Got snow driving experence before? Know how to put chain on tyre? Sapporo > Asahikawa > Biei > Furano , snow will be heavy , road will be icing.
If don't have. All city you plan to visit are easy acess by train.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Sep 13 2023, 03:44 PM

Make sure you get 4WD. No matter what, 4WD only.

If you got the money to spend. No problem but those car need advance (1 month) booking thru Email.
Japan normal car sedan / hatchback all got FWD / RWD / 4WD version. Japan Yaris / Vitz / Corolla / Camry / Prius all got 2 version.
4WD version will cost more & Japan exclusive....Most Japanese Car outside from Japan are normally FWD.
Nissan / Honda all got 4WD version which Malaysia Don't have...such as Honda FIT (Jazz) 4WD version , Honda Shuttle (Odessy) 4WD Version , Honda Freed 4WD version etc etc......

My fav rental car in Japan are Prius (4WD version). I always go for Prius XW60 , sometimes XW50 if 60 not available. If Both also not available then Yaris (XP210) (4WD Version) which is Malaysia don't have. XP210 are the real Yaris!!! Malaysia are XP150.....fxxx!!

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Sep 18 2023, 09:15 PM

Tokyo / Osaka / Nagoya because got theme park.

Want Save money on Food can refer to Page 71 Post #1417
Nara are nearer to Osaka City, more further away from Kyoto. Kintetsu are the quickest way travel between Nara & Osaka.
Shinkansen Ticket no need advance booking unless you travel on Golden Week. Just buy on spot. Osaka to Tokyo one day got 100+ train. Every 20 minute one train depart from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo

You didn't go Takayama on Japanese holiday season. So just walk in.


From Narita Airport, I prefer Keisei Airport Express A.K.A Mini Shinkansen to Keisei Ueno. From Keisei Ueno walk to JR Ueno Station.

Kintetsu are the largest private operator train company in between Osaka - Nagoya.
From Nara to Osaka City, Kintetsu are the fastest because Kintetsu offer "Limited Express" train.

Yes, You can go Counter / Machine buy next train ticket. Every 15 Minute One Shinkansen depart from Shin-Osaka Station towards Tokyo Station.

No matter what Train (Nozomi , Hikari , Kodama) you on.
Green Class - 19,390 Yen (Train Ticket: 8,910 Yen & Green Class Seat: 10,480 Yen)
Reserved Seat (Normal Class) - 14,520 Yen (Train Ticket: 8,910 Yen & Reserved Seat: 5,610 Yen)
Unreserved Seat (Normal Class) - 13,870 Yen (Train Ticket: 8,910 Yen & Unreserved Seat: 4,960 Yen)

Unreserved Seat means you leave your seat for toilet , anyone can take over your seat just like KTM Commuter / MRT / LRT. Reserved Seat means you got seat number

Shinkansen normally layout will be

[Green Class Coach] - [Reserved Seat Coach] - [Reserved Seat Coach] - [Reserved Seat Coach] - [Reserved Seat Coach] - [Unreserved Seat Coach] - [Unreserved Seat Coach] - [Green Class Coach]

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Sep 20 2023, 07:20 PM

Kintetsu is Kintetsu, JR is JR. Shinkansen belong to JR. Kintetsu is private operator operates in Osaka + Nagoya + Kyoto.
From Nara to Osaka / Kyoto vice versa only 2 Operator, one is JR , one is Kintetsu. JR only offer local train which is similar to our KTM Commuter, it stop every station. Sometimes got Rapid service which skip some station. Kintetsu offer "Limited Express" which is more expensive but more comfortable & more faster. Kintetsu Limited Express is similar to our ETS. From Osaka to Nara by JR need 1 hour, Kintetsu Limited Express only need 35 minute.

If you Google Map Nara, you will see 2 Train Station. One is JR Nara Station, another is Kintetsu Nara Station.

Green / Reserved / Unreserved also need choose a specific time train. Because 8,910 Yen is Train Ticket. So you got the Train Number & Time. If you buy Unreserved Seat, if the Train comes & Full, you stand all the way to Tokyo but this is very rare, it only happen on Japan Golden Week.

Example you reach Shin-Osaka Station at 16:00

16:06 Nozomi 34

16:15 Nozomi 236

16:21 Nozomi 422

Ticket machine will show 6 train which is depart soon. you just choose which depart time suit you most. If machine too complicated, you just go JR Ticket Office buy Shinkansen Ticket, staff will arrange best depart train for you.

Japan Train are very very accrurate!!! 16:15 train, the train will arrived platfrom at 16:10 and it will depart exactly 16:15. If you arived Shin-Osaka Station at 16:00, I suggest you buy 16:21 or 16:40 or 17:00

You already booked the Shinkansen Ticket? I dunno how fast is your walking pace and luggage size. If you count 20 minute from Keisei Train arrived Platfrom to JR Ueno Shinkansen Platfrom, then imposible. because you need go up excalator, passing gate then walk underground passage / road surface. JR Ueno Station is Huge!! Similar to our KL Sentral + Nu Sentral Mall Size

But distant between Keisei Ueno to JR Ueno station just cross one street. My walking pace, 2 minute only.

I got few list but the price are all over your 3K budget.

- Asakusa Tobu Hotel
- Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro
- Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu

This 3 confirm real Queen & King size bed. Western size

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Sep 23 2023, 11:03 PM

IC card are Suica / Pasmo / ICOCA...etc etc.
Due to Shortage, travelers only can get (Welcome Suica)(Pasmo Passport) from Narita / Haneda Airport JR ticket office only.

Welcome Suica or Pasmo Passport similar to Normal IC Card but it cannot refund. It will self deactivated after 14 days
DO NOT load too much money inside!!

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Sep 24 2023, 06:30 PM

This depends how far can you travel and how much money willing to spend.

Tonight I go back home will update.

2 spot.

新倉山浅間公園 or 碧テラス

If you want rare then 碧テラス

Narita Airport ......almost can be my 4th Home.

All Bus & Taxi at 1F A.K.A Ground Floor of Terminal One. Train will be at B1F

Oh...4th floor will be Departure Level. Hotel Shuttle consider as private, similar to Our KLIA / KLIA2, direct drop at upper level ( Departure)
I tot you go Narita by public transport bus, then will be 1st Floor

Nothing beat Yamato Transport.

Terminal one 4F
Terminal Two 3F

Terminal one 4F
Terminal Two 3F

Morning to noon Himeji and noon to night at Kobe are great choice.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Oct 5 2023, 06:07 PM

Kobe to Kyoto only 30 minute...Last train until 11:40pm

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Oct 5 2023, 08:20 PM