Hi guys,

I am planning to go to Japan in May. Have been searching the net for the "How To's" but am stuck at the Kyoto to Takayama portion with regards to ticket purchases and mobile hotspot related ones.

Has anyone tried using the SMART-EX app for booking a seat on the shinkansen? I would like to know if it also prepaid debit cards as I have a Merchant Trade prepaid VISA debit card with JPY currency already loaded in it. JR Pass is not cost effective for me vs purchasing the ticket by cash but this app gives some savings for advance purchases. Also, is it possible to purchase the Hida Wide View ticket via this app?

Also anyone have experience using the Shinkansen-Ticket service (https://shinkansen-ticket.com/)? I'm thinking of using this to reserve the Wide View Hida seat if it cannot be done via the SMART-EX app. I'd like to reserve a seat far in advance as I will be departing from Kyoto to Takayama on a Sunday morning.

As for the tech side, for those who have their own personal mobile wifi and just buy a Japanese data sim card to slot it inside, I would like to know which model do you use/ I am kinda paranoid about the device not being compatible with the network type there (any recommendations would be very much appreciated).

Thanks in advance.

I actually plan to reserve the seats in Malaysia and just print out the QR code ticket for the shinkansen ride. The tickets are cheaper if I book at least 3 days in advance using the SMART-EX service (tickets are open for sale one month before the travel date). My itinerary is from Osaka > Kyoto > Takayama > Tokyo, hence the only shinkansen ride is from Kyoto to Nagoya and from Nagoya to Tokyo.


Not sure if it depends on merchant but I did not pay any extra credit card charges when purchasing an anime figure from Akihabara back in 2017. My friend also didn't pay any extra charges when buying an extra luggage bag (also in Akihabara).

This post has been edited by Okina: Feb 4 2023, 10:15 PM

Xperia 5 IV not compatible too. Reason given via Shopee chat is that the Xperia's phone's chipset cannot support the sim.

Hello1010's CS on Shopee Chat don't look like they do their checks properly. Yesterday said Xperia 5 IV not compatible with their sim but when asked this morning about Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (also using the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor), they said the Samsung phone is compatible with their sim.

When asked further why the different compatibility response when both use the same processor the response again is "worry chipset not supported". After sharing the phone specs on Sony MY's website and also the model's release date, now they say no compatibility issues with Sony. Huh?

This post has been edited by Okina: Feb 25 2023, 12:41 PM

I'm touching down at Kansai Airport at 5:45am in May (after Golden Week ends) but I don't think I can exchange the Osaka Amazing Pass (pre-purchase in Malaysia) that early based on the counter operating hours stated.

I tried checking Youtube videos but these are mostly filmed during normal working hours. Are you guys able to get the OAP in KIX in the early mornings or have no choice but to exchange your passes at the train stations/tourist info counters once the offices open?

Osaka Amazing Pass is only for Osaka and only have 1-day and 2-day options. Both covers Osaka subway, tramway, and bus only but the 1-day version gives more choice of lines to use.

Are you referring to Kansai Thru Pass instead? https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357_005.html

Both not valid for lines operated by JR though.

Japan's rails are operated by different companies. So the passes are company/companies specific. It's like RapidKL pass valid only for Prasarana operated trains and buses. Cannot use for KTM.

For the license application process part, you pay RM 150 for IDP (International Driving Permit) that is valid for 1 year. You need to renew it each year but if you don't need it beyond the current vacation, you can just let it lapse.

As for document requirements, you need the following documents.
1. Valid Malaysian driver's license that has more than 1 year till expiry (i.e. Malaysian driver's license cannot expire before IDP, hence the expiry requirement)
2. Photocopy of your IC (back and front) and driver's license (back and front)
3. Passport size colour photo (the photo will be pasted onto your IDP)

JPJ counters are only open from Monday till Friday, so recommended to go to UTC centre as they are open on weekends. I had just went to UTC Shah Alam last month to apply for permit. As my driving license expires in July, I did the license renewal first, followed by the IDP, both at UTC on the same morning. Told the officer that I wanted to do both renewal and IDP application, so he did the renewal first and then was told to meet back up with him again at the same counter once I get my new license (a photocopy of the new license is needed too, but photocopy services are available on that floor). Did not need to take another ticket for the IDP part as he attended to me after he settled his immediate customer. Not sure if other officers have different ways to handle such requests.

Source: https://www.jpj.gov.my/en/web/main-site/pem...-driving-permit

License renewal (if gonna expire soon) don't have to do together with IDP at UTC/JPJ. Just go with whichever is most convenient (e.g. renew at Pos Malaysia at an earlier date).

This post has been edited by Okina: Mar 13 2023, 11:02 PM

It's my first time renting a car as well but my pickup will be at Takayama station. I booked mine directly with Toyota's rental service since the rental center is directly in front of Takayama train station. Also, I couldn't find car rental at Takayama via sites like Klook, Rentalcars.com, Tripadvisor and anything that comes up on Google search (keywords: Takayama car rental). All I get are duds. Not sure if I'm searching it wrong.

Major cities, maybe okay to rent through Klook but I'll leave the advising to those who have actually done so.

Toyota car rental: https://rent.toyota.co.jp/eng/

This post has been edited by Okina: Mar 14 2023, 09:36 PM

Just got back from 2-week trip to Japan yesterday.

Fast track QR code was still being used at Kansai Airport when I arrived on Sunday morning, 7 May. Probably the old procedures were still in effect at that date? Any official statement announcing the date the fast track QR code process will be terminated?

The air stewardess did give out the paper forms and filled up on the plane just in case (they also weren't sure if QR code method still can be used or not). But I just showed the airport staff the QR code and breezed through immigration and customs.

This post has been edited by Okina: May 21 2023, 08:53 PM

For those who are contemplating buying a portable wifi device and inserting a JP travel sim for use, I can confirm Sakura Mobile works. I am using a TP Link M7450. Had a Hello1010 (doesn't work with portable wifi device based on my experience) and a Sakura Mobile sim (I bought this for testing purposes but I ended up using it throughout the trip since it is unlimited data)

I didn't set Sakura Mobile's sim in my portable wifi up till the last day due to failing to get Hello1010's sim to work. Hello1010 sim's setup attempt was a wasted 1 hour of frustration. Set up the APN as per the instruction paper but it doesn't want to connect to the network. Hence I didn't want to bother wasting more time to test out if Sakura Mobile's sim works as well or not.

Only decided testing Sakura Mobile's on the last day at the airport before returning to MY since I needed to put in my MY sim back in my phone anyways (I wanted to be able to connect back to the Digi network immediately for family contacting purposes and not go through the hassle of swapping out sims on the plane or at KLIA). Since the Sakura Mobile staff had helped configured the APN on my phone, I just copied the settings onto the TP Link app. The password needed to be looked up at their website (it's jpn in small caps) and it works perfectly fine after that.

PS: For Kansai airport, Sakura Mobile's counter opens at 7am and the JTB's counter to collect the Osaka Amazing Pass opens at 9am (it's not 7 am). As the direct flight from Malaysia touches down at 5:45am and the process of disembarking, waiting for the train to go to the main terminal and clearing the immigration and customs was roughly 30 minutes (was already at the arrival hall by roughly 6:15 am based on the 6:25 am timestamp of the first photo of Kansai Airport in my phone). So there will be almost 3 hours of sitting in KIX while waiting for the counters to open. So do anything that can be done in the meantime, e.g. purchase/charge up IC card, redeem any JR West tickets that was bought online, etc).

Google "Japan holiday 2023" and "Japan school holiday 2023". The info will be available.

Kintetsu is one of the railway operators in Japan (others are JR, Keihan, Metro, etc).

JR owns the shinkansens and Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama refers to the train service speed. The less stops it makes, the faster you reach your destination.

Green class.reserved seats are time restricted because you have booked that specific seat for that specific time. You can reschedule if you think you cannot make it in that time slot.

Unreserved seat is first come first served basis, so can take any time you want. If you missed your reserved seat time slot, you can always take unreserved at any time of your convenience, as long as it is on the same day.

Use Google Maps on PC. You'll be able to see which line is operated by which company when you expand the stops info. If it says West Japan Railway Company or has a JR logo at the side of the line, that's JR operated and will be covered by JR Pass. In Osaka, the most convenient line is the Osaka Metro sinve I was mostly traveling up and down the Midosuji line. Osaka Amazing Pass gives unlimited rides on the Osaka Metro.

Best to get familiarized with some key routes before you go to Japan. Know which station should you take and which company the line is operated by. Navitime is a good tool to plan which station you need to take and can filter based on the tourist pass that you have. Download their rail map and study the lines as well.

https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/area/jp/route/

Download the Smart-Ex app to buy tickets via your phone. You can also link the ticket to your IC card, so no need to get physical ticket from counter. Just tap IC card at ticket gate and a ticket will be issued. Just pick it up at the ticket gate when you pass through. You can also reschedule your departure time via the app.

If book at least 3 days in advance, the ticket price is discounted. Just take note that if you reschedule with less than 2 days (e.g. change time slot on the same day of departure), you have to top-up the difference between discount and non-discount price.