Hi Japan Sifus ,

I am planning for 2009 Cherry Blossom trip to Japan (March - April) and would like to advise on what is the best possible local tour that can offer me 7-10 days tour of the major cities in Japan? I would prefer to start from Osaka and end in Tokyo, and would extend another further 2 or 3 days in Tokyo on my own.

What I need is some information and contacts for a local tour company in Japan & Malaysia if possible... so that I can compare the prices and the itinerary.

Also, if possible, can I know what is the best location to go for sight-seeing (cherry blossom), hot spring (open air), etc. for what is best to do during this period...

I'll be getting my own flight tickets and I just need the details of the local tour and itinerary.

Please advise... thank you so much...

so happy to read all of you have chance to travel to jp!

Hi All-

I will be travelling to Tokyo with my gf on the 5th of Sept. This is a free and easy tour.
Hope that all the GURU here can give me some advice on my below concern.

- Budget hostel. I going to book my accommodation at www.hostelworld.com. Is there any other good recommendation?
- Can i know how to get to Mt FUJI from Tokyo centre?
- Should I visit Kyoto? How far from Tokyo? How can i get there?

thx in advance ()

This post has been edited by lui: Aug 19 2008, 05:12 PM

-stayed in sakura hostel in asakusa before. convenient but crowd so-so only.

-search around the net. haven't been there yet. look for other travelers at your hostel who wants to go. can plan with them.

-osaka/kyoto is a must. i love kyoto! it's far from tokyo. took around 8 hours by bus to osaka from tokyo. from osaka it's 1 hour to kyoto by train.

try the bus, http://www.123bus.net

Hey guys. Nice to see this thread here.

Due to my weird itenary, I have about a day and a half (2 nights) in Tokyo en route to Shenyang in China. I'll land in Tokyo in the evening on the 10Nov 2008. Flight out is on the morning of 12Nov, so I've got a day or so in Japan. Is it worth going all the way to Tokyo, or should I just stay in Narita town?

I don't think I'll have much time, so I'll probably limit myself to one place. What can one do for 1 day in Tokyo? Akihabara has always been on my wish list, but I think my wallet will take a beating if I go there ''. Maybe somewhere "calmer", say Shinjuku (if only to see the locations featured in Digimon Tamers) or Odaiba. Any suggestions?

Also, does anyone know of a reasonable cheap place to just crash out for 2 nights? While the capsule hotels are interesting, I'm claustrophobic. My budget is around the range of RM100-RM150 (about 3200-4800 yen at the current rates). Motels/Hostels are fine.

Hi guyz,

Need some advise, i planning to go JAPAN SINJUKU to take my CCIE lab. I have asked APPLE travel for the cheapest package Which cost me RM5188 (Free & EASY with breakfast,3 start hotel, 1 person) + Airport RM 900 + VISA RM50 for the whole trip. Date : 26 - 30 October (5 days 3 nites)
TOTAL = RM6138 !!

1. Is the package consider the cheapest !?
2. I juz wan a cheapest package! , i don mind to stay motel. I go ther not for fun, juz for exam. that's y i need to save cost.

* Please advise, thanks

anyone stayed at Villa-Fontaine Tokyo Mita before? i'm going for a business trip during oct and i'm planning to extend my stay for 2 nights on my own expenses
and i'm looking to continue @ the same hotel or are they any better offer at the same area?

i've stayed in tokyo for around 3000yen a night before. it's a hostel. most hostel around tokyo would have this range of price. check out hostelworld.com or hostels.com

if you are adventurous, i suggest you sleep in cyber cafes. it's 1200yen for 5 hours (summer promotion rate). get in around 12am and out by 5am.

akihabara is nice, don't need much money. window shopping, and maybe laa... some money for maido cafe. hehe...

i only visited shinjuku once. didn't get to enjoy the place actually. i like shibuya, and akihabara. odaiba is nice to bring a date, so i'm told. never been there. just see the place from far away.

visa is free if you go and apply for it yourself at the embassy. don't have any experience going there on package. CCIE don't have exams in malaysia? or singapore?

look for business hotels, not so posh though. but business hotels in tokyo can be expensive. i onyl stayed in hostels or sleep at cyber cafes

Thanks for the heads up. Any hostels in particular that you recommend?

Sleeping in Cyber Cafe's.....I'm not quite ready to be Saki (Sakurai Mako; Maid in Akihabara) yet. Will put that on my list of things to do one day through.

Also, how hard is it getting a Japanese visa? A article in The Star has:



If I'm not physically in KL, what are my options? I've got a China and USA tourist visa (which the latter I got with minimal fuss despite my application being almost directly post-9/11) by posting my passport to their respective embassy's.

i've stayed in Sakura Hostel in Asakusa. It's good enough for me. staff are ok/helpfull but the crowd staying was just so-so. easy to get around especially if you want to go to akihabara, shibuya, ginza.

sleep over in cyber cafes is consiedered normal. even working professionals do it. akihabara's maids are ok what, they are nice...

for visa, you have to come to send your application, then come back for collection. the best part is, it will be ready in 3 days only (actually less). send application on monday, wednesday sure ready (if there's no complication).

look here for more info, http://www.my.emb-japan.go.jp/English/visit.htm#2

there are branches in KK, JB and Penang. but i don't know the process there. might be different.

the most important is the company/relatives/friend letter. and need to show them bank statement with RM8000 or more in balance

if all requirements are met, there won't be much problems

Whoa whoa whoa!

I can understand the need for a bank statement, but the company/relatives/friend letter? I am now confused, as it says on the website(http://www.my.emb-japan.go.jp/English/visit.htm):

then further down it says:

I don't belong to any company! I'm just a poor student, who happens to be transiting the Japan en route to my final destination. How does that affect my visa application?

I know the Japanese aren't the most open-minded people in the world, but this..................

try give the embassy a call

Hi everybody. Need some advice on Japan. Today I was at the Matta Fair and thinking of signing in for a Apple Holiday's Japan 3 nite Hokkaido (Toya-ko, Noboribetsu, Yubari, Otaru, Sapporo & Chitose) and 4nite Tokyo (Asakuso Kannon, Disneyland, Shinjuku&Ginza). The choice of travel period is between 28 September & 8 October. What do u all think about this period or places?

1) How is the weather? Would it be too cold for elderly ppl, especially in Hokkaido?

2) I read in some guidebook that Aug-Oct is Typhoon period. Is that true and if so, then the trip would be spoilt if clashes with the typhoon?

3) Anything Must Try or Must Buy or Cheap Bargains in these regions?

Need advice asap coz need to book by Sunday liao.

REQUIREMENTS FOR VISA TO ENTER JAPAN

(Business/Conference/Seminar/Training/Exhibition)

1. One original visa application form (Attached)
2. Original passport at least valid for six months
3. One passport size photograph (Taken within 6 months)
4. Original company letter stating your position, period of service, purpose of journey, length of stay, guarantee of expenses, name of person(s) accompanying (if any) and the relationship to the applicant, etc.
For those who are not working, please write a self explanation letter about your trip to Japan such as what are you, purpose of journey, length of stay in Japan, guarantee of expenses, name of person(s)
accompanying (if any) and etc

5. Original invitation letter from your counterpart in Japan

* The seal of the Invitation letter : Companies and organizations must affix the registered corporate seal onto the statement of reason. The person in charge of inviting the applicants must write his position in
the company and affix the registered corporate seal, and also needs to put his personal seal or his signature on the statement* (Attached the sample of the seal)

For training purpose: additional letter explaining your training schedule, method, any allowance given or not, etc.
For exhibition purpose :
As an exhibitor, please submit original invitation letter from your counterpart in Japan
As visitor, please submit brochure/information about the exhibition and original and clear photocopy of personal bank statement or company's account and copy of business registration

6. Confirmed flight booking/itinerary from your travel agent or airline company.


(Holiday/Visiting Family/Friend/Relatives)

1. One original visa application form (Attached)
2. Original passport at least valid for six months
3. One passport size photograph (Taken within 6 months)
4. Original company letter stating your position, period of service, purpose of journey, length of stay, guarantee of expenses, name of person(s) accompanying (if any) and the relationship to the applicant, etc.
For those who are not working, please write a self explanation letter about your trip to Japan such as what are you, purpose of journey, length of stay in Japan, guarantee of expenses, name of person(s)
accompanying (if any) and etc

5. Personal saving account or Fixed Deposit or current account statement (must show the applicant's name, account number and current balance) or company's account and copy of the business registration.

Please bring along the original bank statement and a clear photocopy when applying for visa OR original certified true copy from the bank (signed and stamp by the bank officer)

4. Copy of marriage certificate (for spouse) or birth certificate (children) to show the relationship between the main applicant and the person (s) accompanying him/her

5. Confirmed flight booking from your travel agent or airline company, itinerary in Japan or hotel voucher ( For following tour : tour itinerary, for incentive trip : Name list from the applicant's company)

NOTES :-

1. Please arrange all the documents according to the sequence. Copy of documents submitted will not be returned
2. All photocopies must be on A4 size paper
3. Collection of passport will be three (3) working days for Malaysian (subject to approval)

* THE EMBASSY OF JAPAN HAS THE RIGHT TO REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS OR CALL THE APPLICANT FOR AN INTERVIEW*

hi all sifu,

i got a question about the travel, let say i going to Japan on 27-30 Oct , can i go again on 27-30 dec ? i mean is that ok to apply visa 2 times in such a such period ?

thanks in advance for the clarification.

Planning to go Hokkaido too. Any recommended travel agents? How's Apple or Reliance? Thanks

Hi Atah

below is my reply to someone else pasted here for ur question:-

my travel agent was Apple tour, supposedly a tour agent based in KL check here www.appleholiday.com .... their itinerary and quotes are all in there. My trip was the hokkaido-tokyo package whereby u get to see both the nature of central hokkaido and the busy Tokyo city at the same time. Also included Disneyland. Do note that this trip did not cover other parts of hokkaido such as north, east and southern territory.

Food was great if u like japanese food, lots of king crab and huge scallops. Hotel was quite good, mostly 4 star hotel type. First 2 nites at hotel with hot springs (onsen) so u get to try the hot spring as long as u dun mind doing it naked.. hahah!!! japanese culture, duh!

This company is different in that the tour leader is also the tour guide. the malaysian tour leader from apple is fluent in japanese and will do all the guide job in Japan. No local japanese guide used. I guess that is where they save money to give better quality hotels. Overall, the trip was quite good with minor setback. The particular tour leader was good in planning as everything went smoothly & professionally but could have been better in the narration of the places and personal attention. But considering that the tour leader had to cover both the job as leader and guide, i guess its a compromise.

Anyone who need advice on travelling in Japan can PM me. I can offer advice on cheapest alternative for accomodation and transportation. I'm doing this for just to help the community here but no promise that can reply everyone.

I have been studying here for almost 3 years in Kanto area(nearby Tokyo). Places I've been too are Hokkaido(Sapporo, Tommakomai, Muroran), Miyagi(Sendai), Ibaraki(my place), Tochigi, Tokyo(quite familiar), Kanagawa(Yokohama), Shizuoka, Aichi(Nagoya), Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi and Fukuoka.

Here are my comments on the places I have went to.

1) Hokkaido - nature, nature and nature.. super cold (Oct- May) Sapporo is a nice big city and clean.

2) Sendai - quite a big city too with historical places. Nearby there is Matsushima, one of three wonders of Japan)

3) Ibaraki - my place. nothing here so pls dont come

4) Tochigi - there is one park called Nikko. quite beatiful place for relaxation and some old temples.

5) Tokyo - big big city, super convinient, lots of things to see. Its a good place but I get tired easily. Too many people, everywhere also crowded.

6) Yokohama - 2nd biggest city by population. Quite a nice place, nothing much to see actually. There is Chinatown here.

7) Nagoya - nothing much. Just another big city. Ppl claims lots of nice food here.

8) Kyoto - One of the place i like most In japan. Its a modern city but with temples everywhere. Ppl here are relaxed. If you come here during local holiday season, it will be crowded like hell. Old folks like to come here for temple sightseeing, autumn leaves and sakura.

9) Osaka - biggest city in the west area. I find it quite interesting. Not as big as tokyo. Very convinient, lots of nice foods( cheaper than Tokyo) and Osaka ppl are quite funny.

10) Kobe - Very beautiful modern city. Got Chinatown here so if wana eat char siew pow must come here. there is a big and the most beautiful Japanese castle 30 mins by train from this city.

11) Hiroshima - I like this place too. A-bomb dome is here. Ppl are nice. Quite a modern city too. Food also not bad (okonomi-yaki). Nearby there is Miyajima. Very popular tourist attraction.

12) Fukuoka - A city for youths in Kyushu region. Nothing much too see actually. Food may be nice though.

thanks. do u have any contact person inside Apple tours?

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Added on October 19, 2008, 9:07 amthanks for your offer. actually i'll be bringing my mum, is it easy to backpack in japan as we can't speak japanese?



This post has been edited by atah: Oct 19 2008, 09:07 AM

Should be quite ok to backpack to Japan even if you cant speak japanese but do learn the most common words in order to get by.