since you're planning to move from region to region (kanto - kansai), and you already accounted for JR pass, thats pretty much cover your transport expenses..
You may just need to get the Suica and reload with 5-10kyen just in case you need to ride on private lines.
as for other things, i cant suggest any as im a budget traveler, and you seems do not want 'budget mode'

Suica is their version of out TouchNGo and SG's EZLink.
Its useable on busses, trains and even konbini. i believe its not limited to only tokyo

tokyo accomodations, try these:
http://www.e-conomyhotels.jp/list.html
http://www.e-otomari.jp/~english/
also:
http://www.hostelworld.com/

as for food, everyone has their own testebuds, so its up to expense management here

as for souvenirs, thats a hard part..
i too has trouble with, ended up with multiflavors of kit-kat and maid cookies
maybe fancy chopsticks, fans or even simple yukata so you can wear at bon odori

boring in tokyo? how about akiba, nakano, tsukiji, asakusa, roppongi, harajuku, ueno.. on weekend theiur koen is very lively

Osaka, Kyoto n Nara are somewhat near to each other
Kobe will be a lil futher.
Distance of Kyoto to Nara is more like PJ to bukit Jalil, n kyoto to JKobe something like PJ to PortKlang distance.
I will try to get back to this thread tonite as I need to continue work after lunch lol

mean time
http://www.flickr.com/photos/e-jump/sets/72157624757907595/
*kansai trip starts from the fuji pic

unfortunately i do not have a proper itinerary at that time.
Monday : Took Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto. Journey is 3hr as i took the Nozomi. Arrived Kyoto, straight away take a train to Nara. Epic fail as i accidentally took local line, stopped every station n took me 1 hr to reach Nara. Nara on Monday pretty much dead =__=.. Nothing much at the deer park n the big Temple. Went back to osaka for my accomodation place
Tuesday: Took shinkanen from shin-osaka to Kobe. drizzling whole day. I somehow injured my leg in my sleep the night before, limiting my movements. Juz walk to all the places suggested on the free map i got at tourist center. Evening on the sky deck. Dinner back in Nanba
Wed: Osaka trip. Use the coupons i got for cheaper Park n Zoo entrance, chinatown. Walk on the streets, Osaka castle, shinseikai etc..
Thu: Kyoto trip fail as it was raining heavily all day. I was soaked wet in the morning thus i went back to my hotel n sleep. Evening at Gion only ;__;
Friday: depart to Tokyo, sidestop Nagoya. Nagoya castle, streets, Nagoya sky deck, Sakae21

sorry for not so informative.. but im a cheapskate traveler so i go to free places/street n not the expensive attractions LOL
Most city offers daily passes (1 day, 2 day etc) for local JR/Metro+busses. they come w/ coupons too, so you can enter some attraction places free or little money.

SUICA n PASMO(?) is not useable in Kansai, which is why i get the daily passes. The 7day JR-pass covers JR-lines, but not the private metro/subway lines

Im was not aware if Tokyo JR has local n rapid system (i do know the private Metro does) as i didnt nptice em.
In Kansai however, the JR has 3 type lines, local(stop every station), R semi-rapid(skips some stn) and RR rapid (only stops at major big stn).
They have the Local/R/RR on the train car signage board.
Hyperdia is pretty accurate

N yes, with the JR-pass you can ride the JR n Hikari(semi rapid)/Kodama(local) Shinkansen for free. The local metro however, you need to pay. No need to worry, the JR pretty much reaches almost everywhere. When i was in osaka, i pretty much ride the JR. Nagoya however, i took the metro.
The Osaka(other city) day pass however allows you take JR n the other private lines (unless stated) unlimited for the day

If only we have multitracks here, we should adapt the rapid n local system

on my very 1st ever step foot in JP, i got lost in ueno..
walk here, walk there, then i found a map signage by a roadside.
on the map, clearly a sign 'you are here'.. was about to feel relief,, i found out thats the only english sentence on the map lol.
all other road legends are in japanese....
i did try my wapanese skill with an old-construction worker, unfortunately i couldnt understand his nihongo reply.. i-FAIL OTL
at times like this folks, pen+paper comes in handy.. he drew some direction how to get to nearest Koban

On my way to look for Koban, 2 Osakan gentlement having trip there who can speak basic english tought the right bus to sake to my hotel, n even game me 200yen for the ride..
so generous...
despite spending big monies to go japan, but the experience = PRICELESS


btw, dun be surprice ppl in roppongi can speak damn good english

oh, i do get the run away like seeing alien response.. i said excuse me, the fella straight away run LOL

do you have requirement of the size?
i stayed in a super bajet hotel in doubutsumae, osaka which is 2200yen a day.
small 3tatami room, communial bath, 3 minute walk to jr.
Hotel Taiyo, Osaka, Japan

the only place where you gonna have troubles w/ trolleys is at stations that is elevated/subway/not-on-ground. Some have lift(lift for disabled etc).
its not like you gonna pull ur trolley everyday anyway (at most the day you check-in/out)

all i can say, 9days will be ample time for you to visit osaka/kyoto/kobe/nara(1day should be enough).
you can cramp Nagoya in, but i still think you should cover Osaka n Kyoto as fully possible

yes, capsule is only 1-coffin per person
its worth the experience for '1night'. The one in Akiba do accept women. guys n gals will be on separate floor

http://www.juyoh.co.jp/tk/pages/Gallery-t.html
ive been to juyoh on past 2 trips, n theyre good. u should sleep on the tatami(+berlapik tilam nipis) man

yep for a price of hostel, theyre like hotel.
it seems they have upgraded so much that now you no longer need to share the hot pool with other ppl..
back then i need to make thick-face n dip sama² w/ other ppl LOL
however do take note of the walking distance to hibiya line and the tsukuba express (yep 2 train lines there).. like 10mins walk..
but got lotsa konbini there, n i think i saw a bakery on the other side of the station.. its a laidback town, not much cars so its quiet
you can try mail em ank ask, they speak decent english



btw, is Phyzzz or anyone in tokyo around?
does tsukiji market has any closing period for maintenance in feb?
maybe i'll consider go up tokyo for 2-3days

LOL
unfortunately i has no waifu from there
n my parents r tired of asking "what?! japan again? (屮゜Д゜)屮 "..
maybe i should checkout seoul n see what their offerings
exchg rate 4.x now, gg man

for the time being, most likely i'll stick to south japan, unless theres some events in tokyo

I got my visa application submitted in a breeze, like within 1 minit(no question asked)
Now it seems theres no need for 3 month bank statement. A letter from bank branch stating ur account behavior(or whatever needs to be stated) n balance amount should be sufficient. (thus u no need to pay for your bankstatements anymore)

time to get back to planning

past has been all those youthful days, my fellow padawan ┐(´д｀)┌
for now im wasting my hard earn monies to go ronery traveling

which part are u goin again?
i'll be in kansai-chgoku-chubu region; 12-26feb

This post has been edited by e-jump: Jan 29 2012, 08:24 AM

If you are expecting full blown anime chara cosplays, usually only at events.
if you mean v-kei cosplays, then takeshita street n also at yoyogi-park just few metres near harajuku stn.
you may be lucky if someone do anime/game chara at yoyogi

Anyay, those who have decided to get JR-pass, but dont know where to get it, you can try J-Horizons (http://j-horizons.com.my/)

I went to the Kiara/Hartamas office the the lady is very nice.
*Actually i already bought from em 2yrs ago as well.

JR-Pass (adult)
------
7days : y28300 / rm1160
14days : y45100 / rm1849
21days : y57700 / rm 2365

no. only worth if u are using shinkansen for long distance travel.
for local intercity/region, the SUICA / PASMO/ ICOCA wpuld be sufficient, n the unlimited day passes where you can by from the vending machin/counter

Im not sure where you're going to snowboard, but to effectively use ur 7day JR-pass n no need 14day pass, i woud suggest in this sequence ...> Tokyo > Hiroshima > Kobe > ...... >Osaka .. (put your snowboard in between)
Osaka should be last as its the main hub to get back to KIX

Anyway, anyone knows where I can get multiflavored KitKats other than the Airport for reasonable price? last time i went jp, i only find it at airports, n konbini dont sell in bulk.
Do japan has hypermarkets of buying bulks like tesco/carrefour?

^
now thats what im looking for. glorious bulks
Noted. At least i got a starting point on where to look.

also, i may want to try lotte FITs. Hope i dont end up dancing like the ads LOL