You will be surprised 70% old shop even famous restaurants didn't accept credit card. Cash still the best in Japan.
IC Card are mainly for transport and convenient store....and vending machine.

Doable,

Osaka (3 nights)
Nara (day trip on the way to Kyoto)
Kyoto (3 nights)
Kyoto to Kanazawa by train
Kanazawa (1 night enough or make it a day trip? not enough things to do here as an overnighter), depending on when you're going, the kenrouken gardens open very early, like 5.30am... till 6:45am is free to enter (not sure if this is the case now). Night illumination during winter only
Kanazawa to Takayama by bus with stopover for few hours in Shirakawa-go (I think 3-4 hours is the sweet spot, I was there for half a day, end up really bored... not much to do there besides sights)
Takayama (2 nights), day trip you can go hida village or kamikochi
Takayama to Kawaguchiko via Nagoya
Kawaguchiko (1 night), at least a night, cos mount fuji is a really shy mountain. Night time can go public onsen
Kawaguchiko to Tokyo
Tokyo (3 nights)

Plus minus as you like, if take public transport better not be adventurous and try to see like 10 places in one day, not doable

This post has been edited by gaeria84: Oct 11 2022, 12:10 AM

exactly, that was my shock when i went in 2015

you would think a country called first world country are very developed and all rounder in most aspects. but nuh uh, cash is king in JP

thats why generally if can use cards i will put as priority. having spare cash on hand is much more useful

2 nights in Mt Fuji should be enough. If you have enough budget, you can try search Kukuna or any hotels around Lake Kawaguchiko. Check if the rooms have a Mt Fuji view.

If your hotel doesn't have a Mt Fuji view or onsen. Can try these 2 places. They both have a Mt Fuji view are these 2. I forgot how much but should be around 1000 yen or cheaper.

Fuji Yurari Hot Spring (newer and larger with more pools outdoor, it's abit far, I rented a car and drove around so it was easy for me.)
Yamanakako Onsen Benifuji no Yu hot spring

Awesome! Thank you for the recommendation on the Fuji portion.

Quick question, we drive on the same side, and have driver seats at the same side as Japan correct?

So all that's needed is the international driving permit (Complete the form, surrender domestic license, pay RM150).

How's driving in Japan like? Similar to Mahresia?

Yes. Drive on the same side. If you uses signal to try and cut to the other lane, a lot of times they are polite enough to let you go first. I rented Alphard hybrid from Toyota. Their GPS abit hard to use unless you know the mapcode. Later which i found the website to get mapcode here. https://japanmapcode.com/en

I think Japanese are like the best users of highway. Each lane drive at the appropriate speed. No one cut left and right at all. So I just follow the same speed as the car in front of me. I was driving at 150km/h at some point. If there's a jam, car in front will use double signal to tell you to watch out and slow down. Toll and parking especially in cities is expensive though. But if you arrive Hakone area and rent a car to go around, should be better than public transport. I never tried the public transport around Fuji area. You can go Gotemba Premium Outlet if you want to do some shopping, if the weather is sunny and clear skies, you can see Mt Fuji. Winter + early morning should have better visibility. Afternoon normally can't see much. So wake up early to go around and take photos or just check the weather if it's sunny. It all depends on luck basically.


Tenku no torii

Chureito Pagoda

Oshino Hakkai

Oishi Park

https://thesmartlocal.com/japan/fujiyoshida-honcho-street/ *Edit: added this link*

these places should be quite iconic. If you do enough research, normally should see these few places to take touristy photos. haha

This post has been edited by lauwy: Oct 11 2022, 10:33 AM

omg, big luggage is not allowed on shinkansen

I've read a lot on this too, if your luggage is within 28" you are still allowed to bring onto shinkansen.
Unless others say otherwise.

This post has been edited by windstruck: Oct 11 2022, 11:20 AM

depends on your definition of whats large also

see official site rules. if im not mistaken its

1. oversized luggage >250cm tall is now barred
2. size of 160-250cm high allowed but need reservation booking
3. <160cm can be hand carried in and slot onto overhead rack

cause imo 250cm luggage is srzly big

found the source
for Tokyo - Shin Osaka - Hakata - Kagoshima-Chuo, most famous route for tourist

JR source



but normally our luggage won't bigger than 250cm right?

This post has been edited by sben525: Oct 11 2022, 12:14 PM

Expensive & very stressful. Very hard to find parking in cities. Highway are full of speed camera & alot alot alot alot sneaky camouflage police patrol. Mostly are Lexus ES250. Kena once, I was overtaking Express Bus about 118km/h & that police car was behind me cucuk, as Malaysian driving style, I will speed up (123km/h) the overtake process and moved back to left lane for the Lexus to overtake me.........KNN!!!! Then suddenly flashing light came out from Lexus!!

Japan most highway speed limit are 100km/h. Some major one are 120km/h

This guideline only for adults, how about kid under 18, no need to do pre reg ?

How small is the kid? If the Kid passport are stick to parent passport that kind, no need.
If the kid got own passport, the procedure are same as Adult. Upload the vaccine certificate thru mysos.
If kid dont have 3 vaccine shot, kid need do PCR test 72 hrs before departure.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Oct 11 2022, 12:13 PM

primary school age but 2shots vaccine no booster. Still can upload?
Also mysos can carry user and his kids data as in 1 phone? since my kids dun have their own phone

yes if <12yo which are those without passports. you need to tie them to your registration, theres an option to select next to passport upload

MySOS fast lane must had 3 shot. Your kid either take another booster shot or do PCR test.
Either way, You should call Japan Embassy for 100% confirm
03 - 2177 2600 (General)

MySOS fast lane must had 3 shot. Your kid either take another booster shot or do PCR test.
Either way, You should call Japan Embassy for 100% confirm
03 - 2177 2600 (General)

Hmmmm, true for the possible situation. But I think driving won't be my primary consideration since its the first time for me to visit Japan.

What's your view on my previous post - for revised schedule / day allocations?

i think no need vaccine or PCR test for those less than 18 years old if they go with parents

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/...gyou_00013.html

This post has been edited by sben525: Oct 11 2022, 12:32 PM

Quick question.

I will be using Fuji Excursion to Kawaguchiko which JR line will be offset by JR Pass. but for Fujikyu section I need to pay.
For this can I buy the Fujikyu section together at the ticketing counter?