyo.

Your itenary won't work. No way you can return to Tokyo from Tohoku because already hit Golden Week. Tohoku Shinkansen need Reserve seat. You need back to Tokyo by 27 April.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Feb 24 2023, 03:58 PM

Is JR dirty tricks. I been Japan so many years, based on my experience. If you booked thru JR Rail Pass, system will know you are foreigners, it will automatic pop out all seat full.
10-15 years ago there are no such thing as online booking, ticket had to booked / purchase thru machine / JR ticket counter, Those JR ticket counter saw foreigners face, automatic put you in non-reserved seat during Golden weeks.
That time, all shinkansen still got non-reserved seat, foreigners 100% kena non reserve seat. Non reserved seat become like our KTM commuter, seat are 1st come 1st serve, if half way you walk away from your seat for pee, another person can take over your seat. My longest record was from Tokyo standing all the way to Akita.

3 Way:
Option 1:
Buy Grand Class Seat. You got 60% chances can get seat reserved during Golden Week. JR Rail Pass + 28,980 Yen
I called it Money Power.....Batman...''I am Rich''

Option 2:
From Ichinoseki Iwate take Local train heading to Sendai City. From Sendai take Night Express Bus to Tokyo. Expecting heavy traffic jam on highway but you still heading to Tokyo and all your plan won't effected. Just need to do some minor adjustment.

Option 3:
Booked the flight ticket now.
Sendai to Tokyo. One way ticket around Rm400-500. Of lucky, early bird ticket around 300-400

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Feb 25 2023, 08:33 AM

Japan highway traffic jam in golden week start min 4 hours above. Highest ever record was 7 hrs jam. Specially leaving Tokyo heading to Shizuoka part. Nagoya to Osaka another 2-4 hrs Jam
Tokyo to heading North East will be jam at Fukushima, Sendai

Flight & Train will be fully booked out. Japanese people work 365 days only rest in Golden Holiday & 1st of Jan.
They don't care any Remembrance Day.....This is only holiday I can rest in entire year.

All famous restraurant will be packed with people, famous item in menu will be sold out fast. I give you a example.
My favourite ramen in Kyoto 麺屋 猪一. Dinner open at 17:30, All ramen already sold out at 18:00, People even start line up Q at 16:00

Golden Week for me, even you survive the transport part...you won't get a chances to taste all famous restraurant. My Golden week in Japan, 90% of my Dinner are Family Mart , Lawson & Seicomart (Hokkaido) & my favorite working day survival food restaurant chain which I will post soon on my coming Birthday.



This post has been edited by RegentCid: Feb 25 2023, 10:59 AM

You from Tokyo to Kyoto just one way. SInce you not back to Tokyo, you don't need JR Rail Pass.
Tokyo & Osaka & Kyoto are fully coverd by Metro which you no need JR Rail Pass.
From Kyoto to Osaka can used Keihan Line Limited Express. Travel time just 40 minute.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Feb 27 2023, 11:01 AM

Typoon season. Just stay in Tokyo. Bring alot waterproof clothing. No point going 2 week because of typoon season.

Rain from morning all day until night. Super strong wind, train and flight will be suspended.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Feb 27 2023, 07:17 PM

Just stay at Tokyo, attending TGS. Forget Osaka, Kyoto & Hokkaido.
Weather will be hot & alot of rain for sure. Last Year Typoon hit Japan was 18-20 Sept.
This year 2023 still cannot predict yet...Can be early can be late to Oct.

If no typoon then you can go Osaka + Kyoto, still very wet...rain all day

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Feb 28 2023, 08:51 AM

My first Icoca card was brough from Convinence store. If you got Suica / Pasmo, then forget about Icoca. Unless you are card collector.
If you going Kyoto / Osaka Station / Shin-Osaka Station then JR Haruka will be no.1 choice. If you going Osaka city (Namba) then Nankai will be no.1 choice.

Osaka Metro Pass just get it at Ticket Machine. Simple & Fast. All Ticket Machine got Japanese, Chinese , English language selection.

Today was my Birthday. It also mean Tips of the Year.

As you guys know I work & stay at Japan many many years. This list will be my weekdays lunch & dinner when I was working at Japan. 80% Japanese weekdays meal also. Price from 700 - 1800 Yen. All food in list are taste normal, don't expect any WOW factor....This is Japanese everday meal. Don't later come back write in forum saying Regent Cid recomemded CB taste shop.

Sukiya & Yoshinoya as most of people already knew it, so it won't be inside the list.
Most of the restraurant in list can be found around Japan / Tokyo but I mostly lepak at Ikebukuro.

Ootoya 大戸屋
https://www.ootoya.com/menu/
Recomemded Seat Meal
My Favorite are 国産牛のすき鍋定食
Taste not the greatest, but compare to 100 years old Sukiyaki restraurant minimum starting at 4000 - 16000 Yen. This Ootoya Sukiyaki just 1490 Yen + unlimited refill of rice.

Matsuya 松屋
https://www.matsuyafoods.co.jp/matsuya/menu/
Set Meal & Beef Don are delicious.
My Favorite are ブラウンソースエッグハンバーグ定食 (Hamburger Meat Set Meal)

Nikusushi 肉寿司
https://nikusushi.ne.jp/menu/
My Favorite are 炙り肉寿司盛り合わせ + 200-300Yen Beef Sushi
2000 Yen can be very full.

いづも 池袋
https://r.gnavi.co.jp/hkck36me0000/menu2/
My Favorite are Yakitori & Eel Rice Bowl うな丼 並
Eel Rice Bowl taste good but not the greatest...wow factor none...But Tokyo any 100 years old Eel Specialty restraurant starting price are 4500 - 8000 Yen
This shop just 1/4 price and portion are 1/2 size bigger.

Cafe Gusto ガスト
https://www.skylark.co.jp/en/gusto/paper_me...tern/index.html
My Favorite are Hamburger Steak Meal

Bikkuri Donkey びっくりドンキー
https://www.bikkuri-donkey.com/prefecture/tokyo/
My favorite are Hamburger Steak with Pineapple + Extra Cheese + Vanilla Icecream

Hanamaru udon はなまるうどん
https://www.hanamaruudon.com/menu/
This Malaysia also got but in Japan, this is the cheapest Udon which Japanese worker No.1 choice
Not necessary go Japan to try since Malaysia also got but Udon lover....Good selection

Suage Hokkaido Soup Curry 北海道スープカレーSuage - Shibuya Branch
https://suage.info/stores/shibuya/
Most of Japanese curry are thick & sweet side. This is soup base curry!! This is the way!
My favorite are パリパリ知床鶏と7種の野菜カレ + Rice 350g (100 Yen)

Eggbomb 男のオムライス EGG BOMB
https://www.dd-holdings.jp/brands/eggbomb/
Japanese Omelette Rice + Fried chicken
Taste very normal actually....but the portion really big.... Price & portion ratio...very worth

Yayoi やよい軒
https://www.yayoiken.com/menu_list/index/13
My favorite are ハンバーグとエビフライとから揚げの人気トリオ定食 Popular Trio Set [Chicken + beef + Shrimp] /// 【牛豚鶏】倍盛・焼肉ざんまい定食 [Beef + Chicken + Pork]
My Favorite restraurant in the whole list

Yakiniku Like 焼肉ライク
https://yakiniku-like.com/menu.html
My favorite are No.1 4 meat choice (Beef) 1750 Yen + Highball + Beer........Life cannot be more better !!
My Favorite bbq meat restraurant. All DIY.
Each person got it own small stove to BBQ the meat, Best BBQ store for foreveralone people

Tendon Tenya 天丼てんや
https://www.tenya.co.jp/menu/
I prefer Cold Soba + Tempura set more.
Taste ok.....but cheap way to eat Soba + tempura set meal under 1000 Yen. Cannot ask for more.

Obihiro Butaichi 豚丼一番ぶたいち Inside Ikebukuro Sunshire City Building 3F
http://www.obihiro-butaichi.com/menu/butadon/
Whole shop only sell one item ......Grill XL Pork Cutlet Don
This shop either you eat at Obihiro (Hokkaido) or Ikebukuro (Tokyo)
Hokkaido Grill Pork are Perfection but sauce might abit more on sweeter side

Katsuya かつや
https://www.arclandservice.co.jp/katsuya/menu/
My favorite are 海老ヒレメンチカツ定食
The pork soup included in set meal are damm delicious ...better than other only serving Miso soup.


Hope you guys like the List.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Mar 2 2023, 11:21 AM

Yes. Icoca can be used in Tokyo.

Kuromon market already dead without Chinese tourist. My beloved cheapest Wagyu meat shop at Kuromon Market already gulung tikar.
Damm fxxx sad.

Haiz...Maruzen no more really make me no more mood going Kuromon Market. Best ever and cheapest Wagyu in Japan.

Everytime got friend come to Japan, I always bring them over, now just left memories. Haiz

She must be going those sell fruit, seafood all in one store. Those usually always packed with people.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Mar 2 2023, 03:24 PM

Not recommended
Commecial aircraft cargo compartment only pressurize but no air conditining, Temp around Cargo compartment are 40-50C, your fruit from Japan travel 9 hrs to Malaysia will start rotten inside your luggage due to heat.

Kitkat, Japan Kitkat always got seasonal limited Edition.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Mar 3 2023, 08:42 AM

Real Pro going Kawaguchiko by Highway Express Buses.
Just 1/4 price from JR Limited Express "Fuji Excursion"
Faster than Train almost by 30 minute
Free Wifi Onboard
Highway view are way better than train specially morning period approx 7-9am.

Car & Bus share the same route. See the same view.
Self driving sure the best of the best of all transport but also the most expensive.
If self driving to Kawaguchiko then must go Lake Motosuko. If you rent car & didn't go here. I will Fxxx you
Location: ロッジ前 駐車場

Japan Highway Buses got toilet. Traffic Jam part. That depends on your luck

Starting tomorrow, 7 March 2023
Japan govt lift off all restriction on China tourist. Japan Economy & Tourist sector cannot survive without big spender.
Japan Govt urged all mall / shop / tourist spot management get ready for big flow of Chinese tourist coming soon.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Mar 5 2023, 06:12 PM

Because Kamikochi reopen at Mid April & normally reservation open at Kamikochi around Mid - End of March.