Hi all.

I'll be traveling to Japan this 13-28 Sept. For 13-17, all accommodation and food will be covered. After that, I'm on my own.

My first 5 days will be spent in Chiba, Japan. Later after that, I am planning to go stay there about 1-2 nights to explore Disneyland, Tokyo.

So, after that, I was thinking of heading to Kyoto. Do you guys know what train passes should I go for if I want to travel from Chiba-Kyoto? Should I singgah other places on the way? I heard of those JR passes, but I'm not sure which one is it if I were to start my journey from Chiba to Kyoto...and how much will it cost. I'm aiming for some pass under 10,000 yen please.

Oh yes, food...how leh? this will be my first independent travel. I've been to Japan twice before, but all under sponsored, planned trip. As a muslim, where do you guys recommend?

My main objective coming here is to visit Tokyo Game Show starting on 26th. So I'll basically start and end my journey in Chiba area.

I'm still looking for accommodation though. At first, I was thinking of hopping from ryokan to internet cafe to capsule, but my travel partner wants to settle on some fairly, reasonable place for the whole trip (except for Kyoto).

What do you guys think?

Why? What's wrong with being a female?

Noted on the ingredients. Was wondering what's maggi equivalent there in Japan? Heard we can get vending machine food there, can get for cheaper price. This time, I don't want any total lost in translation moment when getting some dodgy mee...or maybe I just 'lantak' bantai any edible food I can find...dah la time raya...


Can you guys check this out? JR regional pass This one looks cheap. I remember one of my friends told me that you can get some pass that only costs 10,000 yen and can still go city hoping.

Fairly affordable hotel. Any recommendation? Most so-so hotel I found is about 21,000 yen. Mahalnye!!! Somewhere around Taito-ku area would be nice. What do you guys think? Is this place central enough?

Haha. Hi Buzz Visa dah apply blom?


No lar. By lantak, I meant go with what I think its ok la or as they say 'gunakan tanpa was-was'. Kalau packaging looks suspicious, gerenti tak amik ar. I asked about food cos I want to know what the Muslim in Japan always opt for. I've been to Japan twice before, but I just want to know what others always makan la. Specific food brand would suffice. Kalau ade gambar, lagi bagus.

What's so good with Sakura Hotel btw? Any reviews?

Kyoto tour 3D 2N: Acommodation + Shinkansen

How's this tour looks to you guys? 3 days 2 nights in Kyoto + Shinkansen return Tokyo-Kyoto for 25,500 yen. Worth it or not? That's about RM1k. I'm going with a friend of mine. Any possible package?

I booked two nights at Oak Hotel, Taito-ku. Got good review. What do you think? Very near Akihibara and TGS. If this hotel nice, gonna book it after Kyoto trip.

Here's my basic itinerary:

17-18: Staying at Oak Hotel, Taito-ku. Gonna explore Disneyland.
19-21: Kyoto time!
21-28: Back in Tokyo. Tokyo Game Show. Accommodation: Depends if Oak Hotel is ok, then I just continue stay there.

How long does it take to go to Disneyland from Oak Hotel? In google maps, its sed there about 33 mins or so. Sure ar?

I'd love to. Perhaps I can try it out in Kyoto. My travel partner doesn't like to move in back and forth. I would perefer a ryokan with attached bathroom around Chiba or Taito-ku. Any recommendations on that? Wait...how far is Chiba from Taito-ku.

Thanks for the comprehensive explanation. Really helps.

Well, my last visit to Disneyland was 21 years ago in California and I barely remember anything. If you're talking about Disneysea, then I'll pass. I've been there twice, just a few days after its opening in 2001 and 2005. I feel Disneysea has less thrill rides compared to Disneyland. I don't mind Mickey Mouse speaking Japanese, lol! A breath of fresh air actually. I need to re-live my 3 yr old childhood moments back.

Okay, this is funny. I still cannot differentiate between a prefecture and others. Is Chiba like a sub-state or something? What -ku and -ken stands for? Mind for a quick tutorial on that. I have one thick skull. Its like, Narita is in Chiba, and Chiba is in Tokyo and....aiyo..

Where is the cheapest place to exchange RM to Yen ar? Any suggestions?

Hi all,

First of all, thank you for all your kind replies on my inquiries

Now comes to using mobile phones in Japan for travel. Below are my findings (an email sent to my fellow friends who'll be travelling with me). Feel free to correct anything or add something to these...

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Japan network is quite different from our country since they are using CDMA and we are using GSM. However those who have a 3G enabled mobile phones (with functions to switch to dual mode/UMTS) are able to roam in Japan ie. Nokia N82.

Here are a few options;

1) International roaming using your 3G mobile phones
Just my 2 cents and opinion traveling in general, international roaming is VERY messy especially when you're on postpaid or if you're using Celcom cos they don't limit making/receive calls, data, etc. Balik rumah, check bill, boleh pengsan! I've experienced paying about RM2k in several occasions for inter'l roaming, so kalau betul2 nak keep in touch during this coming 5 days, just use public phone to say hello to family and friends.

Below is how charges work for Celcom users;

Making calls in Japan and different country: RM 3.50 per minute
Making calls from Japan to Malaysia: RM 8.80 per minute
For discount (roam saver) dial *120* (country code and phone no) + # : RM 2.50 per minute
Send SMS: RM 2 per sms


This is based from my conversation with Celcom careline, for more detailed, verified info, please dial 1111 (for Celcom users) or here

I am not sure how charges work on Maxis, Digi, U-Mobile, etc

2) 3G phone rental in Japan
A few operators/phone rentals co. in Japan are offering this service; Vodafone, NTT Docomo, Softbank, PuPuRu. I'm not sure about another operator, KDDI. It seems they only offer fixed line? (telephone)

3) Rent prepaid SIM card
In my opinion, this is a better choice only to those who wants to keep in touch with people around Japan. Travelers often use this to keep in touch with their travel partners and in several occasions make international calls/sms but it also depends on the charge fee for the particular operator. Softbank provides 3G SIM card rental.


CONCLUSIONS
Again, for 5 days travel, in my opinion, there are other cheaper and FREE alternative.

1) Keep in touch with family and friends using public telephone to notify safe landing or updates.
2) Skype/email/sms via internet using the hotel's FREE internet lounge area. Those who'll be bringing laptop or wifi/wlan enabled mobile phone, you're in luck. Not sure they provide computers in this lounge area.

-----

There's actually links embedded in this email, but malas nak attach back. Will do by request lah.

So how's it? Sila tunjuk ajar (how to say this in Nihon-go ar?).

3) Now that makes sense. Shall remind the rest of my friends who decide to go roaming. Another ouch-er.

6) So terbalik!

What about Japs starbucks? Is there a free wi-fi there? I like a bit of latte/food, lepak, wi-fi and cuci mata...is there any other food + wi-fi place?

Damn, I haven't exchanged my money yet. Was sick in early August, thats when yen rate was quite low. How's the credit card situation there in Tokyo and Kyoto?

Dude,

How are you gonna buy the ticket for Ghibli Museum? I thought you have to buy the ticket somewhere in the convenience store ie. Lawson? I'm planning to go there too. Perhaps we can tag along?

Oh yeaah, you guys are around eh? I won't balik kampung this year since I'll be in Japan 13-28 Sept. I heard that there's a mosque in Asakusa. Maybe there's a jamuan raya there I can join. I'll be wearing my baju raya, so yeah...nak lepas gian.

Is there a Lawson convenience store at around Higashiueno/Ueno area?

I found this solat schedule online. Can you guys clarify this?


September
Fajr ShurwwQ Zohor Asar Maghrib Ishak
Date Dawn Sunrise Noon Afternoon Sunset Evening
13 3:55 5:22 11:37 3:09 5:52 7:13

14 3:56 5:22 11:37 3:09 5:50 7:11
15 3:57 5:23 11:36 3:08 5:49 7:10
16 3:58 5:24 11:36 3:07 5:48 7:08
17 3:59 5:25 11:36 3:06 5:46 7:07

I'll only be flying off next Sat. Still in Malaysia, clearing off work pile for 2 weeks worth of holiday, ...not sure its gonna be much of a holiday since might bring work to Japan.

Thanks a lot for the solat time. I wonder how odd it would be to have a wrong schedule.

Guys, I wanna bring rendang toks and some Malaysian basics (maggie) and perhaps brahims, serunding...

Can I go through custom with these stuff ar? Need to declare? http://japan.visahq.com/customs/ (sez here can't bring beef ar?). Last time I remember one of my friends bawak rendang...

Hey, hey. Haven't logged in for quite awhile. I'm still Tokyo though.

I was there at the embassy and went to the ambassador's place for a quick makan raya.

Quick question...I bought a maid costume and I want to wear it around Tokyo, perhaps Akiba or Disneyland...but I haven't seen ppl wearing costume inside the train. I don't want to look weird. Should I pack in the bag and wear it when I wanna take picture...or just wear it?

Sure ar? How come I never seen any ppl wearing costumes in the train?

LOL! Yeah..I guess thats kinda make sense...too bad I've to carry extra stuff apart from my faithful travel book and my heavy dslr..

Having second thoughts visiting Disneyland tomorrow. Which one is okay..Disneyland, Tokyo Dome or Fuji-Q. I'm such a wuss when it comes to thrill rides, so hmm....thats why I think I might be ok for DisneyL. Share2 guyss

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Added on September 23, 2009, 9:28 pmUntil 28th

1. Tomorrow (Thu) is Theme Park's day
2. Fri: Ghibli Museum (got tix), TGS (tokyo game show) business day and Sense of Wonder Night (TGS)
3. Sat: TGS visitor day...got tix
4. Sun: Last day...cam whoring in Akiba? Hara? Shibuya?
5. Mon: Back to Malaysia!


This post has been edited by spidergirl: Sep 23 2009, 09:28 PM

Wish I get to go to biz TGS, but was lost in Ghibli world this afternoon, and gone to Makuhari a bit too late...the journey took us about more than 1 hour. That's crazy! I went for TGS's SOWN (Sense of Wonder Night) instead. Not bad...but like every Jap-meets-international event, everything is stretched twice the time since translation in Japs takes FOREVER!

Btw, which method is the fastest to go to TGS Makuhari Messe? I went there via Chuo/Sobu line...mcm kura-kura je. Plus it stops at Makuhari Hongo. Naik bus kena bayar 240 yen...mahal gile. Patut gi ke JR Keisen-Makuhari?

Hey...did you guys heard the news on the JR accident. I saw the news alert in JR office and on tv, but not sure where exactly. Google also x jumpa.

Aduuuuh...kena bangun awal. Mcm malas nak gi plak

Tak special la..tunjuk name card buruk je. Hahahaha You guys bleh buat sendiri..

Cool. Byk nye Msian coming tomorrow. Cool..kalau jumpe muke mcm budak Melayu, bg salam ek..hahha

Whoa, haven't been here since end of September. Had a super excellent time in Japan. 4 days of tree planting program and 2 weeks more of self exploration around Tokyo, a bit on Mitaka and a bit on Chiba.

Wrote some tips and guide on Tokyo here and also photos here Hope these will help some of those who wants to travel there soon...through a Malaysian experience.