i went there for New Year Countdown this year in Tokyo. 30th Dec till 7th Jan. Night of new year eve I was at Asakusa Sensoji Temple. Very happening.

most japanese local shops or non tourist related shop outside on the street were closed including restaurants from 30th Dec onwards till 4th or 5th Jan. Some gov tourist area may closed as well. but those restaurant chains like McD or KFC or MOS burger & some 24/7 japanese restaurant chains will remain open. Branded shops, Shopping Malls and Shopping Streets all open because this is the period they do sales. i means a lot of sales. Their sales is very serious 1. not like here old stock or fake 50% 70% off tag. Some lucky bag are really worth it but i didnt buy because although it worth more than the value but i never really use all of the items inside. So i just shop for normal items that on sales.

Crowd in Tokyo during this time seem lesser than normal. I guess many balik kampung already. I did a side trip to Hakone as well.

Well it is not a bad idea to travel to Japan during New Year for me. Just that need to take care of your wallet so it wont over bleeding .

If u mean train station crowded like office hour rush then it is not like that. More like weekend crowd for me. U sometimes get seat sometimes may need to stand a while. But no sardine pack. Just that there is a day when we go asakusa we felt really crowded & packed. Not sure what happen but from asakusa station to street to temple its all ppl. I nvr see asakusa so many ppl during my previous 2 trip to tokyo. Must be locals want to pray pray at the famous temple. Thats the only time we felt over crowded. Other than that travelling around tokyo by train just like normal weekend crowd.

My trip to Hakone is on reserve seat. But i also didn't feel very crowded.

Aiyoh... any special reason Disney Tokyo le... always super crowded there & macam not so romantic

Planning to get a drone DJI Mini 3 for my coming Hokkaido Japan in October. Are there any written/unwritten rules i need to aware of in japan.

Never use drone before also thats why plan to get early and practice.

If very troublesome for using drone in japan then i will just give up on that.

This post has been edited by FreedomSeeker: Jul 6 2023, 09:56 AM

Just back from Hokkaido trip. By far the most beautiful autumn I experience compare to my previous trips. Also the 1st time I experience snowbug. Walau damn a lot wei… although it is harmless but damn scary wei especially Jozankei & Sapporo

yeah need this type of pin


simcard from here not that expensive for me la... rm50 to rm80 can get 7 to 15 days simcard. no need waste time reach japan look for simcard.

Did you check MAS? I think they got morning arrival time to Narita.

My personal experience sleepy in airport is not that nice la... I did that in year 2013 at Haneda. Comfort confirm no d lo by sleeping on their chair. You wont get much sleep also cox noise are everywhere. The next morning damn tired. Although still can go walk walk but reach hotel just after dinner and sleep like pig. LoL...

Or you may try sleep a nite at hotel nearby the airport that provide shuttle bus.

I went there in Oct 2023. Driving trip with 4 pax including me. I went Blue Pond, Shirahige Waterfall, Lake Kanayama, Tomamu The Tower Resort, Lake Shikotsu, Lake Toya, Noboribetsu, Niseko, Jozankei and Sapporo.

Parking wise other than Sapporo which rate by hour, the other places some are free and some are per entry like 500 yen which is quite okay la... At Sapporo other than drive to Mount Moiwa bcox got free parking there. I just leave my car at hotel parking then use train to do shopping. If my 80yo dad legs get tired then will just use taxi back hotel.